Bank of England mortgage lending cap attempts to stop boom June 26, 2014 The Bank of England announced a new mortgage lending cap yesterday, with the hope that the rule would cool down the housing market if credit became too frenzied. Governor Mark Carney revealed the rule, which will put a ceiling on banks’ riskier mortgage lending. The financial policy committee (FPC) decision means that no more than [...]
London Report: FTSE flat as Barclays fall is countered by housebuilder climbs June 26, 2014 BARCLAYS Bank’s shares plummeted 6.5 per cent yesterday as the FTSE index ended flat despite a rally in housebuilders on Bank of England comments. The FTSE 100 closed on 6,735.12 up 0.02 per cent or 1.5 points. The market was also underpinned by the London Stock Exchange Group, which surged 6.1 per cent after unveiling [...]
Tight mortgage rules slow down lending growth June 23, 2014 TOUGH new affordability checks have knocked mortgage lending, Bank of England data showed yesterday. Lending is still growing, but at a slightly slower pace after the mortgage market review (MMR) rules came into force in April. The number of banks reporting rising demand for prime mortgages outweighed those reporting a fall by a margin of 27.5 [...]
London Report: Housebuilders drag on FTSE 100 after near-record highs June 23, 2014 BRITAIN’S top equity index fell yesterday for the first time in a week as declines in housebuilding shares weighed on the market, which had been approaching record highs. The blue-chip FTSE 100 index, which had risen for the last four sessions, ended down by 0.4 per cent, or 24.64 points, at 6,800.56 points – some [...]
London Report: FTSE falls on BT pension fears and builders June 16, 2014 BRITAIN’S top share index slipped yesterday as concerns about a large increase in its pension deficit hit BT Group, while housebuilders extended their recent sell-off on prospects of a UK rate hike. BT fell 2.4 per cent, one of the biggest drags on the FTSE 100. Traders cited a Sunday Times report which said that [...]
City Moves for 05 June 2014 | Who’s switching jobs June 4, 2014 Regis The property investment firm has hired James Futter as a senior associate in its acquisition team. He will primarily focus on freehold ground rent portfolio acquisitions in the UK. Futter joins from Barratt Developments, where he was a south region analyst. Jupiter The asset management company has announced the appointment of Ross Teverson as [...]
London Report: Chinese factory figures see FTSE shares edge up June 2, 2014 BRITAIN’S top share index inched higher yesterday as upbeat Chinese factory data lifted mining stocks and as homebuilders shrugged off worse-than-expected mortgage approval figures in the UK. The blue-chip FTSE 100 index closed up 0.3 per cent, or 19.59 points, at 6,864.10 points. Mining stocks across Europe, including London-listed Rio Tinto and BHP Billiton, rose [...]
Taylor Wimpey shares jump as it lifts forecasts May 13, 2014 SHARES in Taylor Wimpey jumped over seven per cent yesterday after the housebuilder raised its profit targets on the back of a resurgence in the housing market. Housebuilders have enjoyed a dramatic recovery over the past year thanks to the government’s Help to Buy scheme and improving consumer confidence, which has helped fuel demand for [...]
London Report: FTSE climbs to its highest close since late 1999 May 13, 2014 BRITAIN’S top share index hit its highest closing level since December 1999 yesterday, led by housebuilding stocks, with technical analysts betting the broader market could push on further still. The FTSE 100 ended up 21.33 points, or 0.3 per cent, at 6,873.08 points. Forex.com technical analyst Fawad Razaqzada reckoned there was scope for the index [...]
The FTSE just hit its highest level since January 2000. Here’s what you need to know May 13, 2014 Traders are shrugging off concerns about tensions over Ukraine, and instead riding the momentum from yesterday's record-setting US session. London's leading index, the FTSE 100, is currently trading at its highest level since January 2000. More broadly European shares have risen to a six-year high after that US rally. Yesterday saw the Dow Jones and [...]