My year-ahead predictions: Divergence will be a crucial theme December 16, 2014 For the most part, 2014 has been volatile for global financial markets, with several key markets likely to record losses for the year. In the context of a recovering world economy, it has been disappointing. We predict more of the same next year, with the US and UK economies doing well, and emerging markets and [...]
Zoopla boss Alex Chesterman isn’t fazed by Agents’ Mutual launch November 25, 2014 Agents’ Mutual doesn’t faze the property portal boss Alex Chesterman isn’t worried by the upcoming launch of what could be Zoopla’s biggest challenge to date, Agents’ Mutual, a property site led by several major estate agents launching in January. “The majority of estate agents are not participating in Agents’ Mutual,” he says. “So far [it [...]
London property prices: Slowing demand in the capital drives national market dip but it’s “temporary” November 13, 2014 A fall in demand for houses from new buyers in London is leading a dip in the national housing market as house price growth remains sluggish. Demand fell for the fourth consecutive month in October, according to the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (Rics) but the number of houses coming on to the market remained [...]
Office building supports boom in construction November 3, 2014 CONSTRUCTION activity is making a sustained recovery with the commercial sector providing a boost, new data released today shows. The Glenigan index, produced by construction analysts Glenigan, was four per cent higher for November than it was a year ago. The figure is up from three per cent in October and marks 17 consecutive months [...]
UK business confidence hit by general election and Eurozone worry November 3, 2014 Uncertainty surrounding the outcome of the general election, the threat of a skills shortage, and a weak Eurozone has hit UK business confidence – but it is still high by historic standards. A confidence index produced by the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW) fell to 28.6 for the fourth quarter of [...]
Mark Carney on interest rate rises, Eurozone weakness and the 2015 general election October 13, 2014 Is Bank of England governor Mark Carney on a media blitz? He’s already taken the opportunity to tell bank chiefs to face up to new laws which make them legally responsible for any wrongdoing. And, while attending the annual meeting of the International Monetary Fund in Washington, he’s also given interviews to CNBC and CNN making clear that eurozone weakness and [...]
Could Ukip really be the ”second party of the north after Labour” like Farage claims? September 28, 2014 Ukip leader Nigel Farage today claimed his party was second only to Labour in the North of England, having increased support since the Barnsley by-election three years ago. Writing in the Independent ahead of his speech at today’s Ukip party conference, Farage said the party planned to take on Labour in the northern heartlands, claiming [...]
Ukip conference 2014: Nigel Farage sets out tax-cutting policies September 26, 2014 Ukip has gathered in Doncaster for its last party conference before next year's general election. The timing is somewhat unfortunate for Nigel Farage's eurosceptic party with much of the media's attention focused on the upcoming vote on whether Britain will join airstrikes against ISIS. However, that won't stop the party putting forward some eyecatching policies to [...]
Boris Johnson will be the Conservative candidate in Uxbridge September 13, 2014 Cameron's star player will be on the field in 2015, after he was selected to contest the safe Tory seat in Uxbridge and South Ruislip. Johnson professed himself "thrilled" and said he expected the Tories to win in the general election in 2015. The Mayor of London, currently serving his second term in the post, [...]
Latin America investing: Politics counts – Investment Comment August 20, 2014 This year has proven that, when it comes to emerging markets, politics matters. The recent wave of elections in India, Colombia, and Indonesia, alongside the 2012 vote in Mexico and the upcoming Brazilian general elections, have been (and will be) crucial for countries that need serious structural reform to lay the foundations for sustainable long-term [...]