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by Manx Rally Media

This weekend will see a first foray into the REIS MSA Asphalt Championship for Isle of Man based rally co-driver Rob Fagg, as he contests the opening round of the series, the Tour of Epynt. Taking place on the Epynt Military Ranges, he will team up with Blackburns John Stone in his crowd-pleasing Legends Fires backed Skoda Fabia WRC.

It will not be the first time the pair has competed together; having contested the opening round of the Isle of Man rally season in 2011, the MANN Construction Chris Kelly Memorial Rally, as well as the Southern Ireland based Monaghan Stages later in the year. On those occasions they had mixed fortunes, taking third on the Chris Kelly but recording an early retirement on the Monaghan event.

Stone recently warmed up for the series opener with a run on the North West Stages, an event his company Legends Fires have sponsored for some time. Using the event as a shakedown for the CA1 Sport prepared and run Skoda, the team were able to make improvements to the performance of the car throughout the day, eventually taking second place.

Robert Graham & Co Quantity Surveyors supported Fagg meanwhile opened his season on home turf, taking victory on the MANN Construction Chris Kelly Memorial Rally alongside John Cope.

With such a positive start to the season for both parties separately, they are hopeful of continuing as a partnership. Looking ahead to the season, Rob is looking forward to teaming up with John again.

I really enjoyed competing alongside John (Stone) last year on the two events we did together commented Rob, We got on well in the car and instantly gelled which always helps in a new relationship. The car is fantastic and well prepared by the guys at CA1 Sport. Working with them and John again this year really excites me and hopefully we can pick up some good results along the way.

Its the first time Rob will have contested the REIS sponsored MSA Asphalt Championship, the past few years competing in the MSA British Rally Championship, but aside from this he has competed on most of the events over the years. The championship consists of nine rounds and although I have not contested the series before I have competed on all but two of the venues in the past through various other championship and one off runs explained Fagg, The ones I will be really looking forward to are of course my home event, the Manx National, as well as the Jim Clark and hopefully the ALMC, but of course this weekend also as we get underway.

Despite having committed to the series, Rob is still in search of backing to ensure he is in the best possible position to complete the season and hopefully challenge for the title. Anyone who feels they maybe able to help, no matter how big or small the assistance they can offer, can contact Rob either via e-mail at robert@robertfagg.com or by calling (07624) 480101.

Read the original:
Fagg Aims To Stone The Epynt Opposition

6 March 2012 1:25 pm

Technical Connection sets out a game plan for tax-saving opportunities as the end of the tax year looms.

The run-up to the end of the tax year is a good time to consider tax planning to maximise the use of an individuals allowances, reliefs and exemptions for the current tax year (many of which will be lost if not used before the year end) and to put in place planning strategies that will minimise tax paid in 2012/13.

In this article all references to married couples include registered civil partners. (article continues below)

The following are what we believe are important to take account of in determining fundamental income tax planning strategies:

Keeping the above key factors firmly in mind, the following tax planning opportunities exist for most people regardless of their tax position.

Maximising the use of a couples allowances, exemptions and lower tax rates

For married couples, important income-tax-saving possibilities exist. Most of these need a full tax year to operate to give maximum effect so these suggestions may serve more of a remin-der for planning for the com-ing tax year than as a means of saving tax this tax year.

Go here to read the rest:
Special report: End of tax year planning

SAN DIEGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

TurboTax, the nations leading tax software, today announced a new app now available for Android tablets. Designed and optimized specifically for the Android platform, the app rounds out a robust suite of TurboTax mobile offerings. TurboTax is the only tax preparation software to offer customized, native apps, not just a browser experience, for the growing number of consumers who choose to prepare their taxes on a mobile or tablet device.

TurboTax for Android is among the first Android tablet apps from Intuit Inc. (Nasdaq: INTU), and is the first and only tax prep app designed specifically for Android tablets that enable taxpayers with simple and complex returns to prepare and e-file both their federal and state taxes completely from their tablet. For Android phone customers, SnapTax, a mobile app designed for a simple return (1040EZ) is also available.

The new TurboTax app gives users the freedom to work on their taxes anytime, anywhere, and without always being connected to the Internet. The TurboTax for Android app takes advantage of the tablet environment with a unique look and feel, easy navigation and automatically presents customized keyboards, on devices that support it, to make entering tax data easier and more intuitive.

