Land Registry: London house prices hit half million-pound mark October 28, 2015 UK house prices rose by 5.3 per cent in the year to September, with the price of an average London property reaching half a million pounds for the first time, Land Registry figures show. London posted the biggest annual rise of 9.6 per cent in September and also outpaced the rest of the UK on a [...]
Nationwide loan volumes fall as biggest banks get back on feet November 25, 2014 BUILDING society Nationwide reported a fall in new mortgage lending as the big banks have become increasingly competitive. In the years since the financial crisis, the mutual has increased its market share rapidly, as the big banks were cutting back. But those rivals are now recovering and lending more. As a result the Nationwide’s gross mortgage [...]
How Manchester City and China could help each other conquer the world following £265m investment December 1, 2015 Manchester City’s owners heralded the “incredible potential that exists in China” after selling a 13 per cent stake in their company to a Chinese consortium for £265m on Tuesday. City Football Group (CFG), which also owns New York City FC, Melbourne City FC and a stake in Yokohama Marinos has been valued at £2bn by [...]
FTSE 100 index: Banks get some welcome relief from Visa cash – London Report November 3, 2015 The first trading day of November saw the FTSE 100 close flat as the news that Visa Europe is to be bought by US company Visa helped rally banking stocks. The FTSE 100 ended yesterday’s session flat, up just 0.01 per cent at 6,362 points. However, HSBC, which reported a jump in pre-tax profit to [...]
John Lewis and Argos Christmas adverts 2015: Sentimental or rational? The Christmas campaign conundrum November 8, 2015 Brands have long used sentimentality to draw custom at Christmas. John Lewis has been a standard-bearer for emotional Christmas placements, and this year's offering, which encourages donations to Age UK, is no different. Last year's "Monty the Penguin" spot has received 24m YouTube views, and the retailer's like for like sales grew by 4.8 per [...]
Where can I use Apple Pay in the UK? The A-Z of shops, restaurants and apps which will accept mobile payment with iPhone 6 and 6 Plus November 17, 2015 Apple launched its mobile payment service, Apple Pay, in the UK in its first mobile payment move beyond the US, capitalising on the boom in mobile and contactless payments among consumers. iPhone 6 and 6 Plus users can now pay with just the tap of a smartphone, or Apple Watch, across the high street and [...]
Crystal Palace and West Ham win the house price Premier League August 3, 2015 As football supporters gear up to cheer on their teams when the Premier League kicks off this weekend, one contest has already been won: the house price Premier League – of which Crystal Palace are the winners, after prices in the area around Selhurst Park jumped 17 per cent over the 12 months to June, [...]
Housing market and paying off summer holidays take the edge off consumer confidence August 23, 2015 Summer holiday spending, rising housing costs, and Britain’s employment situation have dented people’s financial confidence, according to a survey released today. Lloyds Bank’s spending power index came off its record high in July, falling three points to 161. The biggest drag on the figure was sentiment toward the housing market. Various house price measures including [...]
Quindell share price soars after it denies Nationwide Accident sale speculation November 20, 2014 Flailing insurance outsourcing firm Quindell saw its shares jump over 30 per cent yesterday as it denied rumours it was looking to sell its 25 per cent stake in Nationwide Accident Repair Services. Quindell, which provides claims processing technology to car insurers among other services, issued a statement in response to social media speculation that [...]
Three of the best business books to read this Christmas: Nothing says “glad tidings” like a book on nudge theory December 2, 2015 Whether you need help deciding how many mince pies it is optimal to eat this Christmas, or how John Lewis has survived revolutions in the retail sector, City A.M. has been compiling a list of some of the best business books to enjoy over the festive period. Here are three. THINKING IRRATIONALLY Historically, the [...]