Taylor Wimpey España celebrates another successful year

Taylor Wimpey España celebrates another successful year

by Charlotte Ashton Spain
  • Taylor Wimpey España full year results show positive growth in 2017
  • Operating profit* margin up 28.5%
  • Solid foundations in place for future growth

Leading Spanish home builder Taylor Wimpey España is marking 60 years of Iberian success in 2018, and the just-published 2017 results reveal that the company certainly has much to celebrate.

Despite the uncertainties of wider macroeconomic factors, Taylor Wimpey España has continued to deliver beautifully designed homes in some of the most sought-after locations in mainland Spain and the Spanish islands.

“2017 was another strong year for Taylor Wimpey España and we enter 2018 in good shape. Early trading patterns this year are already encouraging and we’re working from a solid foundation for growth over the course of 2018, as we celebrate 60 years of delivering superb quality homes in Spain.”

Javier Ballester, Managing Director of Taylor Wimpey España

Over the year, Taylor Wimpey España competed 301 homes (349 including Joint Ventures, 326 in 2016 + 7,1%), while achieving an average selling price of €352k. The average price for new dwellings across Spain (according to Q3 2017 figures from the General Council of Spanish Notaries Public) is just €114,619, reflecting the premium value of the Taylor Wimpey España brand. The total order book as at 31 December 2017 stood at 329 homes (390 including JV’s 363 in 2016 + 6,3%) (compared to 293 homes as at 31 December 2016).

In terms of operating profit, Taylor Wimpey España achieved a significant improvement in 2017, increasing from an operating profit of £20.6 million in 2016 to £26.8 million in 2017, with an operating profit margin of 28.5%.

“The 2017 full year results speak to the strong position of Taylor Wimpey España, both at the present time and in terms of the potential for future growth. We are delighted with 2017’s performance. Our high quality locations have played a significant role in that performance and we will continue to further those successes over 2018 and the following years.”

Javier Ballester, Managing Director of Taylor Wimpey España

 

For more information please contact Taylor Wimpey España today on 08000 121 020 or visit http://www.taylorwimpeyspain.com/. If you reside outside of the UK you will need to call 00 34 971 706 972.

*Operating profit is defined as profit on ordinary activities before net finance costs, exceptional items and tax, after share of results of joint ventures.

SLEEP, EAT, MOVE REPEAT: Fusion Students puts residents’ welfare first with new Wellness Week

SLEEP, EAT, MOVE REPEAT: Fusion Students puts residents’ welfare first with new Wellness Week

by Charlotte Ashton United Kingdom
  • 27% of students suffer with mental health problems (YouGov)
  • February/March is a particularly stressful time for UK students (Fusion Students)
  • Fusion Students launches SLEEP, EAT, MOVE, REPEAT Wellness Weeks

 

According to Mind, around one in four people in the UK will experience a mental health problem each year. Those figures are reflected in the country’s universities, with YouGov reporting that 27% of students suffer from mental health problems.

Such issues can be particularly acute for first year students, most of whom are away from their established support network for the first time, as well as for students of all ages as the pressure of approaching exams mounts.

The problem is a growing one – a record 1,180 students dropped out of their courses entirely in 2014/15 due to mental ill health. The figure represents a rise of 210% from five years previously.

While many students are left to face their problems alone, one innovative student accommodation provider is working to break the silence and stigma that often still surrounds mental health issues.

Fusion Students is committed to providing the ultimate student lifestyle experience, working in partnership with leading managing agent Collegiate. In order to promote discussion of issues and ensure that a ‘mental health first’ approach is encouraged across its projects, Fusion Students has just held the first Fusion Wellness Week.

“Fusion Students is dedicated to ensuring our residents’ are afforded the best lifestyle possible during their time at university, thereby laying the foundations for wellness for the rest of their lives. Wellness encompasses physical and emotional health, so we need to do all we can to care for those two aspects in harmony.  That’s the core concept behind the Fusion Wellness Week.”

Warren Rosenberg, Co-Founder, Fusion Students

 

February is one of the most stressful times in the student calendar and the grey UK weather at this time of year, with its associated lack of vitamin D, certainly doesn’t help. As such, Fusion’s Wellness Week has centred around four main principles: sleep, eat, move, repeat.

Held at every Fusion site in the UK, the week-long series of events included yoga classes, a pamper night of facials and massages, mindfulness and meditation tuition, free smoothies, pancakes and breakfasts, a wellness workshop dealing with anxiety and stress, a puppy and dog room (where residents could pet and walk dogs under the guidance of Guide Dogs UK), personal training sessions and fitness classes.

