Latest Finance News

Economy News:

ECB retains interest rates at 1%

The European Central Bank (ECB) has today elected to keep interest rates at 1% as widely expected. In an effort to boost the struggling economy, the ECB has cut rates seven times since October when... [Read more]

Investment News

Diageo sees best day on 100; WPP Group drops most

European equities markets were lower Thursday after new data from the United States Labor Department revealed that unemployment was up again there in June and on a separate report that said Eurozone... [Read more]

More Economy Headlines:

• US unemployment rate hits 26-year high of 9.5%
• Euro zone unemployment rate hits 10-year high of 9.5%
• Jobs at risk as Virgin Atlantic cuts back services
• US car makers see fall in sales
• Irish unemployment rate hits 11.9%

More Investing Headlines:

• Miners, led by Vedanta, Hochschild, gain
• NS&I launches FTSE-linked bond
• Randgold Resources leads miners lower
• British Airways declines in winning London session
• Nationwide guarantees returns on combination savings

Banking News:

Santander rebrands commercial banking units

The commercial banking wings of Abbey and Alliance & Leicester were yesterday renamed under the Santander brand. Santander-owned Abbey UK Corporate Banking and Alliance & Leicester Commercial... [Read more]

Insurance News

Sainsbury’s offers summer discount on car insurance

Sainsbury’s is offering 12 months car insurance for the price of ten this summer. Motorists taking an insurance policy with the supermarket financial provider before 31st August 2009 will receive... [Read more]

More Banking Headlines:

• Sainsbury’s announces 2.8% Internet Saver
• Check your bank balance via text message
• Lloyds Banking Group to axe further 2,000 jobs
• OECD calls on Government to control UK‘s soaring debt and restore lending
• Savings hit record high despite shrinking economy

More Insurance Headlines:

• Airlines flout EU insurance rules
• Does your home insurance cover DIY blunders?
• Saga adds breakdown repair to roadside cover
• Lloyds Banking Group and L&G announce job losses
• Motorists beware of ‘ghost car’ fraudsters

Property News:

Household running costs down 17%

The cost of running a home in the UK has plummeted to a three year low, according to new research from Halifax. A study by the bank found that the cost of owning and running a household has fallen by... [Read more]

Mortgage News

Lenders optimistic on higher loan-to-value ratios

In its latest Credit Conditions Survey, the Bank of England reports that the availability of mortgages with loan-to-value (LTV) ratios above 75% remained broadly unchanged during the three months to... [Read more]

More Property Headlines:

• House prices up 0.9% in June
• House prices stable in June
• Flood Protection Scheme grants now available
• Official figures show house price slide easing to 0.2%
• Charging Orders - the latest threat to indebted homeowners

More Mortgage Headlines:

• Mortgage Rescue Scheme saves six homes
• Tracker/fixed-rate dilemma unravelled
• OECD calls on Government to control UK‘s soaring debt and restore lending
• New mortgage approvals rise again
• Negative equity afflicts “prime” homeowners

Finance Blog:

Gordon Brown set to fix unexmployment figures

Today’s announcement by Gordon Brown of reforms to benefits for young people is old news and has already been tried by consecutive Conservative and Labour governments. As Project Work under the... [Read more]

Pensions News

Failure of ‘bogged down’ pensions system

Pensioners are missing out on up to £5.4 billion per year in benefits they are entitled to, Age Concern said this week. The over-50s charity said thousands of pensioners are refusing to claim benefits... [Read more]

More from the Finance Blog:

• Bank stress tests point to false hope
• Welcome to the New Depression
• The Mother of Bear Rallies: Obama effect to rally Stock Markets?
• Why RBS can’t be nationalised
• Pre-Budget report fails to support business

More Pension Headlines:

• Over-50s saving for their grandchildren
• Pensioners re-enter workforce to pay their way
• OECD urges governments to stand firm on pensions reform
• Survey reveals firms considering freezing final-salary pension schemes
• Comfortable retirement means working until age of 77

Insurance Reviews:

Latest car, home and life insurance reviews on Finance Markets:

Home Insurance

• Barclays Home Insurance
• Churchill Home Insurance
• Columbus Direct Home Insurance
• Direct Line Home Insurance
• LV Home Insurance
• Nationwide Home Insurance
• Norwich Union Home Insurance
• Prudential Home Insurance

Pet Insurance

• Argos Pet Insurance
• Homebase Pet Insurance
• LV Pet Insurance

Travel Insurance

• Argos Travel Insurance
• Aviva Travel Insurance Review
• Columbus Direct Travel
• Direct Line Travel Insurance
• LV Travel Insurance

Car Insurance

• AA Breakdown Cover
• AA Motorcycle Insurance
• AA Van Insurance
• Barclays Car Insurance
• Churchill Car Insurance
• Churchill Van Insurance
• Co-operative Motor Insurance
• Direct Line Car Insurance
• LV Car Insurance
• Norwich Union Car Insurance
• RAC Breakdown Cover
• Saga Motor Insurance
• Swiftcover Car Insurance

Life Insurance

• Direct Line Life Insurance
• Legal & General Life Insurance
• Nationwide Life Insurance
• Norwich Union Life Insurance