Money Marketing
19 September 2007

  • "Guarantee of DB schemes costs more than Brown's tax raid"

    19 Sep 2007

    Forcing final salary pension schemes to provide guaranteed pension increases costs around £1 billion a year more than Prime Minister Gordon Brown's infamous tax raid, according to Watson Wyatt senior consultant Stephen Yeo.

  • 2,600 IFAs back Just Retirement annuity campaign

    20 Sep 2007

    Over 2,600 IFAs have signed up to Just Retirement's campaign for better annuities, including the chief executives of Sesame, SimplyBiz, Bankhall and Lighthouse.

  • A journey of Discovery

    25 Sep 2007

    Standing in for our protection reporter this week I had to endure a trip to South Africa in the company of Prudential and South African life insurer Discovery to hear about their new joint venture, PruProtect.

  • A Shaw thing

    20 Sep 2007

    Sam Shaw is a reporter on Money MarketingHaving returned from sunning myself on a very relaxing holiday in Ibiza, one week back at the MM offices soon beat the holiday vibe out of me.

  • A Towry of strength in IFA world

    20 Sep 2007

    I am writing with regard to Towry Law tearing up its Aifa membership. I was already nervous about the future of the IFA world but now I am really concerned

  • A view to a skill

    20 Sep 2007

    Geoff Gaunt, proprietor of Prism training and development, believes many people are getting embroiled in arguments over the RDR instead of preparing to adapt to focusing on advice rather than sales and training staff to use new skill sets

  • A&L and B&B rebound after rumours

    20 Sep 2007

    Alliance & Leicester and Bradford & Bingley are unlikely to be hit by similar problems to Northern Rock despite share prices slumping earlier this week.

  • Abbey - Capital Guaranteed Japanese Equity Bond Issue 9

    24 Sep 2007

    AbbeyCapital Guaranteed Japanese Equity Bond Issue 9

  • Abbey pilots 100 per cent plus mortgage deal

    19 Sep 2007

    Abbey has launched a 100 per cent loan to value product with the option of a £25,000 secured loan.

  • Aberdeen's US arm buys fund business

    20 Sep 2007

    The US arm of Aberdeen Asset Management is to buy American fund management business Nationwide Financial Services.

  • ABI has lost sight of the market

    20 Sep 2007

    The ABI seems to forget that more than 60 per cent of all investment products are sold through IFAs, many of whose clients still prefer to pay, even in part, by commission.

  • Advantage sub-prime mortgages

    20 Sep 2007

    Last week's Money Marketing wrongly reported that Advantage had withdrawn its sub-prime range. The lender repriced and changed the criteria for self-cert, sub-prime and buy to let this week but did not withdraw the old rates. We apologise for any confusion.

  • Adviser Fund Index

    20 Sep 2007

    Emerging markets showed some initial resilience to the sub-prime turmoil and consequent decline in markets. They took longer to fall than developed markets and, when they did, it was generally not as sharp.

  • Advisers should play the Tory card on the RDR.

    25 Sep 2007

    I’m not suggesting they seek out David Cameron and bend his ear about the RDR at the Tory conference next week.

  • Advisers told they should tie for Sipps

    20 Sep 2007

    Consumers do not care if IFAs are independent and pension advisers should tie to Sipp providers because there is no value in being independent, claims Merchant Investors head of sales and marketing Richard Ellis.

  • Aegon adds '5 for Life' to Openwork range

    24 Sep 2007

    Aegon and Openwork have announced an extension to their partnership to include Aegon’s 5 for Life product in the Openwork range.

  • 'Aifa is defending small IFAs'

    20 Sep 2007

    Small IFAs are scared of being "victimised" by the FSA and many feel Aifa is the only body looking out for their interests, says Kent-based RH Invest-ment Services.

  • Aifa rues lack of FSA research but regulator says it's listening

    20 Sep 2007

    Aifa has accused the FSA of failing to conduct proper research before publishing its retail distribution review discussion paper.

  • Allianz Global Investors - Allianz RCM Global EcoTrends Fund

    25 Sep 2007

    Allianz Global InvestorsAllianz RCM Global EcoTrends Fund

  • Amber restricts LTVs to 90%

    20 Sep 2007

    Amber Homeloans withdrew its 95 per cent loan-to-value near-prime and self-cert prime products this week. Maximum LTV on near-prime full status is now 90 per cent.

  • Anand quits DAM to join F&C as Euro equity head

    20 Sep 2007

    F&C has appointed Paras Anand to the new position of head of European equities with overall responsibility for continental and pan-European equities teams.

  • Arc Capital & Income - Bull & Bear Tracker Plan 3

    25 Sep 2007

    Arc Capital & IncomeBull & Bear Tracker Plan 3

  • Arc Capital & Income - Stepped Kick-Out Plan

    25 Sep 2007

    Arc Capital & IncomeStepped Kick-Out Plan

  • Asian markets less impacted by credit turmoil, says F&C

    20 Sep 2007

    Investors in Asian markets are less impacted by the credit turmoil that has hit the US, UK and Europe in recent weeks thanks to an abundance of liquidity, says F&C.

  • Aviva Europe chief leaves for Pru

    21 Sep 2007

    Aviva chief executive officer, Europe, Tidjane Thiam is joining Prudential as group finance director in April 2008.

  • Axa confirms 2008 platform launch

    25 Sep 2007

    Insurance giant Axa broke radio silence today to confirm that it is launching a wrap platform in the early part of the first quarter of 2008.

  • Back to the future

    20 Sep 2007

    Over 1,000 years ago, some people believed the Earth was flat, at the centre of the universe and all the stars and planets rotated around it.

