US trade representative: Phase one of deal is ‘totally done’ December 16, 2019 The first phase of a US-China tariff deal is “totally done”, according to US trade representative Robert Lighthizer. Last night Lighthizer said there would be some routine “scrubs” to the text but “this is totally done, absolutely.” Read more: Trump: US to suspend tariffs Speaking on CBS’ “Face the Nation”, he said that a time [...]
Conservative election victory sparks sharp recovery in housebuilder stocks December 13, 2019 The uncertainty surrounding Brexit and the country’s future has long been blamed as a source of the property market’s recent struggles. However a sizeable Conservative majority in the general election has already resulted in a sharp rise in housebuilder stocks. FTSE 100 firm Taylor Wimpey’s share price rose by 11.4 per cent in early morning [...]
Property of the week: An Italian villa for the price of a terrace in Streatham December 13, 2019 There are some types of home that people own, in part, because they sound impressive when dropped into conversation. Villas in the Italian countryside definitely fall into this category. If you too want to show off to your friends, this home which has just come on the market with Casaitalia International can be snapped up [...]
Mini bar, pepper spray pump, sound system: What the super-rich want in a panic room December 13, 2019 Most of us will never have the need for a panic room. The sum of our valuables and the size of our homes means dropping in a huge, heavy steel structure at a cost of (at least) hundreds of thousands of pounds doesn’t even cross our minds. Those who do find themselves in need of [...]
Four reasons why selling your house at Christmas might actually work December 13, 2019 Christmas is a time for many things. Family. Bad music. Overeating. One thing it’s not the time for is putting your home on the market. Or is it? According to some London agents, selling your house during the holidays might not be the complete no-no that you think. Here are some reasons why you might [...]
Inside ‘co-living’: the flats where millennials trade living space for free craft workshops and yoga December 12, 2019 My alarm goes off at 6.30am, which means it’s time for yoga. As I wipe the sleep from my eyes, I glance around the unfamiliar apartment I’ve just spent the night in, which doesn’t take long because it’s barely bigger than a walk-in wardrobe. I get dressed and stumble out the door, traipsing down the [...]
This Labour party does not deserve your support, however tactical or temporary you consider it to be December 12, 2019 Today you’ll have the opportunity to vote in the most consequential election for 40 years. You’ll have your own motivations and concerns, your own views on what constitutes a good result. Maybe one party’s victory is something you hope for, maybe it’s something you dread. For a lot of readers, the outcome may not be [...]
Rics: Political chaos pushes London house prices down in November December 12, 2019 Political uncertainty held back London house prices in November, a new survey has shown, with gauges of demand and sales stuck in negative territory. Property company owners are hoping that today’s General Election will provide a clearer political and economic picture that could boost the struggling market. Falling prices have lessened London’s affordability problems, however. [...]
Has-beans? What Chilango’s CVA tells us about the struggling casual dining sector December 11, 2019 Mexican chain Chilango offers its customers a choice between three different types of salsa: mild, medium, or hot. Faced with those options, who chooses the middle one? This is – in a way – the conundrum facing the increasingly polarised casual dining sector. Nowadays, customers either want fast, cheap fuel, or they want a quality [...]
Bryan Habana: South Africa’s World Cup win has already had a huge impact on the country and will give the 2021 Lions’ Tour extra spice December 11, 2019 Five weeks have passed since South Africa won the Rugby World Cup but the impact that the achievement will have on the nation is only just beginning. The Springboks beat England 32-12 in Yokohama last month to claim their third World Cup, with each triumph having come 12 years apart. But this latest trophy, which [...]