There is some good news for the housing market after a Bank of England survey revealed mortgage availability is set to improve in the coming months. The survey comes as mortgage lending continues to remain subdued as first-time buyers, in particular, struggle to obtain a mortgage unless they have a substantial deposit. Since the credit [...]
Japanese consumer confidence grew for the first time in seven months in January, the Cabinet Office said today. The closely-watched consumer sentiment index climbed to 41.1 in January, from 40.1 in December. The figures suggest consumers are now more optimistic about the economic prospects after all four sub-indices of the sentiment index saw an improvement [...]
Government data has today revealed Japanese exports picked up in November – for the first time since February. Exports grew 9.1% to 5.44 trillion yen in November on an annual basis, against the 7.8% reported in October. However, the figure was still short of expectations for a 10.8% gain. The improvement was attributed to strong [...]
There are continued fears for the strength of the US economic recovery today after the jobs market fails to improve. The Labor Department revealed the unemployment rate rose to 9.8% in November – the highest level since April. The rate has now exceeded the 9% mark since May 2009. The US economy added just 39,000 [...]
Growth in the UK’s closely-watched service sector picked up in September from a 16-month low. The latest index from the Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply (CIPS)/Markit PMI climbed to 52.8 in September, from 51.3 the previous month, beating expectations of a reading of 51. However, the index remains above the crucial 50 level, which [...]
The Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply(CIPS)/Markit construction PMI index showed activity improved last month, driven by the commercial sector and civil engineering. However, activity in the housebuilding sector dropped – bringing an end to a year-long period of expansion. The index edged higher to 53.8 in September, from 52.1 in August – surprising analysts, [...]
Manufacturing activity in China improved in September, two separate surveys showed today. Firstly, the HSBC China Manufacturing purchasing managers index (PMI) edged higher to 52.9 in September, from 51.9 in August, due to growth in production and new orders. In the meantime, a separate survey released by the China Federation of Logistics and Purchasing (CFLP) [...]
Despite the doom and gloom surrounding the housing market currently, there is some positive news from the Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML). According to the CML, 52,000 new loans were granted to home buyers in June – 19% higher than in May and up 14% on June 2009. CML economist Paul Samter points out that [...]
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has today revealed the UK Government borrowed £16 billion in May. However, the figure was lower than the £18 billion expected and was 8% less than the figure in May 2009. Overall, Government debt stands at £903 billion – the equivalent to 62.2% of GDP – the highest ever. [...]
A quarterly survey by the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) has revealed a pick up in export growth due to a weak pound. Small and medium sized businesses in the UK noted that conditions were improving in demand and production of goods. The CBI said more than one third of 402 manufacturing firms reported an [...]
A report by the Confederation of British Industry (CBI), has revealed a degree of optimism for the UK financial services sector, which is expected to record higher growth in the next three months, after stagnating in the last quarter. According to the business group, an improvement will be seen in the next three months after [...]
The Japanese economy cemented its recovery today after it emerged that exports totalled 5.3 trillion yen in October – a fall of 23.2% compared with the same month a year go. The Japanese economy, which is the world’s second largest, is heavily dependent on exports and suffered its worst recession in decades as it was [...]
US food giant Kraft saw its shares fall 5% to $26.7 this morning on Wall Street as investors expressed concern about the group’s takeover approach for British confectionery giant Cadbury. Cadbury rejected the £10.2 billion offer from Kraft, which is renowned for brands such as Kenco coffee, Oreo biscuits, Terry’s Chocolate Orange, Toblerone and cheese [...]
The Bank of Japan’s closely watched quarterly Tankan survey has revealed an improvement in business confidence in Japan Today’s figures will add to the belief that the worst is over for the world’s second largest economy. Earlier this week, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry announced that industrial production was up 5.9% in May [...]
Japan’s economy looks set to be improving after it has experienced a rise in exports, production and public investment. The export-dependent economy has been hit by a slump in demand for its products overseas, particularly cars and electrical goods but this looks set to change after the Bank of Japan (BoJ) said “the country’s economic [...]