  • Bank of England to inject £10bn into money markets

    19 Sep 2007

    The Bank of England has announced that it will inject £10bn into the money markets in a bid to lower three month Libor with further amounts to be added on a weekly basis.

  • Bankhall conference: Bankhall launches Capita-led Portavista platform

    20 Sep 2007

    Bankhall has unveiled the details and name of its Capita-led platform at its annual member conference in Cannes today.

  • Barclays - Defined Returns Plan

    25 Sep 2007

    BarclaysDefined Returns Plan

  • BDO Stoy Hayward Investment Management - The Hyde Park Fund

    25 Sep 2007

    BDO Stoy Hayward Investment ManagementThe Hyde Park Fund

  • Big contracts follow Barber in IFG move

    20 Sep 2007

    IFG Financial Services has picked up the introducer contract for UHY Hacker Young Chartered Accountants subsidiary UHY Financial Planning (Manchester) from AWD.

  • BofE may have given £2.9bn support to Northern Rock, says New Star

    21 Sep 2007

    The Bank of England may have supported Northern Rock to the value of £2.9bn through its lender of last resort facility, according to New Star economist Simon Ward.

  • Bolton bearish on the market amid fears of US recession

    19 Sep 2007

    Anthony Bolton is still bearish on the market and warns there is a 50/50 chance that the US will fall into recession.

  • Bradford & Bingley set to switch multi cash

    20 Sep 2007

    Axa Framlington could be set to lose £500m from its multi-manager range, with Bradford & Bingley understood to have given three months’ notice that it is to move its Isa and Pep back books out of the funds.

  • Britannia International - Optimum Growth Bond 21

    25 Sep 2007

    Britannia InternationalOptimum Growth Bond 21

  • Britannia International -Guaranteed Capital Bond Issue 5

    25 Sep 2007

    Britannia InternationalGuaranteed Capital Bond Issue 5

  • Broker talkback

    20 Sep 2007

    Is Aifa doing a good job campaigning for advisers on the retail distribution review?

  • C&G's Champion to leave after 20 years

    20 Sep 2007

    Cheltenham & Gloucester intermediary sales director John Champion will be leaving at the end of the month after 20 years with the firm.

  • Cameron calls for transparency on BoE's role

    20 Sep 2007

    Conservative leader David Cameron says he fully supports how the Bank of England and FSA have handled the Northern Rock funding crisis but is calling for greater transparency in financial markets.

  • Carby made Openwork chief

    20 Sep 2007

    Foster Denovo founding executive chairman Keith Carby has been confirmed as new chief executive of Openwork, replacing Stephen Leaman.

  • Cash is king after market swing

    20 Sep 2007

    Three cash funds appeared in Cofunds top 50 best-selling funds last month reflecting increasing adviser concerns about market volatility.

  • Cazenove looking to widen multi range

    20 Sep 2007

    Cazenove Capital Management chief executive Andrew Ross says the firm is likely to expand its £1bn multi-manager range on the arrival of Gartmore's Marcus Brookes.

  • CLI launches first offshore bond on Cofunds platform

    20 Sep 2007

    Canada Life International has launched the first offshore bond on the Cofunds platform, available from November 1.

  • Clinical aptitude

    20 Sep 2007

    When we first heard what wrap platforms had to offer, they seemed too good to be true. One administration system with all the available tax wrappers, unfettered investment choice, performance analysis, fund research tools, discounted funds and more. Sadly, it was too good to be true.

  • Close Brothers suspends operations of specialist lender Close Mortgages

    24 Sep 2007

    Investment bank Close Brothers has revealed in its results that it has suspended the operations of its specialist lender Close Mortgages.

  • Commerce Centre sets sights on introducers

    20 Sep 2007

    Thinc Group subsidiary The Commerce Centre is targeting 8,000 introducers in a direct recruitment drive and is hoping to sign up 2,000 advisers by the end of 2007.

  • Confident Infinity sets up a packager in 10 days

    20 Sep 2007

    Infinity Mortgages has set up Infocus Mortgage Packaging.

  • Consumer panel calls for focused with-profits advice

    19 Sep 2007

    The Financial Services Consumer Panel is calling on the FSA to introduce a limited advice service for with-profits policyholders to be provided through specialist individual firms and trade bodies.

  • Consumer panel demands WP service

    20 Sep 2007

    The Financial Services Consumer Panel wants the FSA to introduce focused advice for with-profits policyholders via specialist firms and trade bodies.

  • Coventry Building Society - 5.99% Offset Fixed Rate

    25 Sep 2007

    Coventry Building Society5.99% Offset Fixed Rate

  • Coventry Building Society - 6.19% Flexx Fixed

    25 Sep 2007

    Coventry Building Society6.19% Flexx Fixed

  • Crackdown looming after the Rock fiasco

    20 Sep 2007

    The panic over Northern Rock could result in the Government placing limits on how much funding can come from the money markets.

  • Credit Suisse Asset Management - Multi-Manager Multi-Asset Distribution Portfolio

    25 Sep 2007

    Credit Suisse Asset ManagementMulti-Manager Multi-Asset Distribution Portfolio

  • Critical strategies

    20 Sep 2007

    The opening article of a mini series on critical-illness insurance

  • Crunch decisions

    20 Sep 2007

    Fresh concerns about the health of the US financial system have knocked stockmarkets off the highs they reached in mid-July. Once again, the epicentre of the crisis is the sub-prime loan market, with knock-on damage in securitised credit, high-yield bonds and leveraged loans.

