London and the South East push up UK house prices in July, but property gets cheaper in Scotland and the North East September 15, 2015 House prices climbed 0.8 per cent July, the Office for National Statistics said this morning, keeping annual house price growth above five per cent. Year-on-year price growth was 5.2 per cent, down from 5.7 per cent in June. The East, South East and London led UK’s annual price growth, while houses actually got cheaper in Scotland [...]
Feel good is back: UK economic sentiment is about to perk up November 3, 2015 UK equity markets have seen some pronounced swings over the last few weeks. Sentiment over global economic growth has shifted between cautiously optimistic, cautious and concerned, with almost a different narrative every week. While the short-term market watchers scour the data for hints about the direction of travel, the longer-term narrative regarding “secular stagnation” (low [...]
Government sells off its final stake in Royal Mail – but only institutional investors need apply October 12, 2015 The government has announced plans to sell off its final stake in Royal Mail, two years after it began privatising the company – but true to form, only institutional investors will get a chance to buy the shares. In a statement today, it said had begun the process of selling off its remaining shareholding, which [...]
UK buyers snap up first 100 homes inside BBC Television Centre October 12, 2015 More than 100 homes inside the former BBC Television Centre in London’s White City have been snapped up after going on sale at a preview launch to UK buyers last month. The 14-acre BBC campus is being redeveloped into a new £1.5bn neighbourhood district to rival the West End with 350,000 sq ft of offices, a [...]
Mortgage loans sliding further January 22, 2015 MORTGAGE lending slipped again in December, industry data showed yesterday, in a further sign the boom in the UK housing market is moderating. Gross mortgage lending came in at £16.5bn in December, falling one per cent on the year, the Council of Mortgage Lending said. Meanwhile the Bank of England said monthly net mortgage lending slowed [...]
FTSE 100 index opens higher as housebuilders rally on chancellor George Osborne’s Autumn Statement national housing budget plans November 25, 2015 The FTSE 100 index was up in mid-morning trading, led by housebuilders which cheered chancellor George Osborne's plans to double the national housing budget when he presents his five-year spending plan later today. The UK's top blue-chip index rose 0.82 per cent to 6,329 points. Persimmon led the index higher, its share price rising 6.06 per cent to 1,890p [...]
What George Osborne’s Budget means for you: Five case studies including an entrepreneur, an apprentice and a chief exec March 16, 2016 Accountants from BDO ran the numbers for City A.M. to see the effect George Osborne's 2016 Budget will have on people with a variety of different incomes, living situations and responsibilities. THE BUSINESS WOMAN Catherine Gannon, chief executive at Gannons Commercial Law Gannons Commercial Law continues to perform well as profits and earnings increase on last year. [...]
Business committee chair Iain Wright MP accuses Uber of being a “seedy backstreet minicab firm” November 24, 2015 An influential MP has accused Uber of being a "seedy backstreet minicab firm". Iain Wright, a Labour MP who chairs the business, innovation and skills committee, made the comments during an evidence session at the House of Commons this morning. Wright took issue with a previous Uber promotion in France offering passengers the chance to book a minicab with a "hot [...]
Topps Tiles profits rise by a fifth as homeowners go on shopping spree December 1, 2015 Topps Tiles said profits jumped by a fifth last year, thanks to a surge in people doing up their homes and the retailer’s own efforts to modernise its brand and its stores. The FTSE 250 retailer reported a 19.3 per cent jump in pre-tax profits to £20.4m in the year to 3 October. Revenue rose [...]
UK house prices are set to go through the roof, with the fastest growth in London September 18, 2015 House prices are growing at a robust pace this month while mortgage lending has surged as the housing markets heat up. Estate agent Knight Frank’s house price sentiment indicator today scored 59.3 for September, with scores above 50 indicating price growth. The fastest current growth is in London. Households’ overall expectations of [...]