Over half of UK building societies believe 2009 will be a positive year and that the economy will continue to improve in 2010. In a poll by the Buildings Societies Association (BSA), 55% of building society chief executives expressed high hopes for the year ahead. The majority also said consumers continue to trust building societies [...]
Potential first-time buyers are in a stronger position to purchase a home than at any time in the past five years. According to Halifax, the first-time buyer affordability ratio has steadily improved during 2008 and the trend should continue in 2009. Research from the lender indicates that the average house price to earnings ratio has [...]
For the second consecutive month, UK consumer confidence has improved, indicating that the huge reduction in interest rates and the recent cut in VAT are having a positive effect. The consumer confidence index from market research group GfK NOP rose two points to -33 in December, taking it to the highest level since September. However, [...]
Homeowners sitting out the credit crisis rather than taking their chances with a “For Sale” board are turning to home improvements. Research from personal loan specialist, GE Money, has revealed that property owners across the UK are improving and extending their dwellings as an alternative to entering a stagnating property market where according to property [...]
M&S Money launches 3% cash ISA
M&S Money has launched an Advantage Cash ISA paying 3 per cent, and which allows transfers in from other ISAs. It can be opened with a minimum deposit of £100 lump sum followed by minimum monthly deposits of £25. The 3% rate is variable, but there is no short-term bonus so the return won’t plummet [...]
Google suspends UK Compare Mortgages site
Google has closed its UK mortgage comparison site which it launched in July last year, after it proved to be less popular than expected. Mortgage comparison sites are designed to allow visitors to compare mortgages quickly and easily without having to visit each lender’s individual site. Google was competing with several well-established comparison sites, including [...]
AA launches ‘black-box’ policy for young drivers
The AA is launching an innovative car insurance policy called Drivesafe which could help younger drivers save up to £850 a year. Younger drivers already pay substantially higher premiums than other motorists and these costs are increasing. A new study by Confused.com suggests insurance costs for younger driver have gone up by 5.7 per cent [...]
ATOL scheme updated to protect online bookers
ATOL, a financial protection scheme managed by the Civil Aviation Authority, is being extended to protect up to six million more holidays a year. The scheme ensures that holiday makers do not lose out financially if a travel company collapses, and that they are not stranded abroad. An increase in the number of holidays booked [...]
Home repossessions lowest for four years
The number of UK homes repossessed fell to 36,200 in 2011, significantly below the Council of Mortgage Lenders’ forecast of 40,000, and lower than 2010 when 37,100 homes were repossessed. With interest rates remaining low and lenders adopting a sympathetic attitude to customers in financial difficulty, repossessions fell to their lowest level since 2007. However, [...]
Monthly pay lasting just 17 days
Workers are running out of money just 17 days after receiving their monthly pay, according to new research by the Halifax bank. This means that the average UK worker spends half the month worrying about money. The study, based on the responses of more than 2,000 adults, found that 10 per cent of workers start [...]
Women disadvantaged by auto-enrolment changes
Government proposals to increase the auto-enrolment threshold to £10,000 could put 1.8 million women at risk of missing out on a pension, the TUC has warned. Under the auto-enrolment scheme, which will be phased in from October, private sector employers will automatically enrol workers between the age of 22 years and the state pension age, [...]
Emergency household repairs company Homeserve is taking longer than expected to get back on track after its operations were suspended last October. The company expected customer numbers to fall by 5% this year but it has increased this estimate to 8% and announced the loss of 200 jobs. It estimates that renewal revenue in 2013 [...]
Sale rumoured for Yorkshire and Clydesdale banks
There is growing speculation that National Australia Bank (NAB) may sell Yorkshire Bank and Clydesdale Bank after the Australian parent company announced a strategic review of the two banks’ operations. The Australian economy is performing well and NAB reported strong profits for the final quarter of 2011 but with the UK economy at a virtual [...]
More women experiencing debt difficulties
Women in Debt, which offers female-focused debt advice, has warned that the number of UK women facing serious debt has grown significantly over recent years. The organisation believes that more women will need advice on solving debt problems in the future because they are building up an unsustainable level of indebtedness. Women in Debt’s director, [...]
About | Privacy | Disclaimer | Resources | XML Feeds | Press Releases | Directory | Contact us
