How retail rookie Sharon White can turn John Lewis’ fortunes around September 13, 2019 John Lewis Partnership reported its first ever half-year loss yesterday, blaming falling sales and rising costs for a gloomy six months. It’s bad news for incoming chair – and retail rookie – Sharon White, who has a challenge on her hands to turn around the department store’s fortunes. Read more: John Lewis swings to a [...]
New builds: Properties on the market in London this week, from Nine Elms penthouses to Spitalfields family homes September 13, 2019 Battalion Court, Woolwich From £343,000 for a one-bed This Saturday, Bellway is launching a new show home at its Battalion Court development in Woolwich. The homes are perfectly placed for buyers looking to take advantage of the Crossrail effect, with nearby Woolwich station set to open in 2020. One, two and three-bed apartments are available [...]
Focus on: Living by the River Thames September 13, 2019 Every September, the River Thames plays host to the Totally Thames festival; a month-long event which sees it taken over by art installations, history tours and performances. It’s a chance for Londoners to reconnect with the body of water that provides the backdrop to our daily lives, and make the most of some of the [...]
The great British sell-off: Three ways for investors to profit September 13, 2019 As the final act of the Brexit saga approaches, investors are still locked in a state of perpetual uncertainty. We can’t know what will unfold, but what business is continually telling the government is how difficult it is to plan in the current environment. Brexit is the moment when we will receive some clarity, for [...]
Don’t let the socialists win the argument – capitalists have solutions to inequality too September 13, 2019 Inequality is a hot topic, yet those of us who support free markets are often dismissive of the issue. We (rightly) point out that the most important thing is economic growth – the key driving force behind increasing prosperity for everyone. However, free-marketeers are wrong to see concerns over inequality as the preserve of those [...]
Iconic Labs buys stake in student news website The Tab September 12, 2019 Iconic Labs has bought an indirect stake in student publishing company The Tab, marking the latest move in the media firm’s aggressive acquisition spree. Iconic Labs has secured a 24 per cent stake in media investment vehicle Medium Channel Media (MCM), which in turn has entered into a conditional agreement to acquire The Tab. Read [...]
Brexit jitters dent hopes of a rise in London house sales September 12, 2019 Sales activity in London’s subdued housing market is expected to slip deeper into negative territory over the coming months, according to a closely-followed industry survey released this morning. Brexit uncertainty has caused growing hesitation among buyers and sellers, the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (Rics) has warned, with the outlook for property sales weakening in [...]
Ex-Terra Firma boss poised to join Heylo September 11, 2019 The former boss of private equity house Terra Firma is set to be announced as the next chief executive of Heylo, a British provider of affordable housing. Andrew Geczy will be tasked with accelerating Heylo’s expansion, Sky News reported. It owns Home Reach which has delivered 4,000 properties and has raised hundreds of millions of [...]
Capital & Regional in talks to sell majority stake to South Africa’s Growthpoint September 11, 2019 Shopping centre owner Capital & Regional is in talks to sell a majority stake to South African property firm Growthpoint as the Johannesburg-based company takes advantage of weak UK retail property prices. Shares in Capital & Regional, which owns eight malls across the UK including Walthamstow, Wood Green and Ilford, rose more than 10 per [...]
Former Stobart chair Iain Ferguson takes charge at house builder Crest Nicholson September 11, 2019 Crest Nicholson has installed former Stobart chair Iain Ferguson as its non-executive chairman, as the house builder completes its refurbishment of top-level management. Ferguson, who will take the post in November, has been appointed just as new chief executive Peter Truscott is set to take the reins at the firm this month. Read more: Galliford [...]