Don’t overplay the similarities between Brexit voters and Geert Wilders’ Dutch populists March 14, 2017 In 2016, both Brexit and Trump took the markets by surprise. Will the so-called “rise of populism” continue into 2017? Its first significant electoral test is the Dutch general election tomorrow, with all eyes on Geert Wilders. A “win” for his populist Freedom Party is securing the most votes and occupying the most seats in the [...]
As Lloyds posts its highest profit in a decade, have British banks got over the financial crisis? February 23, 2017 Fahad Kamal, senior market strategist at Kleinwort Hambros, says Yes. In the latest stress tests conducted by the European Banking Authority, only two of the 51 banks tested – neither British – would fall below the minimum capital level required in an “adverse” scenario. Admittedly, some UK banks still have a hangover from the pre-crisis [...]
Bank of America Merrill Lynch is looking for new space in the City despite Brexit uncertainty February 5, 2017 Bank of America Merrill Lynch (BAML) has started its search for new office space despite the uncertainty of the City of London's future following the Brexit vote. The US banking giant is currently located near St Paul's Cathedral, but as its lease expires in 2022, the bank has started looking at other buildings that could [...]
UK’s rising population will support the housing market, says Moody’s November 2, 2015 The UK and Ireland’s expanding population combined with both countries’ housing supply shortage and “robust” economic growth will support demand and property prices, Moody’s Investors Service has said this morning. Moody's research comes amid warnings from UBS economists last week that London's property market is on the verge of bubble that could pop soon after [...]
Editor’s Notes: Only a lack of ambition can hold Britain back, says the Legatum Institute’s researcher tasked with finding the upside of the Brexit vote March 17, 2017 Britain faces an enormous challenge in the wake of Brexit, but the prize is more than worth the fight. That’s according to one experienced former trade negotiator who now finds himself at the heart of the UK’s trade debate. Shanker Singham is director of economic policy and prosperity studies at the Legatum Institute in London. He’s [...]
Deliveroo teams up with Heineken to create new booze delivery brand November 16, 2016 Deliveroo has announced a new partnership with Heineken which will see the two launch a new brand, Brew House, through which customers will be able to order beer and cider directly to their homes. Brew House launches in London today, and will be rolled out across the rest of the UK by the end of this year, [...]
Bag a bargain: Here’s how much high-end London house prices fell last year January 5, 2017 Got a couple of million going spare? You could bag a bargain in the capital, after new research suggested top-end house prices fell 6.9 per cent year-on-year in the final quarter of 2016. Research by Savills suggested house prices in so-called prime central London, high-end areas including Mayfair, Belgravia and Chelsea, fell 2.2 per cent during [...]
Mortgage lending falls more than £1bn in October November 17, 2016 Mortgage lending in the UK dipped by £1.2bn in October compared with the previous year, according to data from the Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML). But despite the five per cent year-on-year decline, the figures were slightly above the trend for the last six months, in which mortgage lending averaged £20.1bn. They held on to post [...]
Brickmaker Ibstock boosted by increased housebuilder demand and weak sterling January 16, 2017 Ibstock shares opened broadly flat this morning after announcing earnings would be in line with forecasts, with sales supported by strong second half demand the company said in its annual trading update. The figures The hard data is to come but the firm's trading update for the year to the December, today trailed the headlines. Group [...]
Theresa May at Davos adds another boost to the pound to send the FTSE 100 down January 19, 2017 Prime Minister Theresa May’s speech in Davos gave sterling another boost in morning trading, two days after her Brexit negotiation details pushed the pound to its biggest one-day gain since 1993. May told an audience of global business leaders and bankers post-Brexit Britain will aim to boost industry, which brings the benefits of globalisation to ordinary [...]