Last Week in the City: August rate rise now less likely July 20, 2018 Garry White, chief investment commentator, looks at the market-moving events that have shaped the UK equity markets this week (16 to 20 July 2018). The chances of an interest rate rise at the Bank of England’s August meeting appeared to recede this week after inflation data was more subdued than expected and retail sales data [...]
How a World Cup run might turn £1 into £65,000 – the power of investment compounding July 20, 2018 The World Cup is underway, so what better way to explain the miracle effects of compounding than via a football analogy? We recently attended a meeting of company pension fund trustees where the chairman felt the need to clarify one observation with the line: “And, of course, because of compounding, a 10% increase in performance [...]
Home with a view: Seaside houses with a sight of the water sell for nearly a third as much as the properties around them July 19, 2018 While much of the English coast conjures up images of rainy weather and cold waters, new research suggests that houses with a view of the sea are likely to fetch nearly £70,000 more than those without one nearby. Data from Rightmove has found that properties under £1m in seaside towns with a sight of the [...]
Stunted house price growth dragged down by London slump July 18, 2018 House price growth in May slowed to its lowest annual rate in nearly five years, according to figures from the closely-watched Office for National Statistics (ONS) house price index. On average house prices across the UK have risen three per cent in the year to May 2018, falling from 3.5 per cent in April and [...]
Your financial wellbeing is more than just the money in your bank account and the number on your paycheque July 18, 2018 How healthy are you? The answer might make you cringe, but chances are you’ve probably got an answer. “Relatively fit” or “could do with losing a few pounds” will probably sound familiar. But what if you were asked how financially well you are instead? You might be earning a good salary, but still find yourself [...]
A vision of the future: The marriage of AI and Blockchain July 17, 2018 Where is Artificial Intelligence Headed? Artificial Intelligence (AI) can radically improve people’s lives if we nurture its potential. AI enables machines to mimic human traits such as learning and thinking, and is able to do this at a pace and efficacy of which humans will never be capable. We can harness this power to help [...]
City of London office investment defies Brexit wobble as overseas interest soars | City A.M. July 17, 2018 Investment in City of London office space has defied Brexit uncertainty to hit a record high as demand for real estate in the Square Mile soars, especially from Asia. Despite the slowdown in other parts of the property sector such as the housing market, investment in City of London offices jumped to £3.6bn in the [...]
House prices in Bethnal Green: Shoreditch’s loss is Bethnal Green’s gain as professionals flee high house prices in E1 | City A.M. July 16, 2018 There was a time when Bethnal Green lived up to its rural-sounding name. It was actually a prosperous area in the 19th century, with large houses and gardens. Originally called Bethan Hall Green, the name was changed to align with local Cockney pronounciation which dropped the ‘h’. By the 19th century, Bethnal Green became one [...]
London’s house price slowdown worsens as summer slump hits July 16, 2018 London's house price slump has deepened as the market enters its traditional summer lull, with experts signalling a boon for prospective first-time buyers. The average asking price of a house in the capital is down more than £11,000 compared to this time a year ago, marking the sharpest annualised fall since January. The closely-watched Rightmove [...]
China in stormy waters July 13, 2018 China is sounding a bit exasperated by Mr Trump’s words and tariffs. The usually-cautious Ministry of Commerce refers to the possibility of the US losing its reason. President Xi thought he had an understanding with President Trump, only to discover Mr Trump intends to press very hard over intellectual property, investment in the digital area [...]