Debenhams brand fuels profit surge October 21, 2010 DEBENHAMS said yesterday that sales of its own brand ranges had helped it to increase its profit by 20 per cent. The rise in the year to 28 August came as the company also reduced its debt. Sales of Debenhams own brand ranges, which include H! by Henry Holland and Principles by Ben De Lisi, [...]
Families cut back spending October 24, 2010 THE health of household finances and consumer confidence are in sharp decline, according to a survey released by research firm Markit today. The index measuring expectations for future household finances dropped from 40.7 to 37.7, with 50 being the break-even point that indicates no change in sentiment. The sharpest drop was among those working in [...]
FOCUS ON: BOW, E3 October 21, 2010 PACIFIC COURT, CASPIAN WHARF Price: Three-beds from £404,950. Due for completion in 2012, these apartments are now for sale. They include a concierge service and underground parking. Contact: Berkeley Homes on 0844 800 1152, www. berkeleyhomes.co.uk PARNELL ROAD Price: £575,000 Close to Victoria Park, this three-bed modern house has an open-plan living area and kitchen [...]
Home-builders ramp up incentives to lure hard-up first-time buyers December 2, 2010 HOME-BUILDERS have always offered buyers deals, but some are more valuable than others. Take, for example, the West Bromwich Building Society’s offer in 2004 of a free Rover car worth over £7,000 – a year before the car-maker went into administration. The downturn has left house-builders with new-builds sitting empty all over the country, and [...]
Retail sales hit by tax and inflation October 21, 2010 THERE is a simple reason why retail sales are beginning to fall, and it has very little to do with the Comprehensive Spending review. A triple whammy of limited pay rises, elevated inflation and tax increases have conspired to impoverish most of the public over the past year, a development that has been barely picked [...]
Trading problems are partly seasonal, but structural issues are at stake too, as one of Switzerland’s big banks is finding October 21, 2010 JUST weeks after a dire prediction by bank analyst Meredith Whitney that 80,000 jobs are set to go on Wall Street within two years, Credit Suisse has followed the US giants in demonstrating just how hard the investment banking climate really is. Third quarter earnings have so far been characterised by solid retail and private [...]
WHAT THE OTHER PAPERS SAY THIS MORNING October 24, 2010 FINANCIAL TIMES QATAR KEEN TO BID FOR CHRISTIE’S AUCTION HOUSE Qatar is eyeing Christie’s, the auction house, as part of its plans to establish itself as a leading cultural destination in the Gulf. Although Christie’s has yet to receive a formal approach, Qatar’s emir, Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani, told the Financial Times in an interview [...]
SELLING November 18, 2010 MANAGING DIRECTOR, PROPERTY HUNT Q.Dear Russell, what can I do to increase the value of my property? A.There are very simple and obvious things that can be done to improve the value of a property but it is amazing how often people forget them. For example, it will not help the value of your property [...]
FOCUS ON: BRENTWOOD, ESSEX October 14, 2010 CREST BASE Price: From £183,000 This new development in the heart of Brentwood has both one-bedroom and two-bedroom apartments for sale. The living area is open-plan and each flat also has a bathroom and a kitchen. Depending on the stage of construction, you can personalise various aspects of the internal finish. For commuters it is [...]
OUT OF OFFICE October 6, 2010 RORY KINNEAR AS HAMLET Roll up, roll up, tickets are on sale now to see this brilliant actor take on the biggest role imaginable. The Oliver-winner has proved that he is a versatile stage actor over the years, and it’s just the time for him to take on The Dane. Advance rumours suggest that he’ll [...]