The Government has announced that the National Minimum Wage is set to rise as from 1 October 2010, despite wages in the private sector remaining virtually flat.  The rises were contained in documentation released after the budget had been announced.
The changes are as follows:
Workers                       Current rate                  New rate
Aged 21 and over             £5.80                         £5.93
aged 18-20                     £4.83                         £4.92
aged 16-17                     £3.57                         £3.64
A new [...]

Posted: April 8th, 2010 under AML Information.
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Markets
London - The FTSE 100 gained 32.58 points to close at 5,276.64 yesterday. Financial companies were among the biggest winners. Barclays advanced almost 3% after analysts recommended the stock. Man Group jumped 5.2% as its flagship fund advanced and investors speculated the company may become a takeover target. This morning the blue chip index slips 8.2 points to 5,268.44. BAE Systems leads the risers, up 3%, after swinging to a loss in 2009. However, the defence company said it expects three of its four units to grow this year.

Posted: February 18th, 2010 under AML Information.
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Markets
London - The FTSE 100 jumped 76.59 points to 5,244.06 yesterday. Barclays led the advance after reporting profit that beat analyst’s estimates. Royal Bank of Scotland was also among the biggest winners after JPMorgan Chase agreed to buy the non-US units of RBS Sempra Commodities. Anglo American rose 3.8% after agreeing to sell parts of its Tarmac building materials unit. This morning the FTSE advances 23.18 points to 5,267.24.

Posted: February 17th, 2010 under AML Information.
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Markets
London - The FTSE 100 gained 39.02 points to close at 5,494.39 yesterday. Mining stocks were among the biggest risers, with Eurasian Natural Resources leading the way, up 3.9%. Cadbury rose 1.8% on expectations Kraft will increase its takeover bid. On the downside, International Power dropped 3.4% after talks ended over a possible tie-up with France’s GDF-Suez. This morning the FTSE is 29.62 points lower 5464.77. SABMiller leads the fallers after its third quarter figures disappointed. In contrast, Burberry tops the risers, up 4.8%, after its third quarter results topped forecasts. Cadbury gains 3.4% after Kraft Foods Inc confirmed it was finalising a recommended offer with the U.K. confectioner.

Posted: January 19th, 2010 under AML Information.
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Markets
London - UK stocks closed higher on New Year’s Eve, after a subdued half day trading session, and registering a 22 percent year on year increase for 2009, its biggest annualised gain since 2008. At 1230, the FTSE closed 15.02 points higher at 5412.88, driven by strength in banks and miners. Banks added the most points to the index, recovering from recent falls at the end of a topsy turvy year. Lloyds Banking Group, RBS, Standard Chartered and Barclays added 0.4 to 1.7 percent.

Posted: January 4th, 2010 under AML Information.
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