Latest Financial News

10 Questions to ask an Independent Financial Adviser

Finding out what an IFA does and how they operate is half the battle - Click here to read more

How can I build the right sort of portfolio?

Building an investment portfolio is a complex task but also an important one - Click here to read more

What is a Sipp and do I need one?

The appeal of Sipps is widening beyond their original appeal to wealthy people - Click here to read more

Is all debt bad debt?

The one sentence version: Neither a borrower nor a lender be; just how relevant is that advice today - Click here to read more

What is offshore investing?

- Click here to read more

How can I be greener and save money?

With energy prices going through the roof it makes financial sense to save energy even if you arent concerned about your carbon footprint - Click here to read more

What's the best way to donate to charity?

Use one of the tax deductible government schemes which enhances the value of your gift to the charity and can save you tax - Click here to read more

What is Inheritance Tax?

You may not be able to take it with you but the government is keen to get its share - Click here to read more

What happens if I?m self employed?

You become the driver not a passenger in your business; make sure youve passed the theory test before you start the ignition! - Click here to read more

Can my home be my pension?

Yes provided it is worth enough you have paid off your mortgage and you are prepared to trade down to a smaller home at retirement - Click here to read more

Do I have alternatives apart from taking an annuity?

Yes there are choices out there and you should be looking at them - Click here to read more

Can I really make a difference to the world around me?

Personally and financially theres never been a better time to be greener the choice is wider its easier to act upon and there are lots of people willing to help! - Click here to read more

Do I need a power of attorney?

Yes if you want to make sure your affairs can be managed in case of mental illness or incapacity the time to do this is now! - Click here to read more

How can I make a budget and stick to it?

Few individuals sit down and work out all their inescapable outgoings and set them against their income But unless you keep your spending within sensible limits leaving a margin for savings you can easily find yourself in trouble - Click here to read more

What is an IFA (independent financial adviser)?

An IFA can be many things; a source of financial advice a life-long financial coach a provider of advice for a single financial transaction an ear to bounce ideas off of a facilitator in realising your lifes goals - Click here to read more

How much do I need to retire on?

Because you need to ensure you dont run out of money before you run out of life - Click here to read more

How can I spot the type of IFA to avoid?

Steer clear of those who are not interested in your financial welfare - Click here to read more

What are investment bonds?

They are a potentially tax-efficient way of holding a range of various investment funds together in one place - Click here to read more

Seven easy steps to having enough money to retire on

Be realistic about the cost and plan accordingly - Click here to read more

What tax breaks will the Government give me?

Pensions remain one of the most tax-efficient means of saving for our retirement make the most of them - Click here to read more

Great tips to improve your credit rating

Nobody has an automatic right to credit Now that borrowing is harder its more important than ever to make sure your record is smartened up to impress choosy lenders - Click here to read more

Why should I do if I get into debt problems?

Taking positive action now can help you deal with debt problems before they get out of hand - otherwise organisations such as Citizens Advice Bureau or National Debtline can provide valuable advice - Click here to read more

What should I do if I get into debt problems?

Taking positive action now can help you deal with debt problems before they get out of hand - otherwise organisations such as Citizens Advice Bureau or National Debtline can provide valuable advice - Click here to read more

What happens to my tax affairs if I?m self-employed?

Once you become your own boss you are the driver not a passenger; make sure youve passed the theory test before you start the ignition! - Click here to read more

Do I really need life insurance?

How much are our lives worth and why do we need to insure them Advisers Julie Lord and Richard Gough debate the subject of life insurance - Click here to read more

Isn?t investing in the stock market risky?

Equities do carry risk but historically they also offer the best chance of beating inflation - Click here to read more

Can I be my own financial adviser?

DIY financial advice is time-consuming and risky while using an adviser can save you time and make you money - providing the find the right one - Click here to read more

Why is car insurance so expensive?

Thats a matter of opinion - in 2006 UK motor insurers wrote £102 billion of motor insurance premiums and paid out over £8 billion in claims - Click here to read more

What does 'risk' mean?

Risk is an inevitable and important part of investment and life - the key is taking the right level and kind of risk and spreading your bets as far as possible - Click here to read more

What will I do when I finish work?

Are you seriously telling me that work is the only thing in your life - Click here to read more

Whatever happened to company pensions?

The responsibility for your financial security in retirement now rests with you - Click here to read more

Am I addicted to debt?

No you are addicted to overspending - Click here to read more

How can I pay for school and college fees?

The numbers are big; start saving as early as you can - Click here to read more

Four questions to ask yourself about retirement

Get your head around four crucial questions and the road ahead will be much clearer - Click here to read more

Should I get a consolidation loan?

It could be useful if you need to reduce your monthly repayments on borrowing but the overall cost may be higher - Click here to read more

What is a fund?

A fund lets the smaller investor play with the big boys - Click here to read more

Will the state look after mum (or dad)?

Yes but depending on herhis state of health and her finances - Click here to read more

Can I have too much insurance?

Yes particularly if it is general insurance such as buildings contents or motor cover or income protection and permanent health insurance where there are limits on what will be paid out - Click here to read more

How can I find good financial advice?

The first step towards gaining control of your money is simply to make the commitment to take action; the fact that you are reading this shows that you are already over the first hurdle - Click here to read more

What costs more, what costs less when you have retired?

Dont assume your cost of living will fall significantly when you retire - Click here to read more

How good is the state pension?

With the state pension paying just 17% of average lifetime earnings the UK desperately needs a change - Click here to read more

Should I always tell the truth?

Yes - because if you dont your insurer can not only refuse to pay your claim but could also sue for fraud or obtaining money by deception - Click here to read more

How can I cope best with divorce?

You will cope best with divorce if you are realistic about what you need and do an inventory of all you own and owe - Click here to read more

What should I know about income drawdown?

More people are looking at the flexible option of income drawdown after they retire - Click here to read more

What do credit reference agencies do and why are they important to me?

Credit reference agencies maintain files on all your borrowings from credit cards to mortgages and any arrears or defaults will affect your ability to borrow in future - Click here to read more

How can I prevent solicitors charging excessive fees for obtaining Probate?

by not making solicitors executors of your will - Click here to read more

What will a good independent financial adviser do for me?

Your trusted adviser will help you to achieve your short medium and longer term goals and objectives in life by using a comprehensive financial planning strategy over time - Click here to read more

What if they say no to a claim?

Take the matter up with the insurer but if that is not satisfactory ask to have the matter referred to the Financial Ombudsman Service a free dispute resolution service - Click here to read more

Must Do for October: Offspring flying the nest? Give them water wings to stop them drowning

Give the student in your life a few financial lessons - Click here to read more

Why are credit reference agencies so important?

Credit reference agencies maintain files on all your borrowings and any arrears or defaults will affect your ability to borrow in future - Click here to read more

The type of independent financial advisers to avoid

A good IFA can be worth their weight in gold Just make sure you pick the right one - Click here to read more

Should I let my son/daughter buy a car?

Yes in term of safety its much better than a motorcyle scooter or bicycle and it saves you having to ferry them around - Click here to read more

What if my IFA sells up?

Good financial advice requires an honest and productive relationship between client and adviser but changes to a business can be positive if appropriate action is taken early - Click here to read more

A mass market marvel from Mondavi

Yes you can find good wines that sell by the gazillion; plus our weekly prize competition - Click here to read more

A Beaujolais that is a cut above the rest at a bargain price

Yes there are decent wines from there; plus a chance to win a years access to Janciss new website - Click here to read more

Win £50 of wine in our favourite bottle competition

Just tell us about your most memorable wine to win the prize - Click here to read more

An Olympian Pinot Blanc from California

Plus a chance to win two great wine DVDs - Click here to read more

It?s not Malbec, but it?s from Argentina and it tastes great

Find out about this wine and win two wine DVDs in our competition - Click here to read more

An appealing Spanish red

Tasting this rioja feels like putting on an old pair of slippers - Click here to read more

A cool and fresh Italian white

Plus a £70 prize on offer in our wine competition - Click here to read more

A true bargain Riesling at under a fiver

Not dry but priced so sweetly - Click here to read more

A beautiful Rhône for your Christmas table

Great wine great label great price: what more could you ask for - Click here to read more

What Does Risk Mean?

