FTSE 100 slips below 4,200 but defensives stay afloat July 6, 2009 THE FTSE 100 fell one per cent yesterday to close 41.37 points down at 4,194.91, on concerns about the global economic outlook, with heavyweight oils, miners and banks leading the market lower, after it gained 0.1 per cent on Friday. The index fell through the 4,200 level for the first time since late April. It [...]
THE LONDON REPORT July 5, 2009 OUSEBUILDERS will come under scrutiny this week, with giants Persimmon and Barratt Developments set to update markets. Traders will be hoping for further signs that there is an an uptick in mortgage availability, as banks repair their balance sheets and are able to resume lending to homebuyers, feeding through to the battered sector. Barratt, set [...]
Regeneration is taking off in the Olympic quarters June 25, 2009 STRATFORD has long been one of those London areas that is supposedly on the verge of gentrification. The coming of the DLR, then the Jubilee Line, were meant to turn it into an up-and-coming area attractive to thrusting young professionals. It never quite happened. But last week, two things took place which mean that Stratford [...]
FOCUS ON: BISHOP’S STORTFORD, HERTFORDSHIRE June 18, 2009 TYE GREEN HOUSE, ELSENHAM, CM22 6DY Price: £749,995This Grade II-listed, 16th century farmhouse has kept many of its period features, including exposed beams and an inglenook fireplace. Set over three floors, the property has six bedrooms and two living rooms. It is in grounds of about 1.75 acres where there are fruit trees and the [...]
FOCUS ON: COLCHESTER, ESSEX June 11, 2009 FARTHINGS, GREAT HORKESLEY, CO6 4EQPrice: £1.25mThis imposing 1930s country house is just five miles north of Colchester, which is just under an hour from Liverpool Street. The accommodation is split over three floors and there are five bedrooms. From the first floor landing is a conservatory, leading out to a covered balcony. The drawing room [...]
CITY MOVES WHO’S SWITCHING JOBS May 20, 2009 SVG CapitalThe private equity firm has appointed Lynn Fordham as its new chief executive officer and Tony Dalwood as chief executive of SVG Advisers, its advisory arm. Fordham joined the SVG Capital board as finance director in July last year, having previously held positions with Barratt Developments, BAA, Boots, Man Group and Chubb. Dalwood joined [...]
Barratt rules out rights issue May 13, 2009 Housebuilder Barratt Developments quelled talk of an imminent cash call yesterday, saying debt was in line with its plans. The group also said it expected to be able to meet loan covenants, helped by an “acceptable” start to 2009. Barratt, the UK’s fifth largest housebuilder by market value is saddled with £1.42bn debt as of [...]
Develop your tactics to win in hard times July 15, 2008 When the going gets tough, the tough stick to their trading strategies, says Katie Hope Everybody harbours a secret desire to be an investment legend. The so-called “Sage of Omaha” Warren Buffett, George Soros, whom it is obligatory to refer to as “the man who broke the Bank of England” and even fictional red-braced trader [...]
Barratt close to securing debt deal July 10, 2008 Housebuilder Barratt Developments is today expected to reveal it has managed to renegotiate a refinancing package with its bankers. Barratt, which has £1.7bn debt and a market capitalisation of just £140m, has been negotiating with lenders to extend repayment of £400m debt due in April , as well as agree changes to its debt covenants [...]
Double dose of corporate woe leaves City investors reeling July 3, 2008 The city was left reeling yesterday after retail giant Marks & Spencer issued a shock profits warning and Britain’s largest housebuilder Taylor Wimpey admitted it had been unable to secure £500m in funding. The bleak news from M&S, an industry bellwether, that the consumer downturn was likely to be “longer and harder fought” than previously [...]