Money Marketing
Lee Jones Editorial
Lee became a features writer at Money Marketing in September 2009. Before that he covered mortgages and economics for the newspaper from August 2008. He was formerly a mortgage reporter at Mortgage Strategy magazine before taking time out to teach English in Eastern Hungary.
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The holy grail of corporate wraps
11 Oct 2010
Steve Bee on how Paradigm’s new employee benefits service will enable advisers to take advantage of the upcoming pension reforms.
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Sense of fairness
October Retirement Strategy
Association of Consulting Actuaries chairman Stuart Southall says fairness for all is central to the ACA’s theme for pension reform Lee Jones reports
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Chadney Bulgin goes fully fee-based for loan advice
1 Oct 2010
Chadney Bulgin is to become fully fee-based for mortgage advice after a successful six-month trial.
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Two-thirds of CFEB's 800 volunteers are IFAs
1 Oct 2010
Two-thirds of the 600 volunteers running the Consumer Financial Education Body’s workplace seminars are IFAs.
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Fee for all
1 Oct 2010
Lee Jones reports on a marked move by mortgage brokers to charging fees for advice
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£6K annual pension top-up is needed
30 September 2010
The UK has the biggest pension gap in Europe, standing at £318bn, according to Aviva.
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New Saga chief Altmann pledges to shake up Omo
30 September 2010
Incoming Saga director general Ros Altmann has vowed to shake up the open market option for the company’s 2.7 million customers.
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Miliband: We would be making painful cuts too
28 Sep 2010
New Labour leader says he will support some of the Government’s cuts.
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MPC member calls for more QE
28 Sep 2010
Adam Posen says now is the time for more monetary intervention to avoid a British ’Lost Deacde’.
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IMF says UK is on the mend
27 Sep 2010
Deficit reduction will lead to modest growth says annual report.
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Home alone
24 Sep 2010
The number of new houses started in 2008/09 is down by 42 per cent on the previous year, which is leading to concerns about a lack of supply of rental property coming into the market.
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PAYE overhaul must not delay Nest
23 Sep 2010
Experts are warning that the Nest rollout must not be hindered by Government plans to overhaul the pay as you earn tax system.
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Skandia wants LTA axed to boost saving
23 Sep 2010
Skandia calls on HMRC to scrap the lifetime allowance on pension savings in an attempt to help more people save for retirement.
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Workplace pensions must follow 5% euro rule
23 Sep 2010
Standard Life has warned occupational pension scheme trustees to make sure their plans do not have more than 5 per cent invested in their sponsoring employer.
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Dale warns off MPC detractors
23 Sep 2010
BoE director Spencer Dale says talk of Bank going soft on inflation ‘dangerous’.
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Irish GDP plummets
23 Sep 2010
Ireland teeters on double dip after economy contracts in Q2 2010.
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Lloyds chief Daniels to retire
23 September 2010
Lloyds Banking Group chief executive Eric Daniels is to retire in autumn next year.
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Marlene Shalton
23 September 2010
The new president of the Institute of Financial Planning describes how she uses skills gained as a probation officer to gain a person’s trust and understand their financial needs Interview by Lee Jones
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Social expert takes on education role
23 September 2010
The FSA’s appointment of Gerard Lemos as chairman of the Consumer Financial Education Body has been hailed as an opportunity to help people on lower incomes who do not have access to financial advice.
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FSA fines advisers for Lehman-backed structured product sales
22 Sep 2010
Regulator fines three advisers for wrongly advising on Lehman-backed structured products.
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Government borrows record £15.9bn in August
21 Sep 2010
The Government borrowed £15.9bn in August, the highest August figure since records began.
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Managers need to push active management, says Fitch
21 Sep 2010
Ratings agency says asset managers need to produce more tailor-made products.
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Turner: CPMA must balance choice with customer protection
21 Sep 2010
Chairman Lord Turner pledges new regulator will not stifle freedom of choice.
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European bailout is not working, says Pimco
20 Sep 2010
World’s biggest bond investor says Euro sovereign collapse is still a reality.
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FSA appoints consumer education body chair
20 Sep 2010
Social issues think tank head Gerard Lemos to chair new Consumer Financial Education Board.
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Lloyds CEO to step down
20 Sep 2010
Lloyds chief executive Eric Daniels to step down in a year’s time.
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UK AAA rating safe, says Moody’s
20 Sep 2010
Ratings agency says UK is now on right path to keep top rating.
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Former owner to buy back Foxtons debt
17 Sep 2010
BC Partners set to buyback Alexander Hall and Foxtons debt eight months after it ceded control of the business, says report.
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FSA warns off EU from interfering with national regulation
17 Sep 2010
Lord Turner warns new EU regulator that national authorities are the experts.
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HSBC sells majority of Asian fund management arm
17 Sep 2010
HSBC has sold 80 per cent of its stake in its HSBC Private Equity Asia business to the management team.
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L&G Investments appoints sales director
17 Sep 2010
Legal & General Investments has appointed Frank McGarry as sales director.
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No sovereign debt is risk free, says Buiter
17 Sep 2010
Former MPC member says any advanced economy debt could default.
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UK tax gap up 10% to £42bn
17 Sep 2010
£9 of every £100 owed to HMRC was missing in the last tax year.
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EU to crack down on derivative markets
16 Sep 2010
European Commission to impose stronger regulation on ’wild west’ markets.
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Santander may look to London float to raise capital
16 Sep 2010
Santander UK may be looking to raise £4bn from floatation.
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Brooks Macdonald profits up 78%
15 Sep 2010
IFA and discretionary fund manager attributes growth to recent acquisitions and partnerships with other IFAs.
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Hoban blames Labour for possible reduced Equitable Life payout
15 Sep 2010
Treasury financial secretary Mark Hoban says Labour’s inability to resolve Equitable issue means £5bn payout may be reduced.
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King says deficit reduction plan is "vital"
15 Sep 2010
Bank of England governor Mervyn King defends Government cuts in front of trade unions.
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Ros Altmann to head up Saga
15 Sep 2010
Pensions expert to be director general of over-50s group.
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TISA to head up DIFs regulation debate
15 Sep 2010
Tax body calls for an industry-wide DIF solution.
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US deficit puts superpower status at risk, says Paulson
15 Sep 2010
On second anniversary of Lehmans collapse former US Treasury secretary fires a warning.
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Buffett says US will avoid double dip
14 Sep 2010
Warren Buffett says he is a “huge bull” on the US economy.
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FSA founder says scrapping regulator is a mistake
14 Sep 2010
First FSA chairman Howard Davies says politicians must stop treating financial regulation as a ’political football’.
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Inflation holds in August
14 Sep 2010
CPI stays at 3.1% due to increasing costs of food and clothes.
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RBS launches first mortgage securitisation since crunch
14 Sep 2010
State-backed bank returns to wholesale market with £4.7bn RMBS.
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Government launches social bond
10 Sep 2010
Social Finance and Ministry of Justice launch bond to fund young offenders.
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G7 economic growth slowing, says OECD
9 Sep 2010
UK GDP growth healthier than most but growth is slowing fast, according to the international think tank.
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Is it time for QE2?
9 Sep 2010
Should the MPC embark on a second round of fiscal stimulus?
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AIA set to float in Hong Kong
9 Sep 2010
AIG’s Asian arm may float next month after Pru’s failed bid, says report
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RBS axe falling on 3,500 more jobs despite £1.5bn profit
9 September 2010
Royal Bank of Scotland is set to cut 3,500 jobs, bringing the total number of roles slashed by the bank since 2009 up to 21,500.
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Seconds out for hourly fees
6 Sep 2010
Lee Jones reports that a debate is raging over fee-charging methods after an emerging trend in the legal sector that has seen solicitors forced to switch from their traditional ways
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Advisers warned on VAT bills after RDR
3 Sep 2010
Experts warn that adviser firms could come under scrutiny from HM Revenue & Customs if their post-RDR billing shows a significant increase in VAT-able activity.
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Godfrey Bloom
2 September 2010
The Ukip MEP for Yorkshire is rocking the boat in London and Brussels to get a fair deal for financial services and a prime target is the FSA which he says is ’treating IFAs like criminals’ Interview by Lee Jones
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Incentive themes
September Retirement Strategy
Tax relief is considered an important incentive to get people to save but what else can be done to lift them out of their malaise? Lee Jones reports
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Japan at a crossroads
September Retirement Strategy
Japan has the world’s oldest population and a deepening retirement crisis but it seems even further from a solution than the UK Lee Jones reports
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LTVs could be capped to cut risk
2 September 2010
Bean: ‘Direct constraints’
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RBS to cut 3,500 jobs
2 Sep 2010
Bank to cut staff after branch sales and office closures.
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Sipp building
September Retirement Strategy
Director Mark Pepper tells Lee Jones how the credit crunch sparked the development of a commercial enterprise using clients’ Sipp investments
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Sweetening the jam jar mentality
September Retirement Strategy
People want to see all their money working together and experts believe that mortgages are a viable base to get people saving Lee Jones reports
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‘Computer says no’ culture holding back housing market, says Aldermore
1 Sep 2010
Lender says too many good borrowers are being denied mortgages.
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Experian director joins Hornbuckle Mitchell
1 Sep 2010
John Jennings appointed to ops director.
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UK industry data falls to 2010 low
1 Sep 2010
UK PMI index falls to 10-month low.
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Julian Stevens
23 Aug 2010
One of the most outspoken and trenchant IFA critics of the FSA has managed to avoid the regulator’s ’Swat team’ so far and after the RDR is aiming to passport into the UK through a European regulator.
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Pension deficit puts UK £5trn in debt
23 Aug 2010
Think tank argues that official figure of £816bn ignores UK’s pension liabilities.
