By: Helen Cahill

I report on retail and property for City A.M. I have covered the investigation into BHS and London's housing crisis. You can email me on helen.cahill@cityam.com with tips or commentary.

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Mortgage approvals in the UK fell to a year low in June

July 29, 2016

Mortgage approvals in the UK fell to their lowest point since May 2015 in the period leading up to the country's referendum on EU membership. According to the Bank of England, 64,766 mortgages were approved in June – down from the 66,722 approved in May. Read more: Everything you need to know about the UK's housing [...]
Mapped: First-time buyer house prices in every London borough

July 29, 2016

Thinking of buying your first home? Thinking of helping your children buy their first home? Here's what you're up against in London. Estate agent eMoov.co.uk has released the average house price for first-time buyers in every London borough – and it's not very encouraging. Read more: Everything you need to know about the UK's housing market after [...]
Findel has refused to make Mike Ashley chairman

July 29, 2016

Mike Ashley has failed to bag the chairmanship of gift retailer Findel – but the company said this morning that "discussions are ongoing." The company wants to agree to a deal with Sports Direct to act as an outlet for the sports shop's brand, but hasn't made Ashley chairman. Read more: Mike Ashley is looking to make himself the chairman [...]
Discount supermarkets set to benefit as consumer confidence falls through the floor after the Brexit vote

July 29, 2016

Discount supermarkets are set to win big on Brexit as consumer confidence falls through the floor. UK consumer confidence dropped by 11 points in July – the biggest monthly fall for over 26 years, according to GfK. GfK’s consumer confidence index is now at -12, and dicount supermarkets could be the ones to benefit. A [...]
This Soho property boss is “on a mission” to make China town less Chinese

July 28, 2016

China town is getting a revamp – and it's going to become less Chinese. Speaking to City A.M., the chief executive of Shaftesbury – which owns 3.2 acres of land in Chinatown – said there are too many Cantonese restaurants in China town, and he hopes to attract more varied set of restaurateurs to the heart of London. Read [...]
Sports Direct’s share price soars as it announces £90m share buyback

July 28, 2016

Sports Direct's share price was up 13 per cent this morning after the company announced a £90m share buyback. The buyback represents roughly five per cent of the fitness retailer's share capital and will be taking place in the lead-up to the company's annual general meeting (AGM) on 7 September. Read more: Four of the most jaw-dropping [...]
Number of retail jobs is falling as workers face pay cuts

July 28, 2016

Staff have become the casualties of the fierce competition and tough economic conditions facing the retail sector. The number of full-time jobs in retail fell by 2.4 per cent compared to the same quarter last year, according to a survey by the British Retail Consortium (BRC). Read more: M&S accused of threatening to sack staff who reject new [...]
Commercial rent edged up in the second quarter, with London outperforming the rest of the nation

July 27, 2016

Central London shops have been helping to boost rental growth in the second quarter of 2016, according to CBRE. Rents in UK prime commercial property were up one per cent in the second quarter of 2016; high street shop rents were up 2.8 per cent. Industrial rents grew by 1.4 per cent. Read more: Demand for commercial [...]
Retail sales fell at the fastest rate in more than four years in July as Brexit worries cast a shadow on the high street

July 27, 2016

Retail sales fell at their fastest rate for over four years this month, according to the Confederation of British Industry (CBI). CBI's Distributive Trades Survey found sales volumes fell faster than at any point since January 2012. Weak consumer confidence after the Brexit vote was likely the largest factor contributing to the decline, CBI said. [...]
Sir Philip Green has still not had an apology from Frank Field over “defamatory” comments

July 27, 2016

Sir Philip Green has still not had an apology from Frank Field – two days after the retail tycoon said Field had 24 hours to apologise for saying Green stole money from BHS. Speaking about whether Field had offered an apology yet, Green told City A.M.: "No, I haven't heard from him yet." Read more: This is the one person [...]

‘Bond market tantrum risks’: Gilt traders brace for Labour leftward pivot as Starmer future uncertain

Manchester City: Sheikh Mansour faces calls for ban from English football over UAE links to genocide

The watch podcast disrupting the ‘pale, male and stale’ image

By: Helen Cahill

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