A luddite levy on online shopping won’t help the high street October 23, 2018 Time and time again over the past few months, we’ve heard prominent figures in the retail world call for a special sales tax on online companies to help prop up their struggling sector, from the Tesco chief executive Dave Lewis, to the New West End Company that represents Selfridges and Marks & Spencer. Chancellor Philip [...]
Interactive Investor set to pay £40m for Alliance Trust Savings October 22, 2018 Interactive Investor, the UK's second largest investment platform, has bought rival Alliance Trust Savings in a £40m deal. After the sale the combined business will have £35bn assets under management and the deal includes the sale of Alliance Trust's headquarters in Dundee. Read more: Investment platform AJ Bell boosts customers ahead of float London-based Interactive Investor is majority [...]
Audit’s perfect storm: How bean counters found themselves at the centre of a public uproar October 21, 2018 On the the surface, there is little reason for audit to get the blood pumping. The reality, however, is quite different, and threatens to present the sector’s biggest players – sprawling multi-nationals used to finding that all news is good news when you count the beans – with the toughest challenge they have seen in [...]
Hamleys’ Chinese owner eyes exit with strategic review of toy shop October 21, 2018 Hamleys’ Chinese owner is considering a sale of the toymaker a week after it posted a 500 per cent decrease in profits. C.banner, which acquired Hamleys for around £100m in 2015, has started a strategic review after being approached by potential buyers. Read more: Hamleys replaces finance chief after disappointing results However it is unlikely [...]
New homes: Our pick of the new builds going on sale in London this weekend October 19, 2018 New developments on the market this week South Quay Plaza, Isle of Dogs From £999,500 Five skyscraping apartments go on sale today at a landmark tower close to South Dock DLR station. The Midnight Collection comprises five new build apartments ranging from one to three bedrooms on the 64th floor, the highest residences before the [...]
Focus On Maida Vale: Communal gardens are key to understanding this area’s desirability October 19, 2018 Home to a delightful canalside community known as Little Venice, Maida Vale is right up there with Hampstead as one of the most exclusive and visually attractive places to live in west London. Houses on roads close to the canal go for between £20-25m, accounting for three of the top 100 most expensive property sales [...]
UK house prices: Growth slows again, falling to a six-year low in September as London sees prices plummet October 19, 2018 UK house price growth slowed again in September, down to its lowest annual rate in six and a half years at 0.9 per cent. The south east became the first region to report negative annual growth, with house prices dropping a modest 0.1 per cent year on year, according to Your Move’s House Price Index. [...]
A prank left in tatters: Banksy reveals auction shredding did not go to plan October 18, 2018 The art world was captivated earlier this month when a painting by Banksy was partially shredded at an auction. Now, however, it seems that the infamous stunt was not one that went according to plan. A new video released today reveals that Banksy’s intentions had been to destroy the entire artwork, known as Girl with Balloon, [...]
Charity case: Don’t lose sight of the small causes October 18, 2018 There is a healthy degree of scepticism around corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities. Too often, tin rattling or an annual bake sale can seem little more than a get-out clause from engaging in more meaningful activity that requires more effort and commitment. It is tempting for companies to champion high-profile charities that have brand recognition [...]
Games Workshop shares slip after it warns of uncertainties in upcoming trading periods October 18, 2018 Shares in model retailer Games Workshop fell more than six per cent this morning after it warned of “uncertainties in the trading periods ahead for the rest of the 2018/19 financial year”. In a trading update this morning Games Workshop said trading to 7 October had continued well with sales ahead of the same period [...]