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Bank of Scotland pulls out of Ireland
20 Aug 2010
Bank of Scotland Ireland to be wound down following loses in Irish property crash.
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Basel shake-up to hit bank bondholders
20 Aug 2010
New Basel III rules could see bondholders’ investments written off in the case of a bailout.
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Henderson’s Ward questions impending VAT hike
20 Aug 2010
Economist Simon Ward says Government borrowing will fall adequately without tax injection.
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N&P chief defends Keydata advice
20 Aug 2010
N&P chief Matthew Bullock points finger at Keydata management.
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Mortgage spreads at all time high
19 Aug 2010
Margins between average rates and current swap rates doubled in two years, says Moneyfacts.
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Coventry reports 20% profit hike
18 Aug 2010
Building Society profits up £43.5m as its mortgage and savings balances increase.
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Sentance continues to call for rate hike as MPC stands firm
18 Aug 2010
MPC hawk calls for a rate hike for the third time.
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Turnaround specialist increases stake in F&C
18 Aug 2010
Buyout specialist increases stake in F&C to 9.4%.
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Aegon settles with EU Commission
17 Aug 2010
Aegon has concluded its approval process with the European Commission after its €3bn bailout in October 2008.
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Aviva investors urge RSA deal rethink
17 Aug 2010
Top investors urge Aviva to reconsider £5bn offer from Canadian insurer.
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Inflation remains above 3%
17 Aug 2010
CPI at 3.1% in July, more than 1% above the Bank’s target.
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Lehmans wind-up costs tip $1bn
17 Aug 2010
Lawyers charge millions of dollars while investors fear no redress.
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Structured defence
16 Aug 2010
Lee Jones reports that one of the leading lights in the structured sector believes IFAs are missing out because they do not understand the products and have been scared off by a media onslaught over isolated incidents
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China supersedes Japan as second-largest economy in Q2
16 Aug 2010
Japan posts Q2 GDP of $1.288trn, lower than China’s Q2 figure of $1.337trn.
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Industry surrendered the initiative over RDR
12 August 2010
Johnson: ‘IFA community eventually will not offer any advice at all’
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'Merge Isa and pension worlds'
12 August 2010
A thinktank is pressing for the Isa to play a bigger role in the pension accumulation process.
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Pension watchdogs fed up with ABI over Omo stance
12 August 2010
McPhail says pension regulators are “tired” of the ABI downplaying the benefits of the open market option.
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'Regulator and banks have been blocking pro bono advice scheme'
12 August 2010
Advisers have hit out at the FSA for hindering attempts to develop simplified advice.
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US and Australia should be pension inspirations
12 August 2010
Pension schemes overseas have been held up as models of ways to get people to engage with their pensions.
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Bank downgrades UK growth prospects
11 Aug 2010
Bank of England governor warns of years of slow growth.
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Iain Anderson
9 Aug 2010
Director and chief corporate counsel of Cicero Consulting urges IFAs to unite and seize the opportunity to help shape regulatory reform
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Fund Managers' Views
9 Aug 2010
Lee Jones asks four fund managers to give their outlook for the Europe ex-UK sector
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Think tank says downturn will last until 2012
6 Aug 2010
NIESR says UK GDP grew by 0.9% but depressed economy will continue on.
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Can you really trust the experts?
5 Aug 2010
Can all the industry experts who missed Lehmans be relied upon to predict the future?
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Rates held at 0.5%
5 Aug 2010
Bank of England holds base rate at 0.5% and QE is held at £200bn
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Is America ready to fight deflation?
3 Aug 2010
Will the US act now to curb a possible downturn?
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HSBC reports 121% profit hike
2 Aug 2010
British bank posts H1 pre-tax profits of more than £7bn
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Major European banks pass stress test
29 July 2010
All the major European banks passed the Committee of European Banking Supervisors’ stress test while seven small government-controlled banks failed.
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Should retail investors be following Cameron to India?
29 Jul 2010
India’s booming economy could offer opportunities for businesses and investors
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Tackling fraud in the mortgage market
29 July 2010
One in five financial frauds in the UK are mortgage-related and the FSA is driving change with new regulations but what steps can the market take? By Lee Jones
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Is it doom or boom for the euro?
26 Jul 2010
Lee Jones reports on divided opinion over whether the euro will crash and burn or if an overblown crisis of confidence offers investment opportunities
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All major European banks pass stress test
23 Jul 2010
Seven regional Euro banks failed banking supervisor’s tests.
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MMTV: Malone says home ownership low on Govt agenda
23 Jul 2010
Following our recent mortgage round table, PMS executive chairman John Malone offers his views on the way ahead for the UK mortgage and housing sectors.
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Preliminary Q2 GDP figures rocket
23 Jul 2010
Experts predict the end of monetary loosening after estimates of +1.1% growth in Q2.
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Select committee chairman questions Treasury's OBR role
22 Jul 2010
Andrew Tyrie questions how the Treasury can work with the OBR and be independent in their forecasts.
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UK economy to be ‘incredibly anaemic’ for years says Bank chief
22 Jul 2010
Bank of England chief economist Spencer Dale warns of triple threat to UK economy.
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FOS appoints new ops director from NHS
21 Jul 2010
Ombudsman hires NHS director Simon Rouse.
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More QE is vital to avoid double dip
21 Jul 2010
Ignis chief economist Stuart Thomson says UK and US must inject more money into economies to avoid another recession.
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Budd calls for wider OBR remit to attract talent
20 Jul 2010
Outgoing chairman Sir Alan Budd says forecasting alone is not attractive.
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Rates need to rise to aid recovery, says MPC’s Sentance
14 Jul 2010
Hawkish MPC member says now is the time to up rates from all-time lows of 0.5%.
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BBA slams IoD for "dodgy statistics"
13 Jul 2010
The British Bankers’ Association has hit out at the Institute of Directors for using “dodgy statistics” and for failing to engage with the association.
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RBS chief says cost of banking to rise
13 Jul 2010
Stephen Hester says “safer” banks will come at a cost.
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Tyrie warns of Government conflicts of interest
13 Jul 2010
Treasury select committee chair announces investigation into banking sector competition.
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15% of Euro banks may fail stress tests
12 Jul 2010
As many as 15 per cent of European banks may fail a rigourous stress test, according to a report by a German newspaper.
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S&P keeps UK on negative watch
12 Jul 2010
Standard & Poor’s says the UK’s AAA status is still at threat thanks to its Government debt burden.
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Investment Brief: INFLATION
9 Jul 2010
The issue of inflation continues to trouble investment decision-making. Two analysts outline their opposing arguments. Interviews by Lee Jones
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Children's Mutual suspends new business
8 July 2010
The Children’s Mutual has temporarily suspended all new business of with-profits, its Growing Up bond and non-stakeholder child trust funds.
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Virginie Maisonneuve
8 July 2010
Schroders head of global and international equities and global alpha plus fund co-manager says a firm belief in your stockpicking philosophy and close attention to the finer details will bring investment rewards Interview by Lee Jones
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Children’s Mutual suspends new business
2 Jul 2010
The Children’s Mutual has temporarily suspended all new business of with-profits, growing up bond and non-stakeholder Child Trust Funds.
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Is this the new normal?
2 Jul 2010
Is Pimco managing director Bill Gross’s pessimistic outlook for the developed world correct?
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Work forces
July Retirement Strategy
Phasing out the default retirement age and scrapping forced annuitisation will help people work longer and save more for retirement By Lee Jones
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MPC member says deflation still a threat
30 Jun 2010
Adam Posen says UK is poised between recovery and recession.
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Banking body warns central banks against low rates
29 Jun 2010
Bank for Internation Settlements says risk can spiral and equities can be over-valued in a low-rate world.
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UK faces both inflation and deflation fears, says Pimco
28 Jun 2010
The UK faces “substantial” threats of both deflation and inflation, according to Pimco, the world’s biggest bond investor.
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RBS warns of global financial ‘cliff-edge’
28 Jun 2010
Investors should be preparing for a financial “cliff-edge” as the Eurozone and the US prepare for “monster” money printing exercises, according to RBS.
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Bank of England warns against Lehman style accounting ‘gimmicks’
28 Jun 2010
The Bank of England has warned UK banks that it is essential that their balance sheets are not fudged to concentrate on end-period figures.
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Rates need to rise, says Sentance
28 Jun 2010
MPC member Andrew Sentance stands by his call to raise rates to 0.75%.
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US lawyers finalise financial reform bill
25 Jun 2010
President Obama pushes bill to reform Wall Street.
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Borrowers could be hit by £2bn bank levy
25 Jun 2010
Experts have warned that customers may bear the brunt of the new £2bn annual bank levy.
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VCTs and EIS set for a surge
25 Jun 2010
Venture capital trust and enterprise investment scheme business could rise sharply after the rise in capital gains tax.
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Europe needs €2 trillion bail out, says Buiter
24 Jun 2010
Citigroup economist and former MPC member says €860bn bailout is too small.
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New regime to apply to all
24 June 2010
The FSA says it would be “naive” not to apply the new mortgage market approved persons’ regime to tied advisers.
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BUDGET: Experts hit out at avoidance proposals
22 Jun 2010
Experts have criticised the Budget’s proposals to instate a General Anti-Avoidance Rule.
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BUDGET: Govt to hit banks with £2bn annual tax
22 Jun 2010
The UK banking sector is to be hit with an annual £2bn bank levy from January 2011.
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BUDGET: State pension to be linked to earnings
22 Jun 2010
The state pension will once again be linked to earnings from April 2011.
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BUDGET: UK borrowing to fall to 1.1% GDP by 2015/16
22 Jun 2010
UK Government borrowing will fall to from 10.1 per cent of GDP in 2010 to 1.1 per cent of GDP by 2015/16, according to the Chancellor.
