BBC commercial arm ‘has more to do’ as streaming competition heats up January 9, 2020 The BBC’s commercial division must up its game if it is to fend off fierce competition from deep-pocketed streaming rivals, according to the public spending watchdog. In 2018 the broadcaster created BBC Studios by bringing together its commercial production and distribution arms into one distinct body. Read more: BBC ‘may not be sustainable’ in current [...]
UK house prices jump in December January 8, 2020 UK house prices jumped in December as the General Election result “reignited” the property market, according to the latest figures. UK house prices increased four per cent year-on-year and rose 1.7 per cent compared to November – the biggest monthly increase seen in 2019. Read more: London house prices rose twice as fast as rest [...]
UK landlords prepare to sell due to tax increases and reforms January 8, 2020 A quarter of landlords are planning to exit the market this year, citing tax increases and government reforms as the main driving factors behind the decision to sell, a new survey has found. The survey of UK landlords found that 26 per cent were preparing to sell at least one property this year, partly due [...]
London house prices rose twice as fast as the rest of UK in 2010s January 7, 2020 London house prices rose twice as fast as the UK average during the 2010s, a new report has shown, notching up a 66 per cent growth rate that was far faster than any other region. In the country as a whole, the average house price rose 33 per cent over the last decade as it [...]
2019 was worst year on record for UK property funds January 7, 2020 UK property funds endured the largest and most sustained withdrawals on record in 2019, with total outflows of £2.2bn, as the industry was dented by weakening sentiment over Brexit and the fallout from the M&G real estate fund suspension. The figures, which are equivalent to £1 in every £15 under management in property funds being [...]
Retail park sold in £50m deal for online warehousing space January 6, 2020 A retail park owned by M&G’s shuttered property fund has been bought for more than £50m to be converted into warehouses. The deal indicates the growing dominance of online retail which requires large amounts of warehouse space to service customers. The 128,000 sq ft Ravenside retail park in Edmonton north London was reportedly acquired by [...]
Why more and more fund managers are turning to shareholder activism January 6, 2020 According to Greta Thunberg, “the danger is when politicians and CEOs are making it look like real action is happening, when in fact almost nothing is being done.” She may find some unlikely bedfellows in the Square Mile. Active fund managers have endured a torrid time of late. The Woodford saga and M&G’s decision to [...]
2020 Vision: What to expect from sport this year, by industry insiders January 5, 2020 What will sport look like in 2020? We asked a host of industry experts for their predictions – and this is what they said. Neil Hopkins, global head of strategy at M&C Saatchi Sport and Entertainment Euros offer ticket to ride Football fans used to tournaments taking place in one or, at most, two host [...]
UK house prices end decade on a high with 1.4 per cent growth January 3, 2020 House prices were 1.4 per cent higher year-on-year in December, the first rise of more than one per cent for 12 months. According to research from Nationwide, after seasonal factors had been considered prices rose by 0.1 per cent in December. Read more: Rightmove: Tory election win will boost house prices by 2 per cent [...]
UK stocks 2020: Which shares are City A.M. staff backing in the new year? December 30, 2019 The UK stock market looks set to end the year on a high after the Tories’ election win and progress in US-China trade talks alleviated the uncertainty that has weighed on markets for months. But the road ahead is far from clear, with the looming Brexit date of 31st January and various upcoming trade negotiations [...]