Autumn Budget 2017: Pressure piles on chancellor Philip Hammond to boost the Tories, save his own job and keep Theresa May in place November 22, 2017 Philip Hammond is facing one of the most challenging days since he became chancellor: unveil a radical, game-changing, vote-winning Budget with enough gimmes to appeal to the youth, while not spending money he doesn’t have or putting up taxes and alienating the party’s core voter. He must tread a tightrope today – one misstep either [...]
Consumer credit growth slows in November as mortgage borrowing declines January 4, 2018 Growth in the amount borrowed by consumers in the form of credit cards and loans fell in November to its lowest since December 2015, as the amount borrowed by home buyers also declined. Figures by the Bank of England showed growth in consumer credit slowed to 9.1 per cent in the year to November, from [...]
London’s status as a tech hub helping drive transatlantic deals October 11, 2018 London's status as a hub for technology and financial services is helping drive a strong flow of deals between the US and the UK according to audit firm Deloitte. Deloitte said deal volumes between the UK and US “remained buoyant” in the first half of 2018, with 238 completed deals in the period. There were 152 [...]
Competition watchdog launches probe into Ebay’s acquisition of Motors.co.uk December 11, 2018 Ebay's proposed acquisition of car search business Motors.co.uk is to undergo an investigation by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), it was announced this morning. The CMA said it is considering whether the move, which would see Ebay merge Motors.co.uk with its other consumer-facing business Gumtree Motors, may result in a "substantial lessening" of competition [...]
Hamleys’ Chinese owner eyes exit with strategic review of toy shop October 21, 2018 Hamleys’ Chinese owner is considering a sale of the toymaker a week after it posted a 500 per cent decrease in profits. C.banner, which acquired Hamleys for around £100m in 2015, has started a strategic review after being approached by potential buyers. Read more: Hamleys replaces finance chief after disappointing results However it is unlikely [...]
First-time buyers are now expecting help from more than just their parents August 1, 2016 Many first-time home buyers are now skipping a generation in order to fund their purchases and could be “putting the family silver at risk”. Grandparents are to help fund one in six purchases of a first home, data compiled by Simpson Millar solicitors suggests. The concern from solicitors is that with a third of couples not [...]
Asda and Sainsbury’s slash petrol prices as Black Friday shopping event begins November 23, 2018 Asda and Sainsbury’s have slashed petrol prices today as UK consumers participate in Black Friday. Both supermarkets have cut 1p per litre off the price of unleaded and 2p off each litre of diesel following a decrease in the wholesale cost. Customers of the UK’s second and third largest food stores will pay no more [...]
Will Budget 2017 affect UK house prices? Here’s what Philip Hammond’s Budget will mean for property sales November 20, 2017 As with most Budgets, this Wednesday’s fiscal extravaganza has been heavily trailed by the government – so it should come as a surprise to few that one of the main focuses is expected to be solving the UK’s housing crisis. In advance of the speech, Theresa May has hinted at policies to “build more houses, [...]
UK house prices: Country property prices are much higher than those in the city September 30, 2017 Rural house prices are a fifth more expensive those in cities outside London, according to the Halifax. The average country house price is £263,050, compared with the average urban price of £218,596. The biggest difference is in the West Midlands, where prices are almost 50 per cent more. “Homeowners looking to escape to the country [...]
Intu granted second deadline extension for Whittaker consortium takeover offer November 22, 2018 Shopping centre giant Intu has again extended the deadline for finalising a takeover offer, the company said today. Intu, which owns the Trafford Centre in Manchester, said a consortium of buyers now has until 5pm on 30 November to announce its firm intention to make an offer on the company. The consortium is made up [...]