Banks hike mortgage interest rates amid boom in applicants October 24, 2020 Banks are reportedly hiking mortgage interest rates in order to deter prospective buyers as they struggle to meet a spike in demand for home loans amid a buoyant housing market. Lenders are turning away mortgage business as the ability to process applications has been slowed by home-working during the coronavirus pandemic. The housing market has [...]
US Covid-19 cases hit record daily high October 24, 2020 Confirmed cases of coronavirus in the US have reached a record daily high, according to reports. More than 84,000 people were diagnosed with Covid-19 across the US on Friday, according to a Reuters tally. The surge was a record one-day increase in infections during the pandemic as the spread of the virus picks up pace [...]
Investors back London’s recovery with £1bn Kensington hotel redevelopment October 23, 2020 The £1bn redevelopment of the Kensington Forum hotel has been given the green light by planning authorities, with the investment signalling a vote of confidence in London’s recovery from the coronavirus crisis. Queensgate Investments and Rockwell were given the go-ahead for the project, which will boost the number of hotel rooms available and create 62 [...]
Credit Suisse to connect clients with early-stage investment opportunities October 23, 2020 Credit Suisse, Linklaters, Deloitte and The Conduit Connect have launched a new venture to partner early-stage companies with potential investors. The partnership will connect members of London-based social change initiative The Conduit with Credit Suisse clients to access impact investment opportunities. The Conduit Connect currently matches early-stage investment opportunities, such as The Library of Things, [...]
Holiday Inn owner IHG says bookings subdued amid tighter restrictions October 23, 2020 Holiday Inn owner Intercontinental Hotels Group (IHG) said bookings remained subdued in the third quarter, as tighter restrictions introduced in September dampened the sector’s tentative recovery. Group revenue per available room was down 53.2 per cent reflecting a 30 percentage point drop in occupancy year on year. However, occupancy improved to 44 per cent in [...]
US private equity firm Lone Star to buy developer McCarthy & Stone for £630m October 23, 2020 US private equity firm Lone Star has made an offer to buy UK retirement property developer McCarthy & Stone for £630m. McCarthy & Stone has recommended that shareholders approve the deal, which represents a premium of 38.6 per cent to yesterday’s closing share price of 83p. The board said the offer represents “fair value” for [...]
KFC to hire 5,400 new workers despite ‘extremely difficult year’ for hospitality October 23, 2020 Fast food chain KFC has announced plans to hire 5,400 new workers in the UK and Ireland by the end of the year, signalling confidence in the hospitality industry despite an “extremely difficult year” for the sector. KFC, which has already employed more than 4,300 new team members since the start of lockdown, said the [...]
Countrywide shareholder to oppose £90m lifeline from private equity investor October 22, 2020 Estate agent chain Countrywide (LON: CWD) has secured a £90m lifeline from private equity firm Alchemy in an “urgent” bid to reduce debt, however a significant shareholder is planning to oppose the deal. The firm, which owns Bairstow Eves and Hamptons International, said it is at a “critical inflection point” and is in “urgent need [...]
Shaftesbury taps investors for £300m as pandemic batters West End October 22, 2020 West End landlord Shaftesbury will tap investors for £300m amid a sharp downturn in central London footfall during the coronavirus pandemic. The property firm announced today that it intends to raise around £297m through a discounted offer of new shares, with the potential to raise £307m dependent on investor appetite. Shaftesbury, which owns 16 acres [...]
Travis Perkins sales recover amid post-lockdown DIY boom October 22, 2020 Travis Perkins (LON:TPK) sales were boosted by a DIY boom after consumers spent more time at home during lockdown. The company announced this morning that like-for-like sales jumped 3.9 per cent in the third quarter, driven by an increase in home improvement projects. However Travis Perkins, which owns the Toolstation and Wickes brands, said there [...]
