According to a survey by RICS, the UK housing market stagnated in January due to rising government borrowing costs, with both housing demand and sales remaining steady compared to December. The survey attributed the plateau to a recent surge in gilt yields, causing potential buyers to hold off on deals amid financial market volatility. Despite a near-identical level of buyer interest, the number of agreed sales only saw a slight increase, with RICS’ head of market analytics linking the slowdown to turbulence in money markets at the start of the year.
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UK hits Russia with fresh sanctions as part of ‘triple whammy’ to tighten the screws on Putin
Britain will impose new sanctions on Russia to mark the third anniversary of Putin's invasion of Ukraine, with Sir Keir Starmer planning a "triple whammy" of measures including military aid and crackdown on Russian dirty money. The sanctions aim to target Russia's revenues and military capabilities, with the UK working with US and European partners to achieve a "sustainable, just peace" in Ukraine amid growing rift between the US and Europe over support for Zelensky,...
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