Next’s bad weather forecast casts dark shadow on markets – London Report September 30, 2014 BRITAIN’S top share index slid yesterday, with retailers falling after Next said it would have to lower its full-year profit forecast if the unusually warm weather continued. The FTSE 100 fell 23.88 points, or 0.36 per cent, to 6,622.72 points. Britain’s Number. 2 clothing retailer’s warning sent its shares down 3.79 per cent to 6,605p while [...]
Scottish Devolution: What does the Smith Commission report mean for Scotland the rest of the UK? November 27, 2014 It has been labelled as the biggest shake-up to the UK’s taxation system in the modern era, but what exactly does the contents of the Smith Commission report mean for Scotland and the rest of England? As had been expected, the Smith Commission has recommended delivering to Scotland an unprecedented number of new powers [...]
UK rental prices: Is it time to stop buying? August 3, 2014 House prices have been on a surge in the last 12 months and despite a recent slowing of the market many first time buyers are finding themselves priced out of the market. The ONS released figures on rental prices this week that make for interesting reading and imply that an answer to high house prices could be [...]
In graphs: UK house prices rise just 0.1 per cent in July July 31, 2014 First it was the Land Registry telling us and now it's Nationwide: the upward spiral of house prices is coming to an end, at least for now. The latest figures from Nationwide show that the average house price in the UK rose by just 0.1 per cent, below expectations of a 0.5 per cent increase [...]
Ed Miliband’s conference speech: Here’s what you need to know September 23, 2014 Ed Miliband has delivered his last speech to a Labour conference before the 2015 general election. The Labour leader hopes his six-point plan will be enough to entice voters to give his party the keys to Downing Street and reverse his low personal ratings. The plan is intended to be implemented over 10 years. Here [...]
Bow, Tower Hamlets: All you need to know about London’s new eastern hotspot October 30, 2014 Everyone knows how well Hackney is doing in the property stakes, with house price increases outstripping any other borough in London over the last 12 months. But how about its neighbour Tower Hamlets? As a borough, it’s building more new homes than any other in the country. Bromley-by-Bow, in particular, has been popular with [...]
Will interests rates rise early after No vote in the Scottish independence referendum? September 19, 2014 The No vote in the Scottish independence referendum could make an interest rate next spring more likely. Despite the No vote, however, the consensus is that it remains unlikely that rates will rise before then. A Yes vote could well have postponed any hike. In a recent speech Mark Carney said he saw a rate rise next [...]
As London house prices show signs of cooling, are fears of a bubble overplayed? August 12, 2014 Rob Wood, chief UK economist at Berenberg Bank, says Yes. Rapid rises in house prices would be a threat if they turned into an uncontrollable bubble accompanied by a rapid debt build-up. So it is good news that London house price inflation seems to be slowing down. And that slowdown has its roots in action [...]
Helios penthouse atop Kew Bridge West’s Hyperion Tower is a whole new level of luxury October 30, 2014 Flowers are not the only things sprouting up in Kew these days. A number of new housing developments are entering the market, enticing buyers to find better value for money in the greener, airier, more spacious suburbs of south west London. One of these is Kew Bridge West, a new development from St [...]
London rental prices grow at slowest pace in the UK August 18, 2014 London’s rental market has inflated at record speed in recent years as high house prices prevented swathes of potential first-time buyers from taking the leap. In fact last June average rent in the capital stood at £1,295 per month, just over £500 more than prices in the South West, the next-most expensive region. But [...]