Sotheby’s wine sales hit $100m in record-breaking year for fine wines at auction December 17, 2018 Annual wine sales at Sotheby's this year surpassed $100m (£79.35m) for the first time, driven by growth in its retail arm and record-breaking auction sales. Earlier this year, the auction house broke the record for the most expensive bottle of wine ever sold under the hammer with the $558,000 sale of a 1945 Romanée Conti Burgandy wine. Another bottle of the same wine sold [...]
London house sales drop over political uncertainty, according to Rightmove data December 17, 2018 Londoners are hesitant to sell their homes due to political uncertainty, according to new research. The number of properties that were brought to market this month was down 19 per cent on the same period last year, leading to a smaller than usual December price drop of 1.8 per cent. Inner London home owners were [...]
Billionaire Mike Ashley and The Entertainer may bid for iconic toy store Hamleys December 14, 2018 Sports Direct owner Mike Ashley and British toy retailer The Entertainer are among the bidders interested in a takeover of Hamleys, according to a report. The world's biggest toy shop has been owned by Chinese fashion conglomerate C.banner since 2015, but Sky News reported this morning that bids are now being considered for an acquisition [...]
Balfour Beatty set to grow revenues against backdrop of struggling construction rivals December 14, 2018 Balfour Beatty is on course to beat expectations after selling off more of its infrastructure investment stakes in December, the engineering firm said today. The engineering firm expects to net about £65m in profit from the disposals over the full year, which come under its Build to Last transformation programme that will also see it sell [...]
Purplebricks cuts forecasts despite leap in revenue amid ‘challenging’ market conditions December 13, 2018 Online estate agent Purplebricks has slashed the upper end of its forecasts this morning, as the firm echoed the concerns of its industry rivals over the tough headwinds facing Britain’s property market. The Aim-listed firm said today that it was projecting full-year revenues of between £165-175m, compared with a previous forecast of £165-185m. However, in [...]
Brexit jitters dampen London property market as activity slumps, says Rics December 13, 2018 Fresh fears for the future of London’s subdued housing market have been brought to light this morning, with a new closely-followed survey suggesting that a growing number of the capital's buyers and sellers are sitting tight as Brexit jitters mount. Painting a downbeat picture for the upcoming months within London’s residential property market, the Royal [...]
Focus On Pimlico: This central spot is the perfect place to pick up a period conversion flat and benefit from the re-development of Victoria December 11, 2018 In London, you often have to make the choice, whether to live in a traditional part of town that’s earned its towering house prices, but isn’t likely to soar again anytime soon; or take a punt on an up-and-coming part of town that’s better value and has the potential for price growth. Luckily, with Pimlico, [...]
New homes: Our pick of the new builds going on sale in London this week December 11, 2018 New developments on the market this week Hampstead Manor, Hampstead £1.75m (show apartment asking price) A show apartment launched this week in a key heritage restoration project in north west London. Part of a larger scheme that also includes new builds, this two bedroom home is in a converted building called Dudin Brown, which dates [...]
UK house price growth slumps to six-year low December 7, 2018 UK house prices grew by their weakest rate in almost six years last month, according to figures released today. Boasting just 0.3 per cent growth in the three months to the end of November compared to the same period last year, house prices fell to their lowest growth since December 2012, according to Halifax. House [...]
Housebuilder Berkeley Group boosts full-year profit guidance December 7, 2018 Housebuilder Berkeley Group has increased its pre-tax profit guidance for the current financial year by more than five per cent, it said today. This comes despite its results for the first half of the year showing its pre-tax profit fell by a quarter compared to the same period last year, dropping from £539.9m to £401.2m. [...]