The Nikkei-225 stock average gained 154.49 points today to close at 10,135.82 points – the first time the index has closed above 10,000 points in eight months. Among the risers were CSK Holdings, up 19.05% at 500 yen, Nippon Soda, up 11.48% at 476 yen and Yahoo Japan, up 8.29% at 30,550 yen. Investors were [...]
Core Japanese machinery orders fell 16% in November to a 20-year low sending the Nikkei stock market index down 5%. In addition, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index lost 3.4%, while South Korea’s Kospi fell 6%. Machinery orders in the world‘s second largest economy are considered a barometer for corporate and consumer strength across the world. [...]
The Japanese economy, which is the world’s second largest, is official in recession – its first in seven years. The country has been hit by weakening exports and falling corporate investment. The economy, which is considered a barometer for corporate and consumer strength across the world, contracted by 0.1% in the third quarter, following a [...]
It is believed that the US Federal Reserve will cut interest rates this week, which has boosted shares worldwide following a severe decline earlier this week on fears of a global recession. The Fed is widely expected to cut rates by half a percentage point to 1%. This resulted in a sharp rise on Wall [...]
Europe’s markets were higher on Wednesday, with the FTSE Eurofirst 300 adding 1.65 percent to 1,302.78 while the CAC-40 was up 1.56 percent to 4,855.1 in Paris, the IBEX was 1.71 percent higher to 13,637.6 in Madrid, and the Dax gained 1.79 percent to 6,702.84 in Frankfurt. In London, the FTSE 100 added 2.36 percent [...]
Europe’s markets declined Thursday, with the FTSE Eurofirst 300 down by 0.41 percent to 1,303.53 while the Dax was 0.25 percent lower to 6,704.32, the CAC-40 fell 0.32 percent to 4,859.42 and the IBEX dropped 0.67 percent to 13,507.9. In London the FTSE 100 was down 0.31 percent to 5,965.1 while the FTSE 250 dropped [...]
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, [...]
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