Housebuilders hail stability but warn mortgage drought will hurt July 9, 2009 Barratt shows signs of stability as volumes pick up but mortgage drought continues Barratt Developments yesterday reported a 19 per cent fall in private house prices over the last 12 months and warned that a sustained improvement in training conditions would remain elusive until the availability of mortgage finance recovers. However, the group has witnessed [...]
Miners give support as they rise to recoup their losses July 7, 2009 MINERS were the saviour of the FTSE 100 yesterday, offsetting falling oil stocks and disappointing UK industrial output data to keep the index flat, or just 7.91 points lower, at 4,187. Data showed that UK manufacturing output unexpectedly shrank in May, falling 0.5 per cent on the month, making it less likely the economy returned [...]
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 [...]
FIRST WOMEN GATHER AT GALA TALENT SHOW June 11, 2009 THERE’S nothing a bunch of hard-working businesswomen like better than listening to one of their own knowing how to send herself up in style. So it should come as no surprise that the star of this year’s First Women Awards, held last night in the luxurious surroundings of the Marriott Grosvenor Square, was Deloitte veteran [...]
Lebedev eyes Independent June 11, 2009 RUSSIAN oligarch, and Evening Standard majority stakeholder, Alexander Lebedev is understood to be mulling a deal to buy The Independent and Independent on Sunday. Simon Kelner, the Independent titles’ managing director, and Lebedev have been in discussions over a possible deal for some months, but the process is said to have been accelerated this week. [...]
Central flats are the future of luxe London living June 4, 2009 THERE is something distinctly un-British about city apartment living. The Americans and the Europeans see it as perfectly normal, even desirable, but we Brits like our houses, simply because it is what we are used to. We would much rather have a small house with smaller garden and a longer commute to work, instead of [...]