UK house prices hit new high, but growth slows to its lowest for 16 months as London feels the effects of stamp duty changes and mansion tax fears April 17, 2015 UK house price growth is at its slowest since 2013, despite the cost of buying a house hitting record highs. The capital was particularly affected, as changes in stamp duty and fears of a mansion tax hit sales. The figures According to figures from LSL property Services, March 2015 had the smallest annual rise in [...]
Queen’s Speech 2015: Here’s everything that was said about the EU referendum, employment, tax, the Human Rights Act and Scottish devolution May 27, 2015 The EU referendum is on; taxes will be locked in at current levels and strike laws are being reformed. The Queen's Speech has come to an end, and we have been presented with the legislation the government intends to pursue over the coming parliamentary session. While global cooperation, reducing the deficit and sticking to the [...]
House of Fraser posts record sales in first year under Nanjing Xinjiekou as it ramps up international expansion April 21, 2015 House of Fraser's new owners will be toasting their decision to acquire the business, which has revealed record like-for-likes for the year. The figures Like-for-like sales at the department store were up 5.8 per cent, with gross total value (GTV) rising to £1.3bn. Profits rose £29.6m to £460.2m while adjusted EBITDA rose seven per [...]
As new pension rules take hold, these seven cities are worth a look if you’re planning on investing in global property June 12, 2015 UK pensioners and investors could cash in by buying property in cities such as Miami and Berlin, according to research from IP Global. The company identified seven cities a being ripe for investment, including far-flung locations such as Miami and Melbourne. The government’s pension reforms have freed up savings, and many pensioners have already used [...]
Cineworld predicts Star Wars and James Bond to deliver further box office growth May 26, 2015 The figures Online streaming may be on the rise, but the lure of the silver screen is still strong if Cineworld's last 19 weeks are anything to go by. The UK cinema operator saw total group revenue rise 26.8 per cent for the 19 weeks ended May 14, with the biggest growth enjoyed in central [...]
Lloyds share sale sparks Treasury rift as George Osborne ignores warning on value for money June 1, 2015 The Treasury is in disagreement with its own advisers over the sale of shares in Lloyds Bank, as George Osborne seeks to fulfil his General Election pledge to sell a large chunk directly to retail investors. The sale could prove popular, but would also mean selling the shares at a discount – reducing the profit [...]
In charts: Are UK house prices suffering from pre-election blues? March 25, 2015 The housing market could be facing a case of pre-election blues. The customary January demand-surge just never arrived. But is this cause for concern or just the market stabilising? The figures Office for National Statistics (ONS) figures show that the rate of house price growth in the UK slowed to 8.4 per cent in the [...]
Where are London’s best terraces for al-fresco dining? It’s time to get outside for lunch June 16, 2015 Don’t stay cooped up inside for lunch. Get out and explore the city’s terraces. COMPAGNIE DES VINS SURNATURELS Capture the spirit of the cobbled backstreets of Paris tucked away in Neal’s Yard in Covent Garden. This eaterie serves French fine dining on tables spread across the colourful courtyard. Highlights from the spring menu [...]
Analyst Views: What did you make of Sky’s quaterly results? April 21, 2015 IAN WHITTAKER | LIBERUM The results read very well, especially on the subscriber metrics, although significant changes to KPI disclosure make reading of longer-term trends hard. However, there are some signs the quality of the subscriber base might be coming under pressure. JULIEN ROCH | BARCLAYS Churn is again low, confirming that the connected boxes [...]
July Budget 2015: From the pensions expert to the PwC economist, reactions to the chancellor’s statement July 9, 2015 THE BUSINESS GROUP Confederation of British Industry director general John Cridland Firms will welcome measures to boost investment but will be worried about paying living wage. “This is a double edged Budget for business. Firms will welcome measures to balance the books and boost investment, but they will be concerned by legislating for wage increases [...]