Halifax reveals a surprise June house price rise July 5, 2012 House prices rose in June bucking the overall downward trend, according to a closely-watched gauge. Halifax’s house price index shot up one per cent in June compared to May, although overall it dropped by 0.5 per cent year-on-year. However, the annual change is a much less sharp drop than the falls seen a year ago, [...]
Manufacturing rebound hints at recovery in the second quarter May 10, 2012 MANUFACTURING output rebounded in March, official figures showed yesterday, raising hopes that the economy may be emerging from recession. However, the month’s warm weather hit overall industrial production as energy consumption fell, and Nationwide data out today shows consumer confidence remains subdued, underlining the sluggish nature of any recovery. Factory output rose 0.9 per cent [...]
Microsoft said to fancy $1bn social network June 14, 2012 ENTERPRISE social network Yammer could be snapped up by tech giant Microsoft in a $1bn deal announced as soon as today, according to reports. Set up by former PayPal chief operating officer David Sacks in 2008, Yammer is used for private communication within organisations, unlike public microblogging tool Twitter or friends-based social network Facebook. Microsoft’s step [...]
UK economy hit by fresh blows August 1, 2012 THE UK’S recession looks set to deepen even further after manufacturing output fell in July at its fastest rate for more than three years, according to an influential survey published yesterday. It came as fears mounted that the Olympics are failing to deliver the boost that some economists had hoped for – and in fact are [...]
Leon banking on appetite of hungry savers July 8, 2012 HUNGRY investors in search of an investment in a falafel wrap may find solace in fast-food chain Leon’s new retail bond. Nicknamed the Leon bond, the three-year fixed-term corporate bond pays an annual coupon of between 10 to 15 per cent in £eon Pounds, depending on the amount invested, which can be redeemed at the [...]
To nest or invest is the crucial decision buyers must make September 9, 2012 FOR most, buying a property is likely to be the most expensive purchase that they will ever make. As such, one of the key decisions that buyers face is where to buy their property. The average price of a London property currently stands at £302,000, according to Nationwide. But the performance of house prices have [...]
House prices fall again in April as recession crushes consumers May 3, 2012 HOUSE prices fell again in April, Nationwide revealed yesterday, as economists warned the new recession will keep the market very weak. Prices fell 0.2 per cent last month to an average of £164,134, following a one per cent fall in March. That brings prices down 0.9 per cent on the year, in part because the [...]
Clintons set to shut 350 shops May 16, 2012 CLINTON Cards will close 350 stores across the UK, leading to the loss of 2,800 jobs, administrators Zolfo Cooper revealed yesterday. The high street retailer entered administration on 9 May after defaulting on loan repayments. Zolfo Cooper yesterday said Clinton Cards is “burdened with an untenable retail estate” and 350 of its 784 stores nationwide [...]
Clintons set to shut 350 shops May 16, 2012 CLINTON Cards will close 350 stores across the UK, leading to the loss of 2,800 jobs, administrators Zolfo Cooper revealed yesterday. The high street retailer entered administration on 9 May after defaulting on loan repayments. Zolfo Cooper yesterday said Clinton Cards is “burdened with an untenable retail estate” and 350 of its 784 stores nationwide [...]
Vodafone and Telefonica to set up shared 4G grid June 7, 2012 Mobile operators Vodafone and Telefonica announced plans to create one shared grid in Britain to improve existing coverage and speed the roll out of superfast broadband networks. The two groups, who already had an agreement to share new network sites, said they would strengthen their partnership by pooling their basic network infrastructure to take their [...]