The amount of equity withdrawn by remortgaging properties reached £837m in December 2015, while equity release lending hit £1.61bn in 2015 January 26, 2016 Equity release activity became frenzied in the later months of last year, with both equity withdrawn by remortgaging properties and total equity release lending levels reaching dizzying heights. According to figures released today by Legal Marketing Services (LMS), a total of £837m was extracted from properties through remortgaging in December 2015, up 32 per cent compared to £635m in December [...]
London mayoral election 2016: Labour candidate Sadiq Khan rejects suggestions from shadow chancellor John McDonnell to scrap City of London Corporation January 26, 2016 Labour candidate for mayor of London Sadiq Khan has sharply rejected calls from shadow chancellor John McDonnell and top Labour advisers to get rid of the City of London Corporation. “The City of London Corporation is the City’s bedrock, playing an historic and vital role representing business,” a spokesperson for Khan told City A.M. “Any suggestion [...]
The Guardian falls into taxing spot on Google January 25, 2016 Of all the hand-wringing and outrage over Google’s £130m tax payment, some of the most vociferous has come from everyone’s favourite loss-making publication the Guardian. An opinion piece from firebrand Labour MP Margaret Hodge appeared on the paper’s website calling the gesture from Google “pitiful”, while resident cartoonist Martin Rowson published a doodle depicting George [...]
Former Lib Dem MP and ex-chief secretary to the Treasury Danny Alexander poised to join Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank January 25, 2016 Sir Danny Alexander, who was chief secretary to the Treasury under the coalition government until 2015, is odds on for a new post at the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), according to the Financial Times. Alexander is expected to be named as one of five resident vice presidents of the bank. The AIIB is seen as [...]
Opec begs others to join it in cutting production January 25, 2016 The standoff between Opec and its rivals came to a head today as the cartels secretary-general called on other oil producing countries to put a ceiling on output. Abdalla El-Badri warned that producers would continue to suffer without co-operation to end a supply glut. The call was echoed by a senior Russian oil executive, who said [...]
Top tips for getting your dream home or a quick sale on Open Days January 25, 2016 You could be forgiven for thinking that the queue snaking down your street was for the January sales, but in our property-obsessed times, it’s more likely to be an open house. High demand and low housing supply means vendors – especially those selling properties in the affordable bracket – are inundated with potential buyers. And [...]
Going for gold: Bullion prices are rising as equity markets wobble and experts say gold could hit $1,300 an ounce this year January 25, 2016 Gold has rallied and analysts are forecasting higher prices this year. Will the precious metal shine in 2016? The market has been rankled by a catalogue of risks, from China’s shifting economy to Middle East geopolitics and slower global growth – all while the US embarks on a path away from from extraordinary monetary policy. “That [...]
Property of the Fortnight: The Muppet Show comes to Camden January 25, 2016 It’s time to play the market for the Muppet House tonight. That’s right, for the first time ever, the Creature Shop that used to house Jim Henson’s furry cast is going on sale as a luxury penthouse. The Henson Building, as it’s still known, is on 30 Oval Road in an imposing Victorian warehouse in [...]
European Central Bank chief Mario Draghi blasts critics of easy money January 25, 2016 European Central Bank (ECB) boss Mario Draghi has hit back at critics of the bank's decisions to keep interest rates low and launch a €1.5 trillion (£1.1 trillion) asset purchase programme. Draghi, who last week hinted interest rates might be cut further, said low interest rates were not punishing savers. He said inflation adjusted returns did not tell this story [...]
EU referendum: Irish Prime Minister Enda Kenny warns of “serious difficulties” for Northern Ireland if UK leaves the EU January 25, 2016 Irish Prime Minister Enda Kelly has warned that a British exit from the EU would create "serious difficulties" for Northern Ireland. "From our perspective it would create serious difficulties for Northern Ireland and I don't want to see that happening," Kenny, who was in London visiting UK Prime Minister David Cameron, told journalists today. "Our focus is [...]