UK investors are bullish on emerging markets as only gold ranks higher, says Franklin Templeton research January 23, 2018 Emerging markets have seen a surge in popularity with UK investors, according to investment firm Franklin Templeton. More than half of independent investors surveyed, at 55 per cent, said that now was a good time to invest in less developed markets. Meanwhile a quarter said they were more positive about the asset class than a [...]
UK house prices: Demand for UK property fell more than seven per cent last year January 22, 2018 The UK’s housing market continues to look shaky, after new figures showed the number of new buyers registering with estate agents dropped last year – as the number of properties on the market plunged. Figures from estate agent Haart showed demand for homes fell 7.4 per cent in the year to December, falling 3.4 per [...]
Oxfam would rather make us all poorer than feed the world January 22, 2018 In the film Groundhog Day, the protagonist is trapped in an infinite time-loop, constantly repeating the same experiences over and over again, each time hoping it will be the last, yet never seeming to learn the lesson. The 2018 Oxfam report on inequality has been released today with much fanfare, and, just like those before [...]
It’s pensioners, not first-time buyers, who should get stamp duty relief January 18, 2018 Stamp duty is in the news again. Earlier this week, Labour’s shadow housing minister, John Healey, called on the government to extend the tax break introduced in the November Budget to first-time buyers who use the shared ownership scheme. Policies that are seen to help struggling first-time buyers always go down a treat from [...]
Norway’s massive sovereign wealth fund sells out of BAE Systems, AECOM, Fluor Corp, Korea Line Corp, Evergreen Marine Corp in an ethics push January 16, 2018 Norway’s massive $1.1 trillion (£777bn) sovereign wealth fund has pulled its investment in UK defence company BAE Systems, as it continues an ethical push. The fund – which has traditionally focused on oil, but decided to ditch oil and gas investments last year – has also sold off its stake in another eight companies as [...]
UK house prices: Here’s how much London property prices fell in November January 16, 2018 London house prices fell for the fourth month in a row in November, official figures have shown, suggesting the cooldown is showing no signs of abating. Average prices in the capital fell to £482,000 in November, down 0.9 per cent on the month before, and 1.6 per cent lower than the £490,000 peak they hit [...]
London house prices dragged down by Zones 2 and 3 says Rightmove data January 15, 2018 The price of London homes coming to market fell sharply over the last year, as properties in Zones 2 and 3 slumped, according to new data to be published today. Homes brought to market in the capital are now an average of £21,000 cheaper, a 3.5 per cent fall over the last year, according to [...]
Opinion: Should we be pleased that housing has been promoted to cabinet or should we be taking it out of party politics altogether? January 12, 2018 Take housing out of government control says Glynis Frew The government is beginning to view the importance of housing in the context of national prosperity more so than ever before. Encouraging proposals were announced at the Budget and just this week it was confirmed that housing would at long last have meaningful cabinet representation, for [...]
Focus On Hammersmith: W6 has benefitted from the regeneration of Shepherd’s Bush and the sky high prices in Chelsea January 12, 2018 For many years, Kensington and Chelsea was thought to be the last word in west London property for well-heeled individuals. But if the increasing migration over the border to Hammersmith is anything to go by, its time may be over. Increasingly, upsizers and families are fleeing the Royal Borough for W6 to find similar properties [...]
Investment trust winners of 2017 January 11, 2018 Investment trusts enjoyed healthy investment returns last year, with funds focused on Japan delivering some of the best returns in 2017, according to data for trust sectors. Investment trusts are an alternative to more commonly held open-ended funds or unit trusts, offering some advantages. This is explained here: investment trusts vs open-ended funds. Here we [...]