Horrifying house prices (and other scare stories) – here’s what got us talking this week October 30, 2015 It was a week in which we discovered that two teenagers were suspects in the TalkTalk hack (but that "significantly" fewer people were affected. We learned that all MPs earn a lot more than their constituents. And we discovered that the UK's population is growing much quicker than previously thought. Here's what got us talking this week [...]
Hidden gems: The little known investment funds which experts tip for great things October 28, 2015 Every saver wants the best investment funds in their portfolio. The trouble is, once a fund has become well-known after a good spell of performance, it is statistically more likely to underperform. Investing in the funds at the top of their sector rankings is not always the best idea – some experts describe this [...]
EU referendum: Cameron spells out his demands, saying reform is not Mission Impossible November 10, 2015 Prime Minister David Cameron will insist that his European Union reform agenda is achievable when he spells out his top demands today. In a major speech this morning at Chatham House, Cameron will say that his desired changes to Britain’s relationship with the European Union are “eminently resolvable, with the requisite political will and political [...]
City looks to end of year float flurry as companies prepare IPOs October 15, 2015 London flotations are bouncing back as investor confidence returns to the market, with a pipeline of new listings expected before Christmas. Initial public offerings (IPOs) were in short supply during the summer, with China’s slowing economy triggering global stock market mayhem and a sharp downturn in investor morale. But yesterday, McCarthy and Stone, which builds [...]
Beyond boom and bust: Interview with Herbert Smith Freehills’ UK head of corporate Ben Ward December 21, 2015 Ben Ward is not cautiously optimistic about the markets in 2016. He says that’s not positive enough – he’s really very optimistic, but insists that “sustainable growth” are his watchwords for 2016. Spoken like a true lawyer. Ward has just taken over as Herbert Smith Freehills’ (HSF) head of corporate in the UK, overseeing everything [...]
Singaporean wealth fund GIC backs property revival in UK regions October 15, 2015 Singaporean sovereign wealth fund GIC has thrown its weight behind a private equity firm that invests in the UK’s regional property market. Maya Capital said it has secured a £90m loan from GIC to help fund acquisitions in areas outside London and the M25 that have enjoyed a resurgence in activity thanks to the improvement economy [...]
ITV posts strong third quarter results in 2015 despite X Factor viewing figures and the end of Downton Abbey November 10, 2015 ITV's top shows might be haemorrhaging viewers (The X Factor) or ending (Downton Abbey) but that hasn't stopped it posting strong results for the three quarters of the year so far, powered by double-digit growth in its production arm ITV Studios. The figures Revenues at the broadcaster rose 13 per cent to £2.04bn in the nine months to [...]
Japan recession: Has Abenomics failed? not quite November 17, 2015 The latest data from Japan revealed that the world’s third largest economy slipped back into recession in the past quarter, at least technically. Has Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s “three arrows” plan to revive the Japanese economy – Abenomics – failed in spectacular fashion? Well, yes and no. MIXED PICTURE Let’s start with the economy. [...]
UK house prices: Nationwide says house price growth is stabilising August 4, 2015 UK house prices are back in growth, with the UK average increasing by 0.4 per cent in July, following a 0.2 per cent dip in June, according to the Nationwide House Price index. The relatively modest month-on-month rise means that the annual pace of house price growth edged up to 3.5 per cent from [...]
Britain’s ageing population could be an opportunity – not just a disaster November 16, 2015 In the next four decades, the number of people aged over 60 globally is set to jump from 800m to 2bn. This huge increase will pose enormous economic, political and health-related challenges. But for those countries that adequately prepare, the increase will also present opportunities. Britain faces a particularly daunting challenge. The country will see [...]