UK still tough says Grainger August 11, 2011 GRAINGER expects the UK property market to continue being affected by the subdued economy, and says that it is making good progress integrating the first three housing portfolios under its Lloyds RAMP agreement. The housebuilder said it had made £79.5m of sales in the four months to the end of July, and had a further [...]
The dubious rise of the Energy Man November 14, 2011 AN advert on the Tube recently caught my eye. It was for an energy drink with two versions: a his and hers. His was called Wellman; her’s Wellwoman. The Boots logo on the bottom told me that this is a humdrum, mainstream product. The ad was striking for one big reason: its extremely traditional idea [...]
London lets the world in October 26, 2011 TWENTY-FIVE years ago today the doors of the London Stock Exchange were blown wide open. In one sweeping moment of market deregulation, London’s horizons suddenly broadened, and money flowed into the Square Mile. Outside investment broke up the LSE’s boys’ club and fixed commission charges for brokers, which effectively killed competition, were scrapped. The brainchild [...]
New takeover rules set to test the City September 18, 2011 ALMOST two years after Kraft’s unsolicited bid for Cadbury, changes are being introduced today designed to strengthen the hand of companies that find themselves the subject of unwanted advances. But critics fear the changes will further damage the UK’s stalled M&A market, proving onerous for bidders and diverting investment away from the UK economy. Shortly [...]
PROPERTY NEWS September 8, 2011 CHARLIE CHAPLIN’S CHILDHOOD HOME FOR SALE Charlie Chaplin’s home in 1889 at Methley Street in Kennington has just come onto the market for the first time in over a decade. Boasting its official blue plaque, this pretty brick-fronted mews house was Chaplin’s home during his early childhood and is a part of the “Charlie Chaplin [...]
Mortgage lending subdued August 18, 2011 Mortgage lending shows no sign of picking up, according to the latest figures from the Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML). Gross new lending, for both house buyers and those remortgaging, fell by one per cent in July to £12.6bn. That was also six per cent down from the figure for July last year. The CML [...]
If the City didn’t exist, we’d need to invent it November 2, 2011 WHAT have financial services ever done for me? It is a question that the Occupy the London Stock Exchange protesters could well ask themselves, as they bring the church (rather than capitalism) to its knees. The public debate about financial services has focused on bonuses and risks, but there has been virtually no discussion of [...]
If the City didn’t exist, we’d need to invent it November 2, 2011 WHAT have financial services ever done for me? It is a question that the Occupy the London Stock Exchange protesters could well ask themselves, as they bring the church (rather than capitalism) to its knees. The public debate about financial services has focused on bonuses and risks, but there has been virtually no discussion of [...]
Cinven mulls sale of insurer Partnership September 18, 2011 PRIVATE equity house Cinven could sell Partnership Assurance for around £750m – but a deal is unlikely to be struck soon. Sources have indicated a deal is possible in 2013, but not certain, after Cinven received a number of approaches for the insurer. The buyout group acquired Partnership, which provides pension plans, long-term care plans [...]
FTSE falls on worries of China and copper losing momentum September 29, 2011 BRITAIN’S leading share index fell back yesterday, bucking firmer trends from both US and European equity markets and under pressure from big falls by heavyweight miners on lower copper prices amid concerns over future demand. Traders highlighted some anxiety over growth from major metals consumer China ahead of official September PMI numbers, due out on [...]