Cost of buying first home in London more than doubles over last half century June 26, 2021 Today’s first-time-buyers in London have to pay two and a half times as much for their first home as they did five decades ago, according to new research. A report published by the Resolution Foundation today shows the cost of purchasing a first home with a mortgage in the capital was £212,000 in 1974 – [...]
FTSE 100 today: London markets to open red as odds of Fed rate cut dwindle after hot US inflation April 11, 2024 Asian markets mirrored Wall Street's slide amid global interest rate concerns. The yen dipped below ¥153 against the dollar, reflecting market unease, while Chinese inflation edged up in March. Investors scaled back expectations for Federal Reserve rate cuts. The focus is on the European Central Bank's policy decision and US producer price data.
Hunt targets highest earners in tax grab as chancellor raises £55bn November 17, 2022 The UK’s highest earners have been targeted as a part of Jeremy Hunt’s tax grab, with the top 45p threshold of Income Tax slashed. The top tax bracket has been reduced from £150,000 to £125,140, while he has also frozen the Income Tax thresholds for the two lower brackets in a stealth hike. Hunt announced [...]
Higher interest rates and rebounding loan demand to boost UK banks February 10, 2022 A higher interest rate environment and a rebound in loan demand is set to boost Britain’s biggest lenders. UK banks’ net interest margins will widen on the Bank of England and the world’s biggest central banks launching a rate hike cycle this year to tame inflation, analysts are betting. Final quarter earnings for UK banks [...]
First time buyers face significant barriers as earnings lag behind soaring house price growth November 25, 2021 First time buyers are facing significant hurdles to raising a deposit as they come up against high prices relative to average earnings. House price growth has surpassed earnings growth over the past year and the ratio of house prices to earrings has hit a record high, the Nationwide House Price Index set out. A 20 [...]
Turn around for Natwest as bank returns to profitability February 18, 2022 Natwest has returned to profitability after suffering heavy losses in 2020, with results boosted by strong savings and lending growth.
The Notebook: Victoria Scholar on why it’s not all doom and gloom for the economy March 8, 2023 The Notebook is where interesting people say interesting things. Today, it’s Victoria Scholar, head of investment at Interactive Investor, on why it’s not the time to be gloomy about the UK’s prospects, the battle for your coffee pound and a new podcast. You wouldn’t be blamed for thinking that the UK economy is in a [...]
Pound slides after Bank of England bats away emergency rate hike pressure September 26, 2022 Sterling collapsed to an all time low this morning as investor confidence evaporated in the wake of the government’s plans to slash taxes and ramp up borrowing in a ‘mini-budget’ last week.
Britain’s millionaires still feel like they are cash poor September 22, 2022 In 2021, global wealth grew by 12.7 per cent according to the latest Credit Suisse Global Wealth Report, published this week. There are now over 60 million millionaires in the world, more than twice as many as in 2011, a mere decade ago. Britain has 4,180 people who are worth over $100m each, and a [...]
Klarna: Late fees are in the interests of consumers taking on too much debt February 24, 2023 A banker will lend you his umbrella but only on a sunny day, as the maxim goes. When it rains, he’ll want it back. Well, it’s pouring outside and consumers are seeking shelter from the rising cost of heating, electricity, petrol, food and mortgages. Credit card borrowing is at its highest since 2004 and credit [...]