Further efficiencies are critical to making London’s railways thrive January 8, 2013 COMMUTERS finally have some welcome news. Just a week after inflation-busting fare increases came into effect, rail industry leaders have announced Britain’s biggest investment in infrastructure since the Victorian era. Look around any train or station serving London in the morning peak and the case for improvements is overwhelming. Many are packed or overcrowded. Londoners [...]
Capital defies gloomy outlook on house prices January 3, 2013 HOUSE PRICES sunk back into decline in the final month of 2012, capping off a gloomy year, according to data out yesterday. Prices edged down 0.1 per cent on average across the country in December, Nationwide said, contributing to an overall decline of one per cent over the year. This yearly fall came despite four individual monthly [...]
You would be mad to miss this January 3, 2013 FILM Iron Man 3 In cinemas 26 April While Iron Man 2 was met with mixed reviews, director Jon Favreau made a big comeback with The Avengers last year, which quickly became the highest grossing comic book film of all time. Expectations for the third installment of Iron Man, then, are high and so far [...]
What the other papers say this morning January 2, 2013 FINANCIAL TIMES BofA raises lending after years of cuts Bank of America is ramping up mortgage and corporate lending after two years of focusing on capital levels and cost-cutting. Chief executive Brian Moynihan said the company should overtake JPMorgan Chase in direct-to-consumer mortgage lending in the next six months and he had directed bankers to [...]
Lenders predict bridging loan spree in 2013 January 1, 2013 A DIFFICULT mortgage market will lead to an explosion in the use of short-term bridging loans, mortgage brokers said in a survey out this morning. Though mortgage lending is set to expand some 8.3 per cent in 2013, according to Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML) predictions, the market will remain tight. This tightness will drive [...]
Banks already bouncing back from a disastrous year January 1, 2013 LAST year will be remembered as a terrible one for the banking industry. In previous articles I have described the wider impact scandals such as Libor-rigging had on the reputation of the industry as a whole. However, 2013 is a new year and consumer perception could be looking up for the likes of Barclays and [...]
Festive intruders in Heron Tower’s fish tank December 20, 2012 Visitors at the City’s Heron Tower cannot miss the giant fish tank residing in the lobby. The aquarium is the largest privately owned one of its kind in Britain, and home to 67 different species of fish. It was also home to two festive guests on Wednesday, when divers donning Santa suits entered to give [...]
Elegance and opulence in Rutland December 20, 2012 Built for George Villiers, Duke of Buckingham in the 17th century, Rutland’s Mansion House was severely damaged by Parliamentarians in the civil war. It was resurrected by Daniel Finch, second Earl of Nottingham and sixth Earl of Winchelsea, in 1694. The “new house” was built over the next six years. It was even considered for [...]
Top 10 new year’s eve hang-outs December 20, 2012 New Year’s Eve in London is one of those nights so quick-paced and freighted with expectation that it can quickly overwhelm. However, done correctly it can be the best night of the year. Booking one of the following parties is a good place to start. 1. Home House Marylebone The legendary members’ club is throwing [...]
Five sign but Arsenal set to miss Huntelaar December 19, 2012 ARSENAL manager Arsene Wenger has declared his intention to build his team around a core of young British talent, after tying midfielder Jack Wilshere and four other players to new long-term contracts. Full-backs Kieran Gibbs and Carl Jenkinson and midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain – all full England internationals – and Wales star Aaron Ramsey have joined [...]