- Click here to read more

What do I do with my boomerang children?

You can encourage them to survive on their own with advice and financial help - Click here to read more

Are comparison sites useful?

Generally yes but you must treat the information with caution - Click here to read more

How do I pick a care home for dad?

By doing your research visiting likely homes asking friends - in particular parents doctors or medical advisers who may know what is available locally with suitable care at a price you can afford and checking with your local authority - Click here to read more

Must do for January: Take a long hard look at retirement

Retirement its in front of you oh yes it is! Dont let yours be a riches to rags story says Joss Harwood of Eldon Financial Planning - Click here to read more

Have a sweet new year with this lovely Sauternes

As sampled at Buck House no less - Click here to read more

A Spanish surprise from an unlikely region

The wonderful thing about Spain is that great wines pop up in some of the least celebrated places - Click here to read more

A good wine and a good conscience

For the first time ever Wine Relief the wine-related fundraising initiative in aid of Comic Relief has its very own wines - Click here to read more

Find this wine!

Mount Horrocks Semillon 2007 Clare Valley is made in very small quantities allowing the producers to keep a close eye on every detail that matters - Click here to read more

A stunning wine from central Italy

Make no mistake about it 2006 has produced some stunning wines from central Italy including this beauty which is exceptionally easy to find - Click here to read more

One of the best-value labels around

When a friend asks me which wines they should buy for a party I very often steer them towards Yering Frog bottlings - Click here to read more

A sweet, round and rich red

This Terrasses cuvée is sweet round and rich with that delightful herby overlay of successful southern Rhône reds - Click here to read more

A sweet wine with pioneering beginnings

Jancis Robinson tries the Averys Pioneer Range Shiraz 2005 Yarra Valley - Click here to read more

Sipps: who should invest and why

The tax relief charges and options available with Sipps - Click here to read more

Jancis Robinson?s wine of the week

Sulphur dioxide or the sulphites that are cited on more and more wine labels worldwide are not evil weapons in the modern winemakers arsenal of added chemicals - Click here to read more

Good value Argentine reds

Jancis Robinson is taken by the Tapiz Malbec 2007 Luján de Cuyo - Click here to read more

Jancis Robinson's wine of the week

These hand-crafted wines are truly great value - Click here to read more

Jancis Robinson: Two great Chilean Sauvignons

In hot humid weather what could be more agreeable than a really sleek racy cool refreshing Sauvignon Blanc - Click here to read more

Jancis Robinson: A Riesling to remember

If you want to see what the fuss about the new generation of dry German Rieslings is try this wine - Click here to read more

Jancis Robinson: This wine is too good a bargain to ignore

A bargain red with rich spiciness from Asda - Click here to read more

Jancis Robinson: a red you can drink just on its own

This light soft red is a special bottling that has been created for Wine Rack - Click here to read more

Jancis Robinson: a wine to stop you in your tracks

A fragrant delicate white that makes a terrific summer apéritif - Click here to read more

Where to get the best student accounts

With the next lot of students getting ready for life at university sorting out the finances is vital - Click here to read more

Dos and don'ts of student bank accounts

Stick to these rules when you start university life and your finances will take care of themselves - Click here to read more

How to buy time when owing tax

If you are subject to self assessment are strapped for cash and want to avoid paying tax penalties the HMRC has set up a service that can give you a period of grace - Click here to read more

A short cut to spread betting

Angus Campbell of Capital Spreads gives you the run-down on how financial spread betting works - Click here to read more

Over-50s, take advantage of the ISA limit increase

This October the over-50s will have their ISA limit increased by £3000 - Click here to read more

Jancis Robinson: white delights

Fine intellectually interesting and sensually stimulating alternatives to white burgundy - Click here to read more

How to buy a property at auction

Buying a property at an auction seems to be gaining momentum But while this can produce a bargain there are all sorts of pitfalls - Click here to read more

10 tips for buying a property at auction

If you decide to buy a property at auction make sure you follow these 10 tips - Click here to read more

Jancis Robinson: Canadian cheer

A truly dynamic duo from the land of the Mountie that will amaze wine lovers - Click here to read more

Jancis Robinson: the Brangelina connection

The estate has strong links to the music industry and to Brad and Anje On top of this this wine is a tangy white that is impressively persistent - Click here to read more

The answers to your inheritance tax questions

Dozens of Citywire readers have sent in questions about IHT Tax expert Colin Jelley provides the answers - Click here to read more

Will your home be your retirement fund?

How your home can provide you with an income in your twilight years - Click here to read more

The best Child Trust Funds on offer

Parents should not let money in CTFs languish; it should be invested as soon as possible - Click here to read more

Why being charitable can help your pension

Pension savers on an income greater than £150000 can boost their tax relief by making donations to charity - Click here to read more

Top tips for insuring a holiday in the UK

With the current trend for holidaying in the UK just how much cover do you need to take out - Click here to read more

10 tips to selling property at auction

Some basic steps you should take when considering selling your house at auction - Click here to read more

How to sell property at auction

Selling at auction could be a good move if you want to get the best price for your property - Click here to read more

How to pick stocks

Whether you want to pick stocks yourself or are looking to buy a fund it is essential you do plenty of homework before you hand over your cash - Click here to read more

Wine of the Week: Roasted autumnal scents

Jancis Robinson raves about a wine with a great combination of approachability structure for the future and lovely purity - Click here to read more

Top 10 pension dos and don'ts

When you plan your pension these top tips will help you on your way - Click here to read more

Castillo, queen of the desert

Young with an admirable intensity and pungency this Sauvignon Blanc from the Elqui Valley is a force to be reckoned with - Click here to read more

Wine of the week: South Africa's First Lady

One of those rare easy reds that can happily be imbibed on its own - Click here to read more

Forget champagne for a tenner - try this one instead

The British media have recently been bedazzled by the notional prospect of champagne as cheap as £10 a bottle by Christmas but Jancis Robinson thinks it is worth spending a little more - Click here to read more

Some tips to help you write a will

Many people dont know whom to consult about writing a Will and it is right to be more than a little sceptical  - Click here to read more

Don't underestimate this mass-produced wine

I dont think Ive ever recommended a wine of the week that seems to be as widely available as this one writes Jancis Robinson - Click here to read more

How to invest ethically

More people are interested in investing with their conscience While it is difficult to know where to put your money and whether it really is doing any good there are some good options - Click here to read more

Jancis Robinson finds 'a truly ground-breaking wine'

The wine writer is impressed by a unique Australian Shiraz - Click here to read more

How to give to charity ? without filling the government?s coffers

Andy Gadd head of research for the Lighthouse Group explains how to give to charity tax efficiently - Click here to read more

How to protect your pension against inflation

The size of the inflation threat we face is uncertain but there are measures you can take to prepare yourself - Click here to read more

Corporate bonds explained

What they are how they are priced and the risks - Click here to read more

How to choose the right Sipp

The questions you need to ask yourself when choosing a Sipp by financial planner Francis Klonowski - Click here to read more

Moving or retiring abroad and your finances: more of your questions answered

Our tax expert provides the answers to your questions about the impact on your finances of moving or retiring abroad - Click here to read more

House buying and selling without using an estate agent

Want to avoid the expense and pain of using an estate agent Lorna Bourke outlines the options and whether it can be done successfully - Click here to read more

Jancis Robinson: A Bourgogne Blanc to heartily recommend

Fans of pure white savoury burgundy are encouraged to try these wines imported into the US by Michael Skurnik and Atherton but practically unknown in France itself - Click here to read more

Your SIPP questions answered

John Moret has answered the questions on self-invested personal pensions submitted by Citywire readers - Click here to read more

10 questions you should ask an IFA

The crucial questions you should ask an IFA before you become their client by Simon Gibson of Atkinson Bolton Consulting - Click here to read more

Your SIPP questions answered: Part 2

John Moret has answered Citywire readers questions on SIPPs - Click here to read more

Jancis Robinson: A well-deserved gold medal winner

One of those rather rare red wine varieties that produces wines you can drink with or without food - Click here to read more

