Countrywide says slowdown in sales volumes will continue next year January 13, 2017 Countrywide's share price climbed three per cent in morning trading despite a drop in the estate agency group's income in the fourth quarter. The figures In a trading update for its performance in 2016, Countrywide said its revenue edged up to £737m from £734m the year before, but that the estate agency's income fell slightly in the [...]
Now the London party is over, housebuilders must help tidy up January 13, 2017 Barratt Homes said yesterday it is struggling in London – an admission that came as no surprise. The housebuilder is one of several to have jumped on the London bandwagon in the first half of this decade, merrily buying up land all over the capital as house prices whooshed upwards. But its first half results, [...]
Here are the best and worst industries to find a job in 2017 January 12, 2017 The London jobs market is improving after six months of downturn, recruiters said in December. Now, new research suggests which industries will give you the biggest headache if you're searching for a job in 2017. After finding available jobs were increasing on the whole, data from CV-Library analysed the average number of jobs in the UK's key [...]
Savills’ international business benefited from the weak pound as UK figures performed better than expected January 12, 2017 The devaluation of sterling against other major currencies boosted Savills profits in 2016 as international commercial and residential sales surpassed expectations. The property firm said underlying results for the year would be "meaningfully" ahead of previous expectations in a pre-close trading update for the year ended 31 December 2016. In the UK, overseas buyers have come to take advantage [...]
About-turn for Mothercare as it reaps the rewards of the weak pound January 12, 2017 What a difference a couple of months makes. Having warned of "stalling" sales in November, today Mothercare was cautiously optimistic about the year ahead. The figures UK like-for-like sales rose one per cent in the 13 weeks to 7 January, pushed up by 5.5 per cent online sales growth. That was indicative of Mothercare's shift in priorities – with online now making up 40 [...]
Alternative lending’s leading founders and chief executives give their predictions for the sector in 2017 January 12, 2017 The road was slightly bumpy for alternative lenders last year. Authorisations for the Innovative Finance Isa were delayed, there was further Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) probing, disappointing results hounded a good handful of the UK’s largest platforms and Goldman Sachs made its foray into the market with in-house platform Marcus. But provided the regulator continues [...]
Hotels continue to be a favourable option for investors looking to the UK January 11, 2017 As the UK’s most popular tourist destination after London, Edinburgh plays a vital role in the UK tourism economy. Its preeminent position was underlined recently when Deloitte – for a third year running – named Scotland’s capital the UK’s most attractive location for hotel investment outside London. The figures certainly stack-up. The city achieves some [...]
City Moves for 11 January 2017 | Who’s switching jobs January 11, 2017 Wilton & Bain Erin Callaghan has joined Wilton & Bain as a Partner in the firm’s technology practice. Erin has over 10 years’ experience in executive recruitment and has built a track record of delivering senior assignments in the international technology sector, including FTSE 100 and Fortune 500 companies as well as VC or private equity [...]
Buy-to-lose? With new restrictions on buy-to-let mortgages and the introduction of other punitive measures in 2017, is there any value left in letting for mortgaged landlords? January 11, 2017 As we enter 2017, the tide has truly turned against Britain’s buy-to-let landlords. First, George Osborne discouraged people from buying a second residential property by imposing extra stamp duty of 3 per cent. Now, the Bank of England is demanding that mortgage lenders “stress test” loans to landlords. Since 1 January, the Bank’s Prudential Regulation [...]
Grand Union shake-up: London bar owners appoint advisers for sale January 10, 2017 The owners of trendy London bar chain Grand Union have appointed advisers as they seek to sell the business. Leisure property specialist Coffer Corporate Leisure has been taken on to handle the sale of Grand Union, City A.M. has learned. Read more: Craft beer may have just met its match The chain, which specialises in [...]