Greece and miners’ rally help London surge to record high – London Report February 24, 2015 Britain’s top equity index yesterday hit a record high as a rally in mining companies helped the three-decade-old blue chip index to surpass its previous high, set in late 1999. Reports that Greece had secured a lifeline from its creditors and increasing belief that the UK’s economic recovery was gaining momentum also helped the index [...]
FTSE rebounds on expectations of European QE – London Report January 7, 2015 Britain’s top equity index gained nearly one per cent yesterday, rebounding from a three-week low as Eurozone consumer price data raised expectations of new stimulus from the European Central Bank. The blue chip FTSE 100 index, which had fallen in the last three sessions and hit its lowest since mid-December on Tuesday, finished 53.32 points, [...]
Barratt, Taylor Wimpey and Bellway among 16 national house builders to sign up to government’s Starter Homes initiative December 15, 2014 Some of the UK's biggest property developers have signed up to a new government scheme designed to help first-time buyers get a foot on the ladder. Avant, Barratt, Taylor Wimpey and Bellway are among 16 house builders to have put their name to the scheme, which offers first-time buyers under the age of 40 [...]
Persimmon profits rise on UK housing boom August 19, 2014 Persimmon is the latest housebuilder to benefit from the UK's housing market recovery, reporting a sharp rise in profit before tax for the six months to 30 June. Pre-tax profit went up by 57 per cent to £208.9m for the period, compared to £132.9m the year before. New home sales went up by [...]
A stunning glimpse into Japan’s past along the magnificent Nakasendo Way March 1, 2015 Japan’s sleek Shinkansen has been the country’s fastest mode of transport since it launched 50 years ago, its aerodynamic nose slicing through the rugged landscape. Before that, if you wanted to quickly traverse the country you would take the Nakasendo Way, one of five ancient highways built during the Edo period (1603-1868). Winding through the [...]
Manufacturing figures point to slower growth – London Report November 2, 2014 MANUFACTURING figures due out today are likely to show a loss of momentum in the UK economy’s growth. The manufacturing purchasing managers’ survey for October is forecast to sit at 51.5, the same as for September and weaker than the rates of 52.2 in August and 54.7 in July. A reading of 50 shows no [...]
London Report: Rate watchers to eye MPC minutes to see if dissent surfaces August 17, 2014 THERE will be keen interest in the details of the latest set of MPC minutes, out on Wednesday. The main question will be: does the MPC remain unanimous in its stance, or was there some dissent for the first time against Mark Carney? Today will see interim reports from Amlin, Bovis Homes Group, Clarkson and [...]
Banker belt boom outside London will be a boon to Bovis Homes – Bottom Line August 18, 2014 Six weeks ago I wrote on these pages that I thought there was “scope for housebuilders to continue their bull run”. Bovis Homes is thus well and truly in my good books. Yesterday’s strong set of results boosted its share price, which is now 7.5 per cent higher than when I penned my last bullish [...]
Housebuilders shares surging after Bank of England announcement June 26, 2014 Shares in housing builders Persimmon and Barrett Homes have jumped 58p (4.84 per cent) and 16.4p (4.74 per cent) respectively at pixel time after news the Bank of England would not be imposing the tight restrictions some had feared. The new mortgage controls have been introduced to temper a possibly overheating market, but with some [...]
Persimmon in call for green belt shake-up July 2, 2014 THE CHIEF executive of Britain’s second largest housebuilder said a review of the green belt system was “inevitable” to meet the UK’s housing shortage as the group posted a double-digit surge in revenues. Jeff Fairburn said the green belt was “the last opportunity” to deliver the number of homes the country must build each year [...]