Barratt Developments posts massive 75 per cent profit increase February 25, 2015 The figures Barratt Developments' half-year results will make cheerful reading for the company's shareholders. Pre-tax profit at the company climbed 74 per cent, while total completions rose 12.5 per cent. Basic earnings per share were also up 78.9 per cent. Why it's interesting Barratt enjoyed a booming 2014 with stronger profits, and shareholders were treated [...]
Bovis Homes reveals record year as profits, revenue and earnings all soar February 23, 2015 The figures Bovis Homes' share price opened around two per cent higher this morning, after the home builder reported a 75 per cent rise in basic earnings per share, from 44.9p to 78.6p for the year ended 31 December 2014. A stronger average sales price and a record year for completions led to a 69 per [...]
How to become a banker: Barclays launches apprentice scheme just for people over 50 February 8, 2015 A couple of generations ago, many people would have been planning retirement by the time they reached their 50s. But now that we are living longer, we also have to work longer to support ourselves. In some cases, that means starting on a new career path late in life. Barclays is about to [...]
House prices climb over winter February 5, 2015 THE HOUSING market boom that saw price growth peak at 10.2 per cent year-on-year in July may not be over, according to one of the UK’s biggest mortgage lenders. House prices jumped two per cent in January – the biggest monthly increase since 2009, figures released yesterday by Halifax show. The average house price in the [...]
UK house prices come roaring back in January: Mortgage rates, stamp duty or just an outlier? February 5, 2015 The night is always darkest before the dawn, but house prices have skipped the daybreak formalities to come bouncing back. According to Halifax, the figures are bullish: 1.9 per cent quarterly growth hasn’t been seen since September, and the two per cent monthly bounce hasn’t been bested since last February. Annually, and perhaps most reliably, [...]
UK house price growth slowest since 2013 January 29, 2015 House prices in the UK have risen at the slowest pace in more than a year, according to the latest figures from building society Nationwide, a further sign that the UK housing market is cooling. Annual house price growth slowed for the fifth month straight to 6.8 per cent this month, down from 7.2 per [...]
Low interest rates and less tax to fuel home demand January 27, 2015 The mortgage market saw a slowdown at the end of 2014 but is expected to stage a rebound this year. The number of house purchase approvals was nine per cent higher in 2014 compared to 2013, according to figures released yesterday by the British Bankers’ Association (BBA). However, the value of mortgages for house purchase [...]
Mortgage lending drops again – but BBA sees light at the end of the tunnel January 27, 2015 Mortgage lending in the UK fell in December for the six month in a row, with gross borrowing levels 12 per cent lower than they were a year ago. Figures published by the British Bankers Association this morning show that the total figure for mortgages stood at £10bn last month. House purchase approvals dropped [...]
UK growth lift as FTSE aims to test 7,000 level – London week ahead January 25, 2015 THE FIRST estimate of GDP growth in the fourth quarter of 2014 looks set to deliver good news this week, with growth of around 0.6 per cent on the previous quarter and 2.8 per cent year-on-year. Howard Archer, of IHS Global Insight, said: “Ongoing robust services expansion likely ensured that GDP growth held up pretty [...]
Taylor Wimpey says housing market is set for “lower rate of price of growth” January 12, 2015 House builder Taylor Wimpey reported this morning its total home completions rose six per cent to 12,454 in the year ended 31 December. The average selling price on private completions grew a hefty 11 per cent from £210,000 in 2013 to £234,000. The overall average selling price climbed 12 per cent to £213,000. The FTSE 100 [...]