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Fitch: UK Budget ‘strong intent’ to keep AAA status
22 Jun 2010
Fitch Ratings says a delivery of today’s Budget will materially strengthen the UK’s AAA status.
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Deflation could see return of easing
18 Jun 2010
The Bank of England may be forced to restart its quantitative easing programme.
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Mike Fosberry
18 Jun 2010
PFS president and Smith & Williamson national head of financial services believes IFAs should be regarded as a professional no different from a lawyer or an accountant and as RDR looms.
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PFS handbook for CAB volunteers
18 Jun 2010
Handbook for IFAs looking to team up with the Citizen’s Advice Bureaux and offer pro bono financial advice.
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FSA: bank advisers will not be exempt from new AP regime
18 Jun 2010
FSA’s Lesley Titcomb says tied bank advisers will not be exempt from the new approved persons regime set to be introduced across the mortgage market.
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Is a double-dip coming?
18 Jun 2010
Will austerity measures push the UK back into a recession?
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Santander sole bidder for RBS branches
18 Jun 2010
Spanish bank tends only bid for 300-strong branch network.
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Rate rise will come before QE withdrawal, says King
17 Jun 2010
BoE governor Mervyn King says monetary policy will come before fiscal retrenchment.
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Metro Bank to open July 29
16 Jun 2010
New bank promises to ’make banking fun for everyone’.
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Fund managers say more QE on the way
15 Jun 2010
Fidelity and Artemis fund managers agree that more money needs to be printed to avoid deflation.
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Alan Cleary
14 Jun 2010
The managing director of Precise Mortgages is learning to fly in his spare time and this desire for freedom and independence has been replicated in his career flight path.
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Abroad spectrum
14 Jun 2010
Europe’s problems mean UK stocks could find more opportunities in emerging markets. By Lee Jones
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UK growth forecast downgraded to 2.6%
14 Jun 2010
Independent body Office of Budget Responsibility says GDP increases lower than March Budget forecast.
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Richard Buxton: Stick with BP
11 Jun 2010
Schroders head of equities Richard Buxton urges IFAs to calm BP investors.
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200 FSA staff take home over £100k
10 June 2010
More than 200 members of the FSA staff earn over £100,000 a year, it has been revealed.
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Annuity rates on hold ahead of Budget ruling
10 June 2010
The recent fall in annuity rates has slowed as figures from Alexander Forbes Annuity Bureau reveal most providers have held their prices as the gilt markets prepare for the emergency Budget.
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Stars playing for high stakes in Jupiter float
10 June 2010
Nutt will take a £38.8m share
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FSA bans insurance brokers for embezzling client funds
9 Jun 2010
Two separate firms found guilty of using client money to fund expenses.
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Fitch: UK deficit challenge ‘formidable’
8 Jun 2010
Ratings agency says coalition must align austerity plans with those of eurozone nations.
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Was Darling a great Chancellor?
8 Jun 2010
Will the former Chancellor be remembered as a success or a failure?
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Bric alternatives
7 Jun 2010
Gregor Watt and Lee Jones consider the potential of lesser-known emerging markets as doubts arise over the continuing performance of Brazil, Russia, India and China.
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Emerging from the crunch
7 Jun 2010
Lee Jones asks emerging market fund managers for their stock tips for success.
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Confessions of rating agency staff
7 Jun 2010
Former Moody’s employees reveal a culture at the firm which created an inability to say no.
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Pru chairman says jobs are safe
4 Jun 2010
Chairman Harvey McGrath says CEO has full support after $35bn AIA deal collapse.
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BoE deputy plays down inflation fears
4 Jun 2010
BoE deputy Charles Bean says inflation could fall this year.
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BP chief assures shareholders
3 Jun 2010
CEO Tony Hayward reassures shareholders in spite of the ongoing US leak.
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Buffett defends ratings agency
3 Jun 2010
Billionaire investor Warren Buffett says greed overtook reason to cause sub-prime crash.
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FSA fines JP Morgan £33.32m
3 Jun 2010
JP Morgan Securities has been fined a record £33.32m by the FSA for failing to protect client money.
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Jupiter’s star managers take multi-million stake in business
3 Jun 2010
Jupiter’s star fund managers are set to take a multi-million pound stake in the business when it floats at the end of the month.
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Sanlam adds to IFA team
3 June 2010
Sanlam has made two senior appointments to its UK IFA distribution team.
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More than 200 FSA staff earn over £100k
2 Jun 2010
Freedom of information act finds 215 staff earning six-figure sums.
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Mortgage lending up £500m in April
2 Jun 2010
New lending up but remortgages fall according to the Bank of England.
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MPs set to vote for Treasury select committee chair
2 Jun 2010
Fallon or Tyrie favourites to chair the TSC.
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Pru scraps AIA bid at cost of £450m
2 Jun 2010
Pru fails to negotiate lower price after shareholder opposition.
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Property principles
June Retirement Strategy
Commercial property in Sipps is common but the residential line can become blurred when investors turn to overseas holiday homes. Report by Lee Jones
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David lloyd
31 May 2010
David Lloyd is hoping his name will become as synonymous with investment funds as it is with tennis and health clubs after moving into the world of self-invested personal pensions. Interview by Lee Jones
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High impact
28 May 2010
Lee Jones gauges opinion on the big increase in high loan to value mortgages and asks if the timing is right
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Bullish experts see the bright side
28 May 2010
After a week of bears, the bulls are finding some evidence to smile about.
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Cameron: CGT changes won't hurt business
28 May 2010
Prime Minister assures any Capital Gains Tax reforms will not hurt business
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Citigroup predicts fast UK deficit cut
28 May 2010
Bank confident deficit will be halved by 2014.
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Sanlam makes senior appointments to IFA distribution team
28 May 2010
Sanlam has made two senior appointments to its UK IFA distribution department.
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Economists question inflation projection
27 May 2010
Economists have challenged the Bank of England’s projection that inflation will fall below target next year, leaving question marks over the expectation that interest rates will remain low for some time.
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UK may face deeper decade of deflation than Japan
25 May 2010
The MPC’s Adam Posen says UK may have less room to manoevre away from decade of deflation.
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Heir cut from coalition plans
24 May 2010
Gregor Watt and Lee Jones assess the taxation situation with the coalition Government dropping the Tories’ election pledge to raise the inheritance tax threshold to £1m
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Will power is still vital
24 May 2010
Lee Jones reports that will writing continues to be an essential part of estate planning
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Advisers to quit protection sales in droves, survey finds
21 May 2010
Fifty-eight per cent of protection firms predict there will be far fewer intermediaries selling protection products by 2020, according to research undertaken by the protection review.
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Richard Goodall
21 May 2010
The Ascentric sales and marketing director is driven by creating technology solutions for IFAs that keep pace with changing customer expectations.
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Is global deflation being overlooked?
21 May 2010
Experts fear world is on the precipice of second downturn.
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Coalition eyes inflation changes
20 May 2010
Adding housing costs to inflation calculations may raise target above 2%.
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Skipton 95% mortgage deal spurs competition
20 May 2010
Hollingworth: ‘Positive move’
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MPC fears upcoming austerity measures and Euro crisis
19 May 2010
Committee still confident inflation will stop rising but warns recovery is still at risk.
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Tennis legend David Lloyd launches Sipp property funds
19 May 2010
Former Davies Cup captain and health club mogul launches international five-star property funds.
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Inflation hits 3.7%
18 May 2010
Bank governor forced to write his first letter to new Chancellor as inflation remains above target.
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Skipton to launch 95% mortgage direct
14 May 2010
Deal will be offered in branches with discounts for existing customers.
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Where is the Euro going?
14 May 2010
As single currency falls to a four-year low we ask what the future holds of the Euro and for Euro investors.
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Age UK to offer annuities for small pension funds
13 May 2010
Age UK Enterprises is to launch an open market option annuity service next year aimed at helping savers with small pension pots.
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New MPs from finance sector double
13 May 2010
The proportion of new MPs from the financial services sector has doubled since Tony Blair’s Government came to power in 1997.
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Gordon Morris
13 May 2010
Age UK Enterprises managing director identified an untapped demand for financial advice among the elderly and set about plugging the gap with a range of tailored products.
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Government needs to raise VAT to 20%, says Credit Suisse
13 May 2010
Banks says Government needs to increase VAT to pay for £10bn coalition pledges.
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The financial crisis isn’t over, says King
12 May 2010
Bank governor warns UK is only part way through crisis as new Government eyes austerity measures.
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MPC holds base rate at 0.5%
10 May 2010
Postponed decision leaves base rate at all-time low for 14th month.
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Hung Parliament doesn’t put AAA status at risk, say ratings agencies
7 May 2010
Ratings agencies say the UK AAA status hinges on eventual economic policy, not any particular party.
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Moret says too much FSA focus on pension wrappers
6 May 2010
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Greek contagion ‘very real threat’ to UK, says Moody’s
6 May 2010
Ratings agency says UK’s ’difficult position’ may lead to sovereign debt crisis contagion from Southern Europe.
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The price of longevity
May Retirement Strategy
Increased longevity inevitably means lower annuity rates and the challenge is to develop an easy-to-understand asset-backed annuity By Lee Jones
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ECB may need to start QE, says Credit Suisse
5 May 2010
European Central Bank may need to buy up troubled government debt.
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Euro keeps falling as debt fears spread
5 May 2010
Euro falls below $1.30 as Eurozone debt contagion fears spread.
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Buffett says he doesn’t envy the next UK chancellor
4 May 2010
US billionaire investment guru warns of UK deficit fears.
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Greece agrees €110bn rescue package
4 May 2010
Greece has agreed a rescue loan of €110bn (£95.2bn) with the International Monetary Fund and the European Central Bank.
