It might be prime time to refinance October 14, 2012 HISTORICALLY low interest rates and government schemes mean that it may make sense, for some borrowers at least, to remortgage their homes. But data from the Council of Mortgage Lenders serves as a stark reminder as to how tight conditions still are. In 2011, £46.6bn worth of remortgages were taken out by borrowers in 375,000 [...]
Generation E September 10, 2012 A NEW generation of entrepreneurs will lift the UK out of its devastating economic recession, according to a report out this morning by a leading educational society. The proportion of surveyed twenty-somethings who want to start their own business rocketed from 17 per cent in 1998 to 29 per cent in 2010, the research shows. [...]
Generation E September 10, 2012 A NEW generation of entrepreneurs will lift the UK out of its devastating economic recession, according to a report out this morning by a leading educational society. The proportion of surveyed twenty-somethings who want to start their own business rocketed from 17 per cent in 1998 to 29 per cent in 2010, the research shows. [...]
House prices edge up in May May 31, 2012 House prices rose slightly more than expected this month to leave prices broadly unchanged on a year ago against a backdrop of generally subdued demand, according to figures from mortgage lender Nationwide. House prices rose 0.3 per cent in May after a 0.3 per cent drop the month before – a marginally bigger rise than [...]
Slump expected as house prices tumble in July August 6, 2012 HOUSE prices across the UK dived by 0.6 per cent last month, according to a widely-regarded survey released yesterday, with analysts warning that the rest of 2012 will remain gloomy for the sector. Prices in three months to July were flat compared to the previous three months. Halifax, which compiles the data, said that prices [...]
Nationwide’s warning over Euro turmoil November 22, 2011 THE EUROZONE crisis is forcing up the cost of UK retail deposits, the chief executive of Nationwide warned yesterday as the lending giant reported a rise in profits. Graham Beale said the added funding costs would be felt for as long as the single currency remained mired in a sovereign debt problem. “Whilst the initial [...]
Smaller rivals pick up business after rates scam July 8, 2012 SMALLER banks and building societies are benefiting from increased current account business as consumers become disillusioned with big banks. Metro Bank saw a 30 per cent increase in new account enquiries last week, and has increased call centre manpower by 13 per cent to cope with demand. It typically opens 1,500-2,000 new accounts each week. [...]
Skyfall takes Bond to new heights October 25, 2012 FILM SKYFALL Cert 12A | **** AFter deftly eluding MGM’s creditors and safely delivering the Queen to the Olympic opening ceremony, James Bond is out of bankruptcy, off diplomatic protection detail, and back on the big screen for a superbly crafted and confident action thriller. With a dangerously unpredictable enemy bent on vengeance, Sam Mendes’ [...]
Is a third runway at Heathrow essential for ensuring the UK’s future economic growth? July 12, 2012 YES Simon Walker Day by day, the clamour for airport expansion in the UK is growing. Recent interventions by the likes of Sir Richard Branson, urging the Government to ditch their “farcical” outright refusal to consider a third runway at Heathrow, are just the latest in a long line of prominent and expert voices to [...]
LONDON WEEK AHEAD July 29, 2012 RESULTS season continues with a slew of banks, energy and leisure firms due to update this week, while the Bank of England’s monthly decision on interest rates is due on Thursday. Today’s biggest news comes in the form of interims from under-fire banking giant HSBC and household goods behemoth Reckitt Benckiser. The Bank is set [...]