  • Cummings and goings

    20 Sep 2007

    IFAs have leapt to defend Aifa after Towry Law gave up its membership last week, says Sam Shaw

  • Damaged goods

    20 Sep 2007

    Regulatory stupidity has allowed IFAs to take the flak for endowment mispricing

  • Darling should resign over Northern Rock, says Edeus chief

    21 Sep 2007

    Edeus chief executive Michael Bolton has called for the Chancellor’s head over his handling of the Northern Rock crisis and also lashed out at the Bank of England.

  • DB Mortgages withdraws loans

    20 Sep 2007

    DB Mortgages has withdrawn its higher arrangement fee near-prime +, near-prime and super-light products. The products will only be available on the company's 0.5 per cent arrangement fee structure.

  • Directgov launches free pension tracking service

    21 Sep 2007

    Directgov has launched a free pension tracing service aimed at those it believes are losing out on pension entitlements worth thousands of pounds.

  • Ditch Shoreditch, Lansons

    20 Sep 2007

    Non-metrosexuals, please forgive us but we hear tell that the Lansons Party is moving from what is these days the well-heeled borough of Clerkenwell to London's silliest locale, Shoreditch.

  • Domestic disturbance

    20 Sep 2007

    Changing consumer attitudes in Asia will be a key driver of the world economy

  • 'Dual regulation caused Rock slide'

    20 Sep 2007

    The Northern Rock debacle would not have happened under any other regulatory regime and can be blamed on the fudge created by dual regulation, according to a leading LibDem business voice.

  • Eight in ten brokers searching for ways to maintain their income in current market

    25 Sep 2007

    Nearly eight in ten brokers say that the current market situation has prompted them to look for ways to either increase or maintain their income.

  • Encounters of the third kind

    20 Sep 2007

    I must admit that after Skandia brought out global best ideas and then UK best ideas, I thought it might have trouble thinking up another fund for a third launch. I have to hand it to Skandia, the new UK strategic best ideas fund looks to be yet another truly innovative fund.

  • ETF Securities - ETFS Brent 3 Year

    25 Sep 2007

    ETF SecuritiesETFS Brent 3 Year

  • ETF Securities - ETFS WTI 2 Year

    25 Sep 2007

    ETF Securities ETFS WTI 2 Year

  • ETF Securities - ETFS WTI 2 Year

    25 Sep 2007

    ETF SecuritiesETFS Brent 2 Year

  • ETF Securities - ETFS WTI 3 Year

    25 Sep 2007

    ETF SecuritiesETFS WTI 3 Year

  • F&C joins climate change club

    20 Sep 2007

    F&C is the latest fund company to launch a climate change investment fundThe global climate opportunities fund, which follows recent launches by Schroders and Jupiter, will seek companies that are innovating to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, whether through technology, products or services.

  • Fallen champions

    20 Sep 2007

    Where are the big-budget campaigns genuinely promoting protection?

  • FAS annuity ban for trustees

    20 Sep 2007

    Trustees of schemes that have qualified for the Financial Assistance Scheme have been banned from buying annuities for their members by the Department of Work and Pensions.

  • Fidelity adds to multi-manager team

    24 Sep 2007

    Fidelity International has began to rebuild the group’s multi-manager offering by appointing Geraldine Stewart as head of investment.

  • Fidelity managers go on the road

    20 Sep 2007

    Fidelity's annual investment forum will take place at seven venues across the UK between October 1-5 with speakers including Anthony Bolton, Sanjeev Shah, Jorma Korhonen and Richard Skelt.

  • Fidelity passes business to IFAs

    20 Sep 2007

    Fidelity says its direct business will now refer any clients with complex needs taking out its new personal pension to IFAs.

  • Fine lines

    20 Sep 2007

    Our panel look at PPI problems, life after the failed Royal merger, special rates for vegetarians and real-time pricing

  • Float aims for £300m

    20 Sep 2007

    Positive Solutions remains on track to float before 2010 and is aiming for a market valuation of £300m.

  • FSA hints at retention of WOM/independence link

    25 Sep 2007

    The FSA has given another strong hint that independence will indeed mean whole of market rather than the radical suggestion in the retail distribution review that its meaning may be redefined.

  • FSA warns Sipps not always most suitable

    25 Sep 2007

    The FSA says it is concerned that investors are being put into Sipps when a personal pension or stakeholder may be equally appropriate and potentially cheaper.

  • FSSC widens scope of training accreditation

    20 Sep 2007

    The Financial Services Skills Council's Accreditation board of Training Excellence for Providers is allowing a wider range of evidence to be submitted so that trainers can demonstrate their expertise and gain accreditation.

  • FundsNetwork launches trust for non-domiciled clients

    20 Sep 2007

    Fidelity FundsNetwork has announced the addition of an Excluded Property Trust to its range of Multi-Asset Trusts, which allows anyone who is not UK domiciled to put non-UK assets into trust and avoid inheritance tax on these assets.

  • GAM - European Systematic Value & Income Fund

    25 Sep 2007

    GAMEuropean Systematic Value & Income Fund

  • GAM - GAM Star US All Cap Equity Fund

    25 Sep 2007

    GAMGAM Star US All Cap Equity Fund

  • GAM - GAM Star US Small & Mid Cap Equity

    25 Sep 2007

    GAMGAM Star US Small & Mid Cap Equity

  • Ghosts of past failures haunt the RDR

    20 Sep 2007

    Highclere Financial Services director Alan Lakey says primary advice has been proved a failure so why is the FSA allowing it to form a big part of its plans for financial distribution?

  • Glazing over at fact-find claims

    20 Sep 2007

    I refer to a letter in Money Marketing recently from BGW Jamieson, Fact-find not needed for generalities.

