We’re seeing respectable growth for a New Normal but real risks still remain February 1, 2014 UK ECONOMIC growth is looking up. The 0.7 per cent GDP increase in the fourth quarter of 2013 might not have been as strong as some commentators were expecting, but it means economic activity is up a full 2.8 per cent on a year ago. It’s not as strong as the 3.3 per cent growth [...]
City & Gild: As the economy improves, a new battle between value and volume emerges January 31, 2014 What should the consumer make of the recent spat between Adidas and Sports Direct, and how will the unfolding saga affect each brand? At the end of last year, the German sportswear giant refused to supply the retail chain with Chelsea latest replica kit. From my perspective, there will no doubt be some turbulence in [...]
Q & A January 30, 2014 DIRECTOR, DOUGLAS & GORDON Am I better off buying in an established area or going to the next up-and-coming one? Buying property in the next up-and-coming area is always risky if you’re looking for value growth. Douglas & Gordon figures show that areas around Prime Central London grew by twice the rate that Prime did [...]
Brussels tries to ban prop trading in UK and Europe January 29, 2014 BANKS face a ban on proprietary trading in the UK from 2017 under European Commission proposals published yesterday, a major shock to lenders who had not expected an outright ban. The proposals will force big banks to set up separate arms for any activity which is not standard retail or commercial banking, and could even [...]
Waitrose and Tesco to set up Tube collection January 29, 2014 TESCO and Waitrose are opening six click-and-collect points each in the London Underground this year, as part of TfL’s efforts to get more retailers using the Tube. The supermarkets will follow Asda, which is running a six-month trial in car parks near Tube stations, with plans to open more outlets this year. Tesco will launch [...]
Carphone set to run 60 Samsung stores in Europe January 29, 2014 SAMSUNG and Carphone Warehouse have signed an agreement for the high street retailer to convert 60 of its stores across Europe into dedicated Samsung stand-alone stores. Carphone Warehouse was one of the top risers on the London Stock Exchange yesterday on the news with shares rising 6.69 per cent to close at 287.2p a share. [...]
Tesco and Waitrose set to open Tube shops January 29, 2014 Tesco and Waitrose are opening six click-and-collect points each in the London Underground this year, as part of TfL’s efforts to get more retailers using the Tube. The supermarkets will follow Asda, which is running a six-month trial in carparks near Tube stations, with ambitions to open more outlets. Tesco will launch at station car [...]
Barclays cuts up to 400 jobs in investment January 28, 2014 HUNDREDS of investment bankers at Barclays will lose their jobs as the bank maintains its focus on costs, it emerged yesterday. The axe is likely to fall on poor performers in centres including London and New York, while staff also face a crackdown on travel as the bank tries to control costs. Employees will no [...]
What the other papers say this morning – 29 January 2014 January 28, 2014 FINANCIAL TIMES AO.com aims for £1bn valuation AO.com, the online electricals retailer, is aiming for a £1bn valuation when it floats on the London Stock Exchange later this year – more than treble the market capitalisation it was hoping to achieve just four months ago. Several investors have told the Financial Times that the retailer, [...]
New tenant for British Land’s Cheesegrater January 28, 2014 BRITISH Land said yesterday it has secured another tenant at the Cheesegrater skyscraper as the property giant reported growing demand for London office space. Australian serviced office provider Servcorp has signed a deal to take the whole of the 30th floor of British Land and Oxford Properties’ development on Leadenhall Street, which is due to [...]