Jancis Robinson: Spain continues to surprise wine lovers

I never thought I would ever be convinced by a Spanish Riesling but Castell dEncus Ekam 2008 Costers del Segre has won me over - Click here to read more

Jancis Robinson: A bargain among the 2008 burgundies

A pure poised marvel which will be much cheaper to buy now rather than later - Click here to read more

Protecting your wealth against a weak pound - more questions answered

Currency specialists HiFX answer questions covering pensions abroad and the pounds strength against the euro dollar and Swiss franc - Click here to read more

Protecting your wealth against a weak pound - your questions answered

Mark Bodega of foreign exchange specialists HiFX has answered questions from Citywire readers on how to protect your overseas wealth in the face of a weak pound - Click here to read more

Don't miss the online tax filing deadline

Allow plenty of time before the 31st January deadline writes Lorna Bourke who provides some helpful guidance - Click here to read more

How to prepare yourself for a rise in Capital Gains Tax

With a CGT rise likely after the election investors should review their portfolio of shares and property to see what can be done to minimise any potential tax bill - Click here to read more

How to invest in bonds and gilts

What are bonds and gilts and where can you buy them - Click here to read more

How to get the best from a financial adviser

Lorna Bourke offers some golden rules for getting the best out of any financial adviser - Click here to read more

How to use spread betting to trade currencies

Angus Campbell of Capital Spreads explains how to use spread betting to trade currencies - Click here to read more

Jancis Robinson: an elegant, refreshing and nuanced Pinot Noir

This 2008 Pinot Noir has both fruit and freshness but is far from simple - Click here to read more

Jancis Robinson: a lusciously aromatic red

This is strongly recommend to those looking for a versatile red that offers a whole range of new flavours and textures - Click here to read more

Why you should take capital gains tax seriously

With a little careful planning you can avoid unnecessarily gifting some of your hard-earned savings to the taxman writes Fidelity tax expert Paul Kennedy - Click here to read more

Tax changes are coming ? here?s how to prepare

End of year tax planning should start early this year as there is a raft of changes of which high earners must take account  - Click here to read more

Investment trusts: unloved but full of promise

Investment trusts are often overlooked but there are some good reasons why you should consider them as part of your portfolio - Click here to read more

The tax-efficient way to pass on pension funds to your kids

Unused pension savings passed on to relatives can be heavily taxed but using pension income to fund further pensions contributions for children or grandchildren can prove very efficient writes Andrew Tully of Standard Life - Click here to read more

Inheritance tax: a five point guide to gift allowances

Financial planner Saran Allott-Davey explains the inheritance tax gift rules - Click here to read more

Inheritance tax: How to pass on your money without getting stung

Many people are confused about IHT gift allowances but there is a little-used and poorly understood way of passing on your money explains financial planner Saran Allott-Davey - Click here to read more

Inheritance tax: a six point guide to gift allowances

Financial planner Saran Allott-Davey explains the inheritance tax gift rules - Click here to read more

Don't let estimated energy bills put you in debt

Estimated bills can cause consumers to rack up serious debt without even realising it so make sure you monitor your energy usage carefully                        - Click here to read more

How to register on the electoral role

Gordon Brown has confirmed the next general election will be May 6 so if you have not yet put yourself on the electoral role you must move quickly - Click here to read more

Ten ways you can speed up your broadband

If you are frustrated with a slow internet connection here are ten ways you can help speed your broadband up   - Click here to read more

How to register on the electoral roll

Gordon Brown has confirmed the next general election will be May 6 so if you have not yet put yourself on the electoral roll you must move quickly - Click here to read more

20 websites where you get things for free

Here are 20 websites that can help you pocket a little extra cash and do your bit to keep reusable goods out of the landfills Perhaps the best things in life are free - Click here to read more

Volcanic ash cloud: Your rights if your flight is cancelled

A volcanic ash cloud from Iceland has forced airlines to cancel all flights in and out of the UK today Here are your rights - Click here to read more

The Goldman Sachs fraud case explained

One of the reasons the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has taken so long to prosecute anyone over failing CDOs is their complexity Here Citywire explains how the trade works - Click here to read more

Redundancy: a guide to your rights

Whoever wins the next election belt tightening will lead to job losses in both the private and public sectors - Click here to read more

What accounts for 90% of returns but is ignored by investors?

Most investors spend their time researching entirely the wrong thing writes financial planner Mike Deverell - Click here to read more

How to manage your SIPP

Ten key questions for SIPP investors to consider - Click here to read more

Is your home in the wrong council tax band?

If you suspect your home is in the wrong council tax band it is crucial you take the time to check and ensure you are not paying too much - Click here to read more

Moving abroad: what it means for your finances, pension and taxes

A guide to the key financial matters you should consider when moving abroad - Click here to read more

Writing a will: why it matters and how to do it on the cheap

A simple guide to explain why you need to make a will what it should include and how to get one made as cheaply as possible - Click here to read more

How can I protect my investments when markets take fright?

Is there anything you can do to protect your investments when markets head south - Click here to read more

Are energy prices going to rise - and should I fix my tariff?

Are the big six energy suppliers going to increase their prices now new energy company OVO has withdrawn its cheapest tariff And is it a good idea to lock in to a fixed rate deal  - Click here to read more

Starting a family: a guide to your finances

Not only will a new baby bring sleepless nights but also extra costs and in many cases reduced income as a parent gives up work to look after the new arrival  Time to review your finances - Click here to read more

How a new voting system would work

David Cameron pledged this week to hold a referendum on electoral reform But how would our voting system change - Click here to read more

Is your pension invested in the right place?

Many people are losing out on their workplace pensions by choosing the default option writes Lorna Bourke - Click here to read more

Your rights if the BA strikes go ahead

If the British Airways strike goes ahead as planned next week and your flight is cancelled it is important you know what your rights are - Click here to read more

Inheritance tax explained: giving gifts and using your exemption

A rise in capital gains tax may be dominating the headlines but Citywire has been inundated with questions about inheritance tax Phil Carroll IHT expert at Skandia has answered your questions - Click here to read more

Q&A How to complain about your bank

If you are unhappy with your bank or another financial services provider here is our quick guide to filing a formal complaint - Click here to read more

Q&A: How to complain about your bank

If you are unhappy with your bank or another financial services provider here is our quick guide to filing a formal complaint - Click here to read more

How to recycle your old mobile phone for cash

UK consumers own around 85 million old mobile phones according to Consumer Focus Here is how you can get paid for recycling yours - Click here to read more

Q&A: How do the banks set interest rates?

The Bank of England base rate has been at record lows for over a year but the rates bank charge borrowers are rising What is  going on - Click here to read more

A guide to mortgages for first time buyers

Repayment of interest only Fixed interest or tracker We explain your options - Click here to read more

Q&A: A beginner?s guide to easy access savings accounts

In our quick guide to easy access savings account we explain how they work and what pitfalls savers need to watch out for     - Click here to read more

Q&A: A beginner?s guide to fixed rate savings accounts

In our quick guide to fixed rate savings account we explain how they work and what type of savers they suit best   - Click here to read more

Q&A: A beginner?s guide to ISAs

In our quick guide to ISAs we explain what an ISA is how they work and why you should invest in one - Click here to read more

Investor given no reason for rejected Keydata compensation bid

The Financial Services Compensation Scheme has refused to release evidence justifying why it rejected a claim from a consumer who bought a Keydata Secure Income bond - Click here to read more

First independent official growth forecasts to be published Monday

The newly-formed Office of Budget Responsibility will publish its first independent forecast of UK Growth on Monday 14 June a week ahead of the budget - Click here to read more

Northern Rock to close final salary pension scheme

Northern Rock said it has begun talks with the union over plans to cut 650 jobs and to close the final salary pension scheme - Click here to read more

Experts warn on giving CGT advantage to business assets

The government is under pressure to alleviate the impact of hiking CGT by reinstating taper relief while avoiding the mistakes made when it was previously in force - Click here to read more

Top 10 coalition Budget predictions

An extension of the taper on higher rate relief for pensions and punitive non-dom taxes could surface in the first coalition Budget on 22 June according to tax experts - Click here to read more

Broker Roundup Update: Panmure and Numis positive on Hyder Consulting

Collins Stewart favours Penna Consulting and Morgan Stanley overweight in Travis Perkins - Click here to read more

Are SIPP providers ripping us off?

