Generations Rent? Young and old expect to be long-term renters Up to a decade of rent is stretching out before the UK’s renters, according to the property and construction consultants McBains Cooper. Of the London-based respondents to a survey conducted by McBains, one-in-three renters said they expect to continue renting for the next five to ten years. Within the 45-59 year old bracket, 52 per [...]
London Underground users charged £365m for incomplete journeys London’s Tube travellers are leaving themselves open to over-charging by failing to “tap out” with oysters or bank cards at stations on the Underground network. TfL has charged its customers £365m over six years from cards with incomplete journeys, according to figures provided to the Evening Standard. During peak hours, the Tube network charges £7.80 [...]
Spain’s trade deficit fell by 22.5 per cent in 2016 Exports from Europe’s fifth largest economy rose to their highest level on record, while the trade deficit fell to its second lowest level since 1997, according to Spain’s economy ministry. It left the economy with a trade deficit of €18.8 billion euros (£16bn) for 2016, while the value of exports reached €254.5bn, an increase of [...]
Dubai’s International Finance Centre grew by 14 per cent last year February 20, 2017 Bosses at the state-owned financial free zone, known as the DIFC, say there has been a 10 per cent increase in financial firms registered in the DIFC, and a 17 per cent rise in non-financial companies. Profits at Dubai’s financial district grew by seven per cent in 2016, totaling Dh421m (£92m). Dubai is among a [...]
Oxford University denies plans for a post-Brexit campus in France February 20, 2017 The UK’s oldest university has refuted claims that it is looking to open a campus in France, contrary to reports. The former director at the French ministry for education, Jean-Michel Blanquer, told the Telegraph senior officials had met in Oxford last week to discuss ways in which the university could continue to receive EU funding [...]
UK house prices grow at their slowest in four years – as Rightmove warns “overpriced properties won’t sell” February 20, 2017 UK house prices grew at their slowest four years in February, new data from Rightmove has shown – as it warned agents against setting properties' prices too high. Asking prices rose just 2.3 per cent in the year to February, according to the figures – down from 3.2 per cent in the year to January, [...]
Improved fiscal outlook for the chancellor as he prepares the Spring Budget February 20, 2017 The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) is expected to provide some “fiscal cheer” for the chancellor, with a forecast showing greater growth for the economy and lower borrowing costs. According to the Ernst & Young ITEM Club, forecasted GDP figures for 2017 are expected to be revised upwards, from 1.4 per cent to 1.6 or 1.7 [...]
Former BP Russia boss lined up for top nuclear decommissioning role February 19, 2017 David Peattie, the former boss at BP’s Russian operations, is the front runner to take over at the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA), according to reports in the Sunday Times. Tasked with managing Cumbria’s Sellafield estate, the NDA is a state-owned body that receives £3bn a year in public money, which amounts to 25 per cent [...]
German minister hits out at London Stock Exchange bosses over mega-merger February 19, 2017 Politicians from the German state of Hesse say LSE bosses are insisting on London as the legal base for the merged LSE-Deutsche Boerse exchange due to concerns about the post-Brexit future. The proposed £21bn mega-merger is pending approval by the European Commission, and Hesse, the German state which includes the city of Frankfurt, home to [...]
Mongolia agrees terms for $5.5bn IMF-backed loan February 19, 2017 The IMF and its partners have come to an agreement to provide Mongolia with an economic stabilisation package worth $5.5bn (£4.43bn). Rapid growth in Mongolia’s commodities sector had resulted in a fast pace of economic growth, reaching double digit figures between 2011-2013. A sharp decline in commodity prices, plus a fall in foreign direct investment, [...]