The Lifetime Isa: New clarifications are good news for first-time buyers, but do nothing to solve its conflict with pensions September 21, 2016 The Treasury released final details last week on the Lifetime Isa (Lisa) which launches in spring 2017. Aimed at two very different types of savers – first-time buyers and retirees – the updates mostly concern the first group, and will do little to silence critics who say that the Lisa will lure away people who could [...]
At the close: EasyJet brightens up drab day in the City August 19, 2016 It's August. It's raining. It's Friday. It was never going to be easy for the traders still at their desks to get going. And it showed, with the FTSE 100 yawning to a 0.2 per cent loss for the day, clocking off at 6,858. That was down slightly on the week after the bluechip index [...]
Airbnb your house: Here’s how much Londoners could be making from the sharing economy July 13, 2016 The sharing economy is growing faster in Britain than anywhere else in Europe. As it has become more expensive to own cars, homes and even electrical equipment, more of us are seeing the advantages of monetising our idle assets. PwC estimates that transactions on platforms in the five biggest sharing economy sectors almost doubled in [...]
Halifax House Price Index: UK house prices up 8.5 per cent since last year July 12, 2016 UK house prices rose by 1.8 per cent during the second quarter of this year, bringing the average cost of a UK property to a record £215,582 from £211,868 in the first quarter. And according to the Halifax House Price Index, prices were up 8.5 per cent compared to the same period one year ago, [...]
Smart moves: How Gloucester Rugby owner is using sport and business nous in new role June 22, 2016 When it comes to sporting achievement they are dreaming big in the West Country. In Bristol, billionaire businessman Steve Lansdown is using his considerable wealth to breathe life into a number of different sports. His most high profile interests include Championship football side Bristol City and Bristol Rugby Club, who finally won promotion to the [...]
UK mortgage lending dropped to its lowest level since the height of the eurozone crisis in April June 1, 2016 Mortgage approvals have hit their lowest level since the height of the Eurozone crisis, according to the Bank of England. Mortgage loans totaled just £281m in April, their lowest level since August 2012, after the hike in stamp duty came into effect at the beginning of the month and buy to let landlords fled the [...]
Round two of shareholder spring? Centrica, Anglo American and HSBC Holdings all set for annual general meetings this week against background of grumbles from investors April 17, 2016 Three major household names are all set to test the sentiment of shareholders as they gather for their annual general meetings (AGM) this week. British Gas parent company Centrica will meet tomorrow, while miner Anglo American will host its AGM on Thursday. Bank HSBC will meet on Friday. Last Thursday, an unprecedented 59.29 per cent of [...]
Apple share price little moved on iPhone SE, iPad Pro and Apple Watch price cut – here’s what analysts are saying March 21, 2016 Apple has unveiled a host of new devices – new iPhone (SE), iPad (a smaller Pro) and a $50 cut to the price of the Apple Watch – but what do the experts think? Read more: All the latest from the Apple launch Here's what investors thought as Tim Cook and co' were on stage, despite a traditional, [...]
Five radical ideas for the new London mayor’s to do list, including car-sharing, devolution and the green belt March 15, 2016 In the fifteen years since five million Londoners chose Ken Livingstone as their first directly-elected mayor, Greater London has been transformed. The capital’s population has grown by one-fifth, and today London’s reputation as a global centre for finance and business is complemented by world-class universities, a rapidly expanding visitor economy, and growing tech, creative industries [...]
Memo from business to politicians: Don’t let the EU referendum paralyse real governing February 24, 2016 So now it’s official. Britain’s politicians and opinion-formers will spend the next four months in hyper-drive, as they seek to convince the public of the case to leave or remain in the European Union. Many Westminster-watchers have already cleared the decks, reasoning that little else will get done while megaphone diplomacy, claims, and counter-claims dominate the [...]