From Abramovich to the Saudis: Football clubs have become the laundry for muddy reputations March 4, 2022 In 2003, Roman Abramovich bought Chelsea Football Club. In the years thereafter, a perennial underachiever became one of the most successful clubs in English football, a five-times Premier League champion and twice winner of the Champions League, the pinnacle of European football. Today, they are the reigning European and world club champions. Results on the [...]
Sport is guilty of shutting its eyes to Russia’s geopolitical ambitions February 27, 2022 Roman Abramovich’s near 20-year ownership of Premier League club Chelsea has been shrouded in mystery and therefore subject to constant scrutiny and speculation. Indeed, until the weekend, it remained unclear why he is there and what he is seeking to achieve. The oligarch has denied having direct links with Vladimir Putin but has been seen [...]
Saturday Sitdown: Mortgage guru Colin Bell on why Brits are ready for 50 year fixed rates February 26, 2022 Following the Bank of England’s recent interest rate rise and all the implications it has for the property and mortgage market, one firm is offering loans at a 30 year fixed rate, with plans to offer 40 and 50 year fixes in the near future. Sold as a massive lifestyle enabler and gives people much [...]
Lotus eyes up IPO to supercharge production February 21, 2022 Iconic British car maker Lotus is heading towards a multi-billion pound floatation as it readies to open a new production plant in China and targets 100,000 sales a year by 2030.
London house hunters face fierce bidding wars as property market set to become hyper-competitive February 19, 2022 House hunters wanting to buy a property in London this year are likely to face more competitive market conditions than in 2021. Since January, 51 per cent more buyers have entered the market and 35 per cent more property viewings took place compared to January last year, according to data from estate agency Chestertons. This [...]
Oil rallies stutter as US-Iran talks reach final stages February 17, 2022 Oil prices have dropped this morning as talks to revive the aborted nuclear deal with Iran have progressed over recent days.
Abama care: Tenerife getaway Abama is the complete wellness experience February 17, 2022 I am at a yoga camp lying on a beautifully manicured lawn in the Canary Islands, bathed in warm morning sunshine as incense and calming mood music relaxes my mind. My lycra-clad colleagues look like sculptures as their toned legs point skywards. I, on the other hand, keep losing my balance and toppling over. Trouble [...]
Bidders recoil at Butlin’s hefty price tag as Blackstone explore a sale February 13, 2022 Potential bidders for the Butlin’s chain of holiday camps have reportedly balked at a hefty £700m price tag floated by its owner Blackstone, as the private equity giant looks to spin off the chain.
Margate has seen the biggest jump in house prices since 2012 February 10, 2022 A seaside town in Kent has been identified as the area where prices have leaped the most in the last decade. Asking prices of homes in Margate have more than doubled on average since 2012, according to property site Rightmove. Prices now stand at an average of £294,209, more than £100,000 higher than they were [...]
Average UK house prices soar to record £276,000 February 7, 2022 The average UK house buyer forked out 9.7 per cent more in January 2022 than they would have done a year ago.