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UK bond markets to open 1am after election
4 May 2010
Markets for UK futures and gilts will open at 1am London time on May 7 as the general election is decided.
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Home of Choice in last minute rescue talks
30 Apr 2010
Mortgage network in talks with ’significant investor’.
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Further cuts needed after initial recovery, says thinktank
30 Apr 2010
NIESR says next government needs tax hikes and spending cuts of 2% GDP while BNP Paribas predicts a 50% chance of a AAA UK downgrade.
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Duel action
30 Apr 2010
To challenge the big brands on dual pricing and the rise of cheap direct products, advisers must use their expertise to show that best-buy mortgages are not always the best option. Lee Jones reports
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Spain downgrade puts UK in spotlight
29 Apr 2010
The downgrade of Spain has put the UK in the spotlight for the next possible sovereign downgrade, according to BNP Paribas.
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Mark crofts
29 April 2010
Association of Christian Financial Advisers chairman explains how he applies biblical practices to financial planning
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Moody's and analysts say hung Parliament could benefit Britain
29 April 2010
Parliament: Deadlock could produce cohesive solution
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S&P downgrades Spain
28 Apr 2010
Ratings agency warns Spain will not be able to reduce deficit with high unemployment and high private sector debt.
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Greece may default next week
28 Apr 2010
Experts say EU nations must give €30bn rescue loan greenlight before next week.
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Think tank attacks parties’ fiscal shortfalls
27 Apr 2010
IFS says all three parties have multi-billion shortfalls in spending cut plans.
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S&P downgrades Portugal and Greece
27 Apr 2010
Greek bonds drop to junk status as FTSE drops.
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Goldman Sachs ‘has a lot to answer for’ says US Senate
27 Apr 2010
US Senate committee refutes Goldman’s claim that it lost money as a result of the sub-prime mortgage crash.
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Add your expertise to execution-only
26 Apr 2010
Lee Jones reports that executiononly is forecast to increase after the RDR but IFAs can use their knowledge and technology to guide clients to their choices
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Greece activates €40bn EU IMF loan
23 Apr 2010
Indebted nation forced to resort to lifeline after debt yields rocketed.
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Q1 2010 UK GDP up 0.2%
23 Apr 2010
UK economy avoids ’double dip’ but growth falters on last quarter’s figures.
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Moody’s plays down hung Parliament fears
23 Apr 2010
Ratings agency says hung Parliament may aid deficit fight, in opposition to Tory warnings.
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ABI slams Lloyds chief’s bonus
23 Apr 2010
Trade body calls to reject remuneration report after Eric Daniels offered £2.3m bonus in £6.3bn loss-making year.
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Goldman was both underwriter and investor in Lloyds refinance deal
23 Apr 2010
FT report questions conflict of interest in last year’s £23.5bn bond issuance.
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Moody’s downgrades Greece
22 Apr 2010
Budget deficit more than 1% of GDP worse than first thought.
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UK deficit reaches ‘colossal’ peacetime high
22 Apr 2010
Government borrowing reaches heights not seen since the end of World War Two.
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Greek debt soars as crisis continues
22 Apr 2010
Markets react poorly to Greece’s prospects even after €45bn EU IMF bailout pledge.
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Tories warn of IMF bailout under hung Parliament
21 Apr 2010
Vince Cable brands Osborne’s statement “scaremongering of the worst kind”.
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Inflation jumps to 3.4% in March
20 Apr 2010
CPI leaps from 3% in Febraury in defiance to Bank’s assurances.
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Lehman chief Fuld will deny knowledge of repo ‘gimmicks’
20 Apr 2010
Former Lehmans CEO Dick Fuld will deny knowledge of repo 105 ’gimmick’ accounting.
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LibDems pledge to break up the banks
20 Apr 2010
Leader Nick Clegg promises to end “super-bank” culture and champion mutualisation.
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GE praises UK mortgage arm
19 Apr 2010
GE chief Jeff Immelt praises GEMHL for moving back into the black.
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Eight out of ten businesses call for FSA reform
19 Apr 2010
Most UK businesses say scrapping the FSA is a must after the general election.
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Brown attacks Goldman Sachs "moral bankruptcy"
19 Apr 2010
PM attacks US investment giant in wake of SEC fraud investigation.
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Growing places
19 Apr 2010
Lee Jones reports that the RDR and wider availability through fund supermarkets are set to increase ETF business
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How dangerous are the Liberal Democrats?
19 Apr 2010
With the LibDem’s gaining significant traction following last week’s leadership debate, what would be the effect on your clients’ finances if the LibDems had influence in the next administration?
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Goldman Sachs charged with sub-prime mortgage securities fraud
16 Apr 2010
Investors lost $1bn after the investment bank allowed a hedge fund to pick and then short sub prime assets within a CDO.
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Tory win would increase GDP by £20bn, says think tank
16 Apr 2010
Lower taxes and less public spending will boost economy after 2015, says CEBR.
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Neil Warman
16 Apr 2010
HML’s chief commercial and finance officer says the crunch has opened up big opportunities for mortgage admin firms and he believes the financial crisis has also meant that companies now have a clearer picture of how to deal with borrowers in arrears Interview by Lee Jones
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Northern Rock ramps up direct offering
16 Apr 2010
Nationalised bank says online execution-only service is unique to the market.
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Switching referral service for IFAs
15 Apr 2010
Online pension adviser Comparemypension.com is offering a pension-switching referral service for IFAs.
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U Party fields candidates for pension reform
15 April 2010
The U Party, the special interest party campaigning for pension reform, has announced its second Parliamentary candidate.
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Other sovereigns no different to Greece, says SocGen
14 Apr 2010
Bank analyst argues that other nations’ debt obligations are more severe than Greek problems.
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Moulton invests in Largemortgageloans.com
14 Apr 2010
Venture capitalist John Moulton takes stake in specialist mortgage broker.
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Better alternatives to gilts, says Pimco’s Balls
13 Apr 2010
Education secretary Ed Balls’ brother, Pimco managing director Andrew Balls, says his firm is underweight on UK gilts.
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Would a hung Parliament be best for the UK economy?
12 Apr 2010
Experts argue that a minority Government might be best to fix the deficit.
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Fitch downgrades Greece
9 Apr 2010
Renewed sovereign debt fears push ratings agency to downgrade.
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Pension reformers aim for second Parliamentary seat
9 Apr 2010
Pension policy reformers the U Party will be standing in a second London Parliamentary seat in next month’s general election.
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Greece sovereign debt fears reignited
7 Apr 2010
Debt yields rocket after IMF sends delegates to Athens.
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Take your partners
6 Apr 2010
Lee Jones assesses a new report which calls for radical action and backs a partnership plan to turn round the deteriorating situation for long-term care
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Damage limitation
April Retirement Strategy
Experts were relieved that there were no major changes in the Budget but are unhappy that the tax proposals have not been abandoned. By Lee Jones
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The age of longevity
April Retirement Strategy
The rapid rise in life expectancy is also bringing about a change in people’s attitudes and how they live their lives. Lee Jones and Gregor Watt report
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Robert sinclair
2 Apr 2010
The Association of Mortgage Intermediaries and Aifa would have been regarded as very different types of trade body in the past but now the AMI’s director feels that giving advice is a common thread and he aims to help to fill a key role in bridging the gap between provider and adviser Interview by Lee Jones
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Analysts sceptical at growth forecasts
25 March 2010
Analysts were unconvinced by Chancellor Alistair Darling’s predictions of bullish growth after 2010.
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BUDGET 2010: Fitch warns of continued UK economy fears
24 Mar 2010
Fitch Ratings says the UK economy is still vulnerable to any economic shocks regardless of the measures outlined in today’s Budget.
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BUDGET 2010: Govt cuts small business rates and doubles investment allowances
24 Mar 2010
Small business rates cut, CGT relief for entrepreneurs increased to £2m.
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BUDGET 2010: Tories bank tax plan would cost thousands of jobs
24 Mar 2010
Going ahead with UK banking regulation without global agreement would cost thousands of UK jobs, according to the Government.
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Fitch downgrades Portugal
24 Mar 2010
Inspite of credible austerity measures the ratings agency says the Portuguese economy has siginificantly underperformed.
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Martin Reynolds to leave PMS
22 Mar 2010
Sesame MD John Cupis to take on responsibilites.
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Bank accounts
22 Mar 2010
At the second hearing of the Which? Banking Commission recently, several former bank staff gave evidence of the sales culture they experienced while working for some of the biggest names in high-street banking. Following reports of the hearing published in Money Marketing,several former bank employees got in touch to tell us of similar experiences. Here, three former bank advisers talk to Lee Jones about the high-pressure sales culture they experienced when they were working for banks
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Barclays chief's advice claim sparks a clash
19 Mar 2010
Global retail banking chief executive Antony Jenkins accused of “living in a parallel universe”.
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Eagle says scrap retirement age
18 Mar 2010
Pensions minister Angela Eagle believes that the default retirement age should be scrapped, even though the Labour party has yet to reach this conclusion.
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Robert Graves
18 Mar 2010
Rowanmoor head of technical services and Association of Member Directed Pension Schemes chairman Robert Graves describes himself as ’a small-company guy’ but he has big ambitions and while many in the industry cast doubt on the future of smaller Sipp players, he is confident the RDR will see them come into their own. Interview by Lee Jones
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Lehman creditors to be put into same payment pool
16 Mar 2010
Investment firm may be restructured as asset manager.
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How Lehman Brothers hid its problems from the world
16 Mar 2010
Lee Jones reports on how investment bank employed accounting “gimmicks” to hide its true financial state.
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Jason Huddy
12 Mar 2010
Macquarie Banking and Financial Services Group’s UK head aims to use his experience gained in the world’s most advanced wrap proposition to shake up financial services in this country. Interview by Lee Jones
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Cartel solicitor shut down
12 Mar 2010
Lawyer used by Cartel Client Review shut down by solicitor regulator.
