Derwent: Return to office mandates boost London landlord May 8, 2025 Ongoing high demand for central London offices, combined with low supply of best-in-class space, has boosted real estate investment trust (REIT) Derwent in the first quarter of the year. Derwent said leasing activity in the year to date totalled £2.7m, with a further £3.7m of rent under offer. Open market lettings ticked up by 2.7 [...]
House prices rise in April: ‘The market is baring its teeth’ May 8, 2025 House prices in the UK ticked up in April as the market unexpectedly bounced back from the end of stamp duty relief. According to Halifax, house prices increased by 0.3 per cent in April vs a fall of 0.5 per cent in March, making the average property now £297,781. Prices have been remarkably stable over [...]
Gymshark: How going public could help take on ‘monster rivals’ Nike and Adidas May 7, 2025 Gymshark, the activewear brand co-founded by billionaire Ben Francis, could be pushed towards becoming a public company in its bid to “achieve the kind of global domination enjoyed by monster rivals Nike and Adidas”. According to Danni Hewson, head of financial analysis at AJ Bell, the Solihull-headquartered business would need to “amp up its presence” [...]
UK investors flee bond funds amid US Treasury turmoil May 7, 2025 UK investors sold £1.2bn of bond fund holdings throughout April, as US bond markets fell into turmoil over Trump’s tariffs. As Treasury yields spiked during the month over fears around the fiscal ability of the US, investors fled the asset class in droves, according to data from Calastone. At one point last month, analysts were [...]
London prime property sales resilient despite economic headwinds May 6, 2025 London’s prime property market has remained stable year on year despite significant headwinds, according to a major real estate firm. There were 93 sales above £5m in the first three months of the year, on par with the 92 in 2024, Savills found. Overall values also held up, with total values for houses between £10m [...]
Labour can beat Reform by rebuilding public services May 6, 2025 Labour’s path to electoral victory lies in tangible public service improvements. Modern Public Private Partnerships could be the key to delivering results without breaking fiscal rules, say former Labour cabinet ministers Alan Johnson and Lord Hutton There are two answers for a government under threat from Reform. You try to outflank them on the right [...]
The non-dom exodus is harming London’s housing market May 2, 2025 Punitive taxes and onerous regulation on landlords are leading the wealthy to sell up and leave London – with knock-on effects at all levels of the housing market, says James Evans As City AM’s Editor-in-Chief recently pointed out, ‘The UK only has around 70,000 non-doms, and that number is falling fast. More than 11,000 millionaires, [...]
Investment funds in April: Energy plummets while property soars May 1, 2025 Energy funds suffered deeply during April as an expected slowdown in global growth caused oil prices to tank throughout the month. Five energy funds featured in the bottom 10 performing investment funds, alongside two resource funds, with Guinness Global Energy as the worst performer, falling 13.5 per cent. “With the price of a barrel of [...]
Mortgage borrowing surges ahead of stamp duty changes May 1, 2025 Net borrowing or mortgages spiked by £9.7bn in March as house buyers looked to clinch deals before higher stamp duty taxes came into effect. Net borrowing levels exceeded £13bn, according to the Bank of England, as the rise compared to February beat market forecasts of £3.2bn. EY ITEM Club’s Matt Swannell said the surge in [...]
Gary Neville’s university UA92 plots move to ‘stronger footing’ in 2026 May 1, 2025 Accounts show income has increased at University Academy 92 (UA92), the higher education institution set up by Gary Neville and other members of the Class of ’92, amid a rise in costs and “a tough financial climate.” UA92, which has bases in Trafford as well as the city centre, has reported a deficit before tax of [...]