Are investors being ripped off by SIPP providers who in many cases are paying nothing at all for cash held on deposit  Lorna Bourke considers the facts - Click here to read more

Goldmans issued with subpoena for failing to work with US govt

Firm issued with court order after accusations that it stalled in providing documents for investigators  - Click here to read more

Premier League footballers enjoy 11% pay rise

More than two thirds of Premier League revenue now spent on wages - Click here to read more

Morning Market: US Fed chair's comments steady markets

Renewed takeover activity also helps sentiment with Chloride sharply higher on ABB bid - Click here to read more

?Decisive action? needed to complete euro project

European policymakers must take decisive action to complete eurozone monetary union International Monetary Fund warns - Click here to read more

Broker Roundup: Goldman reviews engineering sector

Credit Suisse overweight in equities and RBS recommends WS Atkins - Click here to read more

Morning Eyecatchers: Chloride agrees 325p-a-share bid from ABB

Aggreko full-year to be better than expected WH Smith Q3 sales hit by ash cloud disruption and Rockhopper confirms placing to raise £485 million - Click here to read more

Tuesday Papers: Bernanke suggests there's going to be no double-dip recession in US -- other news

IMF has told the eurozone bloc to speed up budget cuts or risk eroding the confidence of financial markets - Click here to read more

Ombudsman probes mis-selling by Lloyds' investment arm

Bank of Scotland Investment Service (Bosis) the controversial sales arm of Lloyds Group has caught the attention of the Financial Ombudsman Service for its flawed advice to older customers - Click here to read more

Q&A: What moves the gold price?

Gold reached an all-time high yesterday as world turmoil bolstered demand but what is pushing it higher - Click here to read more

Will pension saving survive the cost-cutting?

Theres a lot of talk about how the pensions tax relief given to higher rate taxpayers costs us billions of pounds If higher rate tax relief is a cost so is basic rate tax relief How far will this cost-cutting go - Click here to read more

BP shares fall to year lows on US political pressure over oil spill

BP shares fell in very heavy volumes amid growing fears that US political posturing could curb Gulf of Mexico drilling or persuade BP to cut its dividend  - Click here to read more

FSA forks out £638,500 for hospitality at Canary Wharf

The Financial Services Authority spent £638500 last year on hospitality for meetings held at its office a a Freedom of Information request has revealed - Click here to read more

London tube union announces strike dates

Rail union RMT today announced London tube workers will strike for six days in June and July in a dispute over jobs pay and working conditions   - Click here to read more

Morning Line: Is this really a new 'age of aspiration' for first time buyers?

The government says it is But theres no money left in the pot to help FTBs and prices will remain sky high housing minister adds - Click here to read more

NHS hospitals make millions from car parking charges

Consumer champion Which has named the four worst hospitals for clamping fining charging and complaints - Click here to read more

Investors return to funds as sentiment improves

Improving economic data led investors around the globe to make a return to funds last week acccording to new data - Click here to read more

Broker Roundup Update: Brokers positive on ASOS and IG Group after figures

Numis downgrades Centamin Egypt and Ambrian has a speculative buy for African Consolidated Resources - Click here to read more

RBS shares gain on asset sales hopes

RBS has secured interested bidders for assets worth more than $5 billion - Click here to read more

Morning Market: Late rally in New York prompts brighter tone

Miners lead the recovery but BP remains under its oil spill cloud; Misys jumps on Allscripts stake sale and a positive update supports IG Group - Click here to read more

BT union rejects new pay offer

BTs biggest union yesterday said until any real progress is made on improving a pay offer it will press ahead with plans to hold a strike ballot - Click here to read more

Broker Roundup: UBS initiates coverage of Pru with a buy and 641p target

Morgan Stanley reviews property sector - Click here to read more

Morning Eyecatchers: IG Group expects to report revenue of £298mln

Misys to sell 546% stake in Allscripts and ASOS year profit up 44% - Click here to read more

Italy is biggest threat to euro, says Europe's top bond manager

Investors have been missing the point: Italy not Greece is the main threat to the eurozone says star global bond fund manager Stewart Cowley - Click here to read more

New regulations for private landlords axed

Housing minister Grant Shapps promises no more red tape as the new government abandons plans to introduce a national register for landlords - Click here to read more

Government bond sell indicators flash red

The major European economies sovereign debt no longer looks a safe haven offering little value to compensate investors for the mounting risks - Click here to read more

Should there be a tax on chewing gum?

And would such a tax stop people spitting their gum into the street - Click here to read more

Morning Line: Why our broken university system needs a radical overhaul

Too many students too many institutions and too often poor quality teaching new universities minister David Willetts is right that the system needs radical change - Click here to read more

Bank of England holds rates at 0.5%

The Bank of Englands rate setting committee voted to hold interest rates at the historic low of 05% for the 15th month in a row - Click here to read more

Chief of City regulator collects £108k bonus

The Financial Services Authority annual report reveals that chief executive Hector Sants was paid a £108000 bonus last year - Click here to read more

Investment banks face OFT probe over fees

Office of Fair Trading launches investigation into the fees investment banks charge companies for advice on mergers and cash-calls - Click here to read more

Market Update: Shares reverse early falls after evidence global recovery is on track

BP above worst but still vulnerable to dividend cut fears but miners recover as Chinese exports surge 50% - Click here to read more

Hargreaves calls for £50k cap on annual pension contributions

Hargreaves Lansdown says a £50000 limit on yearly contributions would match revenue raised by a taper - Click here to read more

Broker Roundup Update: Panmure favours Barratt and Persimmon

Morgan Stanley overweight in Misys and Wood Group and Ambrian likes European Goldfields and Tanzanite One - Click here to read more

Woolwich and Bovis launch 90% mortgage

Woolwich has launched a new 90% loan to value mortgage available exclusively to people who purchase their property from Bovis Homes - Click here to read more

Morning Market: BP shares savaged again

Caution ahead of interest rate decisions from Bank of England and European Central Bank - Click here to read more

Broker Roundup Update: Positive notes on Essar Energy

Deutsche Bank recommends Tesco and RBS has a buy for ITV - Click here to read more

Morning Eyecatchers: BP has cash to cover oil spill costs

OFT to examine underwriting market Halfords year profit up 27% but Argos hit by weak gaming and TV sales; Premier Farnell total profit before tax £222 million and Hargreaves pulls out of UK Coal talks - Click here to read more

Thursday Papers: Barclays strikes a mortgage partnership with Bovis Homes -- bid news and gossip

Santander buys rest of its Mexican banking business for £17bln - Click here to read more

Future of Banking report out soon, says McFall

The Future of Banking Commission is due to publish its report this weekend according to one of its authors John McFall former Labour MP and chairman of the influential Treasury Select Committee - Click here to read more

Deal of the week: Free DVD rental and cinema tickets

This week LOVEFiLM is offering new customers a 30 day free trial and two free cinema tickets when you sign up - Click here to read more

A novel fixed rate bond ? but you can get better returns elsewhere

Lorna Bourke considers where savers would be best to put their money - Click here to read more

Is the US heading for a double-dip recession?

Fears the US may fall back into recession is adding to investor nervousness Here analysts and fund managers give their views   - Click here to read more

Video: Will the economy dip back into recession?

