City jobs cull hits prime rents April 9, 2012 THE CITY jobs bloodbath has helped drag property rental prices down for the sixth month in a row, according to research out today. As banks cut headcounts and freeze pay, rents in prime London homes fell 0.1 per cent in March – and the very top of the market has been hit hardest, claims estate [...]
Search for new BBA boss starts as Knight quits April 2, 2012 THE HEAD of the British Bankers’ Association (BBA), the banking trade body, is to step down after a tumultuous five years at the helm, marking a period of heavy lobbying by lenders. Former Tory MP and BBA chief Angela Knight said she is leaving in the summer because “I have one more job in me”, [...]
British Bankers’ Association head Knight to quit April 2, 2012 British Bankers Association head Angela Knight, who had to defend the industry during the 2008 credit crisis which rocked the sector, is to step down this summer, the BBA said. Knight said she would remain at the organisation while they search for her successor. “I have been at the British Bankers’ Association at a time [...]
Vue looks good as cinema firm set to expand April 1, 2012 VUE, the private equity-backed cinema chain, is set to ramp up its expansion plans as Britons spend more on affordable luxuries in the economic downturn. The chain, bought by Doughty Hanson in a £450m deal nearly 18 months ago, will open two sites this year and two next year as part of a development pipeline [...]
A vision of the future: how the rental sector can reward investors March 29, 2012 Institutional investors, such as pension funds and investment funds, have been debating whether to dip their toe in the residential property market for years. Such investment is the lifeblood of the UK’s commercial sector, but despite much talk, institutions have very little exposure to residential property. This fact has often been blamed on factors such [...]
PROPERTY NEWS March 29, 2012 Savills selling historic Provencal mas Savills is selling Mas de l’Hospitalet, a historic Provencal mas where Oscar winning actor, Jean Dujardin held his wedding ceremony in 2009. The property dates back to the 12th century and was built by Templar Knights on the order of the King of France. Currently, the property is a boutique [...]
Wealthy prefer London when choosing home March 28, 2012 LONDON and New York are still the best places for the world’s elite to buy houses, a new study revealed yesterday – but competition is growing rapidly from Beijing and Dubai. Quality of life, knowledge, influence and economic activity are all key factors for the ultra-wealthy in choosing where to invest, according to the latest [...]
Game in final battle to find white knight March 26, 2012 MORE THAN 2,000 Game Group staff will be made redundant this week after the video games retailer collapsed into administration yesterday. PwC, the appointed administrator, said 277 stores would be shut with immediate effect, leaving 2,119 employees without jobs including 15 head office staff. The remaining 332 stores employing 2,814 people will stay open as [...]
PAINTING A PICTURE OF RBS PAST AND PRESENT March 26, 2012 Auctioneers at Bonhams, the fine art house, are hoping that all the (mainly bad) news about the Royal Bank of Scotland and the debate about Scottish independence may have a beneficial impact on the demand for a portrait being sold next month in the firm’s Edinburgh office. Bonhams is auctioning a portrait of Archibald Campbell, [...]
FOCUS ON: CHALFONTS, BUCKS March 22, 2012 THE COTTAGE Price: £700,000 Situated in on the edge of the village, this three bedroom property forms part of an 18th Century home, divided in 1977 to form three residences. Contact www.knightfrank.com or 01494 675368 STOCKINGS HOUSE Price: £1.7m This five bedroom house is situated on the edge of Coleshill, on Bottrells Lane, a quiet [...]