Average house prices in the UK have surpassed £300,000 for the first time, while the price of Bitcoin has plummeted to its lowest level in 15 months, according to multiple reports. Simultaneously, a Singapore-based real estate fund has launched, and fluctuations in gold prices are causing concern in the Lebanese jewelry market.
The Halifax, a major UK mortgage lender, announced that the average UK property price reached £300,077 in January, a "milestone" for the market, according to BBC Business. Despite this, the lender noted that wage growth has outpaced house price inflation since 2022, potentially improving affordability for buyers. Furthermore, lenders are offering products with smaller deposit requirements to attract first-time buyers. The Bank of England hinted at potential interest rate cuts this year, which could further assist the housing market.
In the cryptocurrency market, Bitcoin's value has fallen significantly. The price of a single Bitcoin is now worth $66,000 (£48,700), the lowest it has been since October 2024, as reported by BBC Business. The Verge noted that the cryptocurrency's value fell over 10 percent on Thursday, dropping to around $64,000. This decline follows a period of surging prices, with Bitcoin peaking at an all-time high of $122,200 in October 2025. This drop occurred despite public support for cryptocurrency from former U.S. President Donald Trump, who has voiced his support for the industry and promised to ease legislation.
Meanwhile, in Singapore, Hongkong Land launched the Singapore Central Private Real Estate Fund (SCPREF), the country's largest private real estate fund, with approximately 8.2 billion Singapore dollars ($6.4 billion) in assets, according to Fortune. The fund will focus on prime commercial assets in the central business district. "Going forward, we imagine ourselves having a series of funds with high-quality investors alongside us, creating fund management revenue," CEO Michael Smith told Fortune.
In Beirut, Lebanon, the jewelry sector is grappling with fluctuating gold prices. Simon Bouri, a Beirut-based jeweler, noted the recent rise and spike in the price of gold and silver has thrown many in the industry for a loop, according to Al Jazeera. By Wednesday, the gold price hovered at about $5,000 per troy ounce.
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