House prices show market finally cooling September 8, 2014 HOUSE prices rose by just 0.1 per cent in August, according to the Halifax index, showing that the UK’s fast-moving property market is finally slowing down. The small increase took the average price to £186,270, with prices in the three months to August three per cent higher than the previous quarter and 9.7 per cent [...]
Is the UK property market finally cooling? House price growth slows to 3pc September 8, 2014 House prices grew just three per cent in the three months to August, down from 3.5 per cent in July, figures published this morning showed – another sign of cooling market conditions. The figures, by Halifax, showed prices rose 9.7 per cent in the year to August, down from July's 10.2 per cent, and just [...]
PMQs: David Cameron hijacked by ‘Yes’ poster as he hits out at Scottish Independence campaign September 3, 2014 David Cameron was interrupted by an SNP member waving a 'Yes' poster as he attempted to derail arguments for Scottish independence at Prime Minister's Questions today. The Prime Minister had an unusually easy time of it at the pre-lunch session, with many in the House of Commons asking questions that allowed him to go over well-worn [...]
Why interest rate rises won’t push voters into Ed Miliband’s arms September 1, 2014 We all know they are coming, even if not quite yet. The Bank of England Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) is not expected to change interest rates this week, but its inaction is unlikely to last for long. In August, dissenters appeared on the MPC for the first time since 2011, with two members voting for an [...]
London Report: Economic data to show UK recovery on a steady course August 31, 2014 ECONOMIC data due this week appears to show continuing steady growth in the UK’s economy, with little chance of an interest rate rise when the Bank of England announces its latest decision on Thursday. Mortgage approvals data for July, due today, may have dipped slightly, but analysts expect this weakness to be temporary. Meanwhile manufacturing [...]
Watchdog slaps £14.5m fine on RBS for advice August 27, 2014 THE ROYAL Bank of Scotland (RBS) was slapped with a £14.47m fine by the UK’s main banking watchdog yesterday over the quality of its mortgage advice. The penalty relates to two reviews of sales undertaken in 2012 – the Finance Conduct Authority (FCA) said that only two of the 164 mortgage agreements reviewed met the required standard, [...]
OneSavings Bank profits rise after lender tightens purse strings August 27, 2014 OneSavings Bank, the first British lender to float on the stock market since the turn of the century, yesterday said lower costs had helped to drive a four-fold rise in half-year profits. The lender, which offers mortgages and saving accounts through its Kent Reliance brand, said underlying pre-tax profits rose to £29.7m for [...]
Foxton’s prepares for housing market slowdown in London August 27, 2014 Investors fled Foxton’s shares yesterday after the London property agent warned that it expected a slowdown in the housing market in the second half of the year. The company, which floated in September last year, said measures introduced by the Bank of England to temper mortgage lending and the expectation of a hike in interest [...]
London Report: Petrofac buoys FTSE but poor store data weighs on market August 27, 2014 BRITAIN’S top equity index yesterday climbed to its highest closing level in nearly two months, with oil and gas services company Petrofac buoyed by positive broker comments. However, supermarkets J Sainsbury and Tesco underperformed after weak sales data. The FTSE 100 index ended up 0.1 per cent, or 7.90 points, at 6,830.66 points. Petrofac rose [...]
RBS share price falls as it is fined £15m for mortgage advice failings August 27, 2014 Shares in Royal Bank of Scotland fell 0.5% in early trading on Wednesday, after it was fined £14.5m for “serious failings” in the way it advised customers about mortgage loans, in another blow for the embattled bank. The Financial Conduct Authority found a series of failings by the state-owned bank and its Natwest arm in [...]