To nest or invest is the crucial decision buyers must make September 9, 2012 FOR most, buying a property is likely to be the most expensive purchase that they will ever make. As such, one of the key decisions that buyers face is where to buy their property. The average price of a London property currently stands at £302,000, according to Nationwide. But the performance of house prices have [...]
Maybe it’s because you’re a Londoner: The capital is optimistic about prices September 9, 2012 Take a step back before deciding if your glass is half full or empty IT IS often hard to move for the number of property analysts discussing price movements in the housing market. But what do UK households think? The Knight Frank/Markit House Price Sentiment index sets out to answer that question. Every month, we [...]
More homes would make climbing the second step easier September 9, 2012 GETTING a foot on the property ladder is hard. But, taking the second step could be even harder. Agonising market conditions mean that it could now be the most challenging time to be a “second stepper” in years. Research shows that a first-time buyer stays in their first property for around four years. Since the [...]
FTSE rallies after ECB’s bond buying plan boosts investors’ confidence September 6, 2012 MINERS and banks led the rebound on Britain’s FTSE 100 yesterday, after investors gave an initial thumbs up to ECB president Mario Draghi’s bond buying plans, while strong US data also helped lift sentiment. The FTSE 100 100 closed up 119.48 points, or 2.1 per cent, at 5777.34 as the index recovered losses sustained over [...]
US stocks soar to multi-year closing highs September 6, 2012 US stocks closed at multi-year highs yesterday, with the S&P 500 ending at its highest level since before the collapse of Lehman Brothers as investors hailed a new European bond-buying program aimed at stemming the region’s debt crisis. Sentiment was also boosted by stronger-than-expected data on the US services sector and labour market, which was [...]
FTSE underperforms as BP weighs on a market awaiting Europe news September 5, 2012 BRITAIN’S benchmark share index fell to its lowest level in more than a month yesterday, underperforming gains on rival European stock markets, as BP slumped after the 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil spill returned to haunt the energy company. Nerves ahead of a European Central Bank meeting today, with the ECB under increasing pressure to [...]
FedEx outlook stokes bearish US sentiment September 5, 2012 US stocks closed out a second straight session of thin trading yesterday, with investors reluctant to make big bets ahead of a crucial meeting of the European Central Bank, which could announce new policies to help contain the Eurozone’s debt crisis. Media reports that European policymakers would unveil a bond-buying plan to bring down crippling [...]
FTSE loses 1.5pc with investors not holding breath over ECB’s summit September 4, 2012 BRITAIN’S top share index fell yesterday reflecting investor uncertainty over whether this week’s key European Central Bank (ECB) meeting will deliver the goods on a hoped for bond-buying scheme designed to ease the euro debt crisis. The FTSE 100 closed down 86.40 points, or 1.5 per cent, at 5,672.01, ending back below the 5,700 level [...]
US markets await action in Eurozone September 4, 2012 THE S&P 500 and the Dow Jones industrial average closed slightly lower yesterday as investors continued to await clarity on European Central Bank plans to shore up heavily indebted countries, but the market ended off its lows on a rally in Apple shares. The Dow Jones was down 54.90 points, or 0.42 per cent, at [...]
FTSE breaks four-day losing streak on hopes of Chinese fiscal stimulus September 3, 2012 UK blue chips broke a four-day losing streak in thin volume yesterday as mining stocks rallied on speculation about new economic stimulus from the world’s top metals consumer, China. Mining shares rose 1.3 per cent after weak manufacturing data from China raised expectations that Beijing would launch new monetary stimulus measures to revive its economy. [...]