UK house prices: Berkeley Group brushes off lower growth to post 80 per cent profit growth December 5, 2014 UK house prices may have begun to slip from the meteoric growth levels seen earlier this year, but Berkeley group is still reaping the rewards. The British house building company reported a 79.9 per cent rise in profit before tax for the six months to 31 October, putting the figure at a healthy £305m. Revenue [...]
Crisis at the FCA as top regulator Clive Adamson departs December 4, 2014 Some of the City’s most senior insurance executives last night expressed their dismay at the departure of Clive Adamson from the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). Adamson was widely respected within the industry for being a tough but fair regulator. The news that he is to step down comes days ahead of the publication of a [...]
Bond is back for the 24th time & he‘s got a new motor December 4, 2014 PINEWOOD studios yesterday announced that 007 will be returning to the screens for the 24th time in a film entitled Spectre. Daniel Craig will again play the suave British agent James Bond and it will also star Naomie Harris, Lea Seydoux and Monica Bellucci – all pictured above. Bond will have a new set of [...]
Markets fall as European Central Bank fails to confirm future euro stimulus December 4, 2014 European stocks dropped sharply yesterday after a lack of further stimulus from the European Central Bank (ECB) left investors disappointed. The Eurostoxx index of various european stocks fell by 1.74 per cent while the euro rebounded from a two-year low of $1.23 to $1.238 later in the day. The ECB’s policy rates were [...]
Maggie’s Centre agrees deal with St Bartholomew’s to share facilities at City hospital December 4, 2014 A new cancer care centre in the centre of the City moved a step closer yesterday when the three groups involved in the scheme agreed to proposals for a Maggie’s Centre at St Bartholomew’s Hospital. The plans, proposed by cancer care charity Maggie’s and backed by Barts Health NHS Trust and The Friends [...]
More cuts on the way says fiscal think tank December 4, 2014 LESS than half of the state’s cuts have happened so far if the government is intending to meet the goals set out in Wednesday’s Autumn Statement, the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) has said. However, the IFS yesterday warned of a great deal of uncertainty over fiscal forecasts. To achieve a budget surplus the UK needs [...]
Qatar hopes to woo Songbird with higher bid December 4, 2014 QATAR Investment Authority (QIA) and Brookfield Property Partners have gone hostile in their attempt to take control of Canary Wharf’s owner after taking a higher offer of 350p last night directly to shareholders. The final all-cash offer for Songbird Estates, which came just hours before a deadline to submit revised bids, values the company at [...]
Exclusive: Ukip to hold spring conference in Nigel Farage’s target seat, Margate December 4, 2014 Ukip will hold its spring conference in Margate’s winter gardens next February, its economics spokesman told City A.M. yesterday. He added that Ukip had built “the strongest team in years” to fight the election and aimed to beat the Lib Dems on vote share. The location of the conference, so close to the seat Ukip [...]
Pets at Home’s groom rooms help retailer’s profits jump to £40m December 4, 2014 Doting pet lovers spoiling their pooches and cats helped Pets at Home deliver a 10.2 per cent jump in sales to £381.5m in the six months to October. The retailer, which provides pet food, accessories and veterinary services from around 400 outlets, has doubled its profits to £40.5m from £21.3m in the first [...]
Euro retail sales fail to stage a late comeback December 4, 2014 EUROZONE retail sales fell at their slowest rate for five months, survey data revealed yesterday. The Eurozone retail purchasing managers’ index (PMI) – a survey of private sector firms compiled by Markit – climbed to 48.9 in November from 47 in October. However, the number remains below 50 and so signifies contraction. Retail sales have [...]