Europe seeks new levy on banks to create crisis funds
2010-05-26 16:12:03
A network of national funds should be introduced so the cost of bank failures are not met by the taxpayer, the EU internal market commissioner has said.
Michel Barnier said such funds would provide part of a broader system aimed at preventing future financial crises.
Banks would be required to pay a levy into the funds which would not be used to bail out failing banks, but manage failures in "an orderly way".
Mr Barnier said: "I believe in the 'polluter pays' principle."
"It is not acceptable that taxpayers should continue to bear the heavy cost of rescuing the banking sector. They should not be in the front line," he said.
And the EU report said that any levies that banks were made to pay should not be passed on to their customers in the form of higher charges.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/10159631.stm
Lord Sugar - Using Your Marketing Budget Wisely
2010-05-26 15:37:41
In this modern day and age, there are so many avenues for people to market their business. There's TV advertising, there's national newspaper advertising, and you've even got viral adverts you can send around the web. However, with all that media available, the obvious thing to do is to focus the attention of your marketing effort through a media directed at the business you are in.
This could be specialist magazines in your type of product area, or your type of service. One must never forget the best boost you can get for your business is third party editorial comment. It can be sometimes worth ten times more than an advert you pay for.
And so, Public Relations, appointing a PR company, continually alerting the market by press releases of your new innovations, ideas and services is very important. Do not underestimate the value or PR and editorial comment, because they are worth their weight in gold.
PR Does Not Stand For Press Release
2010-05-26 15:31:55
We all know Public Relations (PR) is a powerful and cost-effective way to reach potential customers and increase exposure. Regardless of the size of your business, PR can enhance any marketing strategy; influence decisions, differentiate you from competitors, and helps to generate new business.
Much in the same way businesses balance the needs of customers with their own, so too must PR professionals accommodate the needs of different stakeholders be they customers, vendors or the media.
PR encompasses a broad range of activities and audiences - including customers, prospects, partners and employees with the goal of engaging and communicating with the community as a whole. It means providing insight and relevant information to support each of these audience by describing business trends, issues, news and thought leadership ideas that will be of relevance or interest to them and in doing so aims to generate a trusted relationship between a company and its audience. When all this is done properly, PR can help companies communicate, raising their profile and highlighting business successes.
In order to be successful, any PR initiative needs to be bespoke - there are no one size fits all solutions when it comes to communication because every business is different and so is every audience.
BEDFORD HOUSE PRICES RISING FASTER THAN NATIONAL AVERAGE
2010-05-26 14:34:54
Storey Homes highlights house prices in Bedford are increasing faster than the national average according to a recent poll. The cost of the average house in the town has risen by 14 percent in the last year, compared to the UK average of six per cent.
The figures were published in the latest Rightmove Consumer Confidence Survey. According to the poll 53 percent of the region’s residents are confident that prices will be higher in 12 months time. This is an increase on predictions made by respondents in 2009.
Testament to this is the success of Lansdowne Villas in Bedford where purchasers have taken advantage of Storey Homes’ competitive pricing and excellent value for money. Should prices continue to rise by the same figures over the next year, purchasers will see an increase of around £75,000 to £150,000!
With only three out of the 14 restored villas remaining for sale interested purchasers should move quickly in order to avoid disappointment. Gareth Jacob, Head of Sales and Marketing at Storey Homes comments: “Confidence in the market is holding well and we hope it will continue. Purchasers at Lansdowne Villas have already benefitted from market growth and we anticipate it will continue to thrive. Our homes are well priced, offering great value for money compared to other areas in London and the South East. With only three properties remaining we are certain the restored villas at the development will soon be sold out!”
Sympathetically redeveloped by Storey Homes and completed to a superior, contemporary specification, these luxurious and historic period homes offer purchasers the unique opportunity to live in a property that combines the elegance of the past with the style of the future. Detail includes high ceilings, open fireplaces and the magnificent restored bay windows which were all very popular for the Victorian period.
Prices at Lansdowne Villas start from around £499,950 for a 3558 sq ft mid terrace, £550,00 for a 3864 sq ft terrace and £995,000 for a 7 bedroom 6476 sq ft property. For further information please contact agents Urban and Rural on 01234 272282.
LUSSO WINS AWARD FOR BEST FAMILY HOME
2010-05-26 14:21:48
The Directors of Lusso Homes are pleased to announce they have won The Best Family Home With Up To 5 Bedrooms category at this year’s Evening Standard New Homes Awards for their Quiet Corner development in Godalming, Surrey.
Now in its 19th year, the Evening Standard New Homes Awards recognise exceptional new homes across the country. Judged by readers from a shortlist of 112 entries, this year’s winners have everything that buyers want - inventive design, wow-factor interiors, eco-friendly features, glamour and great value.
Quiet Corner is an exclusive collection of just four luxury, modern townhouses. Each meticulously designed over four storeys, these substantial family homes enjoy a fantastic elevated position in a quiet, private residential cul-de-sac with stunning 180 degree vistas across Godalming and the rolling countryside beyond.
Neil Jones, Director of Lusso Homes comments: “We are delighted to have won such a prestigious new homes award, which reinforces the value of the Lusso Homes product.
“Quiet Corner is a good example of our product, providing thoughtful design layouts, a top of the range specification and enviable location. Those looking for a similar property should visit our forthcoming development in Wimbledon Village where we will have three spectacular contemporary houses which, due to the very high interest shown in these stunning new homes we will be pre-launching them in July.”
Offering over 2300sqft of living accommodation, the properties at Quiet Corner provide much more entertaining space compared to a traditional new build townhouse. Only when inside can the sheer size of the property be truly appreciated.
Priced at £795,000 the properties were quickly snapped up by purchasers who were delighted by the excellent value for money and quality of finish.
For further information on Lusso Homes’ developments visit www.lussohomes.co.uk
Government to slash HCA funding by £230m
2010-05-26 14:09:10
The Homes and Communities Agency has confirmed its funding for existing housing projects is due to be slashed by £230 as part of the sweeping £6.25bn cuts announced yesterday, and a further £610m funding is in doubt.
Today, the HCA announced £230m of immediate cuts to 2010-2011 programmes, including a £50m cut to Kickstart Round 2 funding, £100m off the £2.4bn National Affordable Housing budget, £30m off the Gypsy and Traveller site grant and £50m off the £311m Housing Market Renewal pathfinders schemes.
In addition, the HCA has been forced to place on hold projects for which funds are not yet committed, affecting the National Affordable Housing programme, Kickstart Round 2 and any local authority new-build programmes which have not reached financial close. This amounts to £610m.
Positive signs for the housing market market as more surveyors reported rising than falling property prices.
2010-05-26 13:56:58
There were several reasons to be cheerful in terms of the housing market, according to the April market report from the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS).
A hefty 17 per cent more chartered surveyors reported a rise than a fall in house prices, up from nine per cent in March.
London house prices led the upsurge with 55 per cent more surveyors reporting an increase in April, up from 32 per cent. Elsewhere, surveyors are still reporting rises inproperty prices in every region except for Wales and Yorkshire and the Humber.
More good news came from the newly agreed property sales balance which turned positive for the first time this year. Twelve per cent more surveyors saw vendors agree a sale up from a negative reading of eight per cent in March.
And the average number of completed property sales rose for the first time in three months to 17.4 per cent per surveyor.
Average stock on surveyors' books dropped by six per cent to 61 properties per surveyor, and raised the sales to stock ratio - a key indicator of future house price growth - from 25 per cent to 28 per cent.
A net balance of 11 per cent of surveyors saw a rise in new instructions while new buyer enquiries rose from one per cent to eight per cent.