| Party favours
Roll up, roll up. It's the latest hit game show and everyone's a winner. Our hosts, John and Kevin, have just three more days to buy your votes and it's neck and neck as they toss out promises and dollars to make your head spin. Tax cuts, childcare and education subsidies, first home owner schemes and help with financial decisions are just some of the sweeteners for voters. But just how do they stack up? Tax cuts This is the biggest single election promise spend from both parties and follows successive tax cuts in the past few federal budgets. The Coalition kicked off its campaign with a $34 billion tax package that would see the top marginal tax rate cut to 42 per cent from July 2010 and the second highest rate cut to 37 per cent. In addition, the thresholds at which the 30 per cent rate cuts in would be lifted from the present level of $30,000 to $37,000 and the low-income tax offset would be increased to $1500, lifting the effective tax-free threshold to $16,000.
Financial News: Barclays Capital Plans US, Asia Expansion
Barclays Capital is forging ahead with plans to recruit more than 1,500 staff next year despite being forced to write off GBP1.3 billion (EUR1.8 billion) as a result of the credit crunch. Jerry del Missier, co-president of the investment banking arm of UK bank Barclays, said he will increase staff numbers globally in the division by 10% next year. Barclays Capital employed 15,444 staff worldwide at the end of last month and del Missier has earmarked the U.S. and Asia as areas for expansion of its trading and investment banking activities. Del Missier was upbeat about the prospects for credit markets and U.S. mortgages. He said: "Credit is likely to be the fastest-growing asset class in the next five years because the fundamentals of transferring risk from banks to capital markets will continue.
Real-world experience
PORT CLINTON --An Oak Harbor High School student is learning about the world of business while still in school. Rachel Schimming, daughter of Scott and Diane Schimming, is a marketing education student and works part time at Nemecek Insurance and Financial Services in Port Clinton. .
Russian president lashes out at political opponents, West in campaign address
President Vladimir Putin harshly assailed his opponents and accused the West of meddling in Russian politics, telling a parliamentary campaign rally Wednesday that opponents at home and abroad want to weaken the country. Putin's strongly worded attack on his critics came as he seeks to secure a high turnout and strong support for the dominant main pro-Kremlin party in parliamentary elections Dec. 2. Putin is leading United Russia's ticket in what is widely seen a maneuver to retain a grip on power after he steps down next spring. "Those who confront us need a weak and ill state. They want to have a divided society, in order to do their deeds behind its back," Putin warned, saying a strong United Russia majority in parliament is needed to preserve his course. Addressing thousands of backers in an event that mixed the flavors of a U.S.
Northern Rock suitors mull options
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