  • GMAC-RFC to cap self-cert and new build products at 75 per cent LTV

    19 Sep 2007

    GMAC-RFC has communicated to its packaging partners that it will be capping loan to value at 75 per cent on its self-cert and new build products.

  • Harrison calls for charity drive

    20 Sep 2007

    Positive Solutions has pledged to raise £100,000 for charity through charitable trust the Harrison Foundation.

  • Harrison says FSA loaded RDR bases

    20 Sep 2007

    Positive Solutions outgoing executive chairman David Harrison has slammed the FSA, accusing it of asking loaded questions in the retail distribution review.

  • HBOS says funding rumours are 'complete utter nonsense'

    20 Sep 2007

    Mortgage giant HBOS has dismissed reports that it was facing funding problems as “complete utter nonsense” as it saw its shares fall by over 7 per cent today.

  • High Street Home Loans - Near Prime Three Year Fixed

    25 Sep 2007

    High Street Home LoansNear Prime Three Year Fixed

  • Highs and flows

    20 Sep 2007

    Jupiter income manager Tony Nutt tell Chris Salih how his preference for reliable assets has kept returns flowing on his fund

  • Hip providers offer deferred payment scheme to consumers

    24 Sep 2007

    HIP Payment Services has joined forces with LMS and other providers in order to offer a deferred payment scheme to consumers.

  • Hometrack buys into Australian AVM market

    24 Sep 2007

    Housing intelligence business Hometrack has bought a 50 per cent stake in Australian residential statistical research company Residex.

  • How shock tactics curbed misselling

    20 Sep 2007

    When aggressive selling by gas and electricity salespeople led to huge numbers of consumer complaints, tough action by regulator Ofgem helped stem the problem but payment by commission was allowed to remain, says Will Henley

  • HSBC Bank International - Foundation 2 - Healthcare Bonus Fund

    25 Sep 2007

    HSBC Bank InternationalFoundation 2 - Healthcare Bonus Fund

  • HSBC Investments - New World Income Fund

    24 Sep 2007

    HSBC InvestmentsNew World Income Fund

  • IAF Securities - Natural Resources Enhanced Return Plan

    25 Sep 2007

    IAF SecuritiesNatural Resources Enhanced Return Plan

  • Iimia plans specialist boutiques in MitonOptimal merger move

    20 Sep 2007

    iimia plans to ramp up its investment offering with the launch of specialist joint venture boutiques.

  • Income innovation

    20 Sep 2007

    Income protection insurance Roger Edwards, product director of Bright Grey, considers criticisms of the industry's record in the income protection sector and looks at ways to bring improvements to the product area

  • Infinity Mortgages to return to the sub-prime market tomorrow

    25 Sep 2007

    Infinity Mortgages have confirmed it will be returning to the lending market tomorrow after it temporarily withdrew from the sub-prime market at the beginning of August.

  • Investec predicts further US interest rate drops by year-end

    24 Sep 2007

    Investec Asset Management is predicting that the US Federal Reserve will follow through with easing in the Fed Funds rate of at least 50 basis points before the end of 2007.

  • Investec warns on Kensington’s profits

    21 Sep 2007

    Investec has issued a profit warning for Kensington Group following the recent volatility in the money markets saying it expects lower profitability from its initial projections.

  • Investors confident the stock market will perform well, says Brewin Dolphin

    20 Sep 2007

    Despite the banking markets crisis and the collapse of Northern Rock’s share price, 42 per cent of investors are confident that the stock market will perform well over the next three months, says Brewin Dolphin.

  • Investors swoop on Northern Rock shares, says The Share Centre

    21 Sep 2007

    Retail stockbroker The Share Centre has reported a 591 per cent increase on last week’s account openings as investors have swooped to take advantage of a weaker Northern Rock share price.

  • James Hay adds Neptune and Schroders to Wrap

    25 Sep 2007

    James Hay has added four funds from Neptune and Schroders to its wrap, bringing the total to 1,212 funds from 54 providers.

  • Kensington cuts adverse LTV as it looks to prime loans

    20 Sep 2007

    Pioneering non-conforming lender Kensington has reduced its adverse maximum loan to value to 75 per cent as it swit-ches focus to prime mortgages.

  • Kensington launches new prime fixed rates

    24 Sep 2007

    Kensington has launched a new range of two and three year fixed rate specialist prime products as part of its new strategy to refocus on prime mortgages.

  • Keydata Investment Services - Dynamic Growth Plan 19

    25 Sep 2007

    Keydata Investment ServicesDynamic Growth Plan 19

  • Keydata Investment Services - Extra Income Plan - Issue 14

    24 Sep 2007

    Keydata Investment ServicesExtra Income Plan - Issue 14

  • King blames legislation for Northern Rock fiasco during grilling from MPs

    20 Sep 2007

    Bank of England governor Mervyn King has called for major legislative changes during a fierce grilling from the Treasury Select Committee.

  • L&G staff to get Samaritans training

    20 Sep 2007

    Legal & General has called in the Samaritans to provide its staff with specialist training and advice on how to deal with difficult or sensitive calls with customers making a protection claim.

  • Labouring over financial services

    24 Sep 2007

    Speculation about a possible snap election is the biggest talking point in Bournemouth after Chancellor Darling's actions last week to quell the panic over the Northern Rock debacle.

  • Legal & General Mortgage Club - The Mortgage Business Multi House 2 House Two Year Tracker

    25 Sep 2007

    Legal & General Mortgage ClubThe Mortgage Business Multi House 2 House Two Year Tracker

  • LibDems plan to axe higher-rate relief

    20 Sep 2007

    Liberal Democrats backed plans to scrap higher-rate pension tax relief and raise the inheritance tax threshold at their Brighton conference this week. LibDems also want a 4p cut in the basic rate of income tax and a reform of housing stamp duty.

