Finance
London keeps its place as the world’s top financial centre – just
'There is an overall increase in confidence for the leading centres', reports Y/Zen in its latest Global Financial Centres Index
Mortgage approvals for house purchases have dropped by nearly 11%
But remortgaging approvals have climbed by nearly the same amount as homeowners look to 'lock-in attractive deals' before rates rise
Octopus hits £3bn milestone after record lending spell
Specialist property lender has splashed £1bn in the last 18 months
HMRC & ASA shut down Stamp Duty avoidance scheme
Anyone found to be using the scheme - promoted by Fiducia Wealth & Tax - will 'be challenged by HMRC and will be charged interest on top of the SDLT due'
Government pledges to ‘come down hard’ on property-owning shell company fronts
Here's what's likely to be included in the 'world first' register of beneficial owners
Remortgaging hits a nine year high
Mortgage activity surged at the start of the year, says UK Finance
Wainbridge scores £170m loan for its super-prime Belgravia Gate project
Lotus Capital Partners makes its first European play, backing a 12-unit luxury development on Britain's most expensive street
More borrowers choose longer-term mortgages than two-year deals for the first time
48% of mortgages written in Q4 2017 were for five years or more; 40% were two-year products. 91% were fixed-rate.
HMRC warns offshore tax dodgers to ‘put their cards on the table quickly’
'Much bigger fines' for tax evasion are coming into force on 1st October; warnings should be taken seriously, say advisors
Crime Agency secures first Unexplained Wealth Orders against two properties worth £22m
Ownerships of two properties in London and the South East are being investigated under new Criminal Finances powers, which have been dubbed the "McMafia Law"
Outside the Envelope: April’s new inheritance regime for non-dom owners of UK residential property
Change is afoot for non-dom owners of UK property... From April, inheritance tax will be due on all residential properties in the UK, regardless of whether it's owned through an offshore entity...
A 1% interest rate rise would cost mortgage-holders £10bn
A 1% rise 'would add £10bn to the UK's mortgage bill', says Savills, which works out at around £930 per year per mortgaged household...