FTSE 100 close: Mixed messages from China and housing rout sends London markets into the red August 21, 2023 London’s FTSE indexes fell amid a housing sell-off and a limited policy intervention from the Chinese central bank to boost its creaking economy. The FTSE 100 index slipped into the red to trade at 7,258.03 while the midcap FTSE 250 index fell 0.87 per cent to 17,938.91. Indexes in Paris and Frankfurt saw gains however. [...]
Newcastle United to host two Saudi Arabia friendlies August 16, 2023 Newcastle United will play host to Saudi Arabia international football friendlies this year in a major publication of the kingdom’s relationship with the Premier League outfit. The Middle Eastern country, whose Public Investment Fund purchased Newcastle in October 2021, will take on Costa Rica on 8 September and South Korea on 12 September. “The two [...]
Gove planning shake-up: ‘We need housing today, not tomorrow’ July 24, 2023 Michael Gove will loosen planning laws to allow vacant shops to be converted into homes as part of his latest efforts to tackle the UK’s housing crisis. On Monday the minister for housing and levelling up revealed a slew of planning reforms as well as a further commitment to building over 1m new homes across [...]
FTSE 100 close: Dovish Bank of England interest rate bets extend London gains July 20, 2023 London’s FTSE 100 extended gains today as traders continued to cheer signs that UK inflation may have finally turned a corner. The capital’s premier index hopped 0.76 per cent to 7,646.05 points, while the domestically-focused mid-cap FTSE 250 index, which is more aligned with the health of the UK economy, was broadly unchanged at 19,311.73 [...]
Vistry reports 22 per cent slide in home completions as rate hikes bite July 20, 2023 Vistry Group said the number of homes it completed during the quarter was down 22 per cent compared to the same period last year, as surging mortgage rates continue to hit UK housebuilding companies. The London-listed firm blamed a “tough” economic climate for the decline, with the housebuilder completing 2,847 homes in the period down [...]
UK house price growth slows to 1.9 per cent in May July 19, 2023 The average price of a UK house cost £286,000 in May, according to new government data, with the figure being £6,0000 up on 12 months ago – but £7,000 below its September peak. Average UK house prices increased by 1.9 per cent in the 12 months to May 2023, down from a revised 3.2 per [...]
FTSE 100 close: London markets rise strongly after June inflation comes in lower than expected July 19, 2023 London markets breathed a sigh of relief on Wednesday after inflation finally came in lower than expected. The bluechip FTSE 100 closed 1.8 per cent higher at 7,588.20 while the midcap FTSE 250 index, which is more aligned with the health of the domestic economy, ended 3.8 per cent higher at 19,322.52. Investors were buoyed [...]
Nearly half of tenants struggle to pay rent with millions now facing ‘financial vulnerability’ July 14, 2023 Nearly half of tenants are struggling to pay their rent, with millions now spending more of their disposable income on renting costs than homeowners. As the cost of living crisis has led many landlords to up the costs of rent, some 21 per cent of tenants report spending a higher proportion of their disposable income [...]
Shares tumble for struggling FTSE housebuilders: ‘The scale of challenge cannot be swept under carpet’ July 13, 2023 The share price of London FTSE 100 and FTSE 250 house builders all took a tumble this morning, as fresh reports highlighting the state of the property market dampened investor confidence. Barratt was the hardest to fall this morning, with its shares sliding 4.67 per cent, as the group reported a 49 per cent decline [...]
FTSE 100 live: London markets rise after UK GDP contracts by less than expected July 13, 2023 London markets rose this morning, despite housebuilders slumping, after official figures showed that the UK economy contracted by less than expected. The FTSE 100 was trading 0.18 per cent higher at 7,429.68 while the midcap FTSE 250, which is more aligned with the health of the domestic economy, climbed 0.13 per cent to 18,604.03. Sentiment [...]