Stocks in certain sectors are likely to see notable benefits if Sir Keir Starmer’s Labour party wins in the July 4 elections, as anticipated, according to the CEO of a leading advisory and asset management group. Three in particular stand out as key winners of a Labour win, said Nigel Green, CEO of deVere Group. “While … Read more
Tax rates for publicly-listed companies may remain unchanged in the upcoming fiscal year, with some changes in parlance that could affect the availing of lower tax rates. The base rate may see a rise for publicly listed companies, but compliance with cashless transactions could bring it back down to existing rates. Listed companies with free float up to 10% and above with cashless transactions would have tax rates of 20% and 22.5%. Noncompliance with the cashless transaction limit would result in higher tax rates. The government may also impose capital-gain taxes on individual investors for the first time if profits exceed Tk 4.0 million. The tax gap between listed and non-listed companies may be reduced by cutting corporate tax rates for non-listed companies by 2.5%. Capital-market experts believe that higher taxes and reducing the tax gap between listed and non-listed companies could discourage companies from entering the capital market. The government should focus on simplifying investment procedures rather than increasing taxes on the capital market.
The LNG import project at Vasilikos in Cyprus has faced recurring problems and delays. The project, which aims to switch power generation from oil to natural gas, could reduce electricity prices by one-third, resulting in annual cost savings close to €300-€400 million. The project has faced issues due to a badly conducted tender, unclear terms of reference, and a contractor with no experience in such projects. The current contractor, CPP, has claimed additional costs and the project is not progressing as expected. The government is considering various options to complete the project, including finding a way to move forward with the present contractor, seeking independent expert advice, and exploring alternative plans if necessary.
The Ministry of Energy and other governmental bodies are unable to determine the completion time of the Vasilikos LNG terminal and the start of using the new fuel for power generation. DEFA’s delayed procedures for selecting a contractor for the gas supply-transmission system plan have caused significant setbacks. The tender for this study has been challenged and is pending in the Administrative Court. As a result, the Ministry of Energy and DEFA are considering alternative options to expedite the construction of gas pipelines to power plants.
Energy ministers from the G7 countries have agreed to end the use of coal in power generation by the first half of the 2030s. However, there is a caveat that allows for flexibility based on each country’s net-zero pathways. Germany and Japan, which heavily rely on coal-fired power plants, have been given room for manoeuvre. The agreement on coal aligns with the goal set at the COP28 climate summit to phase out fossil fuels. Additionally, the G7 countries recognize the need to reduce Russian energy revenues to support Ukraine but did not reach a common position on potential sanctions on Russian LNG.