  • Lighthouse shines with interim profits soaring by 66%

    20 Sep 2007

    Lighthouse Group has seen first-half profits leap by 66 per cent and says it is on track to pay its first dividend next year.

  • Limited warranty

    20 Sep 2007

    Is it ever good advice to recommend that a client ditches a guarantee?

  • Lincoln aligns management team

    20 Sep 2007

    Lincoln Unit Trust Managers has added to it management team with the appointments of Will Hale and Simon O’Connor as head of distribution and head of products & marketing, respectively.

  • Loanoptions.co.uk highlights danger of limited lender panels

    25 Sep 2007

    Loanoptions.co.uk has highlighted the danger of dealing with secured loan packagers with limited lender panels.

  • Location, location

    20 Sep 2007

    Insurers who know more about us than we do opt for postcode profiling

  • M&G changes branding logo

    24 Sep 2007

    M&G has rebranded its logo in following a branding review of the business.

  • Majority of IFAs want to become PFPs, says Aegon

    21 Sep 2007

    Eighty per cent of IFAs will seek to become professional financial planners under the FSA’s proposals, according to research by Aegon.

  • Manor Park - Guaranteed Global Growth Fund - October 2007 Series A

    25 Sep 2007

    Manor ParkGuaranteed Global Growth Fund - October 2007 Series A

  • Manor ParK - Guaranteed Global Growth Fund - October 2007 Series D

    25 Sep 2007

    Manor ParKGuaranteed Global Growth Fund - October 2007 Series

  • Manor Park - Guaranteed Global Growth Fund - October 2007 Series D

    24 Sep 2007

    Manor ParkGuaranteed Global Growth Fund - October 2007 Series D

  • Manor Park - Guaranteed UK Growth Fund - October 2007 Series A

    24 Sep 2007

    Manor ParkGuaranteed UK Growth Fund - October 2007 Series A

  • Manor Park - Guaranteed UK Selected Growth Fund - Oct 07 Series

    25 Sep 2007

    Manor ParkGuaranteed UK Selected Growth Fund - Oct 07 Series

  • Manor Park - Guaranteed UK Selected Growth Fund - October 2007 Series

    24 Sep 2007

    Manor ParkGuaranteed UK Selected Growth Fund - October 2007 Series

  • Martin Currie makes independence move

    20 Sep 2007

    Martin Currie has sold almost 25 per cent of its equity to Crestview and Lord Rothschild in a bid to widen its on-going independence. The move, which is subject to regulatory approval, will see New York based investment firm Crestview take on 17.43 per cent, while 7.47 per cent will go to investment vehicles associated with Lord Rothschild.

  • Meteor Asset Management - Rainbow

    25 Sep 2007

    Meteor Asset ManagementRainbow

  • Mexican twist

    20 Sep 2007

    The R word is with us again. Recession in the US brought about by the parlous state of its housing market and by the squeeze being put on businesses by the drying up of liquidity is now being talked about openly. Other developing economies have been growing strongly but the health of the US economy is still pivotal to global growth. When some downbeat statistics emerge, investors can be seen scurrying for cover.

  • Millions are misguided in massive reality gap

    20 Sep 2007

    Consumers believe they have much more protection than they really do, according to Swiss Re technical manager Ron Wheatcroft who believes this "reality gap" will make closing the £2.3trn protection gap even harder.

  • MM changes see advisers carry the can

    19 Sep 2007

    It's all change again on the multi-manager side this week as Marcus Brookes announced his departure from Gartmore to take a new role as head of Cazenove's own range.

  • Mortgage lending fell by 6 per cent in August

    20 Sep 2007

    Gross mortage lending by banks, building societies and specialist lenders fell by 6 per cent in August compared with July, according to the Council of Mortgage Lenders.

  • Mortgages Plc suspends all heavy and unlimited adverse business

    21 Sep 2007

    Mortgages Plc has suspended all of its heavy and unlimited adverse products in its latest criteria change.

  • MPs throw the spotlight on FSA over Northern Rock saga

    21 Sep 2007

    The FSA and Treasury are to be hauled in front of the Treasury select committee to explain their role in the Northern Rock fiasco as MPs turn up the heat on the regulator.

  • Myners' strike

    20 Sep 2007

    The head of the personal accounts delivery authority must ensure he really does deliver

  • New Health Service

    20 Sep 2007

    Healthcare Will Henley reports on the reaction to the latest Wanless report on NHS funding with many healthcare professionals believing that the system will have to change radically to incorporate private insurance and treatment

  • New ideas

    20 Sep 2007

    Best ideas funds are proving popular and more are on the way. Chris Salih reports

  • New pension scheme buyout service comes to market

    24 Sep 2007

    Newly launched company Occupational Pensions Trust says it aims to set up a national pension scheme confederation that will enable companies to remove closed defined benefit schemes from their balance sheets.

  • New senior credit analyst appointed at BlackRock

    19 Sep 2007

    BlackRock has announced the appointment of Stephen Hunnisett to its Europe, Middle East and Africa fixed income team as a senior credit analyst.

  • Northern Rock to not pay interim dividend to shareholders

    25 Sep 2007

    Reports on the BBC have suggested that Northern Rock will not pay the interim dividend it announced in July before its recent turmoil.According to the BBC, the firm has come under pressure from both the FSA and the Treasury not to make the payment of £59m.The article says that it is likely the bank will defer the dividend payment, not cancel it altogether. An official announcement is expected later on Tuesday or Wednesday.

