Euronext investors overwhelmingly back NYSE merger
Euronext shareholders on Tuesday (ENXT. PA) approved overwhelmingly a $14-billion plan to merge the multinational European exchange operator with the New York Stock Exchange and form the first transatlantic bourse. Around 98. 2 percent of shareholders present or represented at the meeting backed the merger, a margin that surprised even Euronext Chief Executive Jean-Francois Theodore after several shareholders voiced opposition to the deal in recent weeks.
N Ireland tops house price chart
2006.12.26|
|
The top 10 towns recording the biggest price increases during the year were all in Northern Ireland.
Newry saw the strongest growth, with prices rising 54% on average in 2006.
Elsewhere, London and the south east of England saw strong price growth, buoyed by high City bonuses and a shortage of housing supply.
Overall, UK house price growth exceeded all but a few analysts' forecasts.
The Nationwide and Halifax both predicted house price growth in the low single figures.
However, by December the annual rate of house price inflation was running at close to 10%, both the Nationwide and Halifax said.
Peace dividend
The rapid rise in house prices in Northern Ireland is, in part, a reflection of a strong employment market and high levels of immigration, Halifax said.
In addition, the peace dividend, coupled with historically low prices, has attracted homebuyers.
Colin Kemp, managing director, Halifax Estate Agents, said: "2006 is Northern Ireland's year, with all 10 of the towns in the UK delivering the biggest price rises over the past year located there."
Mr Kemp added that only one town in the UK - Lochgelly, in Fife - recorded average prices below £100,000.
In 2003, more than 100 towns had average prices in excess of £100,000.
North-south divide
Despite some analysts' forecasts that the north-south property price divide would narrow in 2006, the south-east of England is still the most expensive place to live in the UK, the Halifax said.
Gerrards Cross was, for the second year in a row, the costliest place to buy a house.
On average it costs nearly £Â725,000 to buy a house in the Buckinghamshire town.
It was followed by the London boroughs of Kensington and Chelsea and Westminster, where the typical homebuyer paid £Â695,874 and £Â530,262 respectively.
With property prices always on the up somewhere across the UK there are plenty of opportunities to boost your pensioners savings if you take a sensible long term view and invest wisely.
Stock Markets
More articles on this topic:
Court halves Exxon spill damages
A US court cuts the level of damages Exxon Mobil must pay out for a 1989 oil spill off Alaska to $2.5bn.
A US court cuts the level of damages Exxon Mobil must pay out for a 1989 oil spill off Alaska to $2.5bn.
Premier sales hit by mild weather
Premier Foods, owner of brands like Angel Delight and Oxo, says sales were affected by recent mild weather.
Premier Foods, owner of brands like Angel Delight and Oxo, says sales were affected by recent mild weather.
Georgia in gas deal with Turkey
Georgia plans to buy 800 million cubic metres of gas from Turkey next year, almost half of its needs.
Georgia plans to buy 800 million cubic metres of gas from Turkey next year, almost half of its needs.
Ministers agree TV licence deal
Gordon Brown and Tessa Jowell agree to raise the TV licence fee by less than the current inflation rate.
Gordon Brown and Tessa Jowell agree to raise the TV licence fee by less than the current inflation rate.
