Wake Up to Money - 20/05/2010

News and views from the business world with Jeremy Naylor and Andy Verity. George Osborne has made his first major speech as Chancellor - he confirmed the coalition would gradually raise the tax-free personal allowance to £10,000 and also raise capital gains tax for non-business assets. The big focus of the speech, however, was on the taxes paid by large companies. The Thai stock exchange said that it would shut due to the violence that has gripped Bangkok and caused nearly 60 deaths over the last two months. National Grid publishes its annual results later and the figures are expected to be impressive - analysts are predicting profits approaching £2 billion. Finally, some policyholders at Royal London are angry because executive pay seems to rise even when their policies aren't doing that well.