Hong kong housing market

Published 20 hours ago Share close Share page Copy link About sharing Life in Hong Kong has been reshaped as Beijing has increasingly tightened its grip over almost every aspect of life in the city. But Cantopop remains a venue for those in the city to seek solace and express their collective identity, as the BBC's Grace Tsoi writes. It was an accident that shocked much of Hong Kong: a giant screen fell and injured two dancers during a concert by hugely popular boy band Mirror. But the collective outpouring of emotion was also caused by what Mirror had come to represent - a rare source of joy for many in the city after years of political upheaval. Mirror is widely credited for reviving Cantopop - music sung in Cantonese, the main language used in Hong Kong and an integral part to the city's cultural identity. Most of mainland China communicates in Mandarin. The music form's appeal had … [Read more...] about Cantopop: Why Hong Kong is seeking solace in local music

THE odds are stacked against solo first-time buyers as house prices reach eye-watering highs. It's one of the main reasons why Zahraa Al-Afadi ditched plans to buy alone and bought a £426,000 flat in Brighton with her mum instead. Property prices have rocketed since the Covid crisis and the average home now costs an average of £283,496 - 12.8% higher since last year, according to latest Land Registry figures. A lack of houses on the market, the stamp duty holiday and high demand have fuelled growth over the past couple of years. Heftier price tags means bigger deposits - and single buyers can often struggle to afford getting on the ladder. Pharmacist Zahraa, 25, found she was priced out of the sort of home she wanted on her budget. Read more in Money ISA ISA BABY I lost £1,000 due to Isa loophole - how you can avoid it DRIVE ON We sold our car to help save up £20,000 deposit to buy our first home … [Read more...] about I’m 25 – astronomical house prices meant I had to buy my £426,000 first home with my MUM

THE auctioneer raises his gavel and calls for final bids. My finger is poised over my mouse – one click and I could be the owner of a three-bedroom house. Then, to encourage a last offer, the auctioneer drops the amount he is asking for. “I’ll let you have it for another 500 – can I tempt you, internet?” he says. The winning bid comes in and the gavel falls. The whole thing takes less than six minutes. ­Welcome to the world of online property auctions . Here I take a look at all you need to know about buying at auction. MODERN-DAY AUCTIONS TODAY I am sitting at my desk, headphones in, watching the monthly SDL Auctions property auction on my computer screen. READ MORE ON MONEY HOME SWEET HOME We cut £11,000 off deposit for £217,000 first home - and you can do it too COMPUTER SAYS NO Mortgage warning as FOUR lenders to stop processing applications I am one of more than 1,000 people watching to see around … [Read more...] about Buying a house at auction is a real rush – here’s our tips for purchasing online

The Commerce Commission will today release the draft findings of a study into New Zealand's residential building supplies market, as the cost of building or renovating a house goes through the roof. The competition watchdog is scrutinising competition in the industry, with a particular focus on concrete, plasterboard and structural timber, in a year-long market study similar to those done on the fuel and grocery sectors. Chronic shortages of plasterboard, timber and labour have crippled some businesses, with certain materials as much as 30 percent more expensive than they were 18 months ago. READ MORE: GIB and the competitive problems of plasterboard Shortage sees builders buy Gib board for six times retail price on Trade Me Building projects grind to a halt as dominant Fletcher freezes Gib orders Windows in, plumbing out - ComCom homes in on building materials concerns CBS Co-operative chairperson Carl Taylor said some firms had gone bust because of cash-flow … [Read more...] about Commerce Commission to reveal draft report on building supply market

Published 4 days ago Share close Share page Copy link About sharing The owner of a small boutique says she is "over the moon" after winning a trademark battle with High Street fashion giant Zara. Amber Kotrri, who runs Darlington-based House of Zana, had been told by the retailer her business was "conceptually identical". Zara had argued there was a "high degree of visual and oral similarities" between the two brands. But a tribunal found the link was "too insubstantial". She said the judgement was a "genuine weight off my shoulders". "It's been well over a year and very stressful on my home life, as a mum of three young children, as well as on the business as there's been hours and hours of preparing documents of evidence," she said. "My daughter's due date coincided with the time the last evidence was due so it hasn't been easy." Mrs Kotrri said she had … [Read more...] about House of Zana boutique owner wins trademark row with Zara