Citywire investment editor Charlie Parker and markets correspondent Deborah Hyde weigh the chances of the US and UK economies dipping back into recession - Click here to read more

Worldcuponomics - How South Africa 2010 will boost Britain

It may end in heartbreak on the pitch but several sectors are set to boom as football mania sweeps the nation - Click here to read more

Paying 3.5% or more on your mortgage? Switch to a better deal

Anyone who is currently paying 35% or more who has at least 15% equity in their homes can now remortgage to a better rate - Click here to read more

Market Update: Shares shrug off gloomy inflation data

Strong rally in BP shares also helps sentiment and takeover hopes excite BRIT Insurance and International Power - Click here to read more

Broker Roundup Update: UBS recommends BP and Morgan Stanley equal-weight on Pru

RBS has buys for Premier Farnell Sainsbury and Tesco - Click here to read more

Morning Market: Wall Street bounce gives FTSE early lift

BP leads rally in oils but miners mixed - Click here to read more

Friday Five: Reasons why the World Cup is better than the Olympics

Cheaper fairer more excitingif only England had won the right to host the World Cup rather than the Olympics - Click here to read more

Broker Roundup: Goldman downgrades Rexam and has a sell for Home Retail

HSBC upgrades ENRC and JP Morgan initiates coverage of Kenmare with an overweight - Click here to read more

Morning Eyecatchers: Hammerson buys Leadenhall Court for £95 million

Fuller Smith pre-tax profit up 86% Punch Taverns sells pubs to Greene King for £53 million and BP reportedly exploring options on dividend - Click here to read more

Friday Papers: BP oil spill 'double early estimates' -- other news

Dow advances 273 points and US state department has said the BP oil spill will not affect the relationship between the US and Britain - Click here to read more

Would you buy shares in Ocado?

Can your friendly grocery delivery firm convince you to buy shares - Click here to read more

Saturday Papers: other news.

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Saturday Papers: bid news and gossip

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Saturday Papers: tips and comment

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Saturday Papers: BP ready to suspend its dividend -- other news.

US retail sales mark their first monthly drop in eight months but consumer sentiment improved in June to its strongest point in over two years - Click here to read more

Saturday Papers: Resolution in talks to buy AXA UK units for £2.8bln -- bid news and gossip

Santander has cut its offer for RBS retail branch network and Brit Insurance holds out for Apollo to raise $11bln offer - Click here to read more

How to protect your savings from the ravages of 5% inflation

That old bogeyman of the 70s is back again inflation  now running at 53% as measured by the retail prices index (RPI) Fortunately National Savings has an answer - Click here to read more

Sunday Papers: tips and comment

Comment on BP Tesco Vodafone RBS and ASOS and tips for Safestore Smiths Group Lookers Shell and Hogg Robinson - Click here to read more

Eight proposals to reform retirement saving

Inheritance tax free pension fund bequests and a single contribution limit for pensions and ISAs among proposals from Centre for Policy Studies - Click here to read more

ISAs aren?t the best choice for retirement ? at least not rationally?

The taxation of pensions makes them mathematically a better option than ISAs for retirement - but we rarely act so rationally Surely there is another option - Click here to read more

UK banking system needs 'profound reform', says commission

Ordinary people should be put at the heart of an improved system according to a heavyweight group of industry leaders and politicians - Click here to read more

The best credit card deals for 0% transfers

Austerity chic is now the order of the day with everyone looking around to save money The same goes for credit cards - Click here to read more

Coping with rising school fees

School fees are a big expense and have risen well above the general rate of inflation in recent years - Click here to read more

Know your internet limit - or risk being cut off

If you do not know what your internet download limit is you are at risk of exceeding your allowance and being disconnected   - Click here to read more

BP hit by fears of $20bn demand for Gulf clean-up

(Update) BP shares tumbled more than 9% today as news that US politicians want the oil giant to set aside $20 billion (£135 billion) to pay compensation claims alarmed investors - Click here to read more

Experts' View: what Budd's forecasts mean for the emergency Budget

The new Office for Budget Responsibility chaired by Sir Alan Budd has cut UK growth and debt forecasts Unfortunately that does not mean there is less pressure on the emergency Budget next week to make far-reaching cuts   - Click here to read more

John Carlin's England verdict: 'Dull, disjointed crap'

But why did England entrust their fortunes to a foreign manager - Click here to read more

Morning Line: Shrewd investors see this as moment to buy BP

The news from America is leading towards two fundamental conclusions about BP as it faces the Gulf of Mexico oil spill crisis - Click here to read more

UK growth estimate cut to 2.6% but markets pleased

(Update) Sterling bounced two cents higher against the dollar after the Office of Responsibility said growth will be lower than earlier forecasts but much better than some had feared - Click here to read more

Broker Roundup Update: Numis has a buy and 50p target for Capital & Regional

Panmure has a buy and 100p target for Huntsworth - Click here to read more

Market Update: Miners continue to lead markets higher

Dividend uncertainties weigh on BP but favourtable press comment supports Intercontinental and Smiths Group - Click here to read more

The UK's growth forecast will be slashed today

The first Office of Budget Responsibility growth forecast is expected to slash previous Treasury predictions for 2011 and beyond - Click here to read more

Tax on alcohol may rise another 5%

Alcohol prices could soar again next week as the government considers introducing another 5% increase in alcohol duty and a rise in VAT - Click here to read more

Morning Market: bright start on upbeat miners

Share prices make a bright start to the week against a background of growing investor confidence on the outlook for the global economic recovery although BP remains in the doldrums - Click here to read more

Broker Roundup: Morgan Stanley downgrades Lloyds, overweight Barclays

Exane and Bank of America positive on Barclays and UBS upgrades Standard Chartered - Click here to read more

Morning Eyecatchers: Resolution in talks to buy most of AXA UK life assurance units for £2.75bln

BP oil spill bill hits $16 billion Weir Group trading stronger than expected and Majestic Wine year profit up 26% - Click here to read more

Monday Papers; UK growth forecasts face cut from Office for Budget Responsibility -- other news

White House turns up heat on BP with flurry of new demands and CBI says Britain will avoid a double-dip recession although recovery will be weak - Click here to read more

Monday Papers: tips and comment

Comment on BP Halfords Blinkx Akers Biosciences and Intercontinental Hotels - Click here to read more

Henderson investment chief tips FTSE to finish year near 6,000

Bill McQuaker the head of equities at investment group Henderson New Star reassures investors with a forecast that the FTSE 100 could rise 15% by the end of the year - Click here to read more

Tuesday Papers: Rupert Murdoch seeks full control of BSkyB -- bid news and gossip

Santander makes bid for RBS branch network - Click here to read more

Tuesday Papers: tips and comment

Comment on BP OBR Resolution United Utilities 888 Hamworthy Mothercare Cineworld Weir Group 3i Group Supergroup and Kingfisher - Click here to read more

Market Update: Inflation fall brings some cheer

BSkyB hold firm following bid approach but Healthcare Locums suffer as offer talks collapse - Click here to read more

BSkyB rejects Murdoch?s takeover bid

BSkyB has turned down a 700p takeover bid from Rupert Murdochs News Corporation - Click here to read more

Broker Roundup Update: Collins Stewart downgrades Connaught

Deutsche Bank has a buy and 710p target for Prudential - Click here to read more

Market Report: BSkyB jumps as News Corp seeks to gain control

Markets generally ease back as eurozone debt worries resurface and sluggish UK sales figures overshadow Tesco - Click here to read more

Banks urged to cut ?excessive? card charges

Charges for handling debit card payments have almost doubled in five years and cost retailers nearly four times more than cash transactions - Click here to read more

Tesco remains upeat after mediocre numbers

While sales growth was low in the first three months of the year the group remains upbeat on its ability to harness a consumer recovery - Click here to read more

Home owners rush to sell following abolition of home information packs

House prices edge up again in May but surveyors expect a 15% increase in supply following the abolition of HIPs and ahead of any rise in CGT - Click here to read more

BP hires banks to handle Gulf of Mexico liabilities

BP has hired a consortium of banks to manage its liabilities in the Gulf of Mexico as US senators continue their calls for a $20 billion pay out - Click here to read more

Emergency budget must find £85bn in tax and cuts, warns IFS

The institute of Fiscal Studies believes it is possible George Osborne can meet his deficit reduction targets without further tax rises but highly unlikely - Click here to read more

Morning Eyecatchers: Tesco Q1 international sales up 11.9%; UK sluggish

Bellway trading in line Alexon trading broadly satisfactory Ted Baker 18% increase in group revenue Cinven confirms it may bid for Spice and Healthcare Locums no longer in offer talks - Click here to read more

A vision of a brighter, savings future

The government wants us all to suggest ideas to reform tax and benefits It couldnt do better than listen to the Centre for Policy Studies on simplification of the pensions and savings regime - Click here to read more

Is Selfridges the best store in the world?

