Housing market activity picks up after cooling over winter February 15, 2015 THE AVERAGE London residential property price was 2.8 per cent higher in February than in January, new figures show today. However, the average time it takes to sell has climbed to 69 days, according to the data released by Rightmove. It marks seven straight months of increase in the time taken to sell a property, [...]
First-time home buyers should get a mortgage rather than rent, says Halifax February 15, 2015 Record low mortgage rates are contributing to a market where it is cheaper for first-time buyers to buy rather than rent. The average monthly cost associated with a first-time buyer buying a three bedroom house was £658 in December, according to figures released by mortgage lender Halifax at the weekend. It compares to an average [...]
Afren in talks to recapitalise as Seplat deal fails February 15, 2015 Struggling oil firm Afren is in rescue deal discussions with bondholders and other lenders after announcing at the end of last week that it had terminated talks with Seplat Petroleum over a potential combination. The company said it was continuing discussions with the advisers to its largest bond holders “regarding the immediate liquidity and funding [...]
Big Six losing out to newcomers February 15, 2015 ALMOST a quarter of UK consumers switched gas or electricity supplier in the past year, according to research from EY. The company found that inaccurate bills were the driver behind this movement, with 39 per cent of the 2,000 consumers surveyed citing errors as the main reason for leaving a supplier. When looking into joining [...]
Centrica prepares to slash jobs after profit plummets in 2014 February 15, 2015 Utility firm Centrica, owner of British Gas, is expected to announce profits dropped by a third in 2014 when it publishes its results on Thursday. The company is also likely to reduce projected spending for 2015, and is reportedly preparing to cut jobs. These results are the first set of numbers that have been delivered [...]
Troubled Serco could be target for short-sellers February 15, 2015 Struggling outsourcing firm Serco is attracting attention from short-sellers, who are expecting further bad news from the company this year. Hampshire-based Serco revealed in November that it was to raise £550m through a rights issue, at the same time announcing a profit warning for 2014. The firm did not pay a dividend last year as [...]
DECC launches campaign to help consumers save on energy bills February 15, 2015 THE GOVERNMENT is today launching its Power to Switch campaign, urging UK consumers to shop around for better energy deals. According to the Department of Energy and Climate Change, millions of people could be saving £200 or more on their annual bills. “We’ve reformed the market so that there are more suppliers, more competition, and [...]
Outgoing Morrisons boss Dalton Philips puts £1.65m York home up for sale February 15, 2015 WM Morrison outgoing chief Dalton Philips has put his £1.65m York townhouse up for sale, giving The Capitalist and all you other curtain-twitching, Kirsty Allsopp-watching property clickers a welcome chance to snoop through his home. And what a house you can get for that money in York! The tasteful five-bedroom listed Georgian pile comes complete [...]
Saxo Bank’s cyclists on easy street with Ride Like A Pro and Trade Like A Pro schemes February 15, 2015 Cycle mad Saxo Bank has brought the worlds of trading and riding together through its new schemes Ride Like A Pro and Trade Like A Pro. Saxo's Matteo Cassinat gets in the saddle For Ride Like A Pro, current and prospective clients of Saxo Bank can apply for the chance to live and [...]
King Digital share prices soars as Candy Crush Saga duo set to reap £41m reward in March February 15, 2015 The bosses of hit smartphone game group King Digital are set to receive a £41.5m windfall next month after the studio behind Candy Crush Saga announced a special dividend along with record results last week. For his 9.7 per cent stake co-founder and chief executive Riccardo Zacconi will pocket £19m of the £195m dividend being [...]
