Big prices for big homes

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Demand for detached houses

Halifax is reporting that prices for detached homes increased 10% from December 2019 to 2020 - beating semis (6.3%), terraced (5.8%), and flats (3.2%). Remote working means more people have been looking for bigger homes in leafier areas.

Rishi told to keep spending

Funding the vaccine rollout and more furlough will push the UK deficit to over £295bn this financial year. But business leaders are saying carry on* - they argue if Chancellor Rishi Sunak stops spending, then it could derail the recovery. Economists warn if the recovery isn’t strong enough, or if we spend too much, then public finances will require higher taxes or lower government spending.

Social businesses shut out

Social Enterprise UK is calling for social business to have better access to business support schemes. They claim that hundreds of community-run businesses have closed because they are often customers of “ethical banks” - many of which are not accredited to offer the government's Covid support loans.

Investors slam Woodford comeback

Neil Woodford's failed investment fund lost large sums by betting big on high-risk small businesses. He’s now started a new investment management firm* that targets large investors and is focussed on biotech. With £200m stuck in the old fund at a 25% loss, a group claim is being made by old investors saying that it was mismanaged and did not comply with regulations.

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