Commodity 2019 outlook: Will global growth slowdown force more OPEC production cuts? January 7, 2019 Oil prices steadily climbed during 2018 as the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries’ (OPEC) agreed production cuts helped stem the global oversupply. The US withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal saw Washington place new sanctions on the OPEC member, and crude surged to four-year highs on expectations of a significant reduction to the global [...]
First-time buyer mortgage approvals hit 10-year high despite higher UK house prices January 2, 2019 First-time buyer mortgage approvals hit their highest level in more than 10 years in 2018, the latest data shows. An estimated 367,038 first-time buyers took out mortgages last year, up from 362,800 in 2017, according to analysis from Yorkshire Building Society using UK Finance figures. The number exceeded 2007 levels, when 359,000 first-time buyers secured mortgages, [...]
Arsenal 0-2 Tottenham: Five things we learned as goals from Heung-min Son and Dele Alli send Spurs through to League Cup semi-final December 19, 2018 It was a testament to the importance of this match that both sides opted to pick their strongest possible line-ups, despite it only being a League Cup tie. Ultimately, Tottenham’s best was better, as they knocked out Arsenal with a 2-0 win – just their second ever victory at the Emirates. In times gone by, [...]
From bottling in Battersea to viniculture in Tooting, you barely have to venture outside your house to find a winemaking scene December 19, 2018 There are many ways people imagine exploring wine country. In a Fiat 500, driving across the hills of Tuscany with sunglasses on noses and Alanis Morissette in ears; touring the Languedoc by train, sipping crisp Saumur from Tours all the way to Paris. And these days, back home in England, where from Kent all the [...]
Rate of remortgaging surges to ten-year high as homeowners lock in amid ‘competitive market’ December 12, 2018 Britain saw its highest levels of remortgaging in a decade during October, with homeowners locking into new deals as competition between lenders heats up. According to new figures from UK Finance there were 50,500 new homeowner remortgages completed in October, rising 23.2 per cent when compared with the same month a year earlier. The £9.2bn of [...]
Holiday Homes: Thinking about buying a ski home? Read our guide on prices, places, powder and trends December 11, 2018 As the ski season descends upon us, it’s time to take a look at the best places to buy a ski home in the world, just in case you hit the slopes and never want to leave. Thankfully, we’ve got all the latest facts and figures at our disposal, thanks to the World Research team [...]
Competition watchdog launches probe into Ebay’s acquisition of Motors.co.uk December 11, 2018 Ebay's proposed acquisition of car search business Motors.co.uk is to undergo an investigation by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), it was announced this morning. The CMA said it is considering whether the move, which would see Ebay merge Motors.co.uk with its other consumer-facing business Gumtree Motors, may result in a "substantial lessening" of competition [...]
New mortgage commitments climb in third quarter of 2018 December 11, 2018 New mortgage commitments in the third quarter of 2018 were 4.7 per cent higher than last year, according to new statistics from the Bank of England. Meanwhile, the value of residential property mortgage loans jumped to £1,43bn in the third quarter, rising 3.2 per cent on the same period a year ago. The share of new lending [...]
Scrap stamp duty for pensioners to free up homes for youngsters, says thinktank December 3, 2018 A UK thinktank has called for the government to scrap stamp duty for pensioners to encourage downsizing and free up homes for younger families. Policy Exchange’s new report reveals that 1.1m homes in England with two or more spare bedrooms are lived in by a single person aged over 65. The report says the lower stamp [...]
New Homes: Our pick of the new builds and conversions going on sale in London this weekend November 30, 2018 New developments on the market this week Fitzroy Gate, Old Isleworth From £1.4m Why shouldn’t Christmas shopping include browsing for a new home? There’s a festive-themed open day tomorrow from 10am to 4pm at this seven acre development in south west London. There are three show homes to peruse and 39 Victorian and neo-Georgian style [...]