How Succession became the must-watch TV show of the decade March 23, 2023 The first episode of Succession, aired all the way back in June 2018, only hints at the Shakespearian epic that would follow. On first watch it seemed a little goofy: Kendall rapping along to the Beastie Boys in the back of his car; cousin Greg puking from behind the eyes of a fairground mascot. It’s [...]
UK house prices: Growth down while rents soar by their highest in seven years March 22, 2023 Private rent paid by tenants in the UK rose 4.7 per cent in the 12 months to February 2023, up from 4.4 per cent in the 12 months to January 2023, according to the Office for National Statistics which also reported that house prices increased 6.3 per cent in the same period. Annual private rent [...]
The Notebook: Neil Wilson on Credit Suisse, interest rates and Ayn Rand March 22, 2023 How did you go bankrupt?” Two ways. Gradually, then suddenly.” Hemingway’s wisecrack could be the epitaph for Credit Suisse, whose ignominious end caps a series of disasters at the Swiss bank, eventually bringing it to the brink on Sunday. UBS has probably done rather well, picking up CS for cents on the dollar, even if it will take [...]
On the right track? Beleaguered train operator Avanti gets contract extension March 20, 2023 Train operator Avanti West Coast has been handed a short-term contract extension by the Department for Transport (DfT), the FirstGroup-owned company said. The operator has struggled with reliability and punctuality during parts of the past year. Its contract was due to expire at the end of March but has been extended until October 15. FirstGroup [...]
What The Best Companies in The City of London are Doing to Save Money March 20, 2023 In the competitive business market of London, companies are looking for any advantage they can find to save money and stay ahead. One of the most popular options for companies wanting an office in London is to utilise non-traditional commercial real estate, such as serviced offices. Traditional office space is a huge investment Traditional office [...]
American candy stores or retail hub? What might be next for Oxford Street March 19, 2023 It has been three years since the UK was plunged into its first-ever full scale lockdown – forcing the majority of stores in London’s West End to temporarily cease trading and arguably altering the state of physical retail forever. The pandemic forced once seemingly indestructible retailers such as Debenhams, Topshop, and Gap off Oxford Street, [...]
New ‘metaverse’ themed co-working space opens on Oxford Street March 16, 2023 A new co-working space has today launched in Oxford Street which will be themed around the ‘metaverse’ and help to bring creatives and investors into one space. Office and workspace company Huckletree, which operates across some of the biggest cities in the UK, has opened London’s first dedicated hub for tech companies pioneering new digital [...]
Rail strikes: Hospitality says it has lost £3bn as it becomes ‘collateral damage’ in rail dispute March 16, 2023 London retail and hospitality bodies have said that the sector is “suffering” due to ongoing tube strikes as the disruptions continue to take a large bite out of the sector’s earnings. As Tube and rail strikes grind London to a halt this week, trade body UKHospitality has claimed that pub and restaurant businesses are expected [...]
Freefall: Credit Suisse potentially ‘next shoe to fall’ as bank contagion fears spread across Europe March 15, 2023 Shares in Credit Suisse tanked today after one of its main shareholders ruled out providing new funding to the embattled lender prompting a major sell-off in the wider European banking sector. Credit Suisse shares traded as much as 30 per cent down earlier on Wednesday, and are now trading around 23 per cent lower. Banking [...]
The Notebook: Neil Bennett on how the Treasury made the BBC look very slow indeed March 15, 2023 Writing a column on the morning of Budget Day is always a thankless task. By the time you read this, most of you will know what is set to come out of that red box, while I can only speculate. That said, it’s nice to see that Jeremy Hunt is now following in his predecessors’ [...]