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FSA to get tough on risky products
12 Mar 2010
Sants will set out new proactive strategy he believes will better protect the consumer.
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Lehman bosses criticised for crash
12 Mar 2010
Report to NY bankruptcy court details ’misleading picture’ chiefs painted of ailing firm before its demise.
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Govt hints at ‘death tax’ for LTC funding
11 Mar 2010
LTC white paper may include a 10% levy on estates to fund care.
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Brown declares he is best person to lead recovery
10 Mar 2010
PM reveals Budget date of March 24 and says UK is at a crossroads.
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Northern Rock’s bad bank makes £257m loss
10 Mar 2010
Northern Rock Asset Management reduces losses after more than £1bn of bad debt impairments and Government clawbacks.
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Fitch takes shot across UK bows
9 Mar 2010
Ratings agency warns UK Government must announce debt plans or risk AAA status.
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Govt needs £20bn to plug hole, says PwC
9 Mar 2010
PwC says sharp cuts have to be announced sooner to appease markets.
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Myners: banks must start behaving like they have something to lose
9 Mar 2010
City minister says recovery will only happen after the state safety net is taken away.
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MPC member admits “seriously underestimating” the crisis
9 Mar 2010
Departing MPC member Kate Barker admits Bank should have taken longer-term view of crisis.
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Speed up UK austerity plans, says CBI
8 Mar 2010
Industry body says Govt needs to speed up spending plans by two years.
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Santander leads pack for £4bn RBS branches
8 Mar 2010
Spanish giants looks to enlarge its 1,300 UK branch network.
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Pru eyes Hong Kong rights issue
8 Mar 2010
Insurer to speed up Hong Kong flotation to aid £14bn rights issue.
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B&B debt holders denied payout
8 Mar 2010
Holders of PIBS will not be in line for compensation for missed coupons.
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Societies confirm Stroud & Swindon Coventry merger talks
8 Mar 2010
Both societies confirm talks are taking place regarding a possible merger.
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Tony Stenning
8 Mar 2010
BlackRock’s UK head of retail is a stickler for detail and finding the best solution for his clients.
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Metro Bank gets FSA licence
5 Mar 2010
US financial entrepreneur set to open new bank on the high street.
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All-time low interest rate continues into 12th month
4 Mar 2010
MPC holds at 0.5% and continues to limit QE to £200bn.
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Mandelson attacks Obama’s bank plans
4 Mar 2010
Business secretary says Britain must be at the centre of any regulatory plans.
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Bank staff tell inquiry of pressure to sell
4 March 2010
Which? Future of banking commission - reports by Lee Jones
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Care necessities
March Retirement Strategy
Chief executive Barbara Davies talks about being a one-stop shop for advice and linking up with Tim Eadon at Better Retirement. Report by Lee Jones
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King says regulators need to lay down law
4 March 2010
Which? Future of banking commission - reports by Lee Jones
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Rich pickings
March Retirement Strategy
Experts believe it is the adviser’s job to dispel the myth that equity release plans are just for poor people and target wealthy clients. Lee Jones reports
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Royal Liver faces £7m bill
4 March 2010
Royal Liver: Counting the cost
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Statistics reveal stronger recovery from recession
4 March 2010
The Office of National Statistics has revised its gross domestic product figures for the fourth quarter 2009, showing growth was 0.3 per cent rather than the 0.1 per cent earlier reported.
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Can narrow banking ever be profitable?
3 Mar 2010
Bank governor argues for guaranteed deposits and low interest rates - but can narrow banks make a decent profit?
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Former Lehman chief to head up Macquarie Europe
2 Mar 2010
Lehman Brothers COO to head up Australian group’s EMEA business.
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Turner says narrow banking not enough
2 Mar 2010
FSA chairman argues against Bank governor King’s plans for safe narrow banking.
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ex-HSBC employee reveals high pressure sales culture
26 Feb 2010
Which? Commission witness reveals sales culture in her fomer role at bank branch.
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Govt revises GDP to 0.3%
26 Feb 2010
ONS says a strong December meant Q4 2009 GDP was better than initially thought.
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Split image
26 Feb 2010
Buy to let Lee Jones reports on fears that FSA regulation could damage the BTL sector
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Advisers discount Tory bank sale plan
25 Feb 2010
Conservative plans to encourage people on lower incomes to invest in discounted bank shares have been attacked as “silly electioneering” by advisers.
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Towergate buys John Charcol and looks to cross-sell
25 February 2010
Towergate Financial has bought John Charcol after the brokerage went into administration earlier this week.
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FSA censures Park Row - Peter Sprung fined
24 Feb 2010
Regulator hits out at IFA for sales failings and orders up to £7.8m in client redress.
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Towergate bought Charcol out of administration
23 Feb 2010
Towergate Financial has revealed it bought John Charcol after the mortgage broker went into administration last week.
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Former IMF chief says sovereign defaults will happen
23 Feb 2010
Man who predicted 2008’s bank crash says national debts are unsustainable.
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Towergate buys John Charcol
23 Feb 2010
Towergate Financial has bought national mortgage broker John Charcol.
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Howard Flight, Ben Gunn and Keith Carby to join Metro Bank
22 Feb 2010
New hires lined up ahead of launch of new bank.
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Should the Government cut now or cut later?
22 Feb 2010
The doves and the hawks debate continues over the future of UK finances.
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Government reveals “worrying” debt figures
18 Feb 2010
ONS reveals worse than expected public borrowing figures for January.
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Witnesses line up to slam sales-driven banks
18 Feb 2010
Which? Future of Banking Commission
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Derek Bradley
18 February 2010
The chief executive of PanaceaIFA is intent on recreating a 17th century financial meeting place on the 21st century internet. Seeing a widening gulf between the quality of retail distribution service offered to small IFAs and their bigger counterparts, he set about building a forum for communication, re-establishing the link between product providers and small firms
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EU to dictate Greece’s austerity measures
17 Feb 2010
Eurozone members to decide the fate of the indebted nation.
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Should the inflation target be 4%?
17 Feb 2010
IMF economists pose question as they look at the fundamentals of monetary policy.
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King to take "whatever actions are necessary" to keep to inflation target
16 Feb 2010
Bank governor King tells Chancellor that he is ready to increase fiscal stimulus to control inflation.
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Greece to answer questions on derivatives trading
16 Feb 2010
Reports say complex derivative trades hid Greek debt from EU.
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Inflation up to 3.5%
16 Feb 2010
Inflation up again in line with the Bank of England’s recent predictions.
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Equities will outstrip gilts over decade
12 Feb 2010
Government bonds will only offer “negligible” returns over the next ten years forcing markets to turn to equity investment.
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FSA attacks private equity “arrogance”
12 Feb 2010
Dan Waters criticises fund manager for questioning regulation.
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New Tory regulator could up industry fees
12 Feb 2010
Hoban admits industry may have to pay more for a regulator “who understands” financial services.
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Banks' sales culture slated
12 Feb 2010
Witnesses at the first Which? Future of Banking Commission session this week attacked the sales culture in bank branches.
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Markets recover as Europe plans Greek rescue
11 Feb 2010
European leaders hammer out plans to guarantee indebted nation.
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Brown says global bank tax is close
11 Feb 2010
PM says international powers will draw up a bank levy by June.
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Ex-Thinc chief sets up IFA network with flat fee deal
11 February 2010
A former Thinc adviser has laun-ched a national IFA network with a flat annual fee and is hoping to take on 60 firms this year.
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Special attention
February Retirement Strategy
The Retirement Adviser head of financial planning Nick Flynn talks about going the extra yard to find the best rates. Report by Lee Jones
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Steve payne
10 Feb 2010
Bupa’s director of individual protection believes that the experience of failure can be important in learning how to succeed and he says the industry and Government must innovate and work together to close the protection gap
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Moody’s allays euro sovereign debt fears
10 Feb 2010
Ratings agency says fears of a eurozone meltdown are over-stated.
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Bank predicts inflation spike
10 Feb 2010
Inflation spike of more than 3% likely in short-term according to the Bank of England.
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Eurozone debates Greece debt crisis
10 Feb 2010
Experts argue over solutions for Greek debt crisis.
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Rock’s 100% savings guarantee to end
10 Feb 2010
Government’s gold-plated guarantees on Northern Rock savings set to end in March.
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Sants will not be replaced before election
10 Feb 2010
Treasury orders FSA to hold fire until its fate is decided.
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Ex-Thinc advisers launch IFA network
9 Feb 2010
Former Thinc advisers launch IFA network with a flat fee and no contractual ties.
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Bonuses hurting pension funds, says Myners
9 Feb 2010
City minister will tell the NAPF to do more to crack down on bonus culture.
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Dow drops as eurozone crisis continues
9 Feb 2010
Dow, Nikkei down as speculators turn against Euro.
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Economists rain on positive OECD UK results
8 Feb 2010
Former IMF director says the UK is next European country in line for sovereign debt crisis.
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Lukas van der walt
7 Feb 2010
Sanlam UK’s chief executive is building up the South African company’s presence in UK financial services with selective partnerships and acquisitions and he considers the RDR to be a bonus as it is likely to lead to a shift in value to the client and the distributor
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Lloyds mortgage and wealth heads to step down
5 Feb 2010
MD of mortgages Dan Watkins leaves as GI MD takes helm of streamlined life and pensions business.
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Fidelity bullish on gilts
4 Feb 2010
Fidelity Bond manager says there are still gilt-hungry investors regardless of instability fears following the QE halt.
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Bank halts QE and holds at 0.5%
4 Feb 2010
Bank of England to wait and see the effects of £200bn easing programme.
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EquityCare merges with Better Retirement
4 Feb 2010
Brands combine to offer combined domiciliary care proposition.
