News in brief: Confidence is on the up, says Lloyds, CLS chief to leave for ‘new challenges’, Record sales keep BMW in the lead

The number of households braced for an interest rate rise within the next year has hit its highest since July 2011, according to Lloyds Bank’s corporate confidence barometer.

Its measures of job security show confidence in prospects at its strongest since March 2008, signalling that the recent rapid pace of employment growth will continue in the months ahead.

London-focused CLS Holdings, the developer behind the Vauxhall Square scheme, has lost chief executive Richard Tice, who is stepping down “to spend more time with his family and pursue new challenges”.

Tice, who joined in 2010, will remain a shareholder and stay as a non-executive director. Predecessor Henry Klotz becomes acting chief executive.

Luxury carmaker BMW had record sales in 2013, retaining its No. 1 spot in the market for high-priced cars against its German competitors, Audi and Mercedes.

The German company said it sold 1.66 million vehicles under the BMW brand, 7.5% more than last year. Sales were boosted by strong sales of its mainstay 3-series sedan and X1 small 4x4 as well as by rising demand in China and the US.