Selfridges has today been named the best department store in the world beating off competition from Bloomingdales in New York to claim the title - Click here to read more

UK house price inflation climbs to over 10%

But the proportion of first time buyers falls to a three year low lenders report - Click here to read more

Government scores own goal by adandoning buy-to-let clampdown

The plan for a new register of buy-to-let landlords - now abandoned by the new government - would have made it easier to clamp down on tax cheats Lorna Bourke argues - Click here to read more

Budget threat to medical insurance

The government is expected to double the rate of insurance premium tax to 10% at the budget which will net £6 billion in revenues - Click here to read more

Capping payday loan rates would not help borrowers, OFT warns

More needs to be done to help consumers make informed decisions when taking out expensive short term loans the Office of Fair Trading says - Click here to read more

Morning Line: How far dare the government go on public pensions?

Deputy prime minster Nick Clegg yesterday promised to reform unfair public sector pensions But how far dare the coalition government go - Click here to read more

A vision of a brighter savings future

The Centre for Policy Studies wants to simplify of the pensions and savings regime - Click here to read more

Wednesday Papers: Dow boosted by gain in the euro -- other news

George Osborne to warn big banks over crisis tax and house buyers could be refused mortgages under new Bank of England powers - Click here to read more

Wednesday Papers: News Corp bid for BSkyB wins early support from investors -- bid news and gossip

Jupiter to float near bottom of price range and Mongolia set to list vast mineral assets in London - Click here to read more

Wednesday Papers: tips and comment

Comment on BP BSkyB Ted Baker Oxford Instruments Hargreaves Services Western Coal GlaxoSmithKline Ted Baker Bellway and IG Group - Click here to read more

Osborne set to press ahead with plans for new bank tax

New chancellor also expected to press ahead with plans to reform the Financial Services Authority is his first Mansion House speech tonight - Click here to read more

J Sainsbury shares gain after numbers but analysts remain cautious

Analysts say Sainsbury is already trading at a premium but that reflects bid rumours rather than better growth prospects - Click here to read more

Morning Line: Stop whingeing - tax rises are inevitable

Despite all the objections of vested interests a rise in VAT to 20% makes a lot of sense - Click here to read more

Market Update: Early advance stalls ahead of Mansion House speech

RBS firm on asset sale news but negative broker notes hit Schroders and Kingfisher and BP remains nervous ahead of Obama meeting - Click here to read more

Equitable victims fear government may seek cut in compensation

The Equitable Members Action Group victims fear that a promised payout by the coalition government for the near collapse of the mutual insurer may be cut to £1 billion from early £46 billion estimates - Click here to read more

Broker Roundup Update: UBS positive Aggreko and Carphone Warehouse

Numis has a buy for Bellway and upgrades Bluebay to buy from add - Click here to read more

BP ticks higher ahead of meeting with President Obama

BP shares bounced 117% higher as it said it will discuss arrrangements to ensure claims are paid out in a fair and timely manner with the US president later - Click here to read more

Morning Market: Firm start as eurozone debt worries subside

Banks and miners lead the way ahead and Greenland wells approval boosts Cairn Energy; Schroders dip after a Citigroup rating downgrade - Click here to read more

Broker Roundup: JP Morgan reviews mining sector

Citigroup downgrades Schroders and Bank of America downgrades Kingfisher - Click here to read more

Morning Eyecatchers: Sainsbury taking share in a tough market

Jupiter prices IPO at 165p-a-share and Liontrust slashes dividend as profits slump - Click here to read more

BlackRock takes £39m stake in Jupiter

(Update) BlackRock has bought a 51% stake in the Jupiter IPO which was oversubscribed after being set at the lower end of its price range - Click here to read more

Unemployment steadies around 2.5m but the peak is yet to come

While the number of people out of work was slightly lower in April than in March most agree joblessness will continue to rise once Budget cuts bite  - Click here to read more

Value for the brave in BP bonds?

Some investors are now starting to see value in the companys debt - Click here to read more

Osborne confirms Sir John Vickers to head banking commission

Chancellor says ex-chief economist of Bank of England will lead commission into whether banks should be broken up - Click here to read more

BP shares pricing in 'at least' 50% divi cut, leading investor says

Fund manager Nigel Thomas expects BP to cut its next dividend by at least half and perhaps even more - Click here to read more

FSA bans three more brokers for mortgage fraud

The Financial Services Authority has banned three mortgage brokers fining two of them £420000 as part of its crack down on home loan fraud  - Click here to read more

Full text of George Osborne's Mansion House speech

The chancellor has announced sweeping reforms to the system of financial regulation in the UK - Click here to read more

Hector Sants to stay on as City watchdog boss

(Update) FSA boss Sants will become chief executive of new prudential regulator after overseeing the transition to a post-Tripartite system of financial regulational - Click here to read more

FSA axed and Bank of England beefed up in regulatory shake-up

Chancellor George Osborne announces biggest shake-up in City regulation in 13 years - Click here to read more

Broker Roundup Update: Citigroup negative on Tesco

Numis upgrades Mouchel and Canaccord has a buy for Centamin Egypt - Click here to read more

BA and Unite remain ?deadlocked? as talks collapse again

Unite union looks set to ballot British Airways cabin crew over further strike action after failing to agree a deal with the airline yesterday - Click here to read more

Is BP too big to fail?

As the latest news filters through that BP is to create an escrow fund of at least $20 billion to deal with burgeoning litigation claims some believe the oil giant is simply too big to fail - Click here to read more

Morning Market: BP rebound after offering confidence in the future of the company

Banks firm but miners fall back in generally mixed trading - Click here to read more

BP shares up as it bows to US pressure to cut 2010 dividends

(Update with opening share price) BP has confirmed it will not pay a dividend due Monday and will not pay any other dividends in 2010 after it agreed to US demands to place $20 billion into a US compensation fund - Click here to read more

Broker Roundup: JP Morgan and UBS positive on BP

Citigroup upgrades Drax Group and Bernstein has outperforms for Diageo and SABMiller - Click here to read more

Morning Eyecatchers: Property sales by Land Secs and Hammerson

RBS to sell its retail banking assets in the United Arab Emirates WS Atkins and Ashtead prepare for tighter government spending and loss of car park revenue will affect Stagecoach profit by around £8 million - Click here to read more

Thursday Papers: BP to suspend dividends and set aside £13.5bln to cover spill claims -- other news

Sweeping regulatory changes gives power to Bank of England governor as Osborne abolishes FSA; Director Hector Sants to stay on to affect the shake-up - Click here to read more

Thursday Papers: Rumours of £2bln bid swirl around Northumbrian Water -- bid news and gossip

Luminar believed to have drafted in advisers from PwC to help restructure the company - Click here to read more

Thursday Papers: tips and comment

Comment on Jupiter Safestore RPC Kea Petroleum Weir Group Tullett Prebon Filtrona and Harvey Nash and tips for Intercontinental Hotels and Salamander Energy - Click here to read more

Landline companies forced to slash charges for leaving service

BT TalkTalk and Virgin Media have agreed to reduce the cost of exiting their landline contracts early under pressure from Ofcom - Click here to read more

Coalition announces £10.5bn of cuts ahead of budget

No blushes are spared as the government scrapes free swimming for children a visitors centre in Stonehenge and a £450 million hospital building project - Click here to read more

BP boss faces wrath of Congress

Tony Hayward attempted contrition but instead was labelled evasive by furious lawmakers in Washington - Click here to read more

Broker Roundup: JP Morgan upgrades Aviva.

