These UK companies are creating technologies to make ageing more pleasant November 11, 2015 A handful of companies in London and the South East have been awarded backing to turn their healthcare inventions into reality. As part of the first ever MedTechSouthEast competition, 10 firms have been selected for their innovative designs to help elderly people stay independent for longer – a crucial development in an ageing society. The [...]
China’s third quarter GDP beats expectations, but it’s the weakest economic growth since 2009 October 19, 2015 China's economy grew by more than expected in the third quarter of this year, easing fears that it is slowing at a greater pace than previously thought. China's statistics bureau said this morning that the country's gross domestic product increased 6.9 per cent between July and September from a year ago, beating analysts' estimates for 6.8 [...]
Flybe revenues, profits up as turnaround starts to soar November 11, 2015 Flybe's turnaround is starting to soar, with the budget airline returning to profitability as sales rise in the first half. The figures Flybe's group revenues were up 10.3 per cent to £339.6m for the six months to 30 September, while the firm turned last year's £3.3m loss into a £22.9m profit. Cash generation improved, thanks [...]
EU referendum: London will be stronger if the UK remains as a semi-detached member of the club April 7, 2016 Any freedom gained by Brexit will come at the expense of opportunity and London will bear the brunt if Britain votes to leave. London will be stronger if the UK remains as a semi-detached but full member of the club, as negotiated by Prime Minister David Cameron in his reform deal. London has flourished by being [...]
Taylor Wimpey’s share price rises as it says there is a healthy backdrop to UK housing market and reports sales rates up against last year November 16, 2015 Taylor Wimpey is optimistic about the UK housing market, even with the prospect of an interest rate rise next year. Today it said it expects to improve its operating profit margin in 2015. The figures Britain's second largest housebuilder said sales rates for the year to date are ahead of last year, at 0.76 sales per outlet per week. [...]
With over 85 per cent of Northern Rock assets back in private hands, has Britain now recovered from the financial crisis? November 15, 2015 James Butterfill, head of research & investment strategy at ETF Securities, says Yes. One key measure to ascertain if this is true is to look at the growth in household take home pay after inflation. After the initial crisis in 2009, take home pay fell and its growth stayed negative for most industry and government [...]
Office fit outs: Why asset finance is the smart choice January 18, 2016 The London property market is booming – and it’s not just the residential sector. The demand for office space in the capital is pushing up rents and this is having a significant impact on companies’ business strategies. Many firms are looking to move their headquarters out of London to more affordable locations, retaining small offices [...]
Nationwide house price index: UK housing supply at its lowest level since 1970s November 27, 2015 Annual house price growth slowed to a five-month low in November – despite the number of available homes on the market falling to a level not seen since the 1970s. Nationwide's house price index showed house prices increased 0.1 per cent in November, meaning the annual growth rate fell from 3.9 per cent a month earlier to 3.7 per cent. [...]
IMF warns world economic outlook at risk from $18 trillion emerging market debt pile October 7, 2015 Global financial stability is “not yet assured”, the International Monetary Fund has warned, as it said emerging market debt had more than quadrupled over the last decade. The stark warning, from the director of the IMF’s Monetary and Capital Markets Department Jose Vinals, comes just a day after the IMF said the outlook for emerging [...]
Calls for sharing economy to be counted in official ONS figures January 25, 2016 Official measures of UK productivity and economic growth are failing to take into account the contribution of the sharing economy, according to a new report calling for a radical overhaul of statistics. The report, authored by economist Diane Coyle in conjunction with Sharing Economy UK (SEUK) and Airbnb, says a lack of measurement of the growing sector, epitomised by [...]