Insight

‘Ask me what I want you [The UK] to do,’ says a Dutch property agent over a beer in one of Munich’s famous beer halls. ‘Go on,’ I say reluctantly, bracing myself for another broadside, indicative of the change in attitude towards the country I was born in and have lived in for most of my life. ‘Just leave! The …

Mining sector 2019: Taking stock of the first half year

Is it just us or do press headlines: “A darkening outlook for metals”, or “China slowdown a big threat to industrial metals in 2019”, published soon after a sustained multi-month downward trending market, make you feel positive? Probably not… Usually, when mass media are dusting off their most negative headlines, the bad stuff has already happened. A bit of a …

For those of us working in the real estate sector October starts with pretzels, schnitzels and beer. Europe’s largest real estate conference, Expo Real, takes place in Munich over three days at the beginning of October the day after the end of Oktoberfest. With more than 44,000 attendees, it is twice the size of MIPIM, the other real estate conference, …

From the perspective of a penultimate year student, applying for the right internship was a gamble. Making the most of a three-year degree meant there was a large impetus on finding a valuable summer internship, where I could gain a level of exposure sufficient enough that upon graduation my experience would be comparable to those who had taken a year …

When Cairn Energy made a series of discoveries in Rajasthan, India in 2003 / 2004, it provided one of the catalysts that attracted investors back into oil and gas exploration companies. The Cairn Mangala discovery was, at the time, the largest onshore discovery in India for 25 years and was responsible for Cairn’s entry into the FTSE 100 in 2004. …

Around this time of year Theresa May likes to go on walking holidays in Wales. It allows her the freedom to think, apparently. But last year imbibing the Snowdonia air led the Prime Minister to make probably the worst decision of her political life. Returning to Downing Street she announced a snap general election which unexpectedly left her short of …

The property industry is going to be under the spotlight this week at the annual MIPIM conference in Cannes. Now in its 29th year, the property industry get-together has become famous as much for its extravagant beach parties and luxury yachts as being one of the best networking opportunities in Europe. Following the revelations of bad behaviour at this year’s …

Arguably the second most important European property conference after the world renowned MIPIM conference in the South of France, Expo provides a very different user experience, which is noticeable right from the outset. No long registration process, no queues to enter the venue and this year, as in previous years, a palpable buzz of property people trying to do business. …