“We care deeply about our residents’ wellbeing and wanted to do something to make a difference. As such, Wellness Week 2018 has encouraged students to ‘love themselves’ by nourishing their mental, physical and emotional health and wellbeing.”

Warren Rosenberg, Co-Founder, Fusion Students

 

The events were a huge success. Attendance numbers were exceptional, with the pancakes, pampering and doggy room events proving particularly popular.

“Anyone can face mental health problems at any stage in their life. We need to do all we can to facilitate an open and understanding approach to mental health, and to nurture our young people to do what they can to adopt a healthy lifestyle. Hopefully the Fusion Wellness Week has done just that.”

Warren Rosenberg, Co-Founder, Fusion Students.

 

For more information, contact Fusion Students on 0117 405 7852 or visit https://www.fusionstudents.co.uk/

Crazy for Cryptos? Should traders still be by bowled over Bitcoin?

Crazy for Cryptos? Should traders still be by bowled over Bitcoin?

by Charlotte Ashton World

easyMarkets Head of Risk Management, Evdokia Pitsillidou, speaks about the cryptocurrency phenomena taking the world by storm.

 

With Bitcoin’s incredible run in 2017 which clearly caught the imagination of the market, have you ever seen cryptocurrencies being traded as much as major currency pairs like the EUR/USD?

It is true that the incredible rally of the cryptocurrencies attracted the attention of investors around the globe. We have experienced unbelievable demand for Bitcoin and there may be a strong probability that the trend will continue. It was an outstanding year for the crypto market until the end of 2017, however, I believe that traditional markets can withstand whatever happens.

What do you see as the advantages of trading cryptocurrencies as a CFD over buying the actual cryptocurrency?

The major advantage of trading cryptocurrencies as a CFD is you can easily trade the upside (buy) and the downside (sell) of the price, whereas when you trade the physical cryptocurrencies you can only benefit from the upside. Trading with easyMarkets, you can have fixed spreads, guaranteed stop loss and take profit, no slippage and no commissions on withdrawals.

Clearly Bitcoin is the most talked about cryptocurrency but can you see Ethereal and Ripple becoming as big?

As investors gain more confidence in the main cryptocurrency ‘Bitcoin’, I believe that other cryptocurrencies will follow and likely surpass it. It seems that Ethereum and Ripple might be the next that are gaining significant market capitalization.

Why do you think so few traders out there taking advantage of shorting cryptocurrencies when they are falling?

I believe that it is more of a psychological reaction for investors to sell (short) any asset. However, it has been observed that our clients are trading both directions, as this is the benefit of trading a CFD.

In your career in Risk Management have you ever seen any instrument behave the way cryptos did? What did you think the first time it broke through the historical 9,000 high?

I have seen a lot of interesting events in my career in Risk Management. Some of the highlights where the SNB ‘black swan’ event in January 2015, Brexit June 2016 and US elections November 2016, adding to this basket of events the thrill of watching the ‘Bitcoin’ rally, it was astounding. I recall Bitcoin trading at 6,000 at the end of October 2017 and the whole world discussing that it had reached its high, then it went on to reach even higher at 9,000, on the 26th of November 2017. Every day since then, we were experiencing new higher highs until it reached its highest of highs at 20,000, on the 17th of December 2017. The daily swings of the cryptocurrencies are very interesting and it seems that the financial world has a new basket of currencies, the so-called ‘Cryptocurrencies’.  

 

For further details, visit www.easymarkets.com, email pr@easymarkets.com or call +44 203 1500 748.
Risk warning: Forward Rate Agreements, Options and CFDs (OTC Trading) are leveraged products that carry a substantial risk of loss up to your invested capital and may not be suitable for everyone. Please ensure that you understand fully the risks involved and do not invest money you cannot afford to lose. Our group of companies through its subsidiaries is licensed by the Cyprus Securities & Exchange Commission (Easy Forex Trading Ltd- CySEC, License Number 079/07), which has been passported in the European Union through the MiFID Directive and in Australia by ASIC (Easy Markets Pty Ltd -AFS license No. 246566).
British buyers soar as Brexit fails to dull the allure of French property

British buyers soar as Brexit fails to dull the allure of French property

by Charlotte Ashton France
  • British buyers up from 9% in 2009 to 14% in 2016 (Notaires de France)
  • Brits’ budgets up by 12%, to an average of €310,000 (FrenchEntrée)
  • Bordeaux, Tours and Montpellier all enjoying impressive price rises (Notaires de France)
  • Transaction volumes in Charente-Maritime up by 29% (FrenchEntrée)

 

New figures have revealed that the French property market continues to go from strength to strength, with British buyers playing an increasingly important role.

