Archive for April, 2009

Green shoots: Financial Times

Armagh represents Ireland’s history and its future. It is the island’s oldest city, still the ecclesiastical capital and, with important symbolism, the planned headquarters for cross-border institution the North/South Ministerial Council. Walk along The Mall, with its wide grassy central area, and you’ll find beautiful Georgian houses, religious halls and other grand buildings and, in [...]

Questions of Cash: We lost £4,000 after ATM swallowed card: The Independent

Q: My mum had her debit card swallowed by an ATM. The next day, she went back to the bank to retrieve the card and was told to go to her own bank, Abbey. Abbey told her it did not have the card. Its cashier then cashed a cheque of my mother’s and told her [...]

PPPs in recession: PPP Bulletin

 
It would be easy to conclude that the PPP sector is in crisis – too easy. Despite the collapse in PFI lending because of the global crisis, parts of the PPP market are thriving.
 
In fact, the crisis creates conditions where there could be a significant expansion in the use of PPPs by governments. With tax [...]

The Budget - the verdict: ‘Not enough’ say housing professionals: Primelocation

The Council for Mortgage Lenders describes the Budget’s response to the crisis in the housing market as “modest”. Others are blunter and say its measures are not radical enough. Despite widespread expectations that the Budget would include concrete measures to kick-start the housing market, the reality is that they are likely to have limited affect.
For [...]

The Budget - what it means for housing: Primelocation

Budget measures supporting the housing market left commentators disappointed, many of whom expected more. But the extension of the stamp duty holiday and a programme to build new homes on vacant development land provided some good news.
For full story see http://www.primelocation.com/news/budget-2009-provides-limited-boost-for-housing/

Signs of optimism: Primelocation

There are further indications that the property market has stabilised, with news that mortgage lending increased in February - though remaining at low levels.
For story go to http://www.primelocation.com/news/optimism-spreads/

Questions of Cash: Should I stick with my corporate bonds?: The Independent

 
Q: A recent article in The Independent ["How to make your savings pay", 7 March] recommended investing in corporate bonds to receive a good return of 6 per cent or more. While I have received this return on my corporate bonds with Halifax, the capital invested has fallen by 14 per cent. Should I maintain [...]

Second homes become yesterday’s dreams: Primelocation

Homeowners are pulling at their purse strings and pulling up their metaphorical drawbridges as they stay put at home. New statistics reveal that the number of second home purchases both at home and abroad have slumped as the recession takes hold.
For story go to http://www.primelocation.com/news/second-homes-become-yesterdays-dreams/

Rents go down as ‘accidental landlords’ increase: Primelocation

Prime central London rents are falling heavily, despite substantial increases in supply, according to the results of the last quarterly survey by residential agents Knight Frank.
For story go to http://www.primelocation.com/news/rents-go-down-as-accidental-landlords-increase/

No change may be good news: Primelocation

The Bank of England has maintained the base rate at 0.5%, as expected. The base rate is, in truth, so low that it is difficult to believe it could be cut further. But the signals from the Bank are also cautiously good news for the property market, which may be near its lowest point.
For story [...]