House prices now falling twice as fast October 30, 2011 THE DECLINE in house prices doubled its speed in October as economic turbulence scared prospective buyers and hit demand, a leading survey claimed this morning. Average house prices were down 0.2 per cent in England and Wales this month, compared to declines of 0.1 per cent in each of the previous five months, the report [...]
Let’s not go back to sub-prime loans November 21, 2011 THERE are two ways one can address a problem caused by faulty policies: by tackling its root causes – or by addressing some of its manifestations, and risk creating more issues thanks to the law of unintended consequences which plagues all government actions. Regrettably, when it comes to house prices, the government is largely going [...]
Let’s not go back to sub-prime loans November 20, 2011 THERE are two ways one can address a problem caused by faulty policies: by tackling its root causes – or by addressing some of its manifestations, and risk creating more issues thanks to the law of unintended consequences which plagues all government actions. Regrettably, when it comes to house prices, the government is largely going [...]
Traders keeping a close eye on FTSE after drop to 5,100 November 27, 2011 GLOBAL equities continued to tumble last week with many indices crashing through technical support areas. At the start of the week, the FTSE gapped below its 50-day moving average around 5,350 and went on to trade below 5,100 briefly on Friday. This level is not only psychologically significant, but also important in technical terms. It [...]
FTSE steady as investors eye US jobs data January 6, 2012 The FTSE 100 was steady in early trading with media and telecoms gains offsetting weak financial services and retail sectors. Investors were focusing on US jobs data out later while the Eurozone debt crisis continued to dampen sentiment. Analysts’ fears that Eurozone countries and banks could struggle to tap markets for capital this year continue [...]
CITY VIEWS: SHOULD THE STATE BE SUPPORTING HOUSE-BUYERS? November 21, 2011 DAVID CALVERT | MIZUHO “I think that the government should be more involved with planning and making land available, so that these people can build their own homes rather than going back to sub-prime loans.” LIAM DUNFORD | SAVILLS “There are too many international problems relating to bank lending. I think that the UK economy [...]
To track or chase returns December 21, 2011 WHETHER investors should aim for alpha (beating the benchmark) or beta (tracking the benchmark) is a debate that divides investors. Here a defender of tracking beta and an advocate of chasing alpha put their respective cases. WORLDTRACK ANTHONY CHRISTODOULOU Should investors chase Alpha? In a word: no. Evidence shows that it is futile attempting to [...]
BOOST FOR MORTGAGES November 21, 2011 THE GOVERNMENT will today launch a scheme to encourage first-time buyers to take out 95 per cent mortgages even as new figures show the largest monthly drop in house prices since before the financial crisis. Prime Minister David Cameron and his deputy Nick Clegg will today unveil a plan to “help people get on the [...]
FTSE given lift by airline deal December 22, 2011 The FTSE 100 nudged up this morning led by BA owner International Airlines group (IAG) which announced a deal for Lufthansa’s bmi. Overall European shares started higher with the FTSEurofirst 300 index gaining around one per cent in early trade while global stocks, as measured by MSCI world equity index, were edged up 0.2 per [...]
Big free float for Ruspetro December 18, 2011 RUSSIAN oil firm Ruspetro would have a free float of more than 25 per cent if it lists in London in the first quarter of next year, sources told City A.M. yesterday. The group is planning a London listing, making the company the latest Russian resource company to seek liquidity and international profile on the [...]