Buoyant central London is in an economic world of its own December 10, 2012 IF you work or live in central London, you could be forgiven for not believing that the UK remains stuck in a nasty stagnation, let alone at risk of a triple-dip recession, as Vince Cable intimated yesterday. The shops are full, the tubes jam-packed and new skyscrapers are being built; Fortnum and Mason, the department [...]
Barratt eyes higher profits November 14, 2012 BARRATT Developments yesterday said it was on track for higher profits this financial year as its focus on higher-margin sites, rather than volumes, pays off in a tough market. The UK’s largest housebuilder said market conditions had remained stable since July, but it highlighted that recent government schemes aimed at easing mortgage lending had yet [...]
FSA and Ofgem probe natural gas markets November 12, 2012 THE FINANCIAL Services Authority and energy watchdog Ofgem are investigating claims that the wholesale natural gas market has been manipulated. Energy secretary Ed Davey said he is “extremely concerned about these allegations” and has been working closely with the regulators since the gas contract trades were flagged to his department last week. A whistleblower from [...]
FSA and Ofgem probe natural gas markets November 12, 2012 THE FINANCIAL Services Authority and energy watchdog Ofgem are investigating claims that the wholesale natural gas market has been manipulated. Energy secretary Ed Davey said he is “extremely concerned about these allegations” and has been working closely with the regulators since the gas contract trades were flagged to his department last week. A whistleblower from [...]
Mayor’s Fund backs healthy brekkie for kids January 7, 2013 The Capitalist is pleased to announce news of the Mayor’s Fund for London and Magic Breakfast’s campaign to provide 5,000 children with free healthy breakfasts. The Mayor’s Fund has teamed up with Cazenove Capital Management, Tropicana Orange Juice and Quaker Oats and is investing £660,000 to feed kids in schools all over London – including [...]
Carney is a great choice – but he didn’t save Canada November 26, 2012 IN hiring Mark Carney, George Osborne has ensured that Britain will stay at the forefront of global financial market regulation. The new governor will be a game-changing counterweight to European banking reform and a man certain to keep the UK’s financial services sector at the centre of its economic recovery. His chairmanship of the Financial [...]
UK house prices slump in September October 2, 2012 UK house prices fell by 0.4 per cent in September, according to Nationwide. Figures from the lender showed that house values are now 1.4 per cent lower year on year, with the average house price sitting at £163,964. Robert Gardner, chief economist at Nationwide, said this morning that the Funding for Lending scheme should bolster [...]
Industry wants coalition to look again at property rates change November 5, 2012 RETAIL and property groups yesterday demanded the government consider axing part of the coalition’s Growth and Infrastructure Bill, which postpones the next property revaluation upon which rates are based. The last ratings revaluation used values from 2008 – at the height of the housing boom – which industry bodies say is penalising firms in the [...]
How Sweden reformed its state to lay foundations for future growth January 30, 2013 THE muted optimism of the coalition’s mid-term review has made way for the harsh reality of disappointing GDP figures. The economy’s most recent dip demonstrates the scale of the remaining challenge: public sector reform was David Cameron’s big idea, but too little has been achieved. Even the coalition’s more radical reforms, in health and education, [...]
London must regain its Victorian spirit to capitalise on the triumph of 2012 January 1, 2013 NOW the curtain has closed on a glorious 2012 for London and Britain, the stage is already being prepared for a very different year ahead. We’ll need to build on recent achievements to deliver a tangible legacy for future generations. We must up our game, rather than lower our expectations for 2013. This means focusing [...]