Bank reports a rise in home loan approvals November 30, 2009 HOME loan approvals rose in October to a 19-month high as the housing market showed signs of recovery. Banks approved 57,345 mortgages in October against 56,205 in September, the highest since March 2008 and the 11th monthly rise in a row, the Bank of England said. Net mortgage lending rose by £922m in October versus [...]
DSG enjoys a window of opportunity November 26, 2009 DSG International, the electricals retailer yesterday reported a recent surge in sales helped by store upgrades and consumer demand for Microsoft’s new Windows 7, giving it confidence for Christmas. DSG, which runs the Dixons, Currys and PC World chain, said sales at stores open at least a year fell four per cent in the 24 [...]
Q&A: BUYING January 21, 2010 Russell Hunt MANAGING DIRECTOR, PROPERTY HUNT Q.Dear Russell, I am after a standard London property but am short on time. Even if I’m not after something high-end, is it still worth me using a buying agent? A.Even if you aren’t after an expensive property, there’s no reason why you can’t use a buying agent – [...]
Sage reduces debt but sales stay subdued January 26, 2010 BRITISH accountancy software firm Sage Group said yesterday it was trading in line with its own expectations, as growth in subscriptions continued to offset subdued software and software-services markets. Chief executive Paul Walker said he had seen no change in the challenging market conditions in the first quarter, but the group’s large, geographically diverse, customer [...]
Drop in house prices easing July 14, 2009 HOUSE prices only fell marginally in May compared to the previous month, taking the annual decline to 12.5 per cent, data from the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) showed yesterday. In the three months to May, UK house prices fell by 0.4 per cent compared to a fall of 4.8 per cent in [...]
Psagot is bought by private equity group Apax after shareholder buyout December 13, 2009 PSAGOT, Israel’s largest investment house, confirmed yesterday that it has been bought by private equity firm, Apax Partners. The deal involves Apax buying a 76 per cent share of the firm from shareholders led by York Capital Management. The deal is still subject to regulatory approval, according to a statement from Psagot to the Tel [...]
It will be easy to lose money this year December 17, 2009 ONE of the great paradoxes of 2009 was that economic meltdown went hand in hand with strong gains for many investors. After a disastrous few months when everybody was pricing in the end of civilisation, stock markets bounced back, house prices started to rise again and many traders made vast returns. As I wrote yesterday, [...]
Put your foot down this summer March 9, 2010 WHAT’S the best way to experience the great British countryside? Some might say it’s in a country pub, with a flagon of frothing ale and a ploughman’s lunch before you. Others might say that it’s in a national park, enjoying a sandwich while perched on top of a mountain and surveying the spectacular scenery spread [...]
Retail is a sell as customers desert the UK’s high streets January 10, 2010 THE BRITS lived up to their reputation as a nation of spenders and splashed their cash with abandon over the festive period. Major retailers swept up and some, like fashion chain Ted Baker, saw sales rise 20 per cent in the latter part of 2009. John Lewis, Next, Marks & Spencer and J Sainsbury also [...]
Labour can’t even organise a proper plot January 6, 2010 HOW incompetent can you be? If the Labour Party had any sense, it would remove Gordon Brown as soon as possible; all the polls show that Labour would gain at least some ground with any half-decent alternative leader. A change at this late stage is what the Tories dread the most. Instead, we had the [...]