News

No early government bank exit

Governments that intervened to support financial institutions during the global financial crisis are likely to have to retain their stakes for between five and seven years, according to PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC). Its 'Back to the future' report...

11th November, 2009 • more >

Rise in unemployment slows

The number of unemployed in the UK increased by 30,000 over the three months to September taking the total amount out of work to 2.46 million. However, the Office for National Statistics said the increase was the smallest reported since May last...

11th November, 2009 • more >

Retail sales at seven year high

There are encouraging signs that the high street is on the road to recovery after the British Retail Consortium revealed October saw its best sales figures for seven years. UK retail sales rose 3.8% on a like-for like basis from October last year...

10th November, 2009 • more >

Barclays sees profits fall

Barclays has revealed pre tax profits of £4,542 million for the first nine months of the year, almost a fifth down on the figure it reported in 2008. A 65% rise in impairment charges to £6,214 million was blamed on foreign exchange movements,...

10th November, 2009 • more >

Chief Economist's Weekly Brief - Cause for celebration

Twenty years ago today, Europe witnessed a momentous occasion, as the Berlin wall was torn down and...

9th November, 2009 • more >

Construction workloads fall

The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) has revealed all construction workloads fell in the third quarter, with the exception of non-housing works, which the body says is an important crutch for the industry. Workloads in the sector...

7th November, 2009 • more >

Interest and Exchange Rate Forecast 06 November

The UK’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) opted to extend the asset purchase scheme by £25bn to £200bn at its November meeting. The additional £25bn will be spent over the next three months and the scale of the scheme will be kept...

6th November, 2009 • more >

Company insolvencies slow

The number of companies in England and Wales fell slightly in the last quarter, although figures are still well up on 2008. There were 4,716 compulsory liquidations and creditors' voluntary liquidations in the three months to September, a fall of...

6th November, 2009 • more >

Footballer’s property development firm falters amid debts

The property development business, Bilton Ward Developments, set up by former footballer Ashley Ward and his wife, has entered into a CVA (Company Voluntary Arrangement) as its debts reach £1.3 million. The retired footballer, who...

3rd November, 2009 • more >

bleak future for one man band conveyancers

The newly merged Britannia and Co-operative Financial Services has ruffled a few feathers recently, particularly in the legal world, by announcing its intention to drop 3,600 sole practitioner solicitors from its conveyancing panel. You...