  • Norwich & Peterborough - 25 Year Fixed Rate

    25 Sep 2007

    Norwich & Peterborough25 Year Fixed Rate

  • Norwich & Peterborough - Five Year Fixed Rate

    25 Sep 2007

    Norwich & PeterboroughFive Year Fixed Rate

  • Norwich & Peterborough - Five Year Fixed Rate

    25 Sep 2007

    Norwich & PeterboroughFive Year Fixed Rate

  • Norwich & Peterborough - One-Year Fixed/Tracker Rate

    25 Sep 2007

    Norwich & PeterboroughOne-Year Fixed/Tracker Rate

  • Norwich & Peterborough - Two-Year Fixed/Tracker Rate

    25 Sep 2007

    Norwich & PeterboroughTwo-Year Fixed/Tracker Rate

  • NU and Post Office in protection deal

    20 Sep 2007

    Norwich Union has struck a distribution deal with Post Office Financial Services which will make NU protection products available to post office customers.

  • On a road to nowhere?

    20 Sep 2007

    A lot of time and marketing have gone into pushing absolute return and total return vehicles over recent years and now is the time for them to prove their worth but they have been somewhat hit and miss.

  • On a role

    20 Sep 2007

    What a summer it has been. Putting the foul weather to one side, usually July and August are fairly quiet investment and recruitment wise due to people being on holiday and stockmarket concerns tend not to surface until people return in September and October. Perhaps because everyone is in constant touch via Blackberrys or Wifi, this summer has been very different.

  • On the record

    20 Sep 2007

    It is essential that coverage provided by all trade newspapers is as accurate as possible. The risk of being accused of sensationalism is high, particularly when many companies in the sub prime sector are feeling the pain.

  • Origo draws up mortgage standard schedule

    20 Sep 2007

    Origo has set out a timeline for mortgage standards to be in place by the second quarter of next year.

  • Out of focus

    20 Sep 2007

    Amid the welter of words that have followed the publication of the retail distribution review, most of the attention has focused on the technical aspects of the proposals. Very little time has been spent on trying to understand what consumers actually want.

  • Over a third of advisers will drop the menu and IDD, says Aegon

    21 Sep 2007

    Despite concern about what they will be replaced with, 37 per cent of advisers say they will stop using the menu and initial disclosure document from November 1, according to Aegon research.

  • Parting thoughts

    20 Sep 2007

    Marriage breakdown can be a testing time for financial advisers as well as the estranged spouses, says Informed Choice managing director Nick Bamford, as he poses questions for advisers to assess their knowledge on pensions and divorce

  • Paul Wilcox

    20 Sep 2007

    A background in mechanics and accounting has helped the founder of IHT planning specialist Way Group design the sort of engineered strategies needed to mitigate against the tax in an era when booming house prices have pushed more people over the threshold. By Will Henley

  • Paws for thought

    20 Sep 2007

    Ever the professional, Seven IM's Justin Urquhart Stewart was conducting a radio interview from his home studio and wound up counting his blessings that it was not a live TV recording.

  • Pease super

    20 Sep 2007

    Amid recent turmoil in world stockmarkets, some markets may have fallen too far.

  • Pension consolidation business soars since A-Day

    20 Sep 2007

    Pension consolidation business has rocketed since A-Day according to advisers with 73 per cent saying this type of business has increased since April 6 2006.

  • Pensions reach breaking point

    20 Sep 2007

    Leading pension consultants Malcolm Small and Ros Altmann say the UK pensions sector is no longer fit for purpose and is in urgent need of a radical overhaul.

  • People on the move - Distribution

    21 Sep 2007

    Wenda Field has joined Intelliflo's senior management team as sales and marketing manager.

  • People on the move - Investment

    20 Sep 2007

    Multi-manager duo Gary Potter and Robert Burdett have joined Thames River with plans to launch a core range of five multi-manager funds on October 1. Potter and Burdett had been on six-month gardening leave following their departure from Credit Suisse.

  • People on the move - Life and pensions

    21 Sep 2007

    Prudential has appointed Scottish Life Intern-ational technical manager Gerry Brown as tax and trust manager with responsibility for its onshore and offshore inheritance tax planning products.

  • People on the move - Mortgages

    21 Sep 2007

    Richard Farr has been appointed as director at the Association of Mortgage Intermediaries. Farr was head of marketing comm-unications at Portman Building Society. He will report directly to AMI director general Chris Cummings.

  • Pink Home Loans - Kensington Mortgages Near Prime Two-Year Fixed BTL

    25 Sep 2007

    Pink Home LoansKensington Mortgages Near Prime Two-Year Fixed BTL

  • Pink Home Loans- Kensington Mortgages Near Prime Max Three-Year Fixed BTL

    25 Sep 2007

    Pink Home LoansKensington Mortgages Near Prime Max Three-Year Fixed BTL

  • Pink Home Loans- Kensington Mortgages Near Prime Max Two-Year Fixed BTL

    25 Sep 2007

    Pink Home LoansKensington Mortgages Near Prime Max Two-Year Fixed BTL

  • Platform for good advice

    20 Sep 2007

    The Financial Technology Research Centre's Adviser Forum has set up a discussion group comprising advisers, Aifa, the IMA and platforms with the aim of creating good practice notes for advisers using risk profiling and asset allocation tools.

  • Poll finds public perplexed over protection costs

    20 Sep 2007

    Consumers believe that the cost of protection products is the main reason that people do not take out cover, according to Aegon Scottish Equitable research.

  • Professional Practive

    20 Sep 2007

    The president of the Chartered Insurance Institute, Lord Hunt, says the CII cannot act as another trade body and that if it were to fight the FSA on the retail distribution review proposals, it would not get very far.