The January 2018 French Property Market Report from Notaires de France reveals that transaction volumes and sale prices are both still rising, with the number of transactions in the year to October 2017 reaching an all-time high of 958,000.

The Notaires’ report makes clear that the current peak is not indicative of a bubble. The market is stable, with low interest rates setting the scene for moderate price rises. Growth is expected to continue into 2018, peaking at some point this year while still leaving a healthy market.

The air of positivity in relation to French property is not just being felt in France. Across the Channel, British buyers are well past their Brexit-related wobbles and are back on track with buying French property. British buyers now account for 14% of non-resident foreign buyers in France (based on data for Provence/Côte d’Azur/Corsica), up from 9% in 2009.

While Italian buyers still make up the largest group of non-resident foreign buyers, at 20%, their share of the market has dropped considerably from the 49% they accounted for back in 2009. British and Scandinavian buyers come joint second in terms of foreign ownership, at 14% each, with the Scandinavian cohort increasing marginally faster than the British one (up 7% and 5% respectively between 2009 and 2016).

The fact that British buyers have overcome their Brexit nerves is also shown in the types of properties that they are seeking in France.

Premium French property agents FrenchEntrée, has observed Brits’ growing confidence – and budgets – over the past 12 months. The firm has been tracking the average British budget, which has now risen to €310,000, up from €277,000 to this time last year.

“‘Brexit had an initial impact on British buyers looking for a second home in France, though those looking to relocate forged ahead regardless. Buyers of second homes or investments have since been reassured by the stabilising pound and the buoyant French market.”

“‘In light of the active market and the UK’s impending exit from the EU, buyers have certainly developed a greater sense of urgency. Our clients are finding that prioritising a viewing trip is key, before their ideal properties sell.”

Fleur Buckley, Property Services Manager, FrenchEntrée

 

FrenchEntrée’s findings in relation to increasing British budgets are echoed by the figures from Notaires de France. That body’s latest report shows that some significant budget increases – from British as well as other buyers. Buyers are now paying an average of 8% more for older houses in Bordeaux, 9.5% more in Tours and 8.9% more in Montpellier. The average budgets have increased to €310,000, €230,000 and €312,300 in the three cities respectively.

British buyers now account for 33% of the purchases of the most expensive properties in France. By way of comparison, Scandinavian buyers account for 35%. Despite the similar percentages, the two groups differ somewhat in their requirements. According to FrenchEntrée, the average Brit has a budget of €310,000 and is looking for property the in Brittany, Languedoc and the Dordogne.

Meanwhile, the average Scandinavian buyer is happy to spend €528,000, focusing the property hunt on Provence and Côte d’Azur. The rise of both buyer groups is good news for the French property market, as confirmed by the latest date both from Notaires de France and from FrenchEntrée.

Properties on the market

In Bordeaux, this chateau set on 27 hectares is more than enough to tempt any buyer.  Admittedly the €1,590,000 price tag isn’t cheap but given the stunning 19th century stone chateau covers some 325 m2 with a further 148m2 available to convert with wine shed, vines in good order and a 1.37 hectare park with mature trees, this property offers real bang for your buck (or euro).

Meanwhile, property hunters in Tours will be delighted by this elegant manor house in Directoire style. Available for €1,355,000, this impressive detached property offers nine bedrooms, sitting room and library as well as attic space perfect for conversion. Hidden in the middle of a haven of greenery thanks to a charming park composed by ornamental trees of several different species, this really is a gem.

Over in Montpellier, this village house with garden terrace, renovated by an architect who has wonderfully preserved the cachet of the old whilst offering a modern lifestyle is sure to appeal to any buyer. Available for €770,000, the house offers three generous bedrooms along with open plan kitchen leading onto the garden terrace, a study, garage, workshop and independent studio.

And for those Brits who really aren’t phased by Brexit when it comes to their budget, this exceptional house on Ile de Ré comes in at a cool €2.6 million. With five bedrooms and its own pool, the property offers a superior standard of living in a sought-after location. In fact, transactions are up 29% in the Charente-Maritime (which the island belongs to), according to FrenchEntrée, making it one of the hottest property prospects in France right now.

For further information, contact FrenchEntrée on +44 (0)1225 463752 or propertysales@frenchentree.com. You can also visit https://www.frenchentree.com/property-for-sale/.

Why You Might Fall in Love with CFD’s

Why You Might Fall in Love with CFD’s

by Charlotte Ashton World

Author Soteris Phoraris of easyMarkets

Yes, its Valentine’s Day and there are many different types of love – the love between a person and their car, the love between two people and the love you will have for CFDs after you read this article!