N orway has drawn up plans to ration electricity exports in a move that has heightened fears of energy shortages in the UK and Europe this winter. The government in Oslo on Monday announced new rules limiting the sale of power to foreign countries as heatwaves threaten Norway’s hydroelectric power generation. Experts said the restrictions threatened the UK’s plan to draw power from Norway this winter via the North Sea Link - leaving electricity supplies more stretched and risking even higher bills for consumers. The National Grid has already revealed that the UK is set to be more dependent than ever on the Continent for power, with interconnectors expected to provide up to 5.7 gigawatts of electricity at peak times. About one quarter of that total – or 1.4 gigawatts – is set to come from Norway. Kathryn Porter, an energy consultant at Watt-Logic, said the proposed restrictions “put at risk the ability of Britain to import from Norway this winter”. “National Grid ESO needs to … [Read more...] about Norway threatens to ration electricity in fresh blow for UK and European energy supplies

Millions around the world have seen the late martial arts star Bruce Lee in action on the screen. But his remarkable career was much more brief than some people may realize. Here's Anthony Mason: In his films, like "Way of the Dragon," where he has epic fight in the Roman Colisseum with Chuck Norris, Bruce Lee let his moves do most of the talking: "To me a motion picture is motion. You got to keep the dialogue down to a minimum," he told interviewer Pierre Burton on Canadian television in 1971. In a no-holds-barred fight, he said, you better use every part of your body: "And when you do punch, you gotta put the whole hip into it and snap it and get all your energy into it." One of the most influential martial artists of the 20th century, Lee became the first international Asian film hero, a phenomenon who -- four decades after his sudden death at age 32 -- remains an icon. Playwright and screenwriter David Henry Hwang told Mason that, growing up in the '60s, "If I knew … [Read more...] about The immortal Bruce Lee

The Chinese investor campaigning to break up HSBC believes a split would unlock as much as $35bn (£28.6bn) in value for shareholders. Ping An, the Chinese insurance giant and HSBC’s largest shareholder, accused HSBC of “exaggerating” the challenges of spinning off its Asian business as it renewed calls for a split. The insurer estimates that the change would unlock up to $35bn (£28.6bn) in value, release $8bn in capital requirements, and save on headquarter and infrastructure costs. A source close to the insurer said: “HSBC only emphasised and clearly exaggerated the downsides and challenges of spinning off its Asia business, but did not mention the huge benefits and long-term value that a spin-off could create.” It is not convinced by HSBC’s arguments against a proposed spin-off of its Asia operations, Bloomberg first reported. The source close to Ping An said HSBC’s “underperformance” had not yet been "fundamentally addressed" and it was in urgent need of radical … [Read more...] about Breaking up HSBC would unlock up to £29bn payday, says Chinese shareholder

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails TAG cuts due to Swiss timing TAG Heuer, LVMH’s largest luxury watch brand, is cutting prices in many markets following the surge in the Swiss franc. Price cuts will range from 7 per cent in the UK to 13 per cent in Hong Kong. The watchmaker, whose interim chief executive has been Jean-Claude Biver since late last year, said it was “seizing the opportunity”. 40% pay rise for BAE boss King The boss of BAE Systems, Ian King, saw his pay rise 40 per cent last year despite the company continuing to suffer from defence cutbacks. Mr King picked up a £3.5m total package in 2014, up from £2.49m, including a £1.6m bonus. The disclosure came in the company’s annual report, announced during the Budget. Shaftesbury in debt refinancing West End landlord Shaftesbury swooped to take advantage of low long-term … [Read more...] about The Business Matrix: Thursday 19 March 2015

British artist Banksy's latest exhibition Dismaland has generated £20 million ($30.3 million) for local businesses and traders in Weston-super-Mare, according to tourism company Visit Somerset. In a press release sent out on Friday, the company said that the financial impact of the Banksy exhibition was triple what was first expected. The organisation's chief executive John Turner, said that the show will see around £20 million worth of an extra investment in the area, located on England's west coast. Initial predictions had suggested that the park, which opened on August 20, would provide a £7 million ($10.6 million) boost to the local economy. The exhibition closes on Sunday. The sinister art show was built on a 2.5-acre seafront site that had been shut since 2000. It features a controversial piece depicting Cinderella in a crashed carriage surrounded by paparazzi, which appears to reference Prince Diana's fatal car crash, as well as a remote controlled boat filled with … [Read more...] about Banksy's Dismaland Generates £20m for Weston-super-Mare