Investors return to the global property market
The final quarter of 2009 saw investors return to the global property market with 70% of local markets showing growth towards the tail end of year. While Latin America and Asia were particularly strong over the period it will come as no surprise to learn that London was also one of the better performing property markets in the world.
London has always been a very different market to the rest of the UK and recently returned to highs not seen since 2007 while the rest of the UK slowly plods along and attempts to pull itself out of recession. However, it was interesting that confidence appears to be returning to the more speculative emerging economies which is a positive sign for the short to medium term. These are the property markets which were hit hardest once the speculative money was taken out, leaving very few long-term investors.
It will be interesting to see whether this upbeat performance has continued into the first quarter of 2010 and indeed whether investors believe the worst is over. Whether the UK property market as a whole will join the party remains to be seen because there are concerns about consumer debt, business confidence and the availability of mortgage finance.
Share this..
Related stories
Where has all the financial junk mail gone?
At the height of the UK economy, just prior to the credit crunch, the amount of junk mail received by each and every household in the UK seemed to be never-ending with credit card applications, loan offers and mortgages all apparently on tap. However, over the last 2 to 3 years there has been a significant fall in the amount of financial junk mail due to a mixture of tighter regulations and a newf...
Read MoreBarclays Capital announces job cuts
Barclays Capital, the investment arm of Barclays Bank, has today announced 400 worldwide redundancies despite the fact that the company recently announced significant profits and an increase in funding put aside for bonuses and remuneration packages. It seems that the worldwide economic slowdown is finally beginning to hit the investment banking arena which many people began to think was "bombproo...
Read MoreWill the electric car ever takeoff?
As the price of oil continues to move higher and higher with the cost of petrol following a similar path, there is speculation that governments around the world could decide to move into the electric vehicle industry with significant investment and tax incentives. This is not the first time the electric car industry has been suggested as a possible offset against the ever increasing price of oil b...
Read MoreBarclays agrees purchase of Lehman Brothers offshoots
News is filtering into the markets that UK banking giant Barclays has reached an agreement to acquire the investment bank and capital market operations of the fallen star Lehman Brothers. The move has not been officially confirmed, nor has it been agreed by the bankruptcy trustees, but there are suggestions that the price is in the region of $2 billion. A step too far or a clever move?
Upwards pressure on mortgage rates
Lloyds bank has today become the second UK mortgage company to increase its standard variable mortgage rate for new customers. This rate will run in tandem with the current guaranteed standard variable rate which the bank promised would never rise more than 2% above the Bank of England base rate. However, the new rate will be introduced from 1 June and will be priced at 3.99% which is obviously we...
Read More