News in Review
Trump “won’t use force” to seize Greenland – which came as a relief to global leaders and markets, after a challenging period With geopolitical risk dominating, WEF President cautioned that tensions could have a detrimental effect on global growth Price pressures are set to ease noticeably this year, particularly as the impact of last year’s energy and utility price hikes […]
Commercial Property Review – January 2026
Office demand stays strong — investors favour offices, though tenants are more selective on location Retail outperformed in 2025 — strong occupier markets and highest total returns, with investment volumes expected to pick up in 2026 Hotel investment slowed but resilient — single-asset deals kept momentum; outlook for 2026 is stronger with more portfolio activity Commercial property trends for 2026 […]
News in Review
Trump’s Greenland stance fuels NATO tensions and tariff threats, unsettling markets ahead of the World Economic Forum World Bank forecasts modest yet resilient global growth, while warning the 2020s may be the weakest decade since 1960s UK economic data shows slight momentum, with housing sentiment improving as borrowing cost expectations shape 2026 outlook “Any decision […]
News in Review
Scotland’s draft Budget raises Income Tax thresholds, adds new Council Tax bands and prioritises healthcare and family support Additional measures include college funding increases, primary school breakfast clubs and major capital investment across infrastructure Halifax data shows UK house prices fell again in December, with values and annual growth both continuing to soften “This is a government that wants what’s best for […]
News in Review
The Bank of England cut rates to 3.75%, signalling cautious easing as inflation pressures continue to recede Farmers gain relief as the government raises Inheritance Tax thresholds following industry backlash and sustained protests UK markets opened 2026 strongly, with Boxing Day footfall rising and the FTSE surpassing 10,000 “We still think rates are on a […]
Economic Review December 2025
“We still think rates are on a gradual path downward… how much further we go becomes a closer call” The BoE Governor recently warned about the impact AI could exert on employment ONS statistics show retail sales volumes fell 0.1% in November, below analysts’ expectations Pace of rate cuts could slow further While the latest set of consumer price statistics did […]
Commercial Property Review – December 2025
Business rate reforms aim to support smaller retail assets but may unintentionally impact high-value offices and logistics buildings Regional office rents reached record growth as ESG-compliant, prime stock remains scarce across major UK cities Investor confidence strengthened in the West End, while occupiers increasingly favour flexible, fully fitted office space Business rate changes announced in Budget In the Autumn Budget 2025, […]
Year in Review 2025
A whistlestop tour of the last 12 months, some key events in 2025 impacting the global economy, and looking ahead to 2026 “We are at an inflection point” Equity markets in 2025 have been impacted by a mix of competing forces. Geopolitical tensions and evolving US trade policies have sparked short periods of volatility, while […]
News in Review
UK GDP contracted unexpectedly in October, reflecting production declines, construction weakness and businesses delaying decisions pre-Budget Budget measures may ease inflation from April 2026, while economists anticipate a Bank Rate cut to support growth Mortgage lending surged in Q3, with higher loan-to-value borrowing reaching levels last seen before the financial crisis “We are determined to defy forecasts on […]
News in Review
Global growth is set to cool as tariffs bite, though resilient economies and easing inflation support longer-term stability UK conditions remain mixed, with modest growth, persistent inflation pressures and regional housing markets moving at varied speeds Construction output weakens sharply while long-term energy network investment pushes household bills higher over the coming years ‘The global economy has […]