Nationwide UK house price index: Annual growth rate picked up in October November 1, 2017 The annual rate of house price growth rose to 2.5 per cent in October, from 2.3 per cent in September, according to the latest Nationwide house price index. Prices went up 0.2 per cent on a monthly basis, down slightly from 0.4 per cent growth in the previous month. Nationwide’s chief economist Robert Gardner said: [...]
European stocks stand up to terrorism November 1, 2017 London. Manchester. Brussels. Paris. Nice. Copenhagen. Stockholm. Normandy. These are just a few of the European cities struck by terrorists in recent years. Attacks are sadly becoming increasingly frequent, and whenever they occur, people speculate about the potential market and economic impact. It is impossible to know where or when terrorists will strike next, but [...]
UK retains seventh spot in ease of doing business ranking October 31, 2017 The UK retained its spot as the seventh best nation in the world for ease of doing business, according to an influential ranking published today. The US leapfrogged the UK to move up to sixth overall, according to the 15th annual Doing Business report from the World Bank, published today. In 2015 the UK came [...]
Most affordable London commuter towns: How a one hour commute can save buyers £500,000 on London house prices October 30, 2017 Living an hour outside London could slash half a million pounds off house prices compared with buying a home in zones one and two of the capital, according to new research. Commuter towns such as Crawley, Windsor, Rochester and Peterborough have an average house prices of £316,000, a survey by Lloyds Bank has found. That [...]
Let’s scrap stamp duty and stop exacerbating the housing crisis October 30, 2017 Often when we talk about taxes, we just weigh out how much they raise and who pays, and assume any change is about handing out cash to a favoured group. But this is misguided. Some taxes distort the economy far more than others for every pound they raise for the Treasury. By this measure, stamp [...]
Housing crisis on Budget agenda as groups call for government borrowing to build in London and stamp duty abolition October 30, 2017 The government is being urged to consider major changes to its housing policy ahead of the Budget, ranging from abolishing stamp duty to allowing local authorities to build more homes. In its Budget submission to the Treasury the London Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) backed a call from chancellor Philip Hammond’s own colleagues to [...]
Greedy letting agents only have themselves to blame for their current existential crisis October 27, 2017 Asked what they judged to be the biggest threats to their businesses, 42 per cent of agents pointed to the government’s lettings fee ban, due to come into force at the year’s end. Lack of new landlords came a distant second, worrying only 20 per cent of respondents most. Meanwhile, other challenges like internal inefficiencies [...]
Low rates, record high stocks: is the bubble about to burst? October 26, 2017 The world is, seemingly, in a bull market in everything. Just take a few headlines from this month alone: US stocks, already at all-time highs, hit a sixth consecutive closing high, which is the first time that has happened for 20 years. In debt markets, Ireland issued a bond with a negative yield, which means [...]
The tech evolution of the mortgage market October 25, 2017 Babylon, 611 BC: the year of the first recorded loan using real estate as security. Written to Mr. Nabu-etir with an interest rate of 11.3 per cent, our ancient ancestors agreed to the financial instrument that survives two and a half thousand years on. Now this loan forms the bedrock of the modern financial system [...]
Cornerstone backer Calculus Capital is raising £10m for its venture capital trust (VCT) as investor interest booms October 24, 2017 Calculus Capital, the investment firm which backs shaving subscription business Cornerstone, has launched a £10m fundraising for its venture capital trust (VCT). The VCT, which launched in 2010, aims to deliver an annual dividend of 4.5 per cent – or 6.1 per cent for investors who receive the 30 per cent income tax relief after [...]