First-time home buyers come roaring back despite investor surge in March April 29, 2016 The number of first-time buyers soared to its highest level in nearly two years last month, according to Your Move, in a new study which counters claims that a surge in buy to let investors has squeezed out homeowners. Homes bought by newbies rose by 48 per cent between February and March to a total [...]
Housebuilding in London has plummeted in the run-up to the mayoral election: Here’s which boroughs are approving the fewest new homes April 28, 2016 It seems the capital's local authorities have got a case of the heebie-jeebies in the run-up to the mayoral election – after a new report showed approvals for new homes have plummeted. The report, by estate agent Stirling Ackroyd, found London boroughs gave the thumbs-up to a mere 4,320 homes in the first quarter of the [...]
Apple has fallen: Share price drops on slowdown wiping $46bn from market cap as Goldman Sachs removes from “conviction” list April 27, 2016 Shares in Apple fell more than eight per cent as markets opened in New York after the company reporting a fall in both revenue and iPhone sales. Around $46bn (£31.6bn) was wiped from its value as a result of worse than expected results. The fall in revenue to $50bn – around $2bn short of estimates – for the second quarter [...]
Foxtons reaps the rewards as house buyers scramble to complete ahead of stamp duty deadline – but how long will the party last? April 27, 2016 Foxton's has posted impressive-looking results for the quarter to the end of March. But shares slid as investors showed their nerves over new buy to let rules. The figures Total group revenues rose to £38.4m during the period, up 16.2 per cent from the same quarter last year. That was pushed up by a 28.5 per cent increase in property [...]
Crowdfunding website offers new ways to invest in UK property development April 27, 2016 A new crowdfunding platform is offering investors the chance to buy a stake in potential housing development sites. Intro Crowd, launched today, offers the opportunity for investors to buy shares in companies owning the land plots for as little as £1,500. Gregory Baker, Intro Crowd’s chief executive, said: “The government has pledged to build one [...]
Regular home buyers feel the squeeze as investors and second home buyers storm London property market April 27, 2016 Fewer than half of all homes sold in central London over the last three months went to regular homeowners, a new report has shown, casting a light on the extent of the housing crisis in the capital. Buy to let landlords accounted for 36 per cent of property transactions during the first three months of [...]
eBay share price rises as online auction site posts four per cent jump in revenue during first quarter of 2016 April 26, 2016 Shares in online retailer eBay rose by over 1.7 per cent in after hours trading as the company revealed a jump in revenue during the first three months of the year. Sales went up by four per cent, from $2.06bn (£1.41bn) in the first quarter of 2015, to $2.14bn, and gross profit went from $1.65bn to [...]
Prime Minister David Cameron makes first visit to Port Talbot after sale announcement in March April 26, 2016 David Cameron met with Tata Steel management and unions at the Port Talbot steelworks today during his first visit since the sale plans were announced in March. Tata Steel's sale of its loss-making UK businesses has put tens of thousands of jobs in steel manufacturing and the wider supply chain at risk. Read more: UK steel is globally [...]
Sell in May and go away? Why some hedge funds are looking forward to this summer April 26, 2016 Some investors swear by the well-known adage “Sell in May and go away”, given that it’s a month that can bring low trading volumes, thin liquidity and, even worse, a stock market sell-off that permeates over the summer. Will this year be any different? Is it worth just going on holiday until St Leger Day, [...]
Apple is about to report its first slowdown in more than a decade April 25, 2016 Apple's crunch time is approaching. The most valuable company in the world (for now, at least) is about to report a sales slowdown, which although expected, is not a welcome occurrence in the usually ever upward trajectory of the beloved brand. The figures Sales of around $52bn (£35.9bn), with the iPhone making up the lion's share, are predicted [...]