Author: Jordan

Missing DC rates halt registrations, stamp sales; Rs500m daily revenue loss feared RAWALPINDI: Property transactions across Rawalpindi district have ground to a halt after the district administration failed to issue revised official property valuation rates for the 2026–27 financial year, despite 12 days having elapsed since the start of the new fiscal year. The delay in notifying the Deputy Commissioner’s (DC) minimum official property values for residential, commercial and rural areas has effectively paralysed the district’s real estate market, with no property registrations taking place over the past fortnight. Officials said property registrars have been unable to process sale deeds…

The Lagos State Government has attributed its improved revenue performance in 2025 to ongoing digital reforms in public finance management, saying technology-driven budgeting and stricter fiscal controls have strengthened transparency and revenue collection. The Commissioner for Finance, Abayomi Oluyomi, disclosed this at the opening of a three-day workshop on public sector budgeting organised by the Lagos State Public Service chapter of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria, in collaboration with D.C.S. Alaribe & Co. in Ikeja. Oluyomi said most ministries, departments and agencies had been integrated into the Lagos Revenue Portal, enabling real-time revenue monitoring, seamless electronic payments and…

Following the U.S. FDA approval of Pfizer’s antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) plus PD-1 inhibitor regimen for use before and after surgery in adults with muscle-invasive bladder cancer, regardless of cisplatin eligibility, Pfizer’s Chief Scientific Officer and Chief Oncology Officer shared the news on LinkedIn, highlighting the significance of the new treatment approach. Chris Boshoff, Chief Scientific Officer and President of Research and Development at Pfizer, shared on LinkedIn: “Today, the U.S. FDA has approved our antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) + anti-PD-1 treatment regimen for adults with muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC) for use before and after surgery, regardless of cisplatin eligibility. This treatment…

Broker in Focus is a dedicated series that highlights the unique journeys of mortgage brokers, providing them with a platform to share their experiences, insights, and expertise. Through compelling personal stories and professional reflections, each featured broker recounts the key moments that have shaped their careers, delves into the challenges and opportunities facing the industry today, and shares the valuable wisdom they have gained along the way. Mortgage Introducer shines the spotlight this week on Helen May Allman (pictured top), mortgage specialist of Home Me Mortgages, who built her career across accounting, retail management, and corporate broking before finding her ideal…

Agents’ trade body Propertymark says more investors are exploring commercial property opportunities in preference to the residential sector.It says increasing tax, regulatory and compliance obligations affecting residential landlords are prompting some investors to reassess their portfolios.And it believes commercial assets operate within a legislative framework that is often viewed as less restrictive. While commercial property presents its own challenges, including higher entry costs and more complex transactions, agents say they are seeing increased enquiries from investors seeking to diversify or transition away from residential investment.Market insight: Investors seeking greater freedom to investMichael Sears, member of the NAEA Commercial Propertymark Advisory Panel,…

For all those who are feeling bullish, a small reminder: The last 18 months have seen a sharp correction in the mid-cap segment. And such corrections do keep happening at regular intervals. So, be ready to face them. Or to just ignore them.Why? Because panic and anxiety during a correction is the worst thing for any investor with high exposure to mid-cap stocks.Having said that, our base case assumption is that the markets are likely to trade Source link

Japan to push its massive pension fund to boost alternative investments, Nikkei says | New Straits Times ; Source link

Halfway through 2026, the buy-to-let market is transitioning into a more sophisticated landscape. Today’s professional landlord has moved beyond a passive investment toward a more active and strategic business model. The market is undeniably operating in a “higher-for-longer” baseline interest rate environment. Driven by this elevated cost of borrowing, tighter regulation and evolving tenant protections, the ‘amateur’ landlord is quietly exiting the market. In their place is a consolidated, highly professionalised sector. For brokers and underwriters, assessing a specialist buy-to-let application has evolved into a more comprehensive strategy. It’s an exciting shift toward understanding the bigger picture, looking at the…

It’s a buyer-friendly market if you’re looking to purchase a home in Surrey. The Fraser Valley Real Estate Board’s (FVRB) latest monthly market report notes home prices in the Fraser Valley continued to become more affordable in June, with benchmark prices now sitting 26 per cent below their 2022 peak. Prices edged down another 0.9 per cent in the region during the month, according to the FVRB, adding the spring market underperformed expectations despite improving affordability and more choice for buyers. The FVRB also says that overall sales in the region this June were two per cent higher from May,…

Commissioned by the World Bank, Ipsos UK, in collaboration with Gobin Global and Ipsos offices in Jordan, Lebanon, Colombia and Ecuador, conducted this process and impact evaluation, culminating in a final report. The evaluation, which was completed in 2025–2026, follows Ipsos UK’s successful delivery of the first independent evaluation of the GCFF in 2020–2021.The first evaluation provided a comprehensive assessment of the GCFF’s initial phase. It examined the Facility’s relevance, coherence, efficiency, effectiveness, impact and sustainability, drawing on a theory‑based, mixed‑methods approach. Through portfolio analysis of all funded projects, extensive stakeholder interviews, and in‑depth project-level case studies in Jordan, Lebanon,…