Why am I so confident about this fledging romance, like a financial markets cupid? Let’s find out.

Up? Down? Who cares?!

CFDs are financial products that follow the price of an asset. The good thing is that it allows you to follow it both when it’s going up and when it’s going down.

It’s understandable that most people forget that they can still have a positive outcome even when the markets are dropping with CFD’s. I mean the media doesn’t help, here are some recent market headlines courtesy of Bloomberg and Reuters:

“U.S. Stock Rally Falters as Yen Leads Haven Gains: Markets Wrap”

“Volatility Doesn’t Come Without Economic Consequences”

“Global Stock Recovery Falters”

They don’t really inspire you to say, “let’s go to the markets!” but the thing is that every movement, positive and negative, can be used with CFDs.

You can “short” CFD’s which essentially means you expect the asset to drop or continue dropping. This also known as selling a CFD. “Buying” the CFD mean you expect it to increase in price from the point you purchased the asset.

With a CFD you can sell high and the exit low, which will work just like the infamous adage, buying low and selling high. Ignore the jargon – in both scenarios that’s what you wan

Love is in the air

And that is why CFD’s deserve your affections. Stop look affectionately and all starry eyed at Bitcoin’s crazy bull run, its less attractive sibling Bitcoin’s downtrend can be just as appealing.

With the right kind of strategy, going short can be immensely satisfying. So, feel free to open a bottle of wine, put your favorite sweat-suit on and go short on your favorite instrument. It might be non-traditional but what can we say, love works in mysterious ways!

And so do the markets, so remember no matter what type of trading strategy you choose, always protect yourself, with the risk management tools available such as stop loss and price notifications.

Just another little piece of advice, although volatile markets are seductive, they remain well… volatile meaning they could turn on you at any minute. This Valentine’s Day remember to trade like you love – responsibly.

For further details, visit www.easymarkets.com, email pr@easymarkets.com or call +44 203 1500 748.

 

Risk warning: Forward Rate Agreements, Options and CFDs (OTC Trading) are leveraged products that carry a substantial risk of loss up to your invested capital and may not be suitable for everyone. Please ensure that you understand fully the risks involved and do not invest money you cannot afford to lose. Our group of companies through its subsidiaries is licensed by the Cyprus Securities & Exchange Commission (Easy Forex Trading Ltd- CySEC, License Number 079/07), which has been passported in the European Union through the MiFID Directive and in Australia by ASIC (Easy Markets Pty Ltd -AFS license No. 246566).

The sky’s the limit in Newcastle

The sky’s the limit in Newcastle

by Charlotte Ashton United Kingdom
  • Newly launched 26-storey luxury development Hadrian’s Tower is a game-changer for urban living in Newcastle
  • The city’s tallest building will showcase at MIPIM, Cannes in March 2018
  • Luxury apartments available through Surrenden Invest
Newcastle is the cultural and commercial capital of the North East; something which is evident from its ever-growing population of urban and professional residents.
The new generation of city dwellers are demanding more and more from their residences, aiming to seamlessly blend their working and social lives, as well as incorporate leisure activities from one convenient base.
In response to this demand, Surrenden Invest is proud to present the brand-new development, Hadrian’s Tower which showcases the very best in contemporary residential accommodation available today in Newcastle.
Designed and built by respected financial and property group The High Street Group, it is set to become the most sought after residential address in Newcastle.
Hadrian’s Tower will offer world-class living, of a standard not previously seen in the North East of England; that’s 26 storeys of prime, luxurious living right in the heart of the city, just off St. James’ Boulevard.

With such a superb location and quality build, Hadrian’s Tower shows that the sky’s the limit for residential accommodation in Newcastle!

The tower has been designed with residents’ every convenience in mind. The 165 one-and two-bedroom apartments are complemented by outstanding shared facilities and social areas. There is a launderette and a cafe with adjacent meeting spaces and a Sky Lounge offering a laid-back venue for rest, relaxation and entertaining with panoramic sights over the city centre.

Individual homes will be spacious, bright and airy, with twin-aspect views from almost all apartments.

The service offering is just as premium as the accommodation; with an on-site concierge, cleaning services, maintenance, resident support, Wi-Fi and high-speed broadband.

 

“Hadrian’s Tower offers a capital-city lifestyle in an outstanding Newcastle location, making it one of the most exciting living and investment propositions available in the UK this year.”
Jonathan Stephens, MD, Surrenden Invest
The structure, which is set to become Newcastle’s tallest building is to be showcased at one of the world’s largest property events, MIPIM in Cannes next month (March 2018). The 28th annual conference attracts the most influential players from all sectors of the international property industry.
“This is a fantastic opportunity for the North East, Newcastle, and our group to demonstrate the quality of property development projects taking place here and what attractive investment opportunities there are to be had.”
 
