Eurozone employment edges up to six-year high December 15, 2015 Around half a million more people found jobs in the Eurozone in the three months to September, taking the number of people in work to six-year high. The number of people employed in the currency-bloc climbed 0.3 per cent compared with the three months to June to 151.5m, according to figures published by Eurostat, the statistical [...]
Carpetright shares rally as half-year profits jump by a third December 15, 2015 Shares in Carpetright leapt this morning as the floorings and beds specialist revealed a 34 per cent rise in underlying pre-tax profits in the first half of the year. The retailer said efforts to win over my customers through its revamped website, stores and better product ranges were bearing fruit, with group revenue rising by 1.4 per cent to £231.2m, and [...]
Where to invest in buy-to-let properties for the best rental and capital yields: Manchester, Liverpool, Cardiff and north west versus London December 15, 2015 Buy-to-let investors worried there may be a bust coming can breathe a sigh of relief, for the moment at least – new figures show little sign of new measures such as a hike in stamp duty and mortgage interest tax relief putting a dampener on things. "If a buy to let bust really was just [...]
UK house price growth hits its highest since March – and that’s before buy-to-let investors began the rush December 15, 2015 UK house prices grew seven per cent in the year to October, their highest growth since March. The average house price rose to £287,000, up from £286,000 in September, the Office for National Statistics said, as the prospect for low interest rates continued to fuel the market. The largest increase was experienced in the East of England, [...]
UK inflation: We’re back in the black as inflation moves into positive territory December 15, 2015 UK inflation rose to 0.1 per cent in November, figures by the Office for National Statistics showed today – putting the UK back into positive territory for the first time since July. But analysts were less than optimistic about its ability to stay in the black. The figures showed rises in transport costs and alcohol [...]
UK pensions: What the secondary annuities market means for the five million people currently receiving income from an annuity December 15, 2015 People have much greater freedom and flexibility over their pension since new rules were introduced in April. These new rules allow people over age 55 to take lump sums or income from their pension, although any amounts over and above the tax-free cash sum – which is usually 25 per cent of their pot – are subject [...]
Global business won’t slow down for Christmas: How can businesses use mobile working to make the most of their employees over the holidays? December 15, 2015 As Christmas closes in, we all start to look fondly towards home. For business, ‘tis the season of empty desks, out-of-office emails and manic attempts to complete final tasks as employees rush out to catch the afternoon train. On the other hand, among those left in the office, it’s commonplace to see productivity plummet across [...]
Australia’s securities exchange ASX falls to 30-month low as US junk bonds and revised economic outlook weigh on sentiment December 15, 2015 The Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) has fallen to its lowest in 30 months, as investors react to selling pressure and a revised economic outlook. The S&P/ASX 200 index rose 0.8 per cent as the market opened, on the back of gains made in the US last night. But by close, it had fallen 0.39 per cent to 4,909.6 points, [...]
Aveva’s share price plummets 36 per cent as it calls off talks with Schneider Electric saying £550m merger would create “significant” challenges December 15, 2015 Aveva's share price plummeted more than 36 per cent this morning after the engineering group called off talks with Schneider Electric, saying a merger would create "significant" challenges "that could not be overcome without considerable additional risk and cost". The two businesses had announced a merger this summer, in which Schneider would have paid £550m for a 53.5 [...]
UK wages unlikely to rise next year, think tank warns December 15, 2015 Workers in the UK are unlikely to experience a rise in their wages next year, according to a report by the Resolution Foundation. The think tank said pay will stagnate in 2016, unless productivity is steady and inflation goes up quicker than expected. Their current estimate is a pay increase of just one per cent. [...]
