House prices rebounded in September after the Brexit vote lull September 19, 2016 UK house prices are rebounding from the lull that immediately followed the Brexit vote, according to data from Rightmove. Asking prices have increased 0.7 per cent month-on-month, Rightmove said. In the weeks after the Brexit vote, Rightmove found that prices fell by 0.9 per cent. But first-time buyers are finding it increasingly difficult to get on [...]
Regulator calls for more competition in the water market to drive up standards for customers September 19, 2016 Water regulator Ofwat has called for more competition between water providers, saying customers should be able to pick their own providers. Customers are "being left behind", Ofwat has said, because without proper competition, water companies are not being encouraged to innovate. There could be savings for customers if a more competitive system was set up, but Ofwat said [...]
Debrett’s Ask the Expert: I only own an ill-fitting, loud suit. Will it cost me a job offer? September 19, 2016 Q: I’ve just graduated from university and I’m applying for training schemes with a few different investment banks. My only suit barely fits me and I haven’t got the cash to buy an expensive new one. Given all the recent press about “brown shoes and loud ties”, I’m afraid I’ll be called out on my [...]
Terence Conran and Richard Rogers are demanding a post-Brexit boost for design industry September 18, 2016 Leading lights in the British design industry have demanded the government extend more support for the sector in the aftermath of Brexit. Retailer Sir Terence Conran and architect Richard Rogers are among the figures to have leant their support to the campaign, which is backed by almost 150 of the market's biggest figures, as well [...]
Car repair and Ovenclean owner Franchise Brands polishes off double-digit revenues after August IPO September 15, 2016 Recently-listed international group Franchise Brands posted double-digit turnover in its maiden results today. The figures Franchise's two main brands, DIY disrupters Ovenclean and minor car repair service ChipsAway, traded well in the six months to 30 June, with group revenue rising 10 per cent to £2.5m. Profit before tax nudged up 18.3 per cent for [...]
Before the bell: What you need to know before the US market open September 15, 2016 The Bank of England has conformed to market expectations and held its key rate of overnight interest at 0.25 per cent, while Apple can't cook up iPhones fast enough. Here's what you need to know before the US market open at 2:30pm London time. US futures are pointing to a very health rise ahead of [...]
New service Stuart brings on demand delivery to customers of UK retailers September 15, 2016 A NEW on-demand service that aims to deliver products to customers in less than an hour by using retail outlets as mini-depots is launching in the UK today. Called Stuart, the French-backed business will focus initially on London after raising €22m in pre-launch funding from French postal service GeoPost, among others. It has developed a [...]
Dunelm Group reveals seven per cent uptick in revenue as it hikes dividend by 17 per cent September 14, 2016 Furniture retailer Dunelm Group has hiked its dividend after reporting increased revenues and profits for the 52 weeks to 2 July. The figures Total revenues grew 7.1 per cent to £880.9m from £835.8m the year before. Operating profit was up to £129.3m from £122.5m, a 6.6 per cent year-on-year change, while pre-tax profit was up 6.2 [...]
It turns out the location of craft breweries can predict London’s next house price hotspot September 14, 2016 Craft beer may be a hipster phenomenon, but it's worth paying attention to – if only for the fact it may be able to predict where the capital's next area of house price growth may be. A study by EasyProperty has found prices in the areas around London's 50 "boutique" breweries have bucked the post-Brexit [...]
Are fears about the UK commercial property market overblown? September 14, 2016 As Columbia Threadneedle Investments prepares to join Aberdeen Asset Management and Canada Life in re-opening its £1.4bn property fund, doubts persist over the future of the UK’s commercial property market. The Brexit vote brought three years of double-digit returns from UK property investments to a juddering halt. By early July, panicked investors clamouring to withdraw their [...]