Gary Forrest, Chairman, The High Street Group
 
Hadrian’s Tower enjoys not only a premium city centre location but proximity to Newcastle’s Regeneration Zone, meaning that residents have direct access to the business and leisure facilities of this thriving city.
Chinatown, St James’ Park and the O2 Academy are just a short walk away, while The Gate entertainment complex, Intu Eldon Square shopping mall and the Theatre Royal are all easily reachable.
Central Station is just 10 minutes’ walk from Hadrian’s Tower, ensuring that residents can benefit from superb connectivity via a primary rail connection.

Regeneration work in Newcastle is adding to the city’s already-impressive residential, commercial and cultural offering and the region is recognised as the commercial and educational focus of North East England – along with Gateshead, which sits opposite it across the River Tyne.

Newcastle enjoys one of the fastest economic growth rates of any city in the UK.  In the five years to 2015, Newcastle’s total GVA grew by 18.5% – the third fastest rate in the UK and property values in the city have risen by 24.78% over the past five years.

Hadrian’s Tower offers an exceptional investment opportunity, with 5% interest on all exchange money throughout the 18-month build phase. Hadrian’s Tower provides 7% NET RG after five years, with completion scheduled for Q4 2019/Q1 2020.

This unique offering means that investors can benefit from a superb financial structure, as well as an outstanding development.

For more information and prices on application please contact:

 

Surrenden Invest
info@surrendeninvest.com
London office: 0203 3726 499
Liverpool office: 0151 3477 459
www.surrendeninvest.com
Is the market right to be losing its head with the recent Stock market collapse?

Is the market right to be losing its head with the recent Stock market collapse?

by Charlotte Ashton World

By James Trescothick, Senior Global Strategist

It was coming.   For many months you heard the cries that a stock market crash was on its way and yet these words of caution were drowned out by headlines of equities hitting new all-time highs.

Bitcoin was another one.  As much as a record breaking year 2017 was for the infamous cryptocurrency, there was still those out there who were quoting the words “tulipmania” in connection with it but yet the believers ignored it.  Now in many ways you can hear the naysayers exclaiming loudly “I told you so”.

But we have talked so much about bitcoin over the last 12 months, so let’s have a look at the stock market and question if we are witnessing just a mere sell off or the beginning of a full blown market correction?

This is the end? My only friend the end?

Firstly, let’s look at some numbers that have happened over the last couple of trading sessions.

The catalyst for the stock market’s recent collapse was the Friday US job report which sent a shock to the system.  Non-farm payroll came in at an impressive number of 200K jobs created but it was the unexpected average earnings increase which came in at 0.3% versus 0.2% as expected that started the sudden sell off in the stock market.

It continued on Monday 5th February with the DOW Jones crashing by 4.6%, which is its worst plunge in a single day ever.  The S&P 500 followed suit dropping 4.1% and the rot also spread into Europe and Asia with the FTSE closing Monday at the lowest level since April 2017 and Japan’s Nikkei225 closing -4.7%.

Tuesday 6th February brought further losses for the DOW and the SP500 but come Wednesday 7th buy orders kicked in and the stock market mounted a minor recovery.

Should the market now start to panic or is everyone just over reacting?  Let’s look at this way.  At the current time of writing both the SP500 and the Dow Jones are trading around the levels they were trading at back in November 2017.  That’s just two months ago, so should we really all be running to the exits?

It’s not the levels, it’s trading that is causing concern, it’s the how quickly this sell off has occurred and that one word every trader knows, the volatility.

Over the last couple of years, the market has been fairly calm.  The markets have risen nice and steadily and in a very civilized manner. You can see this in the behavior of the VIX, the volatility index also known as the “fear index”, which has been very low over the last several years and has particularly been stuck in a range, just plodding along.  That was until Friday where it broke through the range and skyrocketed to levels not seen since 2015.

Though currently it has fallen back down slightly, it’s how quickly the move higher happened that potentially indicates that volatility is well and truly back.

Why is this happening now?

As a sense of amazement gripped a nation and the world in November 2016 as Donald Trump beat the incredible odds and won the US Presidential election, the stock market also went into a sense of awe and skyrocketed on optimism of potential future tax cuts that Trump had pledged would occur with him residing at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.

2017 saw those tax cuts and the stock market continued to rally throughout that year and into January this year.  But what was considered a blessing for the markets is now causing concern as there is fear that these cuts could also increase inflation.