  • PSigma sets up Euro income

    20 Sep 2007

    PSigma is to launch a European equity income fund to be run by investment boutique 2CG founders Charles Glasse and Chris Garsten.

  • Public fail to recognise IFA 'gurus'

    20 Sep 2007

    Advisers are not marketing the benefits of their services properly, with consumers failing to understand the proposition IFAs offer, according to research by Aegon.

  • RDR shake-out

    20 Sep 2007

    The proposals outlined in the retail distribution review suggest a radical change in the way that UK financial advice and remuneration might be structured. While the RDR proposals seek to clarify regulatory requirements and encourage advisers to move towards principle-based regulation, the final outcome depends upon a consultation process which is not yet complete.

  • Regular guise

    20 Sep 2007

    Helen Monks reports that many life offices are increasingly focusing on profitable single-premium business but some firms feel that the regular-premium sector should not be shunned as it performs a valuable savings service

  • Reid all about it

    20 Sep 2007

    Congratulations to my fellow columnist Robert Reid who is about to become president of the Personal Finance Society. Having known and respected Robert for longer than I care to remember, I believe he will achieve his target of raising the profile of the PFS and will work hard to ensure the retail distribution review offers benefits to members.

  • Rental arithmetic

    20 Sep 2007

    As house price rises are finally reined in, the buy-to-let industry is confident that the figures still stack up for landlords, says Guy Anker

  • Resolution confirms Standard Life and Pearl are interested in the firm

    20 Sep 2007

    Resolution has confirmed that Standard Life and Pearl Assurance expressed interest in the firm shortly after the announcement of its proposed merger with Friends Provident.

  • Resolution profits up by 20%

    20 Sep 2007

    Resolution grew its new business profits by 20 per cent to 30m in the first six months compared with the second half of 2006.

  • Resolution ready with Europe duo

    20 Sep 2007

    Resolution Asset Management is to build on its European equities range with the launch of international pan-European and European smaller companies portfolios.

  • Retail therapy

    20 Sep 2007

    Financial services is constantly evolving and innovating to keep up with the times. As a result, recent developments do lead one to question whether "retail" is still a meaningful term when it comes to the fund management industry.

  • Rock around the clock

    20 Sep 2007

    I have not been involved in arranging mortgages for my clients for a number of years now but I could not help but notice the problems being encountered by Northern Rock and that it has approached the Bank of England for a loan. I trust that the Bank of England will charge Northern Rock a very large arrangement fee, impose massive exit penalties and tie them into the loan for the next 10 years? What goes around comes around. Paul Spires Certified financial planner

  • Rock follies

    20 Sep 2007

    It was not difficult to decide the topic for this column. Northern Rock has dominated the headlines since last Thursday evening, when the BBC broke the news that the bank had arranged an emergency facility from the Bank of England although it did not draw on it last week.

  • Rock hoppers call on NS&I

    20 Sep 2007

    National Savings & Investments saw new flows into its products more than double over the weekend. Its call centres also had higher than average call volumes, including many from Northern Rock savers.

  • Rock steady but pensioners exposed

    20 Sep 2007

    Pensions consultant Ros Altmann had lots to say this week about Northern Rock and the state of the UK pensions sector.

  • Rowanmoor has tax plan to revive PTA

    20 Sep 2007

    Rowanmoor aims to revive pension term assurance with a product that allows employers and trustees to pay contributions into a term assurance policy and get tax relief.

  • Running round the Rock

    20 Sep 2007

    One saver with Northern Rock said this week that, having seen what happened with Equitable Life he was rushing to get his money out of the Rock.

  • Savers seek to return withdrawn cash

    20 Sep 2007

    Northern Rock says savers were seeking to reinvest their money on Tuesday after the Government's pledge to safeguard their savings calmed the mass panic seen over the weekend.

  • Schroders - Schroder Japan Alpha Plus

    25 Sep 2007

    SchrodersSchroder Global Climate Change Fund

  • Schroders funds get top Lipper rankings

    20 Sep 2007

    Schroders' multi-manager strategic balanced and multi-manager high alpha portfolio funds have marked their three-year anniversaries with top 10 Lipper rankings in their respective sectors.

  • Scottish Widows - Diversified Assets Life & Pension Fund

    25 Sep 2007

    Scottish WidowsDiversified Assets Life & Pension Fund

  • Scottish Widows - Dynamic Property Fund

    25 Sep 2007

    Scottish WidowsDynamic Property Fund

  • Sesame research highlights clear gender split in mortgage protection

    25 Sep 2007

    New research from Sesame has highlighted the clear gender split in the ‘protection gap’ when it comes to ensuring your home is safe in the event of redundancy or illness.

  • Six questions for providers

    20 Sep 2007

    The protection gap will only close if product providers commit at least 10 times more cash to educating consumers, says Lifesearch managing director Tom Baigrie.

  • Skandia tops Tenet's service survey for second year

    25 Sep 2007

    Skandia has come top in Tenet's member survey of providers service for the second year in a row.

  • Spiers steps down as Bestinvest director

    25 Sep 2007

    Bestinvest founder John Spiers has stepped down as a director of the firm after earlier selling his majority stake to private equity firm 3i.

  • Splintered Films - Splintered EIS

    25 Sep 2007

    Splintered FilmsSplintered EIS

  • Spottiswoode warns of more delays

    20 Sep 2007

    Aviva policyholder advocate Clare Spottiswoode has warned Norwich Union with-profits policyholders that the huge amount of work involved in the potential reattribution of Aviva's inherited estate on its with-profits funds means any payouts will be delayed until summer 2008.

