Market News & Reports

* On track for best weekly gains since March

* Trade-weighted sterling hits four-week high

* BoE says rate rise chances have risen

A report by HSBC on the current UK property market, in which key changes in property prices, underlying rental demand, supply and demand, rental trends, and economic uncertainty, etc. are discussed.

The Victoria State Budget announcement confirmed a 4% stamp duty hike for foreign property investors.

Lure of Victorian capital swells as the performance of Australia’s fastest-growing city continues to dominate global property markets.

China’s growing ties with Britain’s second city were put under the spotlight last October during President Xi Jinping’s historic visit to Manchester. From an £800 million stake in Airport City Manchester to Manchester City Football Club’s £265 million deal, the tide of investor interest is rising.

Buy-to-let can present interesting prospects but there is a lot to consider before taking that step. And, with the changes introduced by the UK government coming into effect in April, it’s even more important to understand what to expect if purchasing or managing a rental property in the UK.

[HSBC report]

Introduced in June 2014, the ‘Northern Powerhouse' project is a government initiative designed to distribute economic power more evenly around the UK. Researches show that Manchester is the leading beneficiary, supported by increased figures on property prices and rental yields.

Property experts have revealed ten locations in the UK where property prices are likely to boom in the next decade, with Manchester topping the list.