Brokers largely positive on BP while cutting target prices - Click here to read more

Threadneedle: BP could be event that stalls recovery

Threadneedles head of UK equities Simon Brazier has warned the Gulf of Mexico oil spill will put renewed pressure on the regulation of oil companies and could ultimately affect the oil price - Click here to read more

Friday Papers: EU agrees on tougher budget rules and policy coordination -- other news

BP chief Tony Hayward told by angry US Congressional panel his firm ignored dangers when drilling in the Gulf of Mexico - Click here to read more

Friday Papers: Qatar fund set to take over Songbird Estates -- bid news and gossip

Cape receives preliminary approach from third party and RBS sells Kazakh business to HSBC - Click here to read more

Barry Norris: Where to find the winners and losers in Europe

Europe may be getting a bad press but it contains good companies on attractive valuations says Argonaut co-founder Barry Norris - Click here to read more

Robin Hepworth: Why my fund is 15% in cash

Robin Hepworth manager of the Ecclesiastical Amity International fund explains why he is cautious on global equities and has 15% of the portfolio in cash - Click here to read more

Friday Papers: tips and comment

Comment on UK banks BP China Biodiesel Elektron Ashtead WS Atkins Consort Medical and Balfour Beatty and tips for Fuller Smith Workspace and Hightex Group - Click here to read more

The FSA failed but can the Bank of England do any better?

Can we rely on the Bank of England to burst the next financial bubble - Click here to read more

Church leaders unite to attack ?shocking? bank lending practices

Heads of the Catholic Methodist Protestant and Presbyterian churches in Northern Ireland issue joint statement comdemning the continuing failure of banks to lend to small businesses - Click here to read more

Morning Line: The financial sector parties again like it is 2007

While the rest of the country is bracing itself for a new age of austerity the City is enjoying a new age of plenty How do they get away with it - Click here to read more

BP deal with Obama provides some clarity but growth risks emerge

BP shares are rebounding from lows as dividend cuts provide clarity but BP may be hobbled for years to come - Click here to read more

Shove off Bill Gross you don't scare us

The UK has proved that it is not vulnerable to attack from bond vigilantes in the way continental Europe is - Click here to read more

10 of the greatest con artists in history

From renowned stock market swindlers to imaginative impostors and creative kids we look at ten of the most famous fraudsters of all time - Click here to read more

BT calls on union to re-open strike talks

BT is urging the Communication Workers Union to re-open negotiation talks after the union said it would be willing to compromise on a pay deal - Click here to read more

Broker Roundup Update: Citigroup downgrades Victrex

UBS downgrades Serco and Ambrian initiates coverage of Xstrata with a buy and £1430 target - Click here to read more

Market Update: Shares consolidate early gains helped by fesh recovery in BP and a firm mining sector

Capita Serco Victrex Hikma and Tesco overshadowed by negative broker views but Innovision jump on Broadcom bid - Click here to read more

Spain's Santander makes offer for 300 RBS branches

Santander - which already owns Alliance and Leicester Abbey and some Bradford and Bingley accounts - will own one in eight bank branches in the UK if the bid succeeds - Click here to read more

Morning Market: Shares edge ahead helped by resilient Wall Street

Aviva benefits from JP Morgan upgrade and BP brighter after chief executive survives a grilling by Congress - Click here to read more

World Cup 2010: Citywire's international staff blog

Citywire staff are a multi-national bunch hailing from such far flung countries as New Zealand and Serbia; they share their views and experiences of the World Cup so far - Click here to read more

Weak pound is a double-edged sword

Sterlings weakness is good for the UK says LGIMs credit strategist Ben Bennett for now at least - Click here to read more

Market Update: Shares consolidate early gains helped by fresh recovery in BP and firm mining sector

Capita Serco Victrex Hikma and Tesco overshadowed by negative broker views but Innovision jump on Broadcom bid - Click here to read more

Savings Ratewatch: can you beat inflation and the taxman?

Inflation may have fallen marginally to 34% according to the consumer price (CPI) index but savers are still finding it almost impossible to find a savings account which shows a real return after tax - Click here to read more

Mortgage Ratewatch: phew! no mortgage cap after all

Homebuyers and lenders breathe a sigh of relief The chancellor did not announce a 75% loan to value cap on mortgages  - Click here to read more

Why I don?t care about house prices

House prices are up again - but how does this really affect me - Click here to read more

Sunday Papers: other news

Osborne set for hardest Budget in a generation - Click here to read more

Sunday Papers: bid news and gossip

TPG pays £300m to acquire Republic fashion chain - Click here to read more

BP shares down as partner says will not share costs

BP shares are hit again by accusations from well partner Anadarko and talk the oil giant may have to issue new bonds to a market with little appetite for its debt   - Click here to read more

Emergency Budget: what to expect

In what will be the toughest budget for a generation here is a roundup of what chancellor George Osborne is likely to announce on Tuesday   - Click here to read more

Council tax freeze expected in Budget

Chancellor George Osborne to work with local councils to freeze council tax for one year - Click here to read more

Fidelity to ask Pru chairman to resign as Myners tipped as replacement

City minister Lord Myners and former Zurich Financial Services chief executive Jim Schiro have both been tipped to replace Harvey McGrath as Pru chairman - Click here to read more

Monday Papers: Barclays chiefs to take stand in Lehman?s lawsuit - other news

John Varley and Bob Diamond the two top executives at Barclays will take stand in Lehmans lawsuit against the UK bank - Click here to read more

Monday Papers: Winton opens new fund to retail investors - bid news and gossip

Bain Capital to sell TeamSystem for as much as 600m - Click here to read more

Tuesday Papers: Beijing's renminbi move sets positive tone - other news

SEC accused ICP Asset Management of defrauding investors in collateralised debt obligations - Click here to read more

Tuesday Papers: Korn/Ferry International eyes European expansion - bid news and gossip

One of the worlds biggest headhunters has shifted its Los Angeles-based chief executive to London for three months - Click here to read more

Video: The tax changes ahead in today's budget

The chancellor may be promising to simplify the tax system but investors will still struggle to keep up with what could be a myriad of changes today - Click here to read more

Markets cheered by Chinese currency revaluation hopes

Shares and metal prices were higher in afternoon deals as investors cheered China plans to allow its currency to gain ground against the dollar - Click here to read more

Morning Line: the pension schemes that cost the country a fortune

Are you a member of one of the 19 big public sector pension schemes the government has in its sights Then watch out changes are afoot to get you to pay a bigger share of the cost of your pension - Click here to read more

Public sector net debt to fall to 1.1% of economy by 2016

The Chancellor says spending cuts will reduce debt payments to £3bn a year by the end of the current parliament - Click here to read more

Let staff watch the England-Slovenia match, unions urge employers

Denying employees the chance to watch vital World Cup matches will hit productivity and increase absenteeism TUC warns - Click here to read more

Comment: I am a middle class benefits scrounger

One thing is clear Osborne will be fight to remove the middle classes from the benefits system in this budget - Click here to read more

BA agrees plan to tackle £3.7bn pension deficit

British Airways has agreed a plan with trustees to cut its pension deficit without closing its pension schemes - Click here to read more

VAT: Chancellor claims Budget hike in sales tax to 20% was 'unavoidable'

(Update) Chancellor George Osborne has increased the rate of VAT to 20% from January generating £13 billion in revenue for the government - Click here to read more

Bank shares rally as new bank tax is less onerous than feared

(Update) Lloyds shares led the risers as Fitch said the new bank levy is manageable and retail banks will be charged less than riskier institutions - Click here to read more

Budget hits savers as interest rates set to stay low for longer

The delay in the VAT rise will help allay inflation fears and means interest rates will stay at record lows well in to 2011 possibly 2012 - Click here to read more

Budget crackdown could claim 725,000 public sector jobs

Economists have warned job losses could reach 725000 as the public sector recession begins - Click here to read more

Housebuilders, banks and retailers the big Budget winners

The three sectors gained after the bank levy and CGT rise were not as bad as expected while VAT boosted the retailers - Click here to read more

CGT increase will lose Treasury £200 million in revenue warns think-tank

The rise in capital gains tax (CGT) to 28% for higher rate earners will see the Treasury lose £200 million in revenues as taxpayers opt to hold on to assets rather than sell them according to think-tank the Adam Smith Institute - Click here to read more

Budget links ISA limits to retail price index

Emergency Budget includes plan to link ISA subscription limit to the retail price index from April 2011 - Click here to read more

Gilt market stutters on spending cut plans

Yields on 10 year gilts crept up after Budget announcement and although the government has bought itself some time concerns continue to abound - Click here to read more

Budget outlines temporary age 77 rule

The government has proposed raising the age at which members of registered pension schemes have to buy an annuity to 77 as an interim measure before it scraps compulsory annuitisation - Click here to read more

