IFO survey: German business confidence reaches 17-month high November 24, 2015 German business confidence has hit its highest level for 17 months, despite the ongoing emissions scandal that has rocked the country's car manufacturing industry. The business climate index for German industry and trade released by research group IFO rose to 109 points in November from 108.2 points in October. "The German economy remains unaffected by growing [...]
UK house prices: This is how long you have to sell your house before estate agents lose interest November 24, 2015 Here's another reason to get your ducks in a row before hitting the market with your property. The process might be an arduous one, but the people helping you sell your home apparently have a very short attention span. A new survey suggests estate agents lose interest after just two weeks if a property hasn't received [...]
Oil stocks drag down the FTSE ending its rally – London Report November 24, 2015 Traders’ concerns over miners and retailers yesterday pull down London’s main index, ending a week-long run. The FTSE 100 dropped 29.1 points to 6,305.5. Oil companies were struggled after Saudi Arabia indicated it will work to stabilise oil markets, sending the price pinballing. Producers ended lower, despite a late rally after the oil price bounced [...]
London house prices: Buy-to-let investors looking outside the capital for best value as Brewin Dolphin warns sector is a “disaster waiting to happen” November 24, 2015 A rising number of buy-to-let investors are trying to get their hands on cheaper properties outside of London and the South East, new figures reveal today. Meanwhile, one London investment manager has warned BTL is a "disaster waiting to happen" due to a lack of understanding on recent changes in the tax rules. Figures released by [...]
The UK to crash out of global trading top ten by 2050 and won’t be able to keep up with emerging markets November 24, 2015 The UK is set to fall out of the top ten trading nations by 2050, pushed out by the likes of South Korea, Mexico and other emerging markets, according to a new report. Global merchandise trade is set to quadruple by 2050, down to increased economic integration and new technology. The UK is set to struggle [...]
EIA: US oil reserves hit a 43-year high as WTI and Brent crude oil prices continue to fall November 23, 2015 The US’ oil reserves rose to its highest point since 1972 last year, but plunging prices are likely to start weighing down the record-high reserves. Oil reserves soared by nine per cent in 2014, to 39bn barrels, according to US energy forecaster Energy Information Administration, which also found that natural gas reserves hit an unprecedented [...]
The UK property market’s secret north-south divide: It takes three times as long to sell your house in London’s Kensington or Mayfair than in Carlisle or Glasgow November 23, 2015 Selling a house in London? Good luck: it’s likely to take you three times as long as the average house sale in northern Carlisle, according to new figures revealing a different kind of north-south divide in the UK’s property market. House sellers in Carlisle, Cumbria, can expect to seal the deal after just six viewings. [...]
Portugal, Spain, Italy, Austria and Lithuania budget plans criticised as Eurogroup stresses flexibility in the wake of the migrant crisis November 23, 2015 Eurozone finance ministers piled pressure on their counterparts in Austria, Lithuania, Italy, Spain and Portugal last night as they were criticised for their spending plans. At a meeting in Brussels the 19-strong Eurogroup backed the European Commissions recent analysis of these countries hitting their budget targets. “For these countries more work needs to be done,” [...]
Black Friday 2015 shoppers beware: Cybercrime and online fraud cost the UK over £16m last Christmas – and Black Friday and Cyber Monday are the worst days of all November 23, 2015 Christmas spirit? Forget it: When it comes to cybercrime, online fraudsters are the biggest Grinches of all. Online shopping fraud over the holiday season soared by 42 per cent last year, with £16.4m lost to cyber criminals according to statistics from the City of London police compiled by non-profit organisations Get Safe Online and Action [...]
Three-quarters of top judges are privately educated, compared to seven per cent of the population overall, raising concerns over diversity and social mobility in the legal sector November 23, 2015 Three-quarters (74 per cent) of top judges, defined as those who sit on the High Court and the Court of Appeal, received a private education, compared to just seven per cent of the UK population overall. A report by the Sutton Trust and PRIME – an alliance of more than 80 UK law firms and [...]