BEST OF THE BROKERS
FOCUS SOLUTIONS’ POSITIVE OUTLOOK
Focus Solutions, the group which specialises in pensions back office software, said yesterday it was confident of achieving both revenue and profit expectations for the full year, although half year revenues would be down on the same period last year because of the timing of securing key contracts. The group added it would report a profit for the half year, and net cash balances at the end of September were £2.5m, up from £2.2m in 2008. A new order worth £2m over five years has been signed with a major UK adviser network.
WSP sees challenging markets WSP Group, the building and environmental consultancy, said trading since 1 July continued to be in line with its expectations. The group, which offers management, planning and environmental advice, however, said market conditions remained very challenging with difficult trading conditions in most markets in the private sector. “We are continuing to see a solid performance in our public sector activities, particularly in our substantial European Operations,” it said.
Homes for £1m have slumped
The number of homes priced at more than £1m has fallen by a third during the past two years, research showed yesterday. About one in every 97 properties in the UK was worth at least seven figures before the housing market slump kicked off, but the figure has now fallen to around one in every 150, the property market website Zoopla.co.uk said. Overall, the group estimates that there are now 35 per cent fewer properties worth at least £1m than there were in November 2007, when house prices first started to fall. Unsurprisingly, London has seen the smallest reduction in the number of properties valued at £1m or more.
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