It is based on the transaction, not the profit. Example, if you traded one 30 year bond contract, the value of that contract is 100k. So, after that one measly trade, you are have already reached the 100k exemption for the year. On your second trade, the transaction tax begins.
No ruling text out of Copenhagen apparently, just political declaration. http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2009/dec/18/copenhagen-world-leaders-document
Darlingâs Bonus Tax May Turn Into British Election Trump Card http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=a0oWyrIyiKjc&pos=9
11.41am: Obama complains of decades of "stale argument". There is no time to waste, he says. "We will do what we say, now its time for the nations of the world to come to a common purpose," Obama. There has to be action from all sides, he says. That's it. He leaves the stage to no more than polite applause. 11.38am: We must have financing that helps developing nations adapt to climate change, Obama concedes. He repeats US backing for a $100bn fund. But he repeats that this depends on a genuine accord about emission reductions. We're running out of time, Obama says. Do we prefer posturing or action, he says. "We know the fault lines because we have been inprisoned by them for years," the president adds. 11.34am: We are convinced that changing the way we produce and use energy is essential to our future, for our own self interest, Obama says. No matter what happens in Copenhagen we will pursue this, but he pleads for collective action. "I believe the pieces of that accord should be clear," Obama says after describing the days of negotiations. He calls for decisive national ambitions and praises the countries that have already done so. He says he is confident the US will follow. 11.32am: Finally Obama takes the floor. "This is not fiction it is science. Unchecked climate change will pose unacceptable risk to security, economy and planet," he says. "Our ability to take collective action is in doubt," Obama warns. I come here not to talk but to act, he says to applause. As the world's second highest emitter the US has a responsibility, he says.
Sounds like he's not giving much credence to a realized agreement and is going to forge ahead with cap n' trade. One thing that stuck out - was he saying that the US would commit 100B/yr by 2020 or that the fund would be 100B/yr by 2020?
It would nice if Gordon Brown stayed in Copenhagen and never came back. On the day Obama wades into Copenhagen to discuss forcing the financial community to foot the bill for climate change in an ironic twist of fate eight inches of snowfall in the City of London has prevented much of the financial community from arriving at their desks...
The UN has reportedly advised negotiators to extend their stays until Sunday night, the New York Times reports.