News and comment
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Welcome to your on-line financial newsletter. This service is regularly updated to bring you news of important developments in financial matters.
Citywire News
- Association of British Insurers calls for tax certainty in pre-Budget report
Thu, 24 Jul 2008 00:01:00 GMT
Reduce corporation tax and increase certainty or risk losing business overseas, says ABI.
- Wednesday Closing Market: HBOS bid rumours fire FTSE
Wed, 23 Jul 2008 16:52:11 GMT
UK markets were buoyed by bid rumours prior to close, after talk of a potential move for HBOS from a Spanish bank and confirmation from mid cap firm Moneysupermarket.com that its leading shareholder had rejected an approach.
- Sandler steps back at the Rock for Barclays man
Wed, 23 Jul 2008 15:29:38 GMT
Northern Rock has appointed Barclays vice chairman Gary Hoffman as its new chief executive enabling Ron Sandler to take a non-executive role.
- Moneysupermarket.com flies ahead after confirming approach
Wed, 23 Jul 2008 15:25:26 GMT
Shares in comparison website Moneysupermarket.com soared up by over a third mid-afternoon after the company confirmed its leading shareholder, Simon Nixon, had rejected an approach from a potential bidder.
- Friends, Standard Life lead Goldman Sachs insurer list
Wed, 23 Jul 2008 15:17:00 GMT
Analyst favours life offices with good new business potential and lower equity volumes as share values in the sector reach all time lows.
London Stock Exchange News
- MPC voted seven to two for rate freeze
Wed, 23 Jul 2008 12:19:39 +0100
The Bank of England's rate-setting committee voted to keep interest rates on hold by a margin of seven to two, it has been revealed.
- Japanese government cuts GDP growth projections
Wed, 23 Jul 2008 12:18:23 +0100
The Japanese government has slashed its forecast for growth this financial year.
- Japanese stocks buoyed by fall in oil prices
Wed, 23 Jul 2008 12:12:32 +0100
Japanese stocks advanced yesterday for the second consecutive day, with a fall in the price of crude oil fuelling the gains.
- US stocks up on oil price fall
Wed, 23 Jul 2008 12:10:51 +0100
US stocks finished up yesterday amid falling oil prices which limited the impact of ongoing fears about corporations' profits.
- Credit card companies raising charges for ATM withdrawals
Tue, 22 Jul 2008 12:28:45 +0100
Credit card companies are levying higher charges for customers who use their card to take out cash from an ATM, it has been claimed.
BBC Business News
- US lawmakers pass housing rescue
Thu, 24 Jul 2008 02:00:05 GMT
The US House of Representatives passes a massive housing rescue bill after President Bush says he will not veto it.
- Footy book
Wed, 23 Jul 2008 23:10:28 GMT
Nationwide saves world's oldest football annual
- Moscow tops list of pricey cities
Wed, 23 Jul 2008 23:02:10 GMT
Moscow tops the league of the most expensive cities to live in for expatriates, followed by Tokyo and London.
- MPs scrap France's 35-hour week
Wed, 23 Jul 2008 22:56:07 GMT
France's parliament passes a law which effectively ends the country's compulsory 35-hour working week.
- Big unveiling
Wed, 23 Jul 2008 22:49:41 GMT
Replacing the Vectra is a major step for Vauxhall
BBC News
- US lawmakers pass housing rescue
Thu, 24 Jul 2008 02:00:05 GMT
The US House of Representatives passes a massive housing rescue bill after President Bush says he will not veto it.
- Teens want to talk more about sex
Thu, 24 Jul 2008 01:21:15 GMT
Many parents are too embarrassed to have vital chats with their children about sex, a report for the government says.
- Laptop pioneers
Thu, 24 Jul 2008 00:59:11 GMT
Unsung British heroes in computer revolution
- Codebreakers' HQ 'neglected'
Thu, 24 Jul 2008 00:48:21 GMT
UK academics sign a letter criticising the ongoing neglect of Bletchley Park - home of the wartime codebreakers.
- Games spending 'needs eagle eye'
Thu, 24 Jul 2008 00:25:13 GMT
There must be "tight control over costs" in the run-up to the 2012 London Olympics, MPs say.
Mortgage News
- Mortgage demand sinks as consumers opt to save
Wed, 23 Jul 2008 13:27:08 GMT
Mortgage demand has sunk to a record low as consumers choose to save instead of buying property, reveals data from John Gilbert Financial Research.
- Majority of MPC favoured rate freeze
Wed, 23 Jul 2008 11:59:17 GMT
Seven members of the Monetary Policy Committee voted to keep the base rate at 5% with two dissident members preferring a rate change.
- The Hoff takes up Northern Rock hot seat
Wed, 23 Jul 2008 11:47:31 GMT
Northern Rock has appointed Gary Hoffman to the board as its new chief executive officer.
- FSA fines IFA firm £35,000
Wed, 23 Jul 2008 11:14:30 GMT
The Financial Services Authority has fined PMSG Insurance Services £35,000 for mortgage advice breaches.
- Trackers making a comeback, says Moneysupermarket.com
Wed, 23 Jul 2008 11:00:59 GMT
The gap between the average two-year fixed rate and the average two-year tracker has widened to over 0.5%, data from Moneysupermarket.com reveals.