Friday’s surprise increase in wage growth has planted these thoughts deeper into the mind of the market and if inflation does indeed start to rise the FED might be forced to act.

Now it was widely expected for the FED to indeed raise rates again this year, however as there are signs that the US economy is growing faster than expected, the worry is the Federal Reserve will be prompted to be more aggressive with their rate hikes.

The end of the bull run?

It has been an incredible run and of course it had to come to an end at some point.  The era of low interest rates is over, which will result in less borrowing for businesses and higher bond yields which will make them an attractive alternative to investors who want to move away from stocks.  There is a real feeling that we will see rate increases in the US (and now the UK too) at a lot faster pace which you can also see with lower gold prices, which should be enjoying a ride higher as a safe haven but it’s not because of this belief in higher interest rates.

Combine that with the return of volatility then a potential correction and further losses is really at play.

How bad can it get? 

As it stands the global economy is healthy unlike it was back in 2009 when we saw the DOW lose more than 50% of market value, so fundamentally speaking this fall back could be more controlled.

However, with years of low interest rates and borrowing how much have stocks been overvalued? And when the new reality sets in, how healthy, with debt still extremely high, is the actual global economy?

Wherever the market is destined to go to, there are certainly indications that the bears can smell blood.

London’s ‘Film Row’ given new lease of life

London’s ‘Film Row’ given new lease of life

by Charlotte Ashton United Kingdom
  • Soho’s Wardour Street was once the cornerstone of the capital’s film industry
  • Stunning Pathé building has been dressed to impress by Alexander James Interior Design
  • ‘Film Row’ now offering one of most sought-after London residential locations

Just over a century ago, Pathé Films set up shop in Soho. While the film industry has long since abandoned London’s West End, its legacy lives on, with one company – Alexander James Interior Design – breathing new life into the ghost of cinema past.

Almost a year ago, the company made headlines with its stunning dressing of one of the luxury apartments in the former Pathé building. Now, in honour of the Oscars fast approaching once again, the Alexander James team has been invited to dress a further historic London apartment.

 “The Pathé building has such a rich history that it’s a privilege to be asked to dress another apartment there. The homes have such an incredible atmosphere and being able to honour the building’s heritage through contemporary interiors is a truly unique experience.”

Robert Walker, Managing Director, Alexander James Interior Design

 

Wardour Street, where Pathé is based and which was once famed as London’s ‘Film Row’ due to the plethora of film companies in residence, has become one of the capital’s hippest addresses.

Soho is famed for its quirky bars, outstanding restaurants and independent shops, as well as its media and cinematic heritage. A thriving creative hub, the area has drawn in trendy young things from across the UK and beyond. Having emerged from a rather seedy and run-down past reputation, modern day Soho is one of the most sought-after places to live, work and enjoy leisure time in London.

One of the challenges for the Alexander James Interior Design team was to blend the area’s more industrial, gritty past with its unique modern feel when dressing the Pathé building. Of course, it was also important to reflect the role that cinema has played in the building’s fascinating history.

“Our vision was to create a scheme that reflects the buzzing, creative hub that is modern-day Soho, while also creating an aspirational space packed with eye-catching features worthy of the famous Wardour Street. An industrial finish with refined, luxurious pieces captured this perfectly.”

Stacey Sibley, Creative Director, Alexander James Interior Design

 

To dress the apartment to perfection, the Alexander James team sourced a range of unique pieces. They also specified bespoke complementary items. To honour the building’s film heritage, the company’s in-house art consultant worked with the designers to create a private gallery by the stairwell, with hand-picked eclectic prints in bespoke frames delivering the intended style beautifully.

Throughout the apartment, colours are vibrant and textures are used creatively to provide personality and character. For the home’s outdoor terrace, plants and bespoke furniture were used to generate a casual, botanical feel for the ultimate sense of relaxation.

While the film companies may have set sail for pastures new, Wardour Street remains a key part of London’s cinematic heritage. Now, those looking to live on Film Row can honour the area’s past at the same time as being part of its future.

Apartment 1 is on the market with CBRE for £1.5m and covers 1,074 sq ft with one bedroom and two bathrooms.

For more information, visit Alexander James Interior Design at www.aji.co.uk or call 020 7887 7604.  

