Risk of missing housing targets if modern methods are not embraced July 3, 2019 An influential group of MPs has warned the government that it risks missing its target to build 300,000 homes a year by the mid-2020s if it does not shrug off a reliance on traditional construction methods. Fears over a current shortage of housing have been underlined in a new report from the housing, communities and [...]
St Modwen boosts profit on growth in logistics sector July 2, 2019 FTSE 250 property developer St Modwen boosted profit in the first half of 2019 driven by its expansion in the warehouse and logistics sector. The figures Profit for the six months to the end of May was £23.1m, up from £20.8m compared to the first half of 2018. Basic earnings per share increased from 9.4p [...]
Bain closes in on $4bn takeover of WPP data firm Kantar July 2, 2019 Bain Capital has entered into exclusive discussions to buy a majority stake in WPP’s data analytics firm Kantar in a deal worth roughly $4bn (£3.2bn). Read more: WPP to sell stake in sports marketing firm Chime Communications The deal would bring to an end a lengthy auction process which has seen bids from a series [...]
Fintech firm Revolut leads list of UK’s top 100 startups of 2019 July 1, 2019 Challenger bank Revolut has claimed first place in a list of the UK’s top 100 startups of 2019, it was revealed today. British fintech startup Revolut topped Startups.co.uk’s Startups 100 list for 2019, as it counts 5m customers around Europe and the UK. Energy startup Igloo placed second, while retail startup Trouva took third place. [...]
Bank of England: Annual consumer credit growth slows to five-year low July 1, 2019 Consumer credit growth slowed to a five-year low in May, as shoppers showed more caution over personal borrowing when compared to the same time last year. New figures released from the Bank of England (BoE) show year-on-year unsecured consumer credit growth rose by 5.6 per cent in May, slowing from 5.9 per cent in the [...]
Carpetright shares: Undervalued or overexcited? July 1, 2019 By Graeme Evans from interactive investor. Carpetright’s peak trading period straddles the next Brexit deadline, but speculators are not put off. Carpetright (LSE:CPR) and its threadbare share price drew interest from speculative investors last week amid signs that the drastic measures needed for its survival are starting to pay off. While early days in the turnaround, the floor covering [...]
WPP to sell stake in sports marketing firm Chime Communications June 30, 2019 Advertising group WPP is set to sell its stake in sports marketing agency Chime Communications in its latest move to slim down the business. WPP will sell its 25 per cent stake in Chime to US investment firm Providence Equity Partners, which holds the remaining 75 per cent, for £50m. Read more: WPP confirms sale [...]
French Connection extends sale deadline June 28, 2019 French Connection has extended the deadline to complete a sale as the retailer confirmed it was in talks with a number of interested parties. The fashion brand had expected to close the deal in the first half of this year but has now pushed the date back to September. Read more: Sales fall again at [...]
Reforms to planning and Help-to-Buy unveiled by government June 27, 2019 A shake-up of Britain’s planning system that will let councils approve applications more quickly and enforce tougher Help to Buy rules on developers was unveiled today. Housing secretary James Brokenshire has revealed plans to introduce new quality controls on housebuilders, while also pledging to prevent developers from selling leasehold houses through its Help to Buy [...]
DEBATE: Is the obsessive focus from politicians on increasing home ownership misguided? June 26, 2019 Is the obsessive focus from politicians on increasing home ownership misguided? Clive Docwra, managing director of McBains, says YES. Politicians are obsessed with home ownership, including both contenders for Prime Minister. Jeremy Hunt has put a new “right to own” policy at the heart of his bid, while Boris Johnson has backed replacing Help to [...]