Weekly Round Up – Week 41/2013

‘Topics’ – Media Round up week ending 13 October 2013

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Welcome to our brand new “weekly roundup” – our complimentary summary of this week’s financial news. This publication includes my own commentary and index of links to articles, allowing you to scan over and tune into what’s important to you.

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Dermot.

Commentary

It was another week of mainly positive news ahead of this week’s Budget which is now expected to take €2.5bn out of the Irish economy by way of tax increases and savings. All signs indicate that 2014 will see continued growth in the economy following our exit from the bailout program in December 2013.

The Global economy meanwhile waits nervously for a resolution to the standoff which has closed down most of the US Federal Government for the past number of weeks. Failure to reach agreement by the 17th October deadline could see the US default on its loans. This would cause adverse effects to the Global economy.

Irish Economy

News headlines:

  • Irish merchandise exports set to grow by 6% a year between 2016 and 2030 – HSBC
  • Economic and Social Research Institute (ERSI) says economy will grow strongly next year

Taxation

News headlines:

  • Tax hires on pensions, series of smaller cuts social welfare, stimulus package for start ups & Construction sector in Tuesday’s Budget. (Sunday Business Post 13 October 2013)

Local property Tax (LPT) – IMPORTANT URGENT REMINDER

  • Are you are self-assessed for income tax and have failed to pay your LPT? If so:
    • Revenue will not issue you with a tax clearance certificate AND
    • You may incur a late filing (income tax) surcharge for the late submission of your income tax return, regardless of whether or not the income tax return is submitted on time (by 31 October or 14 November if file & pay online).

Banking / Credit

News headlines:

SEPA – Is your business ready?

  • Is your business ready for SEPA which come into effect from 1 February 2014?
  • Under EU directive all businesses MUST CONFORM
  • It will standardise EURO electronic payments across the 32 SEPA countries
  • All existing national payments (direct debits, credit transfers) IN & OUT will be closed down.
  • They will then have to be SEPA compliant
  • You will need to ensure your payroll, direct debit & accounting systems are SEPA ready.
  • You should contact your bank & software provider NOW

Property

News headlines:

  • €6.2 billion ear marked for commercial investment in Ireland in 2014 – Sunday Business Post property 6 October 2013
  • Dublin climbs office investment rankings. – Sunday Business Post property 13 October 2013.

Global Economy

News headlines:

Stock Markets

News headlines:

  • Shares tread water over US deadlock
  • Trading choppy across the globe
  • Iseq down 0.3%
  • FTSE rises 0.3%
  • German DAX up 1%
  • France’s CAC up 1.2%