J’adore la France! Buyers from around the world wooed by France’s romantic offering this Valentine’s Day

J’adore la France! Buyers from around the world wooed by France’s romantic offering this Valentine’s Day

by Charlotte Ashton France
  • French is world’s most romantic language (Google Translate)
  • France is world’s most visited country (UNTWO)
  • French property market offers something for everyone to fall in love with (FrenchEntrée)

With its alluring scenery, fine wines and plentiful summer sunshine, France has built up a reputation as one of the world’ most romantic countries. From swanky hotels on the banks of the River Seine in Paris to rustic country retreats with open fireplaces and miles of lavender fields around, France offers something to suit every couple’s taste when it comes to Valentine’s Day breaks. It’s also home to some incredibly romantic properties, perfect for those looking to buy a second home or fulltime residence to keep the love alive year-round.

 “Whether your idea of romance is a fairytale château with formal gardens, a period apartment just steps from the Seine or a cozy chalet in the mountains with an open fireplace, France has the perfect property. French is widely known as the language of love and the country’s properties certainly further its reputation as the home of romance.”

Fleur Buckley, Property Services Manager, FrenchEntrée

 

French is not just rumoured to be the language of love – its position as such is backed up by data from Google. According to Google Translate, 34 in every 1,000 French phrases that are translated are of a romantic nature, putting French ahead of every other language in terms of its romantic credentials. Indeed, after “bonjour,” “je t’aime” is the most requested French translation.

It is also the most visited country in the world, attracting some 82.6 million visitors in 2016, according to the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNTWO). And for those who want more than a holiday from the home of romance, a French property is the perfect answer.

Perfect for those with romance in their soul, this beautiful château is just a short drive from Saint Valentin. Nestled in the heart of Champagne Berrichonne, the “village of lovers” hosts a spectacular Valentine’s Day celebration weekend each year with a festival, marriage ceremonies and renewal of vows services. For those wanting more than just a weekend of romance, the 19th century château offers ten bedrooms, eight bathrooms, an array of reception rooms and a wine cellar. Parquet flooring, decorative panelling, marble fireplaces and exposed beams create a wonderful sense of grandeur inside, while outdoors the meadows and woodland provide spectacular views over the Creuse valley. As well as a guest house and an apartment, the outbuildings also include a chapel – the ultimate romantic property feature!

Another superb property with its own chapel is this 19th century château in Carcassonne. The home has been restored beautifully, from the formal grounds – which would make an idyllic setting for a wedding – to the modern yet authentically charming interior. Marble floors with underfloor heating, high ornate ceilings and elegant fireplaces make this an unforgettable property.

Fleur Buckley, Property Services Manager at premium French property agents FrenchEntrée, shares what buyers are loving most about French property so far in 2018:

  • Brittany and Languedoc-Roussillon have so far been the two most popular regions for new enquiries, accounting for 13% and 12% of all enquiries respectively. Brittany remains steady even in the colder months, as buyers are accepting of the variable weather and cooler temperatures – so the region doesn’t see as much seasonal variation in sales as the warmer southern areas. The Languedoc region is popular thanks to low cost flights from the UK, which mean that buyers can take advantage of school holidays and long weekends to visit their second home.
  • As the pound stabilises and fluctuations in its value decrease, buyers have felt more comfortable in increasing their budgets. Compared to this period last year, we’ve seen an average 12% increase in budget. This reflects buyers’ increased confidence in the French market (which went from strength to strength last year), as well as what they can afford at current rates.
  • When it comes to the most popular areas of Paris, the fashionable 16th arrondissement, the historic Marais and the fabulously Parisian Saint-Germain-des-Prés all look set to attract buyers in their droves in 2018.

If France is the home of romance, then Paris is unquestionably the city of love. From rendezvous in impossibly chic pavement cafés to strolls along the river as evening falls, past incredible buildings oozing with history, it is a city that charms lovers of all ages and nationalities – and it seems that its property market does the same. According to Insee, 20% of Parisians are immigrants, reflecting the city’s vast international appeal.

FrenchEntrée have long understood the draw of the Parisian property market. From light-filled residences just a stone’s throw from some of Paris’ best restaurants to feature apartments in the city’s trendiest areas, the company has witnessed countless homes being snapped up by those who have fallen for France’s capital city.  

For further information, contact FrenchEntrée on +44 (0)1225 463752 or propertysales@frenchentree.com. You can also visit https://www.frenchentree.com/property-for-sale/.

Will 2018 finally see Gold’s shine return?

Will 2018 finally see Gold’s shine return?

by Charlotte Ashton World ,

James Trescothick, Senior Global Strategist, easyMarkets

It’s that time of the year again when many analysts chuck their hat into the ring and try to predict the next 12 months.

You can hear it already, the shouts of what is the new bitcoin, whether the GBP will hold its own despite the ongoing Brexit drama and when the Stock market bull run will finally stop.

For me, I am going talk about an old favorite of mine and that is gold.

