Travis Perkins profits slip 31 per cent amid slow down in house building August 1, 2023 Travis Perkins blamed a weak market for its falling revenues as the home improvement retailer struggles to cope with dwindling sales and a tough economic climate. In its half year results, the tools supplier said revenue slipped 2.5 per cent to £2.5bn and adjusted operating profits fell 31 per cent to £112m. A slowdown in [...]
Consumer confidence shows ‘renewed optimism’ against falling core inflation August 25, 2023 Consumer confidence is showing “renewed optimism” against a backdrop of falling core inflation, figures suggest. GfK’s long-running Consumer Confidence Index improved five points in August, with all measures reversing the drop seen in July, although it remains firmly in negative territory at minus 25. Confidence in the general economic situation for the next 12 months [...]
UK factories shed workers as higher costs and weaker spending pound finances May 2, 2023 British factories are shedding workers after being pounded by soaring costs and weaker spending from customers, according to a closely-watched survey. S&P Global and the Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply’s (CIPS) final purchasing managers’ index (PMI) for the UK manufacturing sector came in at 47.8 points last month, above an earlier reading of 46.6 [...]
Barclays shares slide after lowering interest guidance for full year despite beating expectations July 27, 2023 Barclays shares dropped after the lender said it expects the tailwind from rising interest rates to be slowing, despite beating expectations in the second quarter. In the three months to June, Barclays’ profit rose 31 per cent to nearly £2bn, slightly higher than the £1.9bn analysts had predicted. On the back of the results, Barclays [...]
Housebuilders tank on stock market with investors ‘nervous’ about mortgage rates June 20, 2022 Housebuilders lead the London Stock Exchange’s top fallers today, after the latest house price data cautioned the tightening of purse strings amid a cost of living crisis. Barratt Developments and Berkeley Group led the descent, falling a little over four per cent each. While Persimmon dove 3.7 per cent, Ashtead slipped 2.8 per cent and [...]
FTSE 100 close: London ends week flat after house price slump and US payroll figures September 1, 2023 London's FTSE 100 index started Friday in the green on a quiet results day, as investors look to US payroll figures after lunch for signals of more rate hikes.
FTSE finance chiefs: Rates, inflation and growth squeeze C-suite confidence July 17, 2023 Ratcheting up interest rate expectations and intense fears about sticky inflation has hobbled FTSE finance chiefs’ optimism, a closely watched survey out today shows. Confidence among chief financial officers (CFO) of FTSE-listed companies has tumbled over the last quarter, according to consultancy Deloitte. Optimism among money managers at Britain’s largest businesses has eroded to net [...]
London tenants continue to suffer as rent reaches £597 per week August 14, 2023 The amount Londoners fork out on rent grew 12 per cent year-on-year in July, new figures show, topping £597 per week. According to data from London estate agent Foxtons, July saw an average of 21 rental applicants per new home arriving on the market, an 18 per cent increase month-on-month, however a 12 per cent [...]
Brits untroubled by rising mortgage rates as property transactions rise December 21, 2022 Monthly property transactions have increased across the UK and returned to pre-pandemic levels despite the ongoing cost of living crisis. Today, HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) published statistics indicating that monthly property transactions in the UK above £40,000 have increased consecutively over the past nine months. Frances McDonald, research analyst at Savills said: “In light [...]
House prices: Zoopla says UK property market is off to ‘slow burn start’ with London flats in most demand January 30, 2023 The housing market in the UK has got off to a slow in 2023 with demand for cheaper, smaller properties on the rise as recession fears continue to wobble the market, according to estate agent Zoopla. Zoopla’s house price index appeared to show that buyers were holding off from entering the market and were biding [...]