Low euro loans boost chances of bond buying December 11, 2014 A SECOND round of cheap loans from the European Central Bank (ECB) had a disappointing uptake yesterday. Total uptake of the cheap loans (targeted longer-term refinancing operations, or TLTROs) was €129.8bn (£102.8bn), below expectations of a figure between €150bn and €180bn. Market analysts believe it is now highly likely the ECB will make the controversial step [...]
Russia and Norway take different paths on interest rates as oil price tanks December 11, 2014 The central Bank of Russia yesterday raised interest rates to 10.5 per cent from 9.5 per cent in a bid to strengthen the plummeting rouble and reduce inflation which currently stands at 9.4 per cent. The move contrasts with Norway, which cut rates to 1.25 per cent yesterday from 1.5 per cent. Both nations have [...]
Think tank says Labour will add to UK debt pile December 11, 2014 PLANS announced yesterday by Labour leader Ed Miliband would saddle the UK with more borrowing and therefore more government debt than under Conservative plans, according to the Institute for Fiscal Studies. Deputy director Carl Emmerson said Miliband’s plans would result in “less spending cuts”, by vowing to balance the books rather than run a surplus [...]
UK house price lull could be over as lending picks up December 11, 2014 The recent slowdown in house price growth may have already ended, a new set of data shows. House price growth accelerated to 11.3 per cent in November from 11 per cent in October, according to figures released today by LSL property services. The growth rates were lifted by London and the south east. “After a [...]
UK living standard 4th best in EU December 11, 2014 BRITISH living standards are improving, even as they stagnate in neighbours such as France, official EU statistics showed yesterday. The UK is tied in fourth place with Nordic states Denmark, Finland and Sweden. The only countries which enjoy a higher standard are Luxembourg, Germany and Austria. The standard of living is determined by a unit [...]
Lending Club: Famous faces John Mack, Larry Summers and Mary Meeker at the top of US loan share firm December 11, 2014 US loan company Lending Club boasts several well-known names among its board of directors, including John “Mack the Knife” Mack and Larry Summers. Founder and chief executive Renaud Laplanche also serves as chairman. He previously founded enterprise software company TripleHop Technologies, and has won a series of awards for entrepreneurialism, as well as taking [...]
This trailblazer for P2P lenders mustn’t burn out – Bottom Line December 11, 2014 LENDING Club’s chief executive Renaud Laplanche has good reason to be upbeat today. Not only has his personal fortune soared to over $350m on paper, due to his 4.1 per cent share holdings of the world’s largest peer-to-peer (P2P) lender, but yesterday’s hugely successful float of the firm will likely be seen as a trailblazer [...]
Retail reunion at Shore Cap’s Christmas lunch December 11, 2014 The who's who of the retail world trotted over to the Montague on the Gardens Hotel yesterday to share a Christmas toast (and another, and another) with Shore Capital’s retail guru Clive Black. Any airs and graces were brushed aside as each guest arrived at their table to find some sort of festive [...]
Christmas Jumper Day: Have you pulled on your festive woolies? December 11, 2014 The day has finally arrived. It’s probably the only day in the year when the brighter, the sillier, the more glittery jumper imaginable will get you props at work. Flashing lights will get you a gold star. It’s Christmas Jumper Day, of course. Singer (turned housing tax critic) Myleene Klass The festive attire [...]
MW Solicitors law posters: There’s creative and there’s just plain scary December 11, 2014 And the award for scariest corporate graphics 2014 goes to… MW Solicitors. The firm has recently applied to trademark some new graphics, which it’s using on its homepage. The six images are used to identify the various branches of the firm’s services but we can’t help but find them a little bit, erm, freaky. [...]