Lewis Hamilton on hanging out with Tom Cruise, getting advice from Kanye West and staying up late – then killing it on the track November 7, 2016 "I’m very much an outsider,” says Lewis Hamilton. We’re cruising around east London in the back of a pearlescent white Maybach, when I put it to him that he’s different to the other drivers in Formula One. He dresses differently, acts differently, hangs out with a different entourage; he’s the only driver who could be [...]
A new rail franchise will combine HS2 with InterCity West Coast services November 4, 2016 The government has confirmed a new rail franchise will combine the current InterCity West Coast services with the development and introduction of High Speed 2 (HS2) services. The new franchise, West Coast Partnership, will be responsible for services on both the West Coast main line from 2019, and designing and running the initial high speed [...]
The UK high street gets an early Christmas present as high street sales get a boost for the first time since January November 4, 2016 Is the high street back on track? High street sales are back in positive territory after falling for the past nine months. Read more: Retailers in Mayfair and Bond Street to be hardest hit by rates hike According to data from accountants BDO, sales on the high street grew 0.7 per cent year-on-year in October. [...]
Oil prices sink on massive increase in US crude oil stockpiles November 2, 2016 Oil prices have slipped today after US crude stockpiles registered their largest ever weekly increase. The rise blew expectations out of the water, with the US Energy Information Administration (IEA) saying crude-oil stockpiles rose by 14.4m barrels in the week to 28 October. Analysts had pencilled in a build of 1m barrels. Oil prices moved sharply lower, falling [...]
West End retailers are expecting a £2.34bn boost from Christmas this year November 2, 2016 The West End is expecting some healthy takings at the till this Christmas – the most important time of year for retailers. The New West End Company has forecast that till receipts will rise 1.6 per cent year-on-year this Christmas, hitting £2.34bn. Average takings are expected to come to £51.1m per day during the peak period for [...]
Bargain-hunters drive up profits at TK Maxx, as new store plans are revealed October 30, 2016 Discount fashion retailer TK Maxx has reported soaring profits as it announces plans to open a slew of new stores across the UK in 2017. The US-owned firm saw profits jump by 11 per cent jump in the 12 months ending January 30 2016, increasing from £2.2bn to £2.4bn. Pre-tax profits also rose by 11 [...]
New Builds: From 31 storey Docklands towers to boutique homes next to the Royal Courts of Justice October 28, 2016 Dollar Bay, Docklands From £5m Four penthouses that form the crowning glory of this 31-storey tower in the Docklands are on sale this week. Two four floor, three bedroom penthouses and a couple of two bedroom duplexes are on sale next to each other at the apex of this joint venture between Mount Anvil and [...]
Accio investors: Bloomsbury shares up as Harry Potter enchantment continues October 27, 2016 Harry Potter continues to be the boy who lives (up to expectations) for Bloomsbury Publishing. Nearly 20 years after the company first published JK Rowling’s Philosopher’s Stone, the series continues to do the business for Bloomsbury. Total revenues in the six months to 31 August were up 19 per cent year-on-year, from £52.7m to £62.7m. [...]
Time to remortgage? The rates on two-year fixed deals are very low, but watch out for additional fees October 27, 2016 Brexit has been kind to mortgage holders. As the Bank of England’s interest rate has come down, banks have been able to borrow more cheaply, allowing competition to increase and mortgage rates to fall. Borrowers have been quick to take advantage of the deals on offer; in August, the number of people remortgaging hit a [...]
Inside Big Bang: The chaotic October morning that created the modern City October 26, 2016 Shortly before 8am, as Sir Nicholas Goodison surveyed the floor of the Exchange crowded with foreign television crews and curious journalists, he was a little apprehensive. After so much hype about the possibilities of what had been termed Big Bang, and difficult negotiations with Margaret Thatcher’s ministers, and efforts to persuade the more conservative elements [...]