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Pitman to head Virgin Bank
4 February 2010
Pitman: Chairman
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Rush to beat duty rise boosts homeloans
4 February 2010
The Council of Mortgage Lenders says borrowers rushed to buy property in December to make the most of the last month of the higher stamp duty threshold.
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Where to go for income
4 February 2010
Fund managers give their tips for finding income outside of the usual suspects.
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QE to be questioned
2 Feb 2010
Economists will assess the affects of quantitative easing as the MPC is expected to call a halt to the stimulus.
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Experts paint bleak picture of UK debt crisis
1 Feb 2010
Talking point of Davos illustrates UK’s “acute” debt problems.
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Borrowers rushed to catch stamp duty deadline
1 Feb 2010
CML says Bank stats show a “bunching” of approvals at the end of 2009.
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Greek unrest threatens Euro economies
29 Jan 2010
UK rules out aid to Greece as markets turn away from indebted nation.
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The new tech boom
29 Jan 2010
Lee Jones reports on the return of technology in investment as tech funds produced a sector average return of 50 per cent over the last year
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Virgin Money announces board
28 Jan 2010
Former Lloyds TSB boss to head up board as Branson plans to build new Virgin Bank.
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Gilt fears may be wrong, says City Financial
28 Jan 2010
City Financial says gilt market consensus was wrong last year and may be wrong again.
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Banks need to soothe ‘debt hangover’ says BoE
28 Jan 2010
Bank executive director says changes need to be made to avoid borrower pain.
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Alan Lakey
28 Jan 2010
This protection specialist is an IFA champion who is fighting for advisers’ rights on key issues such as a 15-year long stop and RDR qualifications.
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Investment legend praises UK regulators
27 Jan 2010
George Soros says both Mervyn King and Lord Turner should be praised for developing good policies.
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MPC member plays down ‘double-dip’ fears
27 Jan 2010
Andrew Sentance says UK business has ‘bouncebackability’ and will continue to grow regardless of policy fears.
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European banks to suffer from Obama’s bank attack
22 Jan 2010
Obama announcement already hurting RBS and Barclays shares.
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Obama goes to war with the banks
22 Jan 2010
Tories and Lib Dems quick to back President’s sweeping reforms.
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Economists fear a lost decade for UK
21 January 2010
The UK could be facing a lost decade as the economy emerges from the recession.The Monetary Policy Roundtable, made up of economists from the Bank of England and the Centre for Economic Policy Research, says it may take as long as eight years for the economy to return to full health.Some members warn that consumers could be averse to borrowing and seek to reduce their debts.The minutes of the meeting held in December said: “Participants pointed to ...
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Global forum points to risk of £1tn crash
21 January 2010
There is a “strong risk” that the world could face a $1tn asset bubble crash, according to the World Economic Forum.In its 2009 Global Risk Report, the forum warns that there is a 20 per cent risk that the world faces a collapse in asset prices due to the “continuing uncertainty about the resilience of the global economy and the effectiveness of fiscal and monetary responses, governance and regulation”.The forum says there is also a risk of another fiscal crisis, ...
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Rewriting's on the wall
January Retirement Strategy
Robin Ellison wrote the book on pension law but now believes that the sector is unwieldy and needs a complete overhaul. He explains to Lee Jones how his U Party aims to simplify the system
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Split decision
January Retirement Strategy
Lee Jones talks to Carl Melvin about how pension splitting advice for divorcing couples can be lucrative if you have the specialist knowledge
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Mortgage borrower pain predicted after inflation hike
19 Jan 2010
Experts warn that inflationary fears spell bad news for mortgage borrowers coming out of a recession.
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Inflation jumps by record amount
19 Jan 2010
CPI figures leapt 1% between November and December 2009.
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UK faces decade of painful recovery
18 Jan 2010
Item Club says it may take ten years for the economy to right itself.
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World forum warns of $1 trillion asset crash
15 Jan 2010
World Economic Forum says unsustainable government debts may lead to collapse in asset prices.
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John lawson
15 Jan 2010
Standard Life’s head of pension policy is one of the UK’s leading pension commentators and says he aims to make pensions engaging and easy to understand Interview by Lee Jones
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Obama hits banks with $90bn levy
14 Jan 2010
US President promises to recover “every penny” of the recent bank bailout through bank tax.
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UK economists warn of British ‘lost decade’
14 Jan 2010
Round table of British economists warn of eight years of economic stagnantion.
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Wall Street chiefs admit to not stress testing a fall in housing market
13 Jan 2010
US bank bosses tell crisis inquiry that they did not think to stress test house price falls.
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London & Country teams up with Moneysupermarket
12 Jan 2010
Mortgage broker to offer advice through comparison site’s helpline.
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DWP scraps auto-enrolment certification rules
12 Jan 2010
Govt says it will go back to the drawing board to create new rules for eligible 2012 schemes.
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Lloyds can't recall if Govt said HBOS was on brink of closure on day of takeover
12 Jan 2010
Lloyds chief ‘can’t remember’ whether Govt admitted that HBOS was on verge of forced closure the day it was sold.
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Gilt yield surge could prompt 20% market correction, says Morgan Stanley
8 Jan 2010
Investment bank says Government bond problems may affect the market.
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Borrowers warned as SVRs increase
8 Jan 2010
Brokers are warning borrowers against remaining on their lenders’ standard variable rates in 2010 as banks and building societies’ default rates rise.
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Bank holds rate and £200bn QE level
7 Jan 2010
MPC decides to hold at 0.5% and to continue with £200bn QE programme.
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Mortgage Times reps left in limbo
7 Jan 2010
Appointed representatives of Mortgage Times Group have been left facing an uncertain future after the network ceased trading days before Christmas.
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Make banks safer not smaller, says Barcap
5 Jan 2010
Bank’s historical analysis says smaller isn’t necessarily safer.
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Goldman Sachs predicts bounce for UK economy
5 Jan 2010
Investment bank bullish about UK prospects over next two years.
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US investment giant snubs gilts
4 Jan 2010
Pimco reveals it is to shed UK and US treasury bonds as state borrowing spirals.
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Mortgage lending up £1.5bn in November
4 Jan 2010
Bank of England figures reveal further mortgage improvement in 2009.
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Northern Rock launches good/bad bank model
4 Jan 2010
Nationalised lender splits retail and wholesale business.
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UK deficit highest on record
18 Dec 2009
The Government coffers had a record deficit of more than £20bn in November as public debt tipped 60 per cent of GDP.
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Personal problems
17 December 2009
For the pension world, 2009 should have been a year of significant change, as the Personal Accounts Delivery Authority hit its stride and started to get to grips with the design for the new pension scheme.
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RDR put squeeze on learning and earning
17 December 2009
For IFAs, the dominant issue of 2009 was the retail distribution review. June saw the publication of the FSA’s updated version of the future of regulation post-2012.
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Darling admits national debt will cost £60bn to service
16 Dec 2009
Chancellor will admit debt interest will spiral over the next four years.
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Government proposes client asset regulator
16 Dec 2009
Treasury paper says new regulator would be responsible for the oversight of investors’ money.
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RDR: FSA mulls commission for basic advice for stakeholder pensions
16 Dec 2009
Regulator says there may be room for commission payments for basic advice to stakeholder members.
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Nations need to consolidate debt fast, says Moody's
15 Dec 2009
Ratings agency says will be UK one of many nations with AAA downgrade risk in 2010.
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RBS shareholders approve Govt bonus cap plan
15 Dec 2009
The shareholders of RBS have approved plans to allow the Government to control bonuses as they give the green light for the Asset Protection Scheme.
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Mortgage lending up 20% in Q3 2009
15 Dec 2009
FSA says net lending rocketed over the third quarter of the year.
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Inflation close to Bank target
15 Dec 2009
CPI reaches 1.9% in November, closing in on the MPC’s 2% target.
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One in three borrowers not offered adequate repo forebearance
15 Dec 2009
Housing charities say lenders still not doing enough to avoid repossession.
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Fitch warns of Chinese lending boom
15 Dec 2009
Ratings agency says rapid growth may lead to riskier lending in China.
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Second US sub-prime crash on its way, says private bank
14 Dec 2009
Lombard Odier fears a second round of sub-prime loan repos will lead to a second credit crunch.
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Bank reveals downgrade concerns
14 Dec 2009
BoE’s quarterly review says investor fears are forcing up gilt yields.
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Abu Dhabi offers Dubai World £6.2bn bailout
14 Dec 2009
Dubai’s neighbour offers struggling state-owned holding company multi-billion lifeline.
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Hung Parliament will mean AAA downgrade
11 Dec 2009
Citibank says without decisive Government, rating agencies will downgrade the UK.
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Long, hard winter for gilts, says BarCap
10 Dec 2009
Heavy supply coupled with market fears means gilt yields will increase going into 2010.
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Analysts warn of risk to AAA rating
10 December 2009
Analysts have warned that the UK’s AAA rating could still be at risk despite Chancellor Alistair Darling’s optimistic growth outlook.
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Cable slams CGT loophole and doubts growth forecast
10 December 2009
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Carbon drivers
10 December 2009
Lee Jones finds out about opportunities in the booming sector of carbon trading which has the growing impetus of support from governments around the globe
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MPC members were kept in the dark about secret loans
10 December 2009
Members of the Bank of England’s monetary policy committee were not told about the secret £62bn bailout handed to HBOS and RBS last year.
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Over-optimistic forecast on contracting GDP
10 December 2009
Chancellor Alistair Darling has conceded that his previous GDP forecasts were over-optimistic and UK GDP will contract by 4.75 per cent in 2009.
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PBR: GDP contraction 5.9%, say Tories
9 Dec 2009
Osborne says Chancellor announced wrong numbers in report.
