CWC enters new age with $750m Macau sell-off January 13, 2013 THE BOSS of Cable & Wireless Communications (CWC) hailed a “landmark day” for his company yesterday as the telecoms firm said it had sold its last asset in Asia. CWC said it had reached a deal with the Chinese state-owned operator Citic to sell its 51 per cent stake in CTM, its business in Macau, [...]
FTSE rally eludes UK grocery giants January 2, 2013 SUPERMARKET chains Morrisons and Sainsbury’s failed to make the most of UK investors’ New Year optimism yesterday after analysts raised fears that their performance had been less than stellar over the crucial Christmas trading period. Morrisons was one of just three fallers in the FTSE – closing down two per cent – after house broker [...]
US housing market continues to bounce back from collapse November 20, 2012 BUILDING permits, housing starts and housing completions in the United States grew rapidly into October, according to statistics out yesterday, signalling continued recovery in the US housing market. Permits were up 29.8 per cent in the year to October, the data from the US Housing Department and Census Bureau showed, even after a 2.7 per [...]
Mortgage approvals hit 10-month high January 4, 2013 The number of mortgage approvals hit their highest level since last January, data from the Bank of England showed today. Mortgage approvals hit 54,036 in November, the highest in 10 months, up from 53,071 in October. Before the 2008 financial crisis, monthly mortgage approvals ran at around 90,000, but the number of home sales has [...]
St James’s Place up as investors gain confidence January 24, 2013 INVESTMENT manager St James’s Place yesterday reported a substantial hike in fourth-quarter sales, as wealthy customers regained confidence in the economy. “Investor sentiment is up,” chief executive David Bellamy told City A.M. “People are settling down and adjusting to the new normal – interest rates will stay low. They’ve got to get on with their lives.” [...]
Topps Tiles enjoys first increase in overall revenue in five years November 27, 2012 FLOORING specialist Topps Tiles has managed to buck the gloom and return a £12.5m profit after like-for-like sales bounced back in the second half of the year. The FTSE 250 retailer reported a seven per cent slump in like-for-like sales in the first half but swung back into positive territory with a 3.5 per cent [...]
House of Fraser in Xmas spirit December 5, 2012 HOUSE OF FRASER, the department store group, yesterday revealed robust third quarter figures, boosted by the recent revamp of its stores. In an update issued to bondholders, the privately owned chain unveiled like-for-like sales growth of 5.4 per cent in the 13 weeks to 27 October. Online sales jumped by a staggering 50 per cent [...]
Positive housing market figures give boost to US recovery hopes November 19, 2012 AMERICA’S ailing housing market could be on the mend, according to two positive surveys released across the pond yesterday. US homebuilder sentiment rose for a seventh consecutive month in November and hit its highest level in over six years, according to one widely-regarded survey. The National Association of Home Builders’ housing market index, conducted with [...]
More info needed on house sales September 20, 2011 Energy efficiency ratings are studied by housebuyers, and sustainability information should be treated in the same way according to the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS). Environmental factors including energy, waste, water and flooding should be considered, the group said. Similarly, social issues like accessibility, health and wellbeing impact on housebuyers’ requirements but are not [...]
Labour now the firm favourite to triumph in 2015 elections January 29, 2013 YESTERDAY’S vote in Parliament killing off constituency reform will probably be remembered as the moment the Labour party won the next election. The issue is that the size of constituencies varies drastically. Because the Tories tend to get votes in large constituencies, while Labour is ahead in smaller ones, David Cameron’s party will need an [...]