Taylor Wimpey’s average UK house price hits £210,000 January 15, 2014 House builder Taylor Wimpey has reported significant improvement in the housing market underpinned by increasing consumer confidence and government interventions to bolster homeownership. Average selling prices on private completions rose by seven per cent to £210,000. Taylor Wimpey's overall average selling price has also increased by 6 per cent to £191,000. The company expects to [...]
Drones take to the North Sea in search of oil January 14, 2014 Drones are to be the latest tools in the hunt for new reserves of North Sea oil. Academics at the University of Aberdeen are working in collaboration with a group from the University of Bergen, to use the unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to examine rock formations and improve the understanding of subsurface reservoirs. The latest [...]
Race for EU Commission president heats up as Barnier prepares to run January 14, 2014 France's Michel Barnier says he is prepared to run for president of the European Commission. Mr Barnier currently serves as the commissioner for the internal markets and services and has been heavily involved in the designs for a European banking union, in an attempt to restore confidence in the Eurozone economy. Prior to an official [...]
Shard to be joined by second tower January 14, 2014 One of London's most iconic landmarks, the Shard (pictured above), will soon be accompanied by a brand new 27-story tower, according to reports by the Financial Times. The architect behind the Shard, Renzo Pianzo, will design the structure as part of the London Bridge Quarter. The project is being spearheaded by Sellar Property Group in [...]
UK economy no freer than in 2013 says Washington think tank January 14, 2014 Despite tax cuts and reductions in government spending the UK economy is no freer than it was in 2013, according to the Heritage Foundation's Index of Economic Freedom. At the dawn of 2014 the UK managed to increase its score by a meagre 0.1 percentage points. Overall, the UK scored 74.9 out of 100. Britain [...]
Barratt reports bumper sales as Help to Buy kicks in January 14, 2014 Britain's largest housebuilder, Barratt Developments, has reported a whopping 71 per cent rise in forward sales. The company also reported a 37 per cent rise in reservations as the government's controversial Help to Buy scheme continues to stoke up consumer demand. Mark Clare group chief executive, commented: As a result of the continued recovery of [...]
Michael Page posts rising profits in wake of hiring boom January 14, 2014 Recruiter Michael Page has posted a rise in gross profit of 0.3 per cent for the fourth quarter. The improved results reflect strengthening performances from over half of 34 countries the firm operates in. Gross profit was £125m in the fourth quarter, which was down 1.2 per cent year-on-year in reported rates. Steve Ingham, Chief [...]
Solid business for Balfour Beatty as firm readies for Olympic conversion January 14, 2014 Construction firm Balfour Beatty has seen trading in line with the board's expectations from the time of the group's third quarter interim management statement on 5 November 2013. In professional services, performance was as expected. Balfour anticipates the year end order book for continuing businesses to be broadly in line with the £13.5bn from 31 [...]
EU and Britain to clash over legal highs January 13, 2014 Britain is on a collision course with the European Union (EU) after Home Office minister Norman Baker said the UK will oppose attempts by the EU to regulate so called "legal highs." The EU says that around 20 per cent of legal highs have a legitimate commercial use, a claim disputed by the Home Office. [...]
Taxi unions turn violent in protest against Uber January 13, 2014 French airports saw union violence today as demonstrators hurled rocks and paint at travellers using the innovative taxi service, Uber. Entrepreneur Kat Borlongan, had the windows of her taxi smashed and tyres slashed while travelling from Charles de Gaulle earlier today. Five taxi unions have brought their strength to bear to protest against services provided [...]