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PBR: Darling sticks to spending plans
9 Dec 2009
Chancellor sticks to Budget plans for spending.
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PBR: CPI inflation to reach 3%
9 Dec 2009
Darling says inflation will reach 1% above target during next year.
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PBR: Economy to contract by 4.75% in 2009
9 Dec 2009
Chancellor admits previous forecast of 3.5% was wrong.
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MPs to consider Glass-Steagall banking model
8 Dec 2009
Treasury select committee will question whether banks have become ‘too big to fail’ in 2010.
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Japan announces £49bn stimulus
8 Dec 2009
Government to pump 7.2 trillion yen into the Japanese economy in an attempt to get households and businesses spending.
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Money Marketing panel give their pre-Budget predictions
8 Dec 2009
Money Marketing’s pre-Budget panel offer their predictions for tomorrow’s PBR.
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House prices to remain stagnant in 2010, says Halifax
8 Dec 2009
Bank reveals fifth consecutive price rise in 2009, but says faltering economy will stall market next year.
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Govt takes on £167bn of RBS foreign bad debt
8 Dec 2009
UK Taxpayer underwrites billions of foreign debts as RBS enters into the Asset Protection Scheme.
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Skipton sells Callcredit
7 Dec 2009
Yorkshire mutual to make £40m profit from sale of credit reference agency.
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Neptune calls for Isa tax rethink
7 Dec 2009
Investment manager says Isa tax breaks aren’t helping enough people.
-
US blames Brown for UK economic woe
7 Dec 2009
US Fed chief Ben Bernanke hits out at decision to strip UK central bank’s regulatory powers.
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UK economy may drop out of global big ten
7 Dec 2009
UK economy falls from 4th largest to 7th in five years.
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CML associate members fall by fifth in two years
4 Dec 2009
Trade body lost 20 per cent of associate membership at a cost of £125,000.
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Morgan Stanley predicts rate freeze until Q4 2010
3 Dec 2009
Analysts believe bank rate will stay at 0.5% for most of next year.
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MPC was in dark over secret bank bailout, says Blanchflower
3 Dec 2009
Former MPC member says hiding the banks’ secret £60bn loan from the committee was “questionable at best”.
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5,000 bankers to earn more than £1m in 2009
3 Dec 2009
City minister Lord Myners says 5,000 bankers will earn more than £1m this year.
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Nils Bolmstrand
3 Dec 2009
Skandia Investment Group’s cosmopolitan new chief executive has an international perspective and believes in a worldwide blend to bring the best results Interview by Lee Jones
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Skandia looking at bringing South Africa guarantees to the UK
3 Dec 2009
Skandia Investment Group is considering launching guaranteed products.
-
Dubai crisis shows market fragility
3 December 2009
Experts have warned that reaction to the Dubai debt crisis has highlighted the continuing fragility of the markets.
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LibDems rein in mansion tax
3 December 2009
The LibDems have scaled back mansion tax proposals to properties worth more than £2m.
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FSA bans lying insurance broker brothers
2 Dec 2009
Banned Essex brothers hid fraud conviction from the FSA.
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Yorkshire confirms Chelsea merger
2 Dec 2009
New entity to become the UK’s second largest building society.
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Pearl prepares to float
2 Dec 2009
Insurance group continues its capital restructure as it prepares to move onto the London Stock Exchange.
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AIG set to sell Alico
2 Dec 2009
US insurer begins steps to sell off its international insurance arm.
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Social security
December Retirement Strategy
Sir Derek Wanless has been at the forefront of reviews into social care for the elderly and the need for change and now political parties are listening to his concerns as they flesh out their election proposals. By Lee Jones
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Special effects
December Retirement Strategy
Lee Jones talks to Jobson James deputy MD Miles Goodworth about developing a multi-faceted specialist firm and gearing up for personal accounts
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MPC member Posen considers house price stabilisers
1 Dec 2009
US economist and MPC member Adam Posen says regulatory controls on real estate booms could dampen future downturns.
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Jury still out on quantitative easing
1 Dec 2009
Bank of England figures leave economists in the dark over QE success.
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Xit2 joins CML
1 Dec 2009
Mortgage technology firm becomes 84th associate member.
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State will not guarantee Dubai World debt
1 Dec 2009
Dubai government denies Dubai World debt was ever backed by the state.
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House prices continue to rise
1 Dec 2009
Nationwide says average November prices were 2.7% above 2008 figures.
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Aegon pays back £1.1bn to Dutch government
1 Dec 2009
Dutch insurer pays back a third of its state aid.
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Emirates’ sovereign rating safe, says Moody’s
30 Nov 2009
Ratings agency says debt problems of Dubai World will not hurt the UAE.
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Euro equities to come out top in 2010, says S&P
30 Nov 2009
Ratings agency sees potential in equities over fixed income next year.
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Lending on the up, says Bank
30 Nov 2009
Mortgage lending up nearly £1bn in October, says Bank of England.
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Lib Dems scale back mansion tax plans
30 Nov 2009
Party increases threshold after fears of alienating voters.
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FTSE steady despite Emirates market plummet
30 Nov 2009
Abu Dhabi and Dubai markets suffer heavy falls after four day religious holiday.
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UK banks and life offices on systemic risk list
30 Nov 2009
Barclays, Aviva and RBS amongst those on Financial Stability Board’s ‘risk list’.
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Dubai debt problems reality check for market, warns F&C
27 Nov 2009
Asset manager says Dubai shock highlights market fragility.
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Scotland may scrap free elderly care
27 Nov 2009
Scottish authorities consider means testing after costs rose 11% in 2009.
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IPS launches family Sipp
27 Nov 2009
Provider to follow Axa into specialised sector.
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Mortgage Indemnity Guarantees may return
27 Nov 2009
AMI says mortgage insurance products will return if high LTV remains stunted after the election.
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Four out of ten NAPF members plan on 2012 auto-enrolment
27 Nov 2009
Majority of pension funds set to change before personal accounts become mandatory.
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Imla reveals management restructure
25 Nov 2009
Mortgage lender body to be run by a board of directors alongside executive chairman Peter Williams.
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Former Preferred Mortgages chief to head up Tiuta
25 Nov 2009
George Patellis to head up lender as it enters the buy-to-let market.
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ONS review says UK GDP down 0.3% in Q3
25 Nov 2009
Stats office reviews October’s surprising GDP result.
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Court blocks repo bid
26 November 2009
A GMAC-RFC borrower with £14,000 arrears charges whose mortgage was resold to Wave has narrowly escaped repossession this week.
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Martin Davis
26 November 2009
Openwork’s chief executive is looking to change the firm’s position for the RDR because he says ‘the old rules were all about just getting the ball in front of the goal, the new rules want to make sure you score the goal every time’ Interview by Lee Jones
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Nationwide's profits hit amid state bank distortion
26 November 2009
Nationwide has warned that Government-backed institutions are “seriously distorting” the savings market.
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Zurich still wants to sell Openwork stake
26 November 2009
Openwork chief executive Martin Davis has revealed Zurich is still aiming to sell its 25 per cent stake in the network.
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FSA fines Nomura £1.75m
24 Nov 2009
Regulator fines Japanese bank for failings in derivatives business.
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Paragon profits up to £54m
24 Nov 2009
Buy-to-let lender bucks trend with profits increase in Q3.
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Monetary policy not enough, warns Bank
23 Nov 2009
Bank of England says it must be given macro-prudential powers to help stop future boom and bust cycles.
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Nationwide reveals profit slump
20 Nov 2009
UK’s largest building society warns of a tough 2010 after H1 2009 profits plummet 64%.
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Bob Bullivant
19 November 2009
The chief executive of Annuity Direct is a crusader for the open market option, saying the present situation is ‘a national scandal’ and he accuses insurers of blocking change. Interview by Lee Jones.
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Bullivant says big life firms hindering Omo
19 November 2009
Former CII deputy general says providers are perpetuating the myth that advisers should not deal with small pots.
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Parties battle for LTC vote
19 November 2009
Do the main parties have genuine solutions to restore the crumbling long-term care system or is it all just electioneering? Lee Jones reports
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Half of pension holders would consider income guarantee
18 Nov 2009
Aegon research suggests not enough people are aware of unit-linked guarantees.
-
Inflation rises in October
17 Nov 2009
ONS says CPI rose to 1.5% in October, RPI rose to -0.8%.
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RPS receives FSA authorisation
17 Nov 2009
Peter Beaumont’s “ethical” sale and rentback firm secures authorisation.
-
UK out of recession, says MPC member
17 Nov 2009
MPC member Andrew Sentance says most evidence contradicts ONS’ latest figures.
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Investors should buy new hybrid debt to protect other assets, says Bank
16 Nov 2009
Bank deputy says buying CoCos would help protect other assets in portfolios.
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Tories eye up Sants as Bank deputy
13 Nov 2009
Opposition wants FSA chief to move to Bank after it dissolves the regulator.
-
NAPF warns banks against bonus culture
13 Nov 2009
Fund group writes to top bosses in warning against excessive remuneration.
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Think tank calls for ‘honest’ financial forecasts
13 Nov 2009
Institute of Fiscal Stimulus says an independent forecaster is needed.
-
Size of the matter
13 Nov 2009
Lee Jones reports that dealing with smaller pension pots is uneconomical for many IFAs and policyholders are losing out on the best deals but there are business developments that could change the situation
-
Pensioners losing out on £60m a year in income
12 Nov 2009
Without Omo life companies are cashing in, says Annuity Direct.
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CML says 2010 gross lending to reach £150bn
12 Nov 2009
Mortgage council says lending will be up and arrears down next year.
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Lloyds ups hybrid bond exchange to £9bn
12 Nov 2009
Bank sees increased interest in new asset class.