  • Stand and deliver

    20 Sep 2007

    The general lack of financial capability in the UK is not only damaging to the individuals concerned, it affects their families, friends, the communities in which they reside and the economy as a whole.

  • Standard Life considers bid for Resolution

    19 Sep 2007

    Standard Life is considering a cash and shares offer for Resolution if the Board believes it is in the best interests of Standard Life shareholders.

  • Standard offers 4,000 prizes

    20 Sep 2007

    Standard Life has put prizes worth 4,000 up for grabs in a series of online games to mark the 10th anniversary of its adviserzone extranet.

  • Stewardship to include banks and insurers in ethical funds

    19 Sep 2007

    Stewardship has announced it will allow selected financial services institutions including some major insurers and banks into its ethical investment portfolios.

  • Street life

    20 Sep 2007

    Many people say that their career in financial services came about by chance and I am no exception.

  • Sub-prime numbers still add up

    20 Sep 2007

    Tara Powley reports on research which shows that brokers are wary of some lenders but still have faith in the sub-prime mortgage market

  • Team spirit

    20 Sep 2007

    A lot of time has been spent on the importance of recruiting new blood into the Industry. While an important topic, retaining staff is much more cost effective than recruiting replacements. It follows, therefore, that firms that fail to invest in the right training and development do not realise the maximum value from their teams.

  • The Pensions Regulator slams new pension buyout company OPT's claims as "misleading"

    25 Sep 2007

    The Pensions Regulator has issued a stinging rebuke against newly launched pensions liability buyout company Occupational Pensions Trust and asked it to withdraw claims that it has endorsed its services.

  • The Route Group - Footprint Film Fund

    24 Sep 2007

    The Route GroupFootprint Film Fund

  • Tigue looks to the long term

    20 Sep 2007

    F&C Investment Trust manager Jeremy Tigue says he has been increasing borrowings in the trust to scoop up cheap shares during the credit crunch.

  • Tories call for urgent banking reform and pledge co-operation with Treasury

    20 Sep 2007

    The Conservatives have written to Chancellor Alistair Darling offering their co-operation with any urgent action taken to reform banking regulation in the aftermath of the Northern Rock affair.

  • Transfer requests

    20 Sep 2007

    In my last article, I started to outline and discuss the reasons why it might be advantageous for some, or indeed many, pension scheme members to transfer out of an existing money-purchase scheme into another.

  • 'Tune into specialist channel'

    20 Sep 2007

    Protection providers should invest in advisers who specialise in protection and stop pouring money into "uninterested part-timers", says Lifesearch managing director Tom Baigrie.

  • Two new appointments at Credit Suisse

    25 Sep 2007

    Credit Suisse has announced two appointments to its fixed income team for asset management.

  • UK savings up by almost £10bn, says Unbiased.co.uk

    24 Sep 2007

    Unbiased.co.uk figures show that savings increased by almost £10bn to £47bn in the second quarter of 2007, while borrowing dropped from nearly £13bn to £4bn compared to the same time last year.

  • Under the influence

    20 Sep 2007

    There used to be a time, not so long ago, when young boys doffed their caps as their headmaster passed by, when the bank manager was held in such high regard that it was inconceivable to question his authority and when politicians were revered as the custodians of a civilised society.

  • US federal reserve cuts rates to 4.75 per cent

    19 Sep 2007

    The US central bank has made the move to cut rates to 4.75 per cent from 5.25 per cent amidst the sub-prime turmoil.

  • Vertex picks duo for board

    20 Sep 2007

    Vertex has appointed two divisional directors to sit on its main operating board.

  • Volatility will last to the end of the year, says F&C

    19 Sep 2007

    F&C Investments says that although the worst is over, the financial markets will be volatile for the rest of 2007 and there will be some high profile problems in individual companies, sectors and markets.

  • 'We can beat the banks'

    20 Sep 2007

    Positive Solutions chief executive Jim Reeve says the firm is better equipped to serve the mass market than either bancassurers or insurance companies.

  • We're joining Aifa as it's doing a great job

    20 Sep 2007

    RH Investment Service has decided to join Aifa as it feels this is the best industry body to look after the interests of the majority of the IFA community.

  • Where is Northern Rock’s knight in shining armour?

    21 Sep 2007

    What a week it has been for the mortgage world. The events which have been played out over the last seven days with Northern Rock could have been lifted directly from a film plot (although perhaps not a film that many people would exactly rush to see…)

  • Where there's a quill

    20 Sep 2007

    The media is obsessed with knocking IFAs but what about solicitors?

  • 'Where was Northern Rock's white knight?'

    20 Sep 2007

    Mortgage brokers have laid the blame over the Northern Rock mass panic on the Government, the FSA and the Bank of England for failing to be a white knight to the lender weeks ago.

  • Wood you believe it?

    20 Sep 2007

    Royal London's Gareth Evans sent a thank you to the Diary for flagging up Tom McPhail's new blog.

  • Woolwich cuts two year fix to 5.59 per cent

    21 Sep 2007

    Woolwich has cut as much as half a per cent off its fixed rate mortgages and says it will maintain tracker rates at current levels.

  • Wrangle over training fees for mortgage candidates

    20 Sep 2007

    Leading mortgage brokers are questioning whether candidates should be paying hefty fees to be trained by mortgage networks and brokerages.

  • Wynne-Jones leaves Assureweb

    20 Sep 2007

    Assureweb director of sales and marketing Stephen Wynne-Jones is leaving the firm. Norwich Union's Mark Wilson will take over the trimmed-down role of head of propositions with chief executive John Spellman taking a more hands-on approach. Head of product management Chris Metcalf is also leaving after his position was made redundant.

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