Why it’s time to think about remortgaging your house November 4, 2015 Homeowners are currently benefitting from record low interest rates. This is a result of a number of factors, including greater competition in the market, strengthening confidence in the economy, and the Bank of England’s base rate being held at an all-time low. Many seasoned players in the mortgage market may remember watching for the [...]
Trevor McClintock: Investing in failing companies can offer lucrative returns November 3, 2015 Investing in a failing company isn't for the faint of heart. It'll take buckets of blood, sweat and tears to turn around and there's no guarantees. But for those willing to go hands-on and take the bull by the horns, the potential returns can be phenomenal. Picking a winner Not all failing companies are created [...]
Feel good is back: UK economic sentiment is about to perk up November 3, 2015 UK equity markets have seen some pronounced swings over the last few weeks. Sentiment over global economic growth has shifted between cautiously optimistic, cautious and concerned, with almost a different narrative every week. While the short-term market watchers scour the data for hints about the direction of travel, the longer-term narrative regarding “secular stagnation” (low [...]
Central banks and quantitative easing: Await the festive fireworks November 3, 2015 Halloween is over and winter is fast approaching. The nights are drawing in and the weather is getting colder. In the UK this week, the streets and skies will also be alight with firework displays for Bonfire Night. Next week, India will be doing something similar for its Deepavali celebrations. But this year, the real [...]
Job hoppers: How to present diverse work experience on your CV November 3, 2015 At one time, if your CV showed that you had spent six months in marketing, another six as a paralegal and a year as a freelance graphic designer, it would have been put straight in the pile marked “other”. But now, there is less expectation that people will have settled on a permanent career early, [...]
Property of the Fortnight: The ultimate Shoreditch party house, from warehouse to £6m apartment November 2, 2015 When the current owners bought an apartment atop a warehouse in Shoreditch 13 years ago, they had no way of knowing it would one day be worth £6m. But Darianne Lowe, who moved in with her partner four years ago, had big plans for the space. “Think pigeons, a squatting DJ with dozens and dozens [...]
Night Tube series: Top seven places to buy along the Central Line November 2, 2015 Deep down in the bowels of London, there lies the Central Line, perhaps the hottest, noisiest and most crowded of all Tube Lines. It’s also one of the quickest lines meaning it’s useful for commuters coming in from the far flung suburbs of east and west London. But for investors and first-time buyers, it’s the [...]
Focus On Acton: Ealing’s up-and-coming neighbour in London’s property market November 2, 2015 For years, Acton has been seen as the poor relation of more affluent or trendy neighbours like Chiswick or Ealing. But it’s a place of mixed perceptions that’s only going to go up in the world. The name comes from the old English for “oak farm”, alluding to the time it was a rural part [...]