FM News:
FM Main:
FM Features:
|
October 31, 2007
by Elaine Frei
Results were mixed in Asia-Pacific region equities markets on Wednesday, with most higher on the session. Exceptions included Taiwan’s Taiex index, which fell 0.48 percent to 9,711.37. In addition, the Hang Seng index dropped 0.9 percent in Hong Kong to 31,352.58.
Among gainers, Australia’s S&P/ASX200 was 0.06 percent higher to 6,754.1 while the Sydney Ordinaries added 0.1 percent ...
by Brian Turner
Direct Line car insurance is all about saving you money.
It focuses on bring down the cost of insurance through amazing discounts and the extensive use of telephone and internet.
Discounts are available for:
- online orders (10% off for online orders)
- discounts for multiple cars (10% off per vehicle)
- good no claims bonuses
Another great feature ...
by Gill Montia
Property analysts have been shocked by the latest house price inflation figures from Nationwide Building society, showing that the cost of the average home increased by £1,300 in October.
The building society recorded a 1.1% increases in prices, the largest monthly rise this year.
On this basis, annual house price inflation stands at 9.7% in October (compared with 9% in September), ...
by Gill Montia
Moneyfacts.co.uk, the price comparison website, is applauding building societies in a survey showing that they offer 70% of the top 250 mortgages available today.
In its research, Moneyfacts covered the entire mortgage market, including fixed, discounted and variable rates, over various time periods.
The results are backed-up by figures from the Council of Mortgage Lenders, showing that only 27 (11%) of today's top ...
by Kay Murchie
Shares in Northern Rock lost nearly 8% on Monday after concerns that a rescue deal may be a long way off. The crisis-torn bank plunged as low as 175.3p at one point before closing at 190p.
Virgin Group, owned by Sir Richard Branson, was looking to take a controlling stake in the bank with the backing of investors in the ...
by Gill Montia
Capital Economics, the economic forecasting consultancy, is predicting a 3% fall in UK house prices during 2008.
The consultancy had previously predicted a stabilisation in prices during next year, but now considers that a weaker economic outlook, poor affordability, tighter lending criteria and rising mortgage arrears and repossessions will lead to a fall.
It expects the decline to affect all regions of ...
by Kay Murchie
To date, High Street banks have paid approximately £1 billion in reclaimed bank charges, however, evidence is suggesting that they are using delaying tactics to avoid paying out funds, even when they have been ordered by the courts to do so.
Consequently, thousands of customers who think they have won their court case may never actually see their money. Apparently, banks are ...
by Kay Murchie
Britons may be struggling to get credit but the position is far worse in the US as 2 million Americans face losing their homes as a result of the sub-prime mortgage crisis.
A second rate cut of a quarter point in America is expected later this week. However, many are indicating that it could even be a half ...
October 30, 2007
by Elaine Frei
Most Asia-Pacific region equities markets were lower on Tuesday. The major exceptions were in Hong Kong, where the Hang Seng index set its fourth record in a row as it closed 0.16 percent higher to 31,638.22, and in Shanghai, where the Shanghai Composite jumped 2.6 percent to 5,897.19. In Australia, the Sydney Ordinaries dropped 0.52 percent to 6,772.50 and ...
by Gill Montia
mform.co.uk, the online mortgage company, is warning that large numbers of first-time buyers could be at risk of negative equity, following a substantial rise in the number of 100% mortgages taken out.
The broker estimates that between January 2006 and August 2007, 33,000 first-time buyers secured mortgages for the full value of their property, or in some cases even more, as a ...
by Gill Montia
The Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML) has published a sombre report in which it predicts that house repossessions will rise by 75%, in 2007.
This would mean that the number families who will lose the roof over their heads will increase from 17,000 in 2006, to 30,000 by the end of this year.
The forecast for 2008 is even higher, at 45,000, ...
by Kay Murchie
Alliance & Leicester has this week introduced a new current account called the Premier 50 which is aimed at the over 50s.
The account offers exclusive lifestyle benefits such as annual worldwide travel insurance which covers a person up to the age of 79 and access to private medical expertise and diagnostic tests. In addition, the account ...
by Kay Murchie
Many consumers are finding that switching their broadband connection is resulting in severe delays in getting connected and industry regulator Ofcom receives an average of 180 complaints a week about this matter.
Over half of all homes now use this high-speed access to the internet and with both O2, the mobile phone provider and the Post Office joining the market, the rate ...
by Kay Murchie
A study by the pay analysts, Incomes Data Services, has established that top executives of Britain’s largest companies are being paid over 100 times as much as the average worker.
The pay for Chief Executives is twice what it was 5 years ago, now at a staggering £3.2 million while the average wage-earner was paid £30,000 last year. Consequently, these bigwigs ...
by Gill Montia
Halifax has published new research based on data from HM Revenue & Customs, showing that during 2006/07, 26% of total residential stamp duty was paid by homebuyers living in just 6% of local authorities (LAs).
London homebuyers paid 27% of total UK stamp duty revenues, at £1.7 billion; in the South East revenue stood at £1.4 billion and the South ...
October 29, 2007
by Elaine Frei
...
by Kay Murchie
A series of online initiatives has been introduced by swiftcover.com, the online insurer. The initiatives are to remind surfers why they are different to the rest.
swiftcover,com is solely online and has no call centres. The insurer believes in simplifying things and realises consumers don’t want to sit in a queue on the phone. A car insurance quote from swiftcover.com can take just 60 ...
by Kay Murchie
New business volumes have fallen in the last quarter at Legal & General as the slowdown in the property market had an impact on sales of insurance linked to mortgages.
Third-quarter new life assurance and pensions sales declined to £361 million compared to £398 million 12 months ago.
Shares in the group have lost 16% this year, making it the worst ...
by Kay Murchie
Barclays has been slammed for encouraging irresponsible spending by proposing to issue a trial version of a credit card with a limit of £25,000.
The card has been named the 'Freedom' credit card and is being advertised with the heading 'If I see something I want, I need to be able to act quickly and not have to wait to arrange ...
by Gill Montia
The latest research from Hometrack, the property intelligence company, shows a 0.1% decrease in house prices in October, reducing the annual rate of house price growth to 4.4%.
The fall in prices is the first for 2 years and occurred across all regions of the UK, excepting the West Midlands, where values were static.
According to Richard Donnell, Hometrack's director of research, "the fall ...
|
|
Results were mixed in Asia-Pacific region equities markets on Wednesday, with most higher on the session. Exceptions included Taiwan’s Taiex index, which fell 0.48 percent to 9,711.37. In addition, the Hang Seng index dropped 0.9 percent in Hong Kong to 31,352.58.
Among gainers, Australia’s S&P/ASX200 was 0.06 percent higher to 6,754.1 while the Sydney Ordinaries added 0.1 percent ...
Most Asia-Pacific region equities markets were lower on Tuesday. The major exceptions were in Hong Kong, where the Hang Seng index set its fourth record in a row as it closed 0.16 percent higher to 31,638.22, and in Shanghai, where the Shanghai Composite jumped 2.6 percent to 5,897.19. In Australia, the Sydney Ordinaries dropped 0.52 percent to 6,772.50 and ...
