LONDON BAROMETER June 28, 2012 DIRECTOR OF DOUGLAS & GORDON The London property market continues to be seen as a safe haven in turbulent economic times, with record numbers of properties being sold to international buyers. Previously international buyers have focused on prime central London, but recently we have seen purchasers from Russia, America and France buying across south-west London [...]
Olympic slump as ghost town effect worsens August 2, 2012 NEW DATA released yesterday shows just how hard central London has been hit by the Olympics’ focus on the east of the City, with fewer visitor numbers and a significant drop in traffic in the area. Figures from retail specialist Springboard shows that shops and restaurants were much quieter than expected over the first weekend [...]
London Report: FTSE hits a five month high as banks recover October 24, 2013 BRITAIN’S main share index rose yesterday to a five-month high, boosted by strong earnings reports and a rebound in financial and basic material stocks. The blue-chip FTSE 100 index closed up 0.6 per cent, or 38.70 points, at 6,713.18 points, its first close above 6,700 since May. A daily close above 6,700 indicated that the [...]
FTSE falls back on uncertainty in Italian polls February 26, 2013 LONDON REPORT WEAK banks and commodity stocks sent Britain’s top shares to a more than two-week closing low yesterday after an inconclusive election result in Italy revived Eurozone debt crisis concerns. Europe’s most indebted state faced a political vacuum after a huge protest vote left no party or likely coalition with enough seats to form [...]
High-end London rents fall for first time in two years June 22, 2012 Rents in the most London’s most exclusive and expensive neighbourhoods have dropped for the first time in two years, which estate agencies attribute to the number of redundancies at leading banks. Research conducted by property consultants Savills has shown that average prime rents dropped by 0.4 per cent to £60 per square foot in the [...]
Cable reveals new patent system plans December 16, 2012 BUSINESS secretary Vince Cable will today unveil new intellectual property proposals in a bid to encourage innovation. The Liberal Democrat MP will put forward a range of changes to how the Intellectual Property Office (IPO) operates. These will include a “superfast” system for awarding patents and a crackdown on intellectual property crime. “Our creativity, our [...]
London Report: BSkyB drives up FTSE for a sixth consecutive day October 17, 2013 BRITAIN’S top share index ended higher yesterday, helped by a surge in media group BSkyB, although investors were underwhelmed by a temporary fix to the United States’ debt issues. The blue-chip FTSE 100 index closed up by 0.1 per cent, or 4.57 points, at 6,576.16 points to mark its sixth straight session of gains. BSkyB [...]
Investors escape tax hike on £2m London homes December 11, 2012 OFFSHORE companies that buy prime London homes for investment purposes will be exempt from forthcoming property tax hikes, the government announced yesterday. Many wealthy foreign individuals have avoided stamp duty by setting up a company for the sole purpose of buying a high-end property. They will still be hit by a 15 per cent stamp [...]
Euro leaders reach late night bank union deal December 13, 2012 THE EUROPEAN Central Bank (ECB) will monitor the largest Eurozone banks, the EU’s leaders announced yesterday, in a compromise which represents a major step towards a new banking union for the currency area. And after late-night meetings, Britain secured voting rights which it hopes will safeguard its position as a major centre for Eurozone finance. [...]
Teenage intern has sights set on rising the ranks of the City January 28, 2013 THERE are certainly no shortages of age going hand-in-hand with wisdom in the City, or so we are led to believe. However The Capitalist has news of perhaps the youngest worker in the heart of the Square Mile. Jake McMullen, who is a whipper-snapping 17 years old, has been taken on by the City of [...]