Brexit threat: Property financiers must keep calm and carry on lending July 8, 2016 Before and since the result of the UK’s referendum on European Union membership, uncertainty has pervaded – not least in property markets. Weak construction PMI data, a spate of flagship property funds halting redemptions and downgrades from City analysts has further shaken confidence. Forecasts for companies in the sector have been reduced on the basis [...]
Four reasons why the Fed should not postpone a rate hike September 17, 2015 The probability of the US Federal Reserve ending seven years of near-zero interest rates September is stronger than is generally believed. While there is no perfect timing for the tightening monetary policy, several arguments confirm that the Fed is able to begin this month if it so desires. Here are the four we can see: The [...]
Don’t rely on downsizing to make up for your insufficient pension October 27, 2016 After years of runaway house prices, few will be surprised that a sizeable proportion of the UK’s net wealth is tied up in property. The latest ONS statistics show that dwellings make up a massive 62 per cent, or £5.5 trillion, of the country’s £8.8 trillion total. So it is also unsurprising that many see [...]
Crowdfunding: Why private equity opportunities are ever closer for investors June 2, 2016 Small business investment has gone mainstream – or has it? While individual private investors looking to back early-stage businesses are spoilt for choice as crowdfunding gathers pace, opportunities for them to provide private equity backing to more established SMEs remain scarce. Investing in such businesses is often more complex, but usually offers a better risk/return [...]
Shoppers beat the Brexit blues to hit the high street as footfall increased slightly in May June 13, 2016 As the battle over the fate of BHS continues, the high street bounced back slightly in May as footfall figures increased year-on-year, new figures have shown. Despite a backdrop of retail failures towards the end of May and beginning of June, with Austin Reed shutting up its shops and BHS being "wound down", total retail footfall was [...]
UK bond yields fall to a new record low, despite looming debt downgrades June 27, 2016 Borrowing costs for the UK government have dropped to their lowest on record as investors flock to the safe haven of government debt in the midst of Brexit uncertainty. Yields on the benchmark 10-year Treasury bonds plunged to 0.94 per cent, down an unprecedented 0.14 percentage points – or 14 basis points – since yesterday. It is [...]
Barratt shares fall despite assurances it’s confident in the face of Brexit July 13, 2016 That sad "wah, wah, waaah" trombone you heard this morning was coming from the general direction of housebuilder Barratt, which attempted to restore investor confidence with assurances over Brexit – only to have its shares drop anyway. In a statement this morning the company, whose shares have fallen almost 30 per cent since the result [...]
London house prices up 45pc in five years: Home movers put off as figures soar August 9, 2015 The number of people moving home is in decline, new figures out today show. Rising prices, which many attribute to a lack of house building, may be hindering people from moving up the rungs of the housing ladder, according to the study from Lloyds Bank. The number of home movers reached 155,000 in the first [...]
At the close: Traders looking up on bumper day for the FTSE 100 May 24, 2016 The markets were up today, the pound was up today and oil was up today, as buyers outnumbered sellers across the board. The FTSE 100 closed up 1.4 per cent at 6,219.26, with greens dominating screens, defying logic as economic data pointed to a looming US rate rise and UK public sector finances disappointed. Tesco was the [...]
Keeping pace with programmatic: Ooyala’s Scott Braley explains how broadcasters and publishers can monetise better May 16, 2016 Programmatic trading is fast overhauling the online video advertising market. According to SpotX, 23 per cent of the UK’s video ads were programmatic last year. By 2020, this figure is forecast to reach 60 per cent. Better access to consumer data is allowing brands and their agencies to choose impressions more carefully and bid in real-time [...]