More QE and a possible crisis: What markets will do in 2015 December 16, 2014 UK stocks look likely to be dominated by political risk PREDICTING the year ahead in markets can be a fool’s game. Last December, fund managers’ 2014 look-aheads heralded the start of a year in which Japan’s shock and awe Abenomics tactics would finally end its disinflationary misery, while the Eurozone would begin to turn a [...]
Westminster council spurns property developers in battle for office space December 16, 2014 Westminster council has dealt a blow to the city's property developers eager for a slice of the expensive central London borough. It's begun a consultation on planning policies which will require developers who want to covert offices into homes to replace the lost work space. The move aims to stop a recent trend which has [...]
In charts: UK house price growth slows but first-time buyers still feel the pinch December 16, 2014 First-time buyers are paying 12 per cent more this year than at the same point last year, according to data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS). The ONS revealed house prices were flirting with stagnation in October, when they increased just 0.1 per cent on a month-on-month basis. After yesterday’s data from Rightmove showed [...]
City Moves for 16 December 2014 | Who’s switching jobs December 15, 2014 Vail Williams Nina Epstein has been appointed senior management surveyor at the commercial property adviser. She joins from DTZ, where she worked in its property asset management/business development division. Epstein has also held roles at Cushman & Wakefield, LaSalle Investment Management, and CB Hillier Parker. Aviva Investors Mark Connolly has been appointed chief investment officer, [...]
Barratt, Taylor Wimpey and Bellway among 16 national house builders to sign up to government’s Starter Homes initiative December 15, 2014 Some of the UK's biggest property developers have signed up to a new government scheme designed to help first-time buyers get a foot on the ladder. Avant, Barratt, Taylor Wimpey and Bellway are among 16 house builders to have put their name to the scheme, which offers first-time buyers under the age of 40 [...]
UK house prices suffer biggest drop on record, with London average falling £30,000 in a month December 15, 2014 The fall in house prices in England is accelerating, with prices in some regions falling by five digits. The national drop of almost £9,000 (to £258,424) is the largest ever when measured in pounds, according to new data from Rightmove. Although the more accurate percentage drops aren't record breaking, they are still pretty big. According to [...]
Relief for buyers as soaring house prices moderate December 14, 2014 PROSPECTIVE London home buyers are set to benefit as price growth slows over Christmas and could remain subdued throughout 2015. Houses prices dropped by 5.1 per cent from November to December, online property market platform Rightmove said today. Average house prices in December have so far been £570,706 compared with November’s £601,180. However, the average [...]
British dealmakers considerably increase their activity overseas December 14, 2014 WHILE deal making in Britain has seen a small increase in activity this year, domestic dealmakers acquiring assets overseas have increased considerably, according to data analysis by EY released today. The acquisitions have been driven by corporates across a few sectors keen to reposition their business models in a low-growth world. The volume [...]
Jobless figures and MPC report at centre stage – London Week Ahead December 14, 2014 BY THE looks of this week’s economic calendar, traders thinking of taking off early for their Christmas holidays may be forced to rethink their travel plans. In the UK the minutes of the Monetary Policy Committee’s (MPC) last meeting will also be scrutinised. However, the report which has the greatest potential to move markets is [...]
Lending Club flotation: It’s good news and bad news December 12, 2014 Lending Club is a US-based peer-to-peer (P2P) lender. It acts as a conduit for the passage of money from individuals and institutions to businesses. Some call that crowdfunding – though increasingly that term is being reserved for platforms that raise money for equity, or property investment, or special purposes such as charity. Whatever you [...]