How Twitter became Alexis Tsipras’ secret weapon in Greek negotiations June 29, 2015 Late on Saturday evening, as Europe was still reeling from Greece’s decision to walk away from the negotiating table to hold a referendum on a reform package proposed by its creditors, the country’s Prime Minister, Alexis Tsipras, started tweeting. https://twitter.com/tsipras_eu/status/614922800709636096 Minutes later, he followed it up with another proclamation: https://twitter.com/tsipras_eu/status/614923748504940544 Then [...]
Greek crisis: €8bn withdrawn from Greek banks by savers, Moody’s reckons June 29, 2015 It looks like those capital controls came in the nick of time: new analysis from credit ratings giant Moody's has suggested Greek savers withdrew €8bn (£7.1bn) over the past two weeks. To put that into context, that's more than the €7bn of funds creditors have been arguing over. The note from Moody's suggested deposits fell [...]
Stamp duty replaces mansion tax as Central London house buyers’ worst fear as sales of homes worth £1.1m plus fall June 29, 2015 Mansion tax is so pre-election, darling – these days, the UK's high earners are worrying about one thing: stamp duty. That's according to a new report by upmarket estate agent Knight Frank, which has found the new tax has dented sales of homes worth £1.1m plus. Read more: The average brick in Kensington and Chelsea [...]
Greek debt crisis: Should I still go on holiday to Greece? Government issues travel advice June 29, 2015 As Greece plunges headlong towards defaulting on a payment due to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) tomorrow, what does that mean for the two million-odd people expected to travel to Greece as the summer holiday season kicks off? Here's how it's likely to affect your holiday. What's actually happening? The Greek government has been unable [...]
FTSE, Dax and Cac all open lower as Greek crisis takes its toll on markets and the euro June 29, 2015 The turmoil in Greece hit European stocks this morning, with the FTSE 100, Germany's Dax and France's Cac all opening lower. Read more: "It's not too late for a Greek deal" – EU official The FTSE was two per cent lower, while Germany's Xetra Dax was down 3.7 per cent and France's Cac 40 was [...]
EU economy commissioner Pierre Moscovici: It’s not too late for a Greek deal June 29, 2015 Amid all the doom and gloom, one EU official struck a positive note this morning; EU economy commissioner Pierre Moscovici said this morning that it's "not too late" for Greece to strike a deal with its creditors. Hmm. Read more: Greek banks and Athens stock market closed for business In an interview with French radio [...]
Billionaire chic: Contents of opulent mansion with 45 bedrooms to be sold at public auction June 29, 2015 Eyebrows were raised when it was put on sale for £300m back in 2012, but now 2-8a Rutland Gate – which, with 45-odd bedrooms, is one of London's largest homes – is hitting headlines again after its owners put its entire contents up for auction. The Guardian reports that the entire contents of the home, once [...]
Greece rejects bailout extension proposals as Juncker takes positive stance on deal June 26, 2015 Greece has rejected proposals for a five-month extension to its bailout deal – as European President Jean-Claude Juncker took an optimistic stance on the chances of the country reaching a deal with its creditors this weekend. Read more: Has the IMF compromised its credibility over Greece's bailouts? At a press conference following two days of [...]
London house prices: The average cost of a single brick in the capital is now just shy of £200 June 26, 2015 Rocketing house prices in the capital mean the average brick in a London house (RRP: 67p) is now valued at just short of £200, research has found (assuming it's attached to other bricks, and a bit of mortar, that is…). The research, by online estate agent HouseSimple.com, was based on the fact it takes about [...]
David Cameron calls meeting of government emergency Cobra committee after terror attacks in France, Tunisia and Kuwait June 26, 2015 Prime Minister David Cameron has called a meeting of the emergency Cobra committee this afternoon, after terror attacks rocked France, Kuwait and Tunisia, leaving more than 40 people dead. Read more: French beheading suspect named In one attack on a factory in St-Quentin-Fallavier in France, a decapitated body was left in a gas canister factory [...]
