The return of the mega project helps value of construction schemes hit £74bn in 2015 January 21, 2016 Construction projects soared by £10bn in value last year to £74bn thanks to a resurgence in large-scale schemes. The number of projects commissioned in 2015 decreased by 4.7 per cent year-on-year to under 12,000. However, the total value increased overall as schemes grew bigger, with the average project value rising by 18 per cent to [...]
At the close: FTSE 100 index closes higher as the oil price rises with banks’ and miners’ share prices including Anglo American and Glencore rising despite housebuilders and HSBC’s share price falling February 22, 2016 The FTSE 100 index closed higher today after the price of oil rose and there was a bounce-back in mining companies and banking shares. The UK's blue-chip index rose 1.47 per cent to 6,037 points, led higher by Glencore and Anglo American. "Rallying commodity prices from crude oil to copper have boosted the beaten up [...]
Armistice Day 2015 in pictures: London falls silent to remember war dead in Trafalgar Square, Whitehall, the City of London and Woolwich November 11, 2015 Londoners marked Armistice Day with two minutes' silence throughout the capital this morning, with services taking place in churches and businesses as well as some of the capital's landmarks. Workers from the City of London Corporation and City of London Police gathered in Guildhall Yard to observe the two minutes' silence. #cityoflondon prepares to honour [...]
Bubble fears as average London property hits £600,000 with outer boroughs seeing highest rises December 10, 2015 The average price of a London property is now just shy of £600,000, reigniting fears of a bubble and prompting talk of a market correction. The average London house price was £598,173 in October, 5.6 per cent higher than the same month last year, according to figures released today by estate agents Your Move and Reeds [...]
Gold-plated Armani loos, a golden staircase and 16th century timber flooring: Here’s London’s most expensive office October 19, 2015 After all the hysteria over London's super-prime housing market, this was always bound to happen: a developer has unveiled London's swankiest offices. If you're running a business on any kind of budget, look away now… The office building, at 54 Brooks Mews, is in the middle of Mayfair (natch), and has been developed by Enstar [...]
Soulcycle, Insanity, CrossFit: Where do fitness fads and cults come from? January 25, 2016 Cult workout regimes are big business, whether it's Insanity's Shaun Thomson raking in millions or the cult of CrossFit recruiting evangelical members across the globe. We take a look at where they started. Insanity The Insanity workout was founded when BeachBody, a Californian fitness company, started searching for a charismatic trainer and came across Shaun Thomson, [...]
The bear is back: Experts warn the FTSE 100 is on the brink as global market volatility continues January 19, 2016 Fears that the FTSE 100 could be dragged into bear market territory deepened yesterday as global equities were gripped by volatility in another day of torrid trading. The FTSE 100 has so far managed to fend off falling into the bear trap, trading around 19 per cent off its all time high of 7,103 in April [...]
London mayoral election 2016 candidates Zac Goldsmith and Sadiq Khan warn chancellor George Osborne on police cuts November 19, 2015 Conservative London mayoral candidate Zac Goldsmith said last night that the government is likely to back down on police funding cuts in the wake of the Paris terror attacks. Chancellor George Osborne is widely expected to swing the axe on policing in next week's Autumn Statement but pressure is mounting on him to back track [...]
As Transport for London and Virgin Media add free wifi to 100 more Tube stations, data use leaps to 20 terabytes a day November 10, 2015 Avast, social media fans: you need never miss out on a Snapchat again, after Transport for London (TfL) and Virgin Media added 100 new stations to their underground wifi network. Yep, everyone from those alighting in Alperton to those voyaging from Victoria Coach Station will henceforth be able to access wifi. The scheme is now available [...]
Lord Mayor’s Show London 2015 route: Where to watch the 800th special procession and firework displays on 14 November November 10, 2015 This weekend marks the 800th year of the Lord Mayor's Show, which means the City of London is going all-out to celebrate. There will be events all day throughout to commemorate the year King John was persuaded to issue a royal charter, enabling the City of London to elect its own mayor. Given the King's tenuous position [...]