WHAT THE OTHER PAPERS SAY THIS MORNING July 10, 2011 FINANCIAL TIMES VIRGIN SEEKS US ROLE Virgin Trains is vying to play a role in the privatisation of the US rail industry in a move that could see it become the operator of the lucrative 457-mile route from Washington to Boston. Virgin, which already runs the profitable West Coast railway line between London and Glasgow [...]
Focus on Ealing: West is the best July 10, 2011 Office Space WITH the clamour and disruption of Crossrail making itself known across central London, investors can seek consolation in turning their thoughts to its profitable prospects in one of London’s most tranquil outposts. Ealing, dubbed “Queen of Suburbs” by no less an authority than Nikolaus Pevsner, will benefit from not one but two Crossrail [...]
The big picture: London property July 10, 2011 Office Space IT’S a game of two halves for central London’s commercial property market: an early trip to the showers for the office sector, while the retail sector is playing into extra time. Across London’s core office pitches, from the financial zones of Canary Wharf and the City, to the media and head office blocks [...]
Workspace plans cut-price rights issue July 7, 2011 BUSINESS landlord Workspace Group is to raise £63m in a deeply discounted rights issue, as part of plans to accelerate investment in its portfolio of buildings. The one-for-four rights issue is being made at a price of 23p per new ordinary share, representing a 21 per cent discount to the stock’s Wednesday night close. The [...]
Stocks boosted by retail and jobs data July 7, 2011 US STOCKS closely sharply higher and the Nasdaq notched an eighth day of gains yesterday as improved labour market and retail sales data raised optimism before today’s critical June payrolls report. Equities have been on a tear recently as improving economic data and a potential resolution to Greece’s fiscal issues paved over fears of slowing [...]
PROPERTY NEWS July 7, 2011 LONDONERS LOVE NORTH AND SOUTH WEST BOROUGHS North and south west boroughs dominate London’s top ten development hotspots, according to research from CB Richard Ellis. Although Kensington and Chelsea has predictably topped the table of London’s residential favourites, the new research reveals that good development prospects are not limited to central locations. Jennet Siebrits of [...]
Sports Direct buys stake in high-end fashion firms July 6, 2011 SPORTS Direct has bought an 80 per cent share in the USC and Cruise chains, to give it a foothold in the luxury clothing market. The designer fashion chains are currently controlled by Scottish tycoon Sir Tom Hunter through his West Coast Capital private equity firm. Sports Direct paid £7m under the deal, which was [...]
Keeping it cool behind closed doors July 6, 2011 IN recent weeks secret doorways have been surfacing across London. Following in the footsteps of clandestine operations Eight Bank, ECC, Crazy Bear Members Club and more recently The Mayor of Scaredy Cat Town (which can only be entered through a Smeg refrigerator) a little black door has just appeared on Orchard Street by Selfridges. The [...]
How global progress could be halted July 5, 2011 WHENEVER I get too depressed about the state of the world, I turn to a website called rationaloptimist.com. Its author, Matt Ridley, is the scourge of the neo-Malthusian, doom and gloom pessimists – from the left and the right – who see catastrophes, famines and collapse around every corner. Ridley’s worldview, which draws on his [...]
Ashley in upmarket bid July 5, 2011 MIKE Ashley’s Sports Direct is close to buying an 80 per cent stake in two of Scottish billionaire Sir Tom Hunter’s fashion retail chains, in a deal valued at about £7m. Sports Direct is looking to buy the holdings in USC and Cruise, chains that specialise in higher-end consumer fashion, from Sir Tom’s private equity [...]