Music and sports titans call for action against online ticket touts January 11, 2015 Leading figures in sports, music and theatre are calling for the better regulation of websites re-selling event tickets, claiming they simultaneously rip off fans while hurting artists and sports professionals. In an open letter to the government they called for changes to the Consumer Rights Bill, currently making its way through Parliament, which would better [...]
In a supermarket version of The Apprentice, Alan Sugar would have a whale of a time January 16, 2015 Imagine an Apprentice supermarket special – Alan Sugar, flanked by his experts, reviewing the practices of the big supermarkets each week. “[Morrisons' soon-to-depart chief exec] Dalton Phillips, you took far too long to introduce smaller convenience stores, ecommerce and a delivery service. The other supermarkets have had these things for years. Honestly, man. What [...]
The 100 City people you need to follow on Twitter this year, day two: Analysts January 6, 2015 Yesterday, you were inspired by our 20 most important entrepreneurs. Today, we’re giving you some food for thought: our favourite City analysts. Whether it’s retail, property or they’re tasked with deciding on the future of the UK’s airports, this lot can move the market with no more than a swish of their pen. Think we’ve [...]
John Laing Infrastructure Fund eyes £1bn Balfour Beatty portfolio November 30, 2014 Britain’s biggest construction company could be about to break up. John Laing Infrastructure Fund is weighing up a £1bn bid for Balfour Beatty’s investment arm, according to reports. The Sunday Times reports that John Laing Infrastructure Fund is considering an offer for Balfour’s portfolio of private finance initiative (PFI) contracts. The PFI contracts [...]
Pub industry says end of beer tie system could lead to closures and job losses November 19, 2014 Britain’s pub groups woke up with a hangover yesterday after MPs voted in favour of a shake up of Britain’s nearly 400-year-old beer-tie system, warning that a change to rules could lead to further pub closures across the country. Companies. including Enterprise Inns and Punch Taverns – two of the UK’s largest tenanted [...]
This time last year Foxtons was an investor favourite – what happened? December 4, 2014 It was just over a year ago that London estate agent Foxtons became the darling of the London Stock Exchange with a stonkingly successful IPO. Having floated at 230p, valuing it at £649m, shares in the company rose sharply to a peak of 285.5p in its first day of trading. By the end of February, [...]
Why a fireplace could add serious value to your home October 20, 2014 It's universally acknowledged that art not only beautifies the home but is generally a good investment. And Owen Pacey, owner of Shoreditch’s Renaissance antique furniture specialist and restorer, thinks there’s no better way to keep your bank balance warm than buying a fireplace. “Look,” he starts matter-of-factly, “If I went to view two Georgian [...]
Growth nudges US house sales to 2008 levels February 26, 2014 SALES of new homes in the US spiked despite the freezing temperatures in January, rising to the highest level since the summer of 2008, before the worst day of the financial crisis. According to the US Census Bureau, 468,000 homes were sold last month, 19.7 per cent above December’s 427,000. Activity in the market is still [...]
Budget 2015: A quick guide to all the key measures March 18, 2015 Chancellor delivers good news for savers and first-time buyers as he turns up heat on banks in play for votes ahead of election. UK ECONOMIC OUTLOOK ● The UK was the fastest growing economy in the G7 last year. However, the economy grew by just 0.5 per cent in the final three months of 2014, [...]
In pictures: Here’s what the UK’s most expensive garage will look like once it’s redeveloped October 30, 2014 A garage off the King's Road in Chelsea has sold for a staggering £550,000, it has been reported, having been on sale for a mere two weeks. The garage, which even by outbuilding standards is pretty ramshackle, is 11ft by 7ft – that's enough space for one car. Source: Google Maps The plan had originally [...]