Taylor Wimpey upbeat as order book swells in Spring selling season April 23, 2015 TAYLOR Wimpey said yesterday that it has enjoyed a strong start to the spring selling season thanks to high levels of customer confidence, driven by improving job prospects and more competition in the mortgage market. The housebuilder, which has 24 regional businesses across the UK, said its total order book has grown by 24 per [...]
Halifax house price index: What tightening conditions? House price growth hits its highest since last August November 5, 2015 Year-on-year house price growth hit 9.7 per cent in the three months to October, according Halifax's house price index – its highest since August 2014. Prices rose 2.8 per cent in the three months to October to £205,240, up from £202,931 in September and £186,469 in October last year. But while house price growth may be in rude health, there have been recent concerns about the sector. Yesterday shares in Countrywide, the UK's biggest estate [...]
The Big Short inspires impromptu investments by City workers January 18, 2016 CITY film buffs will be waiting with bated breath for the release of The Big Short, which hits UK cinema screens this Friday. The financial epic sees Brad Pitt, Christian Bale, Ryan Gosling and Steve Carell playing four rogue traders who made millions out of the 2008 financial crisis when they figured out that the [...]
Focus On Croydon: The affordable South London hotspot that’s getting a £1bn facelift January 8, 2016 If there’s one thing we learnt from the London property market in 2015, it was not to underestimate the outer boroughs. Some of the largest house price growth increases were to be found in these supposed backwaters. Growth in places like Haringey and Hillingdon far outstripped traditionally prime areas like Kensington & Chelsea and Camden, [...]
Three very important lessons from a startup investor January 25, 2016 We’ve learned a lot about investing in startups from doing just that in more than 200 early stage tech companies across the globe over nearly a decade. Seedcamp has backed a UK fintech leader (Transferwise), now-familiar companies (eMoov and BorrowMyDoggy) and, potentially, the next Uber (our latest intake – find out more here). Whether you’re an angel, working in venture [...]
Q: As Mark Carney expresses concern over lending to landlords, should we be worried about the buy-to-let boom? December 16, 2015 Simon French is chief economist at Panmure Gordon, says Yes The growth of the buy-to-let sector has increased the amount of flighty investment capital in the UK property market, posing a direct risk to financial stability. Any downturn in sentiment towards property as an asset has the potential to be amplified by buy-to-let investors withdrawing [...]
Eat and London Luton airport owner Ardian Private Equity closes the largest ever European infrastructure fund worth €2.65bn January 11, 2016 Ardian, the French private equity house whose investments include restaurant chain Eat and London Luton airport, has closed its infrastructure fund with €2.65bn (£1.98bn) of investment. It is Ardian's fourth infrastructure fund, and is the largest such fund raised by a European firm, surpassing Ardian's third fund by 50 per cent. Some €900m came from new [...]
Autumn Statement 2015: How the analysts, businesses and think tanks reacted to the key points in George Osborne’s speech November 25, 2015 Chancellor George Osborne delivered his Autumn Statement and Spending Review speech to parliament today. He announced increased housing in inner cities, a sell-off of prisons to develop new homes, and more cash for affordable housing schemes. Read more: Osborne announces surprise u-turn on tax credits Here's what the analysts, business and think tanks think about Osborne's plans: What the analysts said: [...]
HSBC isn’t leaving – but London can’t be complacent if it’s to stay the world’s best city for business February 16, 2016 No doubt there was much relief in the Treasury when HSBC announced that it will be keeping its international HQ in London. And the news gave everyone reassurance that London still has what it takes to house the headquarters – European or global – of international companies. Undoubtedly, centuries of stable, democratic government and the [...]
Bad news for landlords as George Osborne hikes stamp duty for buy-to-let homes November 25, 2015 Chancellor George Osborne has said he will raise stamp duty on buy-to-let homes by three per cent. During his Autumn Statement today, Osborne said many buy-to-let and second homes were bought by people who "are not resident in this country". The new rules will be introduced in April 2016. Read more: Stamp duty changes are a kick [...]