Ferguson boosts revenue and profit but UK outlook remains ‘tough’ for Wolseley plumbing brand October 2, 2018 Ferguson managed to report climbing revenue and profit today despite taking a hit in the UK, where it trades as plumbing firm Wolseley. The figures Revenue grew 7.6 per cent year on year to $20.7bn (£15.9bn) in the year to the end of July, while trading profit increased almost 15 per cent to $1.5bn. Its [...]
South Korean backers splash out £100m for Microsoft HQ October 1, 2018 Microsoft’s vast HQ campus in Reading has been snapped up by a London-based real estate investor and a Korean asset manager for £100m today. Valesco Group and Seoul-headquartered AIP Asset Management have bought the tech firm’s 245,000 square foot park in the run-up to the arrival of Crossrail’s Elizabeth line, which is set to strengthen [...]
May’s stamp duty tax on foreign buyers forces down FTSE developers’ share prices October 1, 2018 More than half a billion pounds was wiped off the value of some of the UK’s largest housebuilders today, as the City digested news of Theresa May’s planned property tax on foreign buyers. Shares in Berkeley Group, Barratt Developments and Taylor Wimpey all slid in the wake of the Prime Minister’s weekend announcement to slap [...]
Raising stamp duty for foreigners won’t fix Britain’s housing crisis September 30, 2018 It can't be easy, being Theresa May. The Prime Minister faces constant battles on several fronts – grappling with negotiators in Brussels, rebutting opposition parties in Westminster, and fending off leadership plotters within her own ranks. Little surprise the domestic policy agenda can sometimes seem like an afterthought. Ahead of this week's Tory party conference [...]
The guardians of the art industry: How a former trader is giving old buildings a new lease of life September 28, 2018 Scott Franklin is like the popular kid at school. When the former City trader shows me around the renovated Victorian warehouse in Clerkenwell, everyone we pass seems pleased to see him – which strikes me as unusual for someone whose role resembles that of a landlord. Franklin, who is the founder of Property Guardian [...]
Opinion: High net worth millennials are passing on the fixer-upper villa in Tuscany in favour of modern towers in global cities September 28, 2018 The millennial generation have different tastes and attitudes to their now middle-aged Generation X forebears. As they move into their thirties, they are playing an increasingly important role in the international property markets and many have significant buying power, either through inheritance or their own entrepreneurial flair. Previous generations favoured a stand-alone villa they could [...]
New homes: Our pick of the new builds and conversions going on sale in London this weekend September 28, 2018 New developments on the market this week Lime Quarter, Bromley-by-Bow From £300,000 Help to Buy homes are going on sale next to Devons Road DLR. The first 10 homes launched last night with one and two bedroom apartments available to purchase through the government’s equity loan scheme. Overall, there will be 130 homes, including three [...]
Watch out, Tories – Labour has got its anti-capitalist mojo back September 28, 2018 I started my week in Liverpool. It’s a great city. It’s got soul. It’s got a clear identity. And it’s clearly on the up. In the past week, all those words could apply to the main opposition party that just might be capturing the zeitgeist of middle Britain. Rubbing alongside those delegates partying by [...]
House prices on London’s top 10 priciest streets fall amid high-end housing slump September 27, 2018 House prices in London’s top 10 most expensive streets have all fallen over the last year, in a fresh sign of the slump sweeping the capital's high-end property market. Property website Zoopla’s 2018 rich list has found that on average more than £4.5m has been wiped off the total average house price from the top 10 [...]
Midatech narrows losses and sells US commercial arm as it pushes cancer treatments to market September 27, 2018 Midatech Pharma has narrowed losses as it pushes its cancer treatments to market and announces the sale of its US commercial arm to focus on R&D. The Alternative Investment Market-listed company reported that revenue for the six months to 30 June rose 17 per cent to £549,000 and pre-tax losses were down to £6.5m [...]