Tax returns can be password protected for an extra layer of security. Customers can e-file their return directly from their tablet and get a refund in as little as seven days with direct deposit and can easily and securely email a copy of their return to their computer.

Once again, TurboTax apps combine the unparalleled ease of TurboTax with the convenience and portability of mobile devices so that taxpayers feel confident their taxes are done right.This year, TurboTax is the only software to offer everyone free one-on-one live tax advice, via phone or chat from a highly experienced tax professional.

Pricing and Availability

Customers can download the app for free from the Android Market and pay when theyre done. Customers start in TurboTax Deluxe, for $29.99, and based on their tax situation, they can choose TurboTax Premier or TurboTax Home & Business for an additional cost. State tax preparation is additional. All pricing is subject to change and includes e-file at no additional cost.

For more information and to see a video, visit the TurboTax blog. Taxpayers can follow TurboTax on Twitter or become a fan on Facebook.

About Intuit

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TurboTax First to Deliver Android Tax Prep App to Mobile Tablet Customers

SYDNEY: Westpac Banking Corp, Australia's third-largest lender, said yesterday it will send 126 roles offshore, as job cuts and offshoring ramps up with the nation's lenders slashing costs to protect profits amid slower loan growth.

Westpac's move to offshore roles comes on top of its announcement last month that 560 jobs would be cut. Smaller rival Australia and New Zealand Banking Group has announced that it would cut approximately 1,000 jobs in 2012.

Analysts predict that the Australia banking sector could see as many as 10,000 jobs lost over the new few years, or over seven per cent of the Australian financial sector workforce, as banks rein in costs.

Brian Johnson, a CLSA banking analyst, said that just as Westpac has done, many of the jobs that are cut will actually be moved offshore to reduce costs.

"Some of these workers have been in these jobs for years," said Leon Carter, secretary Finance Sector Union said in a statement.

"They have the skills to do the work, they've been loyal employees, and the only reason they are losing their jobs is because our most profitable bank thinks it can now get the job done more cheaply offshore," he added Australia's top banks, including National Australia Bank , Commonwealth Bank of Australia and ANZ, are among the country's largest employers with close to 40,000 employees each on their rolls.

While job cuts in the global banking industry are common in turbulent market conditions, Australian banks are coming off more than a decade of almost uninterrupted growth that saw them adding staff, growing assets and boosting profits several-fold. Reuters

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Westpac to move more jobs offshore

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NEW YORK (CNNMoney) -- Investors took a big step back Tuesday, but stocks have had a pretty strong year so far, so the retreat isn't ringing any alarm bells.

"You're still seeing echoes of the risk-on-risk-off trade," Jonathan Lewis, chief investment officer at Samson Capital Advisors. "But I would offer that all investors are doing is restructuring and rebalancing portfolios."

Since the start of the year, stocks have slowly and steadily made their way toward their highest levels since 2008, helped along by the U.S. economy's steady improvement.

While March has not been a good month so far, the Dow is still up 4.4% for the year. The S&P 500 has gained nearly 7% and the Nasdaq is up 11.7% year to date.

Stocks were pressured Tuesday by weaker economic data out of Europe and rising yields on euro-area government bonds, said Lewis.

The Dow Jones industrial average (INDU) fell 207 points, or 1.6%, to end at 12,759. That marks the worst day for the index since Dec. 8, when it fell 1.63%. Today also marks the first time the Dow has suffered a triple-digit loss in 45 days.

Financial stocks were among the hardest hit, with Bank of America (BAC, Fortune 500) and JPMorgan Chase (JPM, Fortune 500) both down about 3%. The only Dow component showing a modest gain was Intel (INTC, Fortune 500).

The S&P 500 (SPX) fell 21 points, or 1.5%, to 1,343. The Nasdaq (COMP) sank 40 points, or 1.4%, to 2,910. Both indexes suffered the worst one-day performance so far this year.

Meanwhile, investors are wary of political tension between Iran and Israel, which has driven oil and gas prices sharply higher, said Mark Martiak, senior wealth strategist at Premier Financial Advisors.

Originally posted here:
Stocks: Worst day of 2012