We’re seeing respectable growth for a New Normal but real risks still remain January 28, 2014 UK ECONOMIC growth is looking up. The 0.7 per cent GDP increase in the fourth quarter of 2013 might not have been as strong as some commentators were expecting, but it means economic activity is up a full 2.8 per cent on a year ago. It’s not as strong as the 3.3 per cent growth [...]
Government to invest £10m in community energy projects January 27, 2014 The government will invest £10m to encourage urban communities to develop renewable energy projects, as part of a number of proposals outlined today to help communities keep energy costs down. As well as the £10m urban community energy fund, the government plans to invest £1m to extend a scheme that supports volunteers who help vulnerable [...]
Miliband sets his sights on big housebuilders December 16, 2013 ED MILIBAND has angered housing developers by suggesting that they are guilty of hoarding land destined for new homes in order to make cash. The Labour leader made the comments during a tour of Stevenage yesterday as he launched a “non-stop drive” to boost building in the UK. “Profits for our four biggest housing developers are [...]
First time buyer surge adds to market uplift December 11, 2013 THE NUMBER of first time buyers has surged by three quarters over the past year, as a surge of activity in the housing market pushes prices even higher, especially in London. Estate agents Haart reveal today that, the number of first time buyer registrations has risen 78.4 per cent in November 2013, compared to the [...]
Sports Direct buys up stake in Debenhams January 13, 2014 An unusual decision from Sports Direct this morning, but markets seem to like it. The retailer announced this morning that it's bought a 4.6 per cent stake in Debenhams. Shares in the latter have climbed over five per cent on the news: In a statement this morning, Sports Direct said that the move is to [...]
US house prices soar by over 13 per cent in just a year November 26, 2013 US house prices are climbing fast – up 13.3 per cent in the year to September according to the S&P/Case Shiller index. That's well above the 13 per cent increase that analysts had been expecting. On this side of the pond, house prices increases are more moderate – at least at the national level. They [...]
Switzerland’s shock migration vote has dealt the EU a huge blow February 10, 2014 THERE are two kinds of Eurosceptics. There is the pro-market, classical liberal variety: believers in the Four Freedoms – the free movement of goods, services, capital and people – across the countries of the European Union, but who oppose everything else, including political integration, the undemocratic nature of the European construct, the EU’s myriad subsidies, [...]
Switzerland’s shock migration vote has dealt the EU a huge blow February 10, 2014 THERE are two kinds of Eurosceptics. There is the pro-market, classical liberal variety: believers in the Four Freedoms – the free movement of goods, services, capital and people – across the countries of the European Union, but who oppose everything else, including political integration, the undemocratic nature of the European construct, the EU’s myriad subsidies, [...]
It’s about time for a spring clean April 16, 2014 Your watch is probably long overdue a service – and what better time of the year to do so? Allow the watchmakers at Wempe to explain VENTURE down the stairs at Breitling or Vacheron Constantin’s shiny new boutiques on Bond Street, or simply browse the windows of David M Robinson in Canary Wharf’s subterranean Jubilee [...]
Hotels back on investors’ lists as transactions reach six-year high January 12, 2014 HOTELS are back in vogue with investors, according to research out yesterday by Deloitte, which shows that hotel deals in 2013 were at their highest in six years. UK hotel transactions totalled around £800m in the second half of 2013, up 66 per cent on the same period last year and taking deals for the [...]