Work longer, live better: Our attitude to employment must change if we’re to have a healthy later life December 17, 2015 As a society, we must better recognise that “work” does not just provide people with financial rewards but also important social benefits, and helps contribute to a healthier and happier later life. Figures shared recently by pensions minister Baroness Altmann show that only half of the population aged 50-64 are still in work in some [...]
Heathrow chairman Sir Nigel Rudd poised for departure in 2016 amid airport expansion turbulence December 17, 2015 Sir Nigel Rudd, the chairman of Heathrow, has announced he will depart the UK's biggest airport next September, after a decision on the thorny issue of airport expansion is expected to be made by the government. A replacement has not yet been named, but "preparations are underway". "I'm really proud to have played a role [...]
British car manufacturing rose by 9.3 per cent last month – SMMT December 17, 2015 Britain’s car manufacturing industry delivered a strong performance in November as output rose. Manufacturing rose 9.3 per cent in November, industry body the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) reports today, revealing that 150,084 vehicles were built during the month, up from 137,347 this time last year. Mike Hawes, SMMT chief executive, said: “November’s [...]
US markets welcome Fed rate rise as analysts applaud smooth landing for Janet Yellen’s announcement December 17, 2015 The US central bank finally hiked interest rates for the first time since 2006 last night in a highly-anticipated move marking “the end of an extraordinary period.” US stock markets welcomed the move, with the S&P 500 jumping 1.45 per cent as the Federal Reserve lifted its main policy rate 0.25 percentage points from record [...]
The Help to Buy mortgage guarantee scheme is boosting high loan-to-value lending December 17, 2015 The government's Help to Buy mortgage guarantee scheme, which offers greater protection for lenders, is boosting high loan-to-value (LTV) lending, according to new figures released today. The number of mortgage deals offering loans equal to 95 per cent of the value of a property climbed to 260 in November, the data from mortgage insurer Genworth [...]
IPO markets set for a strong start to 2016, after Worldpay’s floatation boosts fourth quarter market activity December 17, 2015 The year has ended on a high for initial public offerings (IPO), thanks in part to Worldpay’s success recently on the London Stock Exchange, and the pipeline looks positive for 2016, according to EY research. After a record-breaking 2014, 2015 has been something of a disappointment, especially the third quarter, which EY said was subdued following [...]
London house prices to reach £931,000 by 2025, more than double the UK average December 17, 2015 Just when you thought the housing market couldn’t get hotter: the average London house price is set to reach £931,000 by 2025. UK house prices are set to rise by 50 per cent, while rents will increase by more than 25 per cent by 2025, according to the Association of Residential Letting Agents (ARLA) and National [...]
More than 600,000 UK homeowners are now property millionaires December 17, 2015 More than 600,000 UK homeowners are now so-called property millionaires as escalating prices pushed more homes over the £1m-mark. Research released by property website Zoopla said the number of homes worth £1m or more increased by 75,796 – up 14 per cent – since January, taking the total number of property millionaires to 622,939. This [...]
Fed rate hike reactions: How analysts responded to Janet Yellen’s interest rate rise December 16, 2015 The Federal Reserve’s move to raise its short-term interest rate from its historically low near-zero levels was widely expected by economists, but not everyone welcomed the first hike in close to a decade. Attacking the Fed’s move as “premature”, CEBR economists were critical of the central bank’s move to “fight non-existent inflation”: “The Fed is [...]
Federal Reserve interest rate decision: What did the world look like in 2006, the last time the Fed hiked rates? December 16, 2015 We finally have lift-off. The Federal Reserve have raised short-term interest rates for the first time in close to a decade, signalling the US economy has returned to health after the financial crisis. But what did the world look like in June 2006, the last time a Fed rate hike happened? If you don’t remember, [...]