How Albania went from Europe’s socialist poorhouse to a narco-state February 6, 2025 Albania was once a socialist backwater with just 1,265 cars in the whole country. And though living standards have improved considerably since that time, it’s failure to transform into a true market economy has handed power to drug lords and driven the brightest and best to emigrate, says Rainer Zitelmann I was in Tirana, the [...]
If you want to WFH, maybe you should work for yourself February 6, 2025 The reason behind the WFH crisis? People want the lifestyle of an entrepreneur but without the risks, writes Jamila Robertson.
Grainger: Property giant benefits from higher rents and small landlord exits February 5, 2025 Property giant Grainger has reported double-digit growth in income driven by higher rents and the exit of private landlords from the rental market. Grainger, the UK’s largest listed provider of private rental homes, told markets this morning that total net rental income grew by 15 per cent in the four months to the end of [...]
London prime property prices dip as Budget raid deters wealthy buyers February 4, 2025 Prices for London prime properties remain far below their 2014 peak, with double-digit discounts on asking prices to be found in some areas of the capital. The average reduction in the original asking price for houses over £1m in Greater London was £200,100, according to Investec, but some areas saw a 11.3 per cent discount. [...]
HS2: Key Euston contract faces foul play allegations February 3, 2025 Construction giant Lendlease is leading the £4bn regeneration of Euston but is in the process of exiting its international operations.
OYO: Billionaire’s hotel empire to make £50m UK investment February 3, 2025 OYO, the hotel chain founded by Indian billionaire Ritesh Agarwai, has revealed plans to invest £50m in the UK over the next three years and support 1,000 jobs. The news comes after the group, which first entered the UK market in 2018, announced its ambition towards the end of 2024 to open 40 new hotels [...]
Sky News has set off on a premium-first direction. Will it work? February 3, 2025 As a phalanx of well-tailored media executives sipped on lukewarm white wine and flicked slivers of smoked salmon onto their plates, David Rhodes set out his philosophy for running one of the largest news organisations in the world. “You have to believe that the basic journalistic activity that you’re doing has value,” the Sky News [...]
City of London approves major new skyscraper January 31, 2025 The City Corporation has approved a 54-storey skyscraper on the doorstep of UK’s busiest station as demand for office space continues to grow in the capital. The site at 99 Bishopsgate, which will become one of the tallest towers in the Square Mile, is set to provide a minimum of 1.2m sq metres of office [...]
House price growth slows despite ‘busier January than normal’ January 31, 2025 House price growth slowed slightly in January, but year-on-year growth remained robust despite higher interest rates. The annual rate of house price growth slowed to 4.1 per cent in January, compared with 4.7 per cent in December, according to the Nationwide House Price Index. House prices increased by 0.1 per cent month on month, after [...]
UK mortgage approvals rise as buyers race to beat stamp duty changes January 30, 2025 The number of mortgages approved by the UK banking sector rose unexpectedly in December, according to new data, suggesting buyers are looking to beat upcoming changes to stamp duty. The Bank of England’s figures showed that 66,500 mortgages were approved last month, which was up from 66,100 approvals in November. Economists had expected the number [...]