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Exact gains FSA approval
11 Nov 2009
Mortgage servicing firm gains what it says could be the first administration permissions.
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Sub-prime lender in legally binding repo forbearance
11 Nov 2009
Blemain Finance agrees six-year forbearance deal in landmark case.
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US Senate committee proposes financial regulator
11 Nov 2009
Democratic senators draft bill to create raft of federal regulatory bodies.
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Schroders profits down 19%
10 Nov 2009
Fund manager reports profit dip but sees fund inflow increase.
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Banks will owe £6 trillion by 2015 as debt matures
10 Nov 2009
UK and US banks alone will owe £1.2 trillion within two years, says Moody’s.
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Barclays reveals profits of £4.5bn
10 Nov 2009
Bank profits from international business after 2008 Lehman acquisition.
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Axa and AMP team up to create Australia’s largest wealth manager
9 Nov 2009
A$11bn deal announced as Axa prepare for a €2bn rights issue.
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Brown forced to backtrack on Tobin tax proposals
9 Nov 2009
PM’s G20 proposals slammed by global financiers.
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Bank stability chief calls for bank leverage limits
6 Nov 2009
Banks need limits to ease future pressures on the state, says Andrew Haldane.
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How far do your clients travel for financial advice?
6 Nov 2009
IFA says his client travelled 670 miles to seek out his business.
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Charles Stanley reports profit hike
5 Nov 2009
Group’s profits up 6.8 per cent on 2008’s figures.
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900 Branches to be put on market
5 November 2009
The break-up of Lloyds Banking Group and Royal Bank of Scotland will create new standalone banks representing nearly 10 per cent of UK retail banking by 2013.
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A link in the pension chain
November Retirement Strategy
Retirement Strategy brings together pensions expert Mike Morrison and equity release specialist Dean Mirfin to explore how equity release can work alongside traditional pension planning. Report by Lee Jones
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Advisers back bank revolution
5 November 2009
Advisers say the restructure of Royal Bank of Scotland and Lloyds holds the potential to bring “a revolutionary change”.
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Key issues to boost business
5 November 2009
Lee Jones and Christopher Jarvis survey the equity-release scene and find that despite some firms pulling out in recent months, the sector has held up well and could forge ahead in 2010 with advisers leading the way
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Penny Shepherd
5 November 2009
The chief executive of the trade body for ethical and environmental investment believes strongly in the virtues of sustainable investment and points out that ethical investors have proved remarkably durable over the years while green concepts are now becoming mainstream Interview by Lee Jones
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Safe journey
November Retirement Strategy
Lee Jones speaks to Willie Mowatt about setting up an IFA firm and how once being on the other side of the fence with NU is working in his favour
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Turner bites the silver bullet on bank reform
5 November 2009
FSA chairman Lord Turner says the UK must stop searching for a “non-existent silver bullet” in attempts to solve the banking crisis.
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RBS and Lloyds face mass staff exodus after bonus rulings
3 Nov 2009
Restricting RBS and Lloyds bonuses may lead to rivals attracting staff away, says Cavendish.
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RBS to shed 3,700 branch staff
2 Nov 2009
Bailed bank reveals staff cuts on eve of restructure.
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Branson eyes up bank assets
2 Nov 2009
Virgin chief reveals interest in state-aided bank asset sale.
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Turner calls for new Glass-Steagall approach
2 Nov 2009
FSA chair argues that simply splitting banks will create more instability.
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MPC likely to opt for £50bn QE extension
2 Nov 2009
Experts predict economy needs further fiscal injections to move into positive territory.
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UK economy languishing: what needs to be done?
30 Oct 2009
The MPC faces tough decisions in light of the surprise UK GDP figures.
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Mortgage approvals at 18-month high
29 Oct 2009
Bank of England says mortgage approvals at highest level since April 2008.
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Bolton backs the bull to keep on running
29 October 2009
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Cash clash after King's call to break up banks
29 October 2009
Governer and PM in rift over splitting banking activities
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MPC is set to boost easing programme
29 October 2009
The Bank of England monetary policy committee is likely to boost its quantitative easing programme at its next meeting.
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The Freedom trail
29 October 2009
Lee Jones reports on admin delays in transferring Freedom Sipp members and finds that some members are finding it difficult to switch
-
The longest recession is 18 months old
29 October 2009
GDP figures fell by 0.4 per cent in the third quarter, meaning the UK is in the longest recession on record.
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Cut Rock’s Govt guarantees, says BSA
28 Oct 2009
Trade body argues that the EU-sanctioned break-up does not go far enough to ensure a level playing field.
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Fitch puts Cleri Med on negative watch after sell-off fears
28 Oct 2009
Ratings agency says Lloyds may be forced to sell off brand by EU.
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Europe gives green light for Northern Rock split
28 Oct 2009
EU approves plan to create ‘good’ and ‘bad’ banks from the state-owned bank’s assets.
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Xit2 appoints Blackwell as chief
28 Oct 2009
Former A&L intermediary director to take reigns at mortgage technology firm.
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Fix the banks or risk another recession, says new MPC member
27 Oct 2009
Adam Posen, the newest member of the MPC, says UK faces a ‘double dip’ recession unless the banking sector is fixed
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MPC to increase QE to battle recession, say experts
23 Oct 2009
Many see shock GDP contraction as cause for MPC action
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Tucker says Bank will steer clear of bubble control
23 Oct 2009
Bank deputy says central bank will not directly control credit booms and busts
-
UK in longest recession on record
23 Oct 2009
Sixth quarter of economic contraction defies positive forecasts.
-
ABI backs King’s bank split proposal
22 Oct 2009
Insurer body calls for banks to be split into ‘manageable units’.
-
New SME lending fees still on the rise
22 Oct 2009
Small business still struggling to access affordable credit
-
Bolton predicts continued bull run
22 Oct 2009
Fund manager guru predicts long-term profits.
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Cash crunch
22 Oct 2009
Low interest rates mean providers cannot make the same margins on cash held in Sipp accounts, reports Lee Jones
-
Regulator's register to track brokers
22 Oct 2009
Mortgage brokers will be individually registered as approved persons and self-certification loans will be banned under new proposals set out by the FSA.
-
£1 Buys 218 Halifax estate agencies
22 october 2009
Lloyds Banking Group is selling its 218 Halifax Estate Agencies for £1 to LSL Property Services.
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Independent label defines choice
22 october 2009
The label of “whole of market” mortgage advice could be replaced with “independent” mortgage advice.
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Jobs set to go in PMS and Bankhall deal
22 october 2009
Sesame’s acquisition of Bankhall and PMS from Skandia has been completed but the network has warned that redundancies are likely.
-
L&G link-up for release referrals
22 october 2009
Legal & General Mortgage Club has linked up with Key Retirement Solutions to offer an equity-release referral service.
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L&G teams with Accord to offer reverse tracker
22 october 2009
Legal & General mortgage club has launched a reverse tracker loan through Accord Mortgages.
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Brown hits back at King’s banking proposals
21 Oct 2009
PM argues against splitting the banking sector.
-
FSA to scrap ‘whole of market’ mortgage label
19 Oct 2009
Regulator likely to simplify mortgage adviser tags
-
FSA mortgage paper: broker reaction
19 Oct 2009
Advisers warn that banning self-cert and fast-track will reduce mortgage access.
-
L&G launches reverse tracker
19 Oct 2009
Mortgage club teams up with Accord to offer “ground-breaking” loan.
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Lloyds to sell Halifax Estate Agencies for £1
16 Oct 2009
State-aided banking group further consolidates business
-
Old Mutual confirms Sesame Bankhall deal
16 Oct 2009
Groups finalise the deal to create the UK’s biggest IFA network
-
EU warns UK of spiralling debt risk
15 Oct 2009
The EU Commission has warned of “serious concerns” it has regarding the future viability of the indebted UK economy.
-
Govt will not underwrite Lloyds cash call
15 Oct 2009
The Government will not underwrite any rights issue by Lloyds Banking Group, according to the Financial Times.
-
L&G club ties up with KRS
14 Oct 2009
Mortgage club teams up with Key Retirement Solutions to offer equity release referral service.
-
Economy over the worst, says BoE
14 Oct 2009
The Bank of England says the UK is over the worst of the global economic downturn.
-
Senior service could be sunk by the RDR
15 October 2009
Lee Jones reports on the predicament for experienced IFAs who face having to study for and pass tough new exams with no account being taken of their record in the business
-
Inflation falls to 1.1%
13 Oct 2009
The Consumer Price Index has fallen to 1.1 per cent, almost half the Bank of England target of 2 per cent.
-
TMW pulls out of self cert
12 Oct 2009
The Mortgage Works, one of the few remaining providers of self-cert mortgages, has temporarily pulled out of lending to self-cert borrowers.
-
Rates to stay below 2% for five years
12 Oct 2009
The Bank of England may keep rates below 2 per cent for the next five years, according to the Centre for Economics and Business Research.
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Equity release plans up a fifth, says KRS
12 Oct 2009
Equity release plans were up by a fifth in the third quarter of 2009, according to Key Retirement Solutions.
-
Commercial brokers doubt buy-to-let regulation
9 Oct 2009
The National Association of Commercial Finance Brokers has urged the FSA “to think long and hard” before it makes buy-to-let a regulated transaction.
-
Greedy banks or a broken sector?
9 Oct 2009
Is the Government right to investigate the SME lending practises of Lloyds and RBS?
-
Postman Pat to become Banker Pat?
2 Oct 2009
“Would a Post Office bank just flood the country with under-qualified direct sales advisers whilst delivering the building society sector its final death blow?”
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Network Data ARs to lose £5m in commission
23 Jul 2009
The administrator of Network Data says it is unlikely that former appointed representatives will get any of the commission they are owed, which could total around £5m.
