What will happen to UK equities if we leave the European Union? June 21, 2016 The pound and the FTSE soared yesterday, as the Remain camp wrestled back its lead in the polls. But the outcome of Thursday’s EU referendum is far from clear, with pundits saying that voter turnout will be pivotal in determining whether the UK stays or leaves. If Article 50 is triggered and sterling dives, what should [...]
City Moves for 15 June 2016 | Who’s switching jobs June 15, 2016 JC Rathbone Associates Risk management consultancy JC Rathbone Associates (JCRA) has appointed Shripal Shah as director of real estate debt advisory. Shripal will join JCRA in August following 12 years at HSBC where he was head of real estate finance for the UK and the Middle East. At HSBC he was involved in number of [...]
City Moves for 2 August 2016 | Who’s switching jobs August 2, 2016 Legal & General Capital Legal & General Capital has appointed Lauren Aitchison as head of strategic land. Reporting to James Lidgate, director of housing, Lauren will lead the management and utilisation of LGC’s extensive land portfolio with potential for residential and commercial uses. Lauren will also be looking to identify new land investment opportunities, to [...]
Chancellor George Osborne warns again Brexit will hit house prices May 21, 2016 Chancellor George Osborne again warned Brexit will hit house prices, as an immediate economic shock hits financial markets. Speaking at the G7 finance ministers’ meeting in Japan, he said: "There would be a hit to the value of people’s homes by at least 10 per cent and up to 18 per cent … first-time buyers are hit because mortgage rates [...]
London housing crisis: Before you dismiss it, consider these six points that put the Greenbelt controversy into context April 26, 2016 Without a doubt, the UK housing crisis is most acute in the capital. Not a day goes by without a story on prices, the need for housing, or how to/ where to/ why to build more homes in London. Most recently, an old, controversial topic was re-introduced – building homes on the Greenbelt. The context for this debate is [...]
Brexit uncertainty could be weighing on consumer optimism March 31, 2016 Consumers have become more concerned over the UK’s economic outlook, according to new survey data released this morning. The confidence index produced by market researchers GFK remained at a score of zero in March. It is equal to February’s score of zero which was the lowest since 2014. Yet the index remains high by historical [...]
UK house prices drop in May: Tug of war as high price-to-earnings ratios and a lack of supply affect market June 4, 2015 UK house prices dropped for the first time in three months this May, according to data from Halifax. The market is feeling the effects of a tug of war as a lack of supply drives prices higher, stretching finances and affecting sentiment. The figures On a monthly basis – the most volatile measure – house [...]
Shock, horror? How the City reacted to today’s MPC’s interest rate inaction July 14, 2016 Another month, another deferral of The Big Interest Rate Move. That makes 88 so far. How is the City reacting? Two words: "we're cautious". Read more: Over to you, Carney – our MPC has voted to cut rates 1. "BoE is playing wait and see" Michael Martins, economist at the Institute of Directors: “The Bank [...]
What the quiet rise of Tooting says about the challenges facing Sadiq Khan as mayor May 31, 2016 As with all great cities, London has many faces. We all know the stereotypes: West London is for old money and new oligarchs, North London is for intellectuals and media luvvies, East London is for hipsters and entrepreneurs, and as for South London, well that’s not actually so clear. West and North have historically been [...]
MPs slam BT: “Put house in order or face split” July 19, 2016 BT has been told to put its "house in order" or face a split by a leading group of MPs. The telecoms firm has been accused of "significantly under investing" in its Openreach broadband, potentially to the tune of millions of pounds a year and of favouring "interests and priorities" of shareholders over customers. An investigation [...]