FTSE 100 set to drop five per cent over the year on mining, oil and banking stocks December 24, 2015 The FTSE 100 is set to end the year lower than it started thanks to disappointing performances in the mining, oil and gas and banking sectors – after it reached highs in excess of the 7,000-point mark in March, April and May. The index hovered around 6,250 points in early trading, up 0.1 per cent, [...]
Four stocks for your stocking: Which are the best shares to buy in 2016? December 23, 2015 These shares should bring some festive cheer. Experts reveal their top plays for 2016 and beyond C&C Irish company C&C is a producer of beer, cider and soft drinks. Alex Wright, manager of the Fidelity Special Situations fund, likes C&C for its strong market position, solid plans to expand abroad and the fact the alcohol [...]
Property, Taylor Wimpey and the US dollar: Here are some of the best investments of 2015 December 11, 2015 Investing is always a bit of gamble, creating both winners and losers. So what did this year's winners invest in? There are no prizes for guessing property continued to provide investors with a sizeable return throughout 2015. Demand continued to pull away from supply at a dizzying rate. However, growth in London's Luxury market slowed slightly. Anyone who was lucky [...]
Autumn Statement 2015: George Osborne doubles government housing budget November 25, 2015 Chancellor George Osborne has announced plans to increase housing in inner cities, sell off prisons to develop new homes, and plough cash into affordable housing schemes. Delivering his Autumn Statement, Osborne announced plans to double the housing budget, doubling the amount the government spends on affordable housing. "We choose to build. Above all, we choose to build [...]
FTSE 100 index opens higher as housebuilders rally on chancellor George Osborne’s Autumn Statement national housing budget plans November 25, 2015 The FTSE 100 index was up in mid-morning trading, led by housebuilders which cheered chancellor George Osborne's plans to double the national housing budget when he presents his five-year spending plan later today. The UK's top blue-chip index rose 0.82 per cent to 6,329 points. Persimmon led the index higher, its share price rising 6.06 per cent to 1,890p [...]
Persimmon share price falls despite profits jumping 44 per cent February 24, 2015 The figures Persimmon, the UK's biggest listed housebuilder, said underlying pre-tax profit jumped 44 per cent to £475m for the fiscal year 2014, up from £330m a year earlier. Full-year revenue rose 44 per cent to £475m, up from £330m in 2013. Completions – the number of homes built – rose 17 per cent to 13,509 while [...]
Persimmon bosses to share in £600m payout under long-term bonus scheme August 23, 2015 The bosses of Britain’s largest housebuilder Persimmon are in line for a potential £600m-plus windfall after a bumper year fuelled by the housing market recovery. More than 130 of the group’s senior management are expected to share in the award in December as part of a long-term incentive scheme launched three years ago. In total, [...]
Barratt Developments shares fall despite 20 per cent jump in sales November 11, 2015 Shares in Barratt Developments fell this morning despite Britain’s biggest housebuilder reporting a strong start to the autumn selling season thanks to “high levels of consumer demand” across all regions. Forward sales (including joint ventures) jumped by 20.7 per cent to £2.5bn across 11,033 plots in the 19 weeks to 8 November compared with £2.07bn [...]
Oldroyd in Islington review: the ultimate local restaurant December 22, 2015 344 Upper Street, N1, www.oldroydlondon.com FOOD ★★★★☆ | VALUE ★★★★★ | ATMOSPHERE ★★★★☆ Cost for two with booze: £85 Oldroyd may have been open a little while now, but what nicer way to end a nice year filled with nice meals than a trip to one of London’s very nicest restaurants. Not best, necessarily, but [...]
Persimmon reports jump in sales July 2, 2015 Housebuilder Persimmon has posted a jump in sales for the first half of the year, boosted by a pick-up in consumer confidence following the General Election. Legal completions increased by seven per cent to 6,855 new homes, while total revenue surged by 12 per cent to £1.34bn in the six months to 30 June. [...]