SME owners say that bank lending problem damages London’s image November 4, 2010 BANKS’ continuing reluctance to lend to small businesses in London is damaging the capital’s reputation as a place to do business, says a report by law firm Mishcon de Reya and the London Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Of 170 small business owners in London who were interviewed 62 per cent said that they have [...]
Foreign buyers prop up London property values November 1, 2010 FOREIGN buyers are helping push up house prices in the most affluent areas of central London, according to fresh research. While the value of prime homes in London has fallen one per cent since July, overseas buyers have buoyed prices in areas like Kensington and Chelsea, says agent Knight Frank. Foreign buyers made up 68 [...]
Three cheers for the stars of the Square Mile October 28, 2010 LAST night was truly an exciting and exceptional occasion: City A.M.’s inaugural awards celebrating the best and brightest of London’s business, financial and investment communities. Our inaugural awards ceremony saw more than 450 guests in their finery roll up at the Grange Hotel at St Pauls. Our winners, unique in that each was initially chosen [...]
The kids will be alright with a Junior Isa October 28, 2010 WHEN the coalition government revealed in May that it would be scrapping Child Trust Funds (CTF) from January 2011 to save £500m a year, there was an outcry from fund managers, financial experts and think tanks alike, who argued that the CTF had instilled a savings culture in children from an early age. More than [...]
Bewitching homes for beautiful living October 28, 2010 WHILE few sane people would relish the idea of cohabiting with a ghost or other supernatural presence, Britain is an old country and has its fair share — perhaps more than its fair share — of spooky residences. We have more graveyards than you can shake a stick at, and plenty of people have died [...]
Find yourself the perfect snowy bolthole October 28, 2010 AFTER reports this week that the UK economy has sharply bounced back from recession, confidence has returned to the second home market and those with a penchant for skiing can’t help but turn their attention Alps-ward – especially as the first snowfall of the season came two days ago. “We’ve seen an increase in demand [...]
TONIGHT WILL BE A NIGHT FOR HEARTY CELEBRATION October 27, 2010 THIS evening will see 450 guests in their finery roll up at the Grange hotel at St Paul’s, as City A.M. proudly hosts its first ever awards ceremony honouring the UK’s business stars and City luminaries. The award winners will come from a diverse range of sectors, from investment to retail banking, fund management and [...]
The Malay paradise where the world’s A-list comes to relax October 24, 2010 THERE’s a moment, when I step in to the glistening emerald Malaysian waters of my own secluded cove, next to my private “Estate”, when I can see just why this place is so popular with celebrities. The sun is shining. Hornbills are squawking in the air. There’s no-one to take in my pasty white bikini-clad [...]
WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF THE BANKING LEVY? October 21, 2010 PHILIP BOOTH | IEA The burden of this levy will be felt by banks’ owners and customers. Ultimately those who will pay are shareholders – in other words potential pensioners and other savers – and the users of financial services. At most the government should use this tax as a temporary measure NIC CLARKE | [...]
Snuggle up this winter in toasty tidbits of knitwear October 21, 2010 AS I write this, there are four people in my line of vision who are huddled in their coats, cradling hot cups of tea. The cold snap has given everyone the urgent need to snuggle up and be warm and cosy but many of us seem to be caught short – our wardrobes still with [...]