Gold and I have a pretty close relationship.  In fact, when I first started out in this industry, Gold options were the first asset I got involved with and I can remember it trading around $684 oz. It was at the dawn of the financial crisis and my firm at the time was predicting gold to skyrocket $1000 OZ.  And I remember the excitement that filled our office in August 2008 when it finally breached that level.  Ok, it then fell back a little but after the financial crisis took hold it carried on its bull run hitting its peak of around $1920oz in September 2011.   After that the next 4 years saw it free fall hitting a low of $1042 in December 2015.

Since then Gold has been stuck in a range, trading between $1375oz and $1124oz.   Now will 2018 be the year for Gold to finally break through that range?

Three weeks into the start of the year have seen a fairly bullish rally, however historically speaking January has often been a good month for the yellow metal, but this January it has hit a 17 month high of $1365 oz on 25th January. So is there good reason for gold bulls to start getting excited?

Overreaction?

The size of the bull run so far is no greater than previous January bull runs.  So far this month Gold has moved higher by around $50 and at the time of writing it is currently trading around $1358.32.

The past two January’s have seen similar moves, with it opening in January 2017 at $1144.81oz and closing the month out at around $1208 oz with January 2016 being slightly more impressive with its open price at $1057oz and the close at around $1119.15oz.  So really the movement at present is nothing for the bulls to shout about.

As well that Gold’s jet propulsion skyward actually started around the December 20th, when it posted gains for eleven sessions in a row till gains being pared on January 5th.  So really is this January’s 17 month high really cause to celebrate?

Greenback falling flat on its face

Now there is something which can fuel the bull’s enthusiasm for gold to return to its dizzy heights and that is the US Dollar’s recent collapse against the majors which can visibly been seen with the Dollar index trading at the lowest level since January 2014.

As every gold trader knows a weaker dollar often results in higher gold prices due to their ongoing love/hate relationship.  In fact, USDs dramatic decline this year has seen other currency pairs hit levels not seen for nearly 4 years with the likes Euro/USD at the time of writing trading at $1.2462.  With the ECB along with BOI toying with the idea of cutting back on monetary stimulus and the UK economy showing signs of being stable and the hope that a Brexit deal will be made, there are clear reasons why the USD is struggling against the majors but eventually this will surely turn around especially with the FED likely to raise rates again this year.

However, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin’s address to reporters in Davos on Wednesday 24th January sparked the markets to life as he mentioned that “a weaker dollar is good for trade” though he later tried to backtrack.  The fact that a US Treasury secretary is actually embracing a weaker greenback is surprising traders with the long standing rhetoric of previous US Treasury Secretaries have favored a stronger greenback.

Now no one can say for sure what’s a weaker USD but with recent trades tariff’s imposed upon South Korea and China, the concerns of a potential trade war are very much alive and a weaker USD would play a key part in winning any sort of trade war.

How about the stock market?

The stock market is still very much enjoying its bull run with the SP500 and Dow Jones both hitting all-time highs.  Now so many speculators out there have said that eventually we will experience a crash and at some point we must, but no one has really said when they believe this will finally occur.  A weaker USD can certainly help the bull run to keep going, however if we do end up having a full blown trade war that will not help the stock market at all.

With the stock market still enjoying its record highs so far this year it hasn’t stopped Gold which is of course a safe haven and really should only benefit when times are bad from hitting the before mentioned 17 months high.  So could it also be a case that there are those big hitters out there moving into gold preparing for the eventual crash?

One method of trying to read market sentiment is by looking at the last COT report which was published on 16Th January, which shows that the merchants are hedging themselves with 212,879 short positions in gold where the speculators have 227,373 long positions in gold, hinting at a potential overall bullish tone.

Where could Gold possibly go?

Now I have read wild claims that some believe we could see the yellow metal rise to its all-time highs once again. But to be fair, back in 2011 when we hit an all-time high of $1920 we were still feeling the aftershocks of the financial crisis and witnessing unrest with the Arab Spring.  Currently we are seeing economic revival across the globe and despite the occasional spat between North Korea and US, thankfully not so much potential conflict.

The other matter which weighs on my mind is that even though the USD is suffering massively, GOLD has yet to pass the key level of $1400oz, but instead at the time of writing still unable to break through the $1375 level.

However, due to the points I have made about the USD weakness, the threat of a trade war and the anticipation that we might see the stock market finally experience a correction I can see gold push above the $1400 level at some point and depending on how it may react to more rate hikes this year from the FED, I can also see the possibility of it approaching the $1500 level before the year is out.

For further details, visit www.easymarkets.com, email pr@easymarkets.com or call +44 203 1500 748.

 

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