Relief for investors expecting worse capital gains toll in Budget

The vast majority of investors will still be able to realise up to £10100 of gains a year tax free - which means that investors in bonds and shares will largely be able to avoid CGT altogether - Click here to read more

Non-dom tax law to be reviewed

The government has promised in the Budget to review the taxation of non-domiciled individuals to make sure they are making a fair contribution to the UK - Click here to read more

A fair Budget with protection for the poorest

George Osborne has met his requirement to raise substantial sums in extra tax and cuts in benefits but in the fairest possible way with the costs being carried mostly by those who can afford to pay - Click here to read more

Sterling rallies after Budget speech

Sterling rallied as firmer detail on how the deficit would be tackled was announced but further out experts see less chance for further sustained strength - Click here to read more

Budget CGT hike will clash with current tax rules, says S&W

(Updated) Capital gains tax (CGT) will rise to 28% for higher rate taxpayers from midnight in a move Chancellor George Osborne estimated would raise £1 billion - Click here to read more

Gilt yields down and shares off lows as emergency Budget reassures on growth

Sterling unmoved as Budget suggests interest rate hikes are some way off   - Click here to read more

Wednesday Papers: Chancellor announces kill or cure budget - other news

Osborne outlined cuts for most government departments of 25 per cent by 2014-15 - Click here to read more

Wednesday Papers: Bureau Veritas buys inspection group from 3i - bid news and gossip

BlueCrest Capital has raised £350m through the launch of new shares in AllBlue Limited - Click here to read more

UK growth forecasts could be revised again, says Sir Alan Budd

UK growth forecasts have already been revised twice since the government came to power and could be revised again in the autumn says the man in charge of the newly formed Office of Budget Responsibility - Click here to read more

Moody's says UK's credit rating is supported by Budget

Respected bond investor Jim Leaviss agrees we may keep our prized credit rating but said the risk of another recession has increased after the Budget  - Click here to read more

Fair Budget? Banks get a boost and we get 'unavoidable' pain

The banks are rejoicing after their Budget boost from the chancellor while the rest of us are left punch drunk - Click here to read more

Morning Line: How can Nick Clegg sleep at night?

The Liberal Democrat leader faces uncomfortable questions both within and outside his party following the VAT rise and spending cuts in the emergency Budget - Click here to read more

Tube Lines seeks court order to stop underground strike

London underground workers plan to strike from 7pm tonight until 7pm on Friday in a dispute over pay jobs and working conditions  - Click here to read more

Sterling climbs on news that Bank of England rate-setter voted for rate hike

Bank of England rate-setter Andrew Sentance voted for a 025% hike at the last MPC meeting two weeks ago sparking a fresh debate on the direction of the cost of borrowing - Click here to read more

At least Budget freeze on council tax is good news

Among all the Budget tax rises announced by the chancellor the one-year freeze on council tax - saving the average family £210 a year - stood out as a rare piece of sunshine in the gloom - Click here to read more

CGT hike could also hit basic rate taxpayers

Basic rate taxpayers will be hit by the new 28% rate of capital gains tax if the sale of an asset takes them into the higher income threshold - Click here to read more

Video: Lorna Bourke assesses the impact of the Budget

Citywires personal finance columnist joins Gavin Lumsden in the studio with her views on what the Budget means for those of us outside the City - Click here to read more

Shares track New York markets lower ahead of US rate decision

All eyes are on the central banks today as investors are increasingly nervous about the prospects for the global economy - Click here to read more

Video: The budget impact for entrepreneurs

A leading wealth manager on what the budget means for those trying to build their own businesses - Click here to read more

Investment Line: What the budget means for UK shares

Whether you think this budget will be good for shares really depends what you fear most - Click here to read more

State pension age to rise to 66 as early as 2016

Default retirement age also set to be scrapped in major shake-up of pension system - Click here to read more

Market lower on renewed fears about US economy

Shares fell as US data adds to worries about the outlook for the global economy   - Click here to read more

BP based spill plans on flawed data

BP shares are a tick higher after reports say its safety report was based on bad US government data about the likely impact of a spill in the Gulf of mexico  - Click here to read more

Osborne considering further taxes on UK banks

Chancellor George Osborne has hinted that UK banks might face further tax bills over and above the £2 billion levy announced in the emergency budget - Click here to read more

Thursday Papers: Osborne heralds fresh onslaught on welfare bill - other news

£4bn in subsidies for elderly under threat - Click here to read more

Thursday Papers: Battersea heads for listing - bid news and gossip

Facebook is looking east for its next phase of expansion - Click here to read more

Tips to help you minimise your capital gains tax bill

The increase in Capital Gains Tax announced in the Budget is not as severe as feared and there is still scope for mitigation  - Click here to read more

Morning Line: Birth school work death - welcome to the Con-Lib future

Forced to work into your 70s just to pay for that overpriced rabbit hutch of a house todays news on state pensions reform paints a bleak picture for todays youth - Click here to read more

Are Europe's leaders risking another recession by cutting too soon?

European leaders risk derailing the economic recovery with their new-found love for slashing deficits US Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner has warned - Click here to read more

BP based spill plans on flawed US data

BP shares are a tick higher after reports say its safety report was based on bad US government data about the likely impact of a spill in the Gulf of mexico  - Click here to read more

BP rumoured to be selling Latin American assets

A BP spokesman refused to confirm reports it is selling its Argentine assets - Click here to read more

Anger at 'outrageous' Olympic Visa tie-up

Sports fans wanting to buy London 2012 tickets with a debit or credit card will only be able to use Visa under controversial deal   - Click here to read more

Millions of savers transferred as AXA sells out to Resolution for £2.75bn

Are you one of millions of people with a life insurance or savings policy with AXA Sun Life Equity and Law or Winterthur If so this man has just bought the business behind your policy - Click here to read more

Lloyds TSB cuts overdrafts fees on current accounts

Lloyds TSB to cut unauthorised overdraft fees by up to half but also stops paying interest on current accounts - Click here to read more

Would a reduced super tax make miners more attractive?

The new Australian prime minister will reopen talks with miners about potentially reducing the looming mining super tax but is this good news for the sector and investors - Click here to read more

Friday Papers: Sovereign debt concerns drive confidence lower - other news

The UKs economic recovery is at risk if the nations banks do not move swiftly to raise the £750bn-£800bn the BoE said - Click here to read more

Friday Papers: Resolution agrees £2.75bn Axa deal - bid news and gossip

The specialist financial consolidation group buys most of Axas UK life assurance operations - Click here to read more

State pension age to increase every five years

The coalition government is planning to increase the state pension age every five years and link payments to life expectancy for the first time according to The Times - Click here to read more

Mortgage borrowers given protection from ?unscrupulous? lenders

New rules demanding tough standards from firms dealing with arrears and sale and rent back customers will come into place next week alongside plans to make all mortgage advisers personally accountable for their actions - Click here to read more

Banks set to win reprieve over capital requirements

Banking regulators are set to water down proposals ordering banks to hoard billions of pounds in the wake of the financial crisis     - Click here to read more

A revolutionary new way to buy houses?

Google has entered the UK property search market - Click here to read more

John Carlin?s World Cup Blog: The Hand of Roo?

Is it football or is it war - Click here to read more

Video: Yes bonuses could stall the recovery

Bonuses did not just play a role causing the recession they could also play a role slowing the recovery - Click here to read more

Investment Line: Hide! The market is facing a double death cross

If you care what the charts tell you about equity markets then now is the time to run for the hills - Click here to read more

Markets shrug off US losses

Banks lifted the FTSE higher after yet more signs that global  banking rules will be watered down - Click here to read more

Q&A: When will interest rates rise?

A Bank of England rebel voted to lift interest rates in May Does that mean rates will head higher this year - Click here to read more

Ask Citywire: How to buy gold, and what's a subscription share?

In the first of a new series we tackle the questions posed by readers in the Citywire Money forums - Click here to read more

Little help for savers in Budget ? so where should you put your cash?

There was very little for savers in the Budget and nothing much for ISA holders except confirmation that indexation of the maximum investment would remain - Click here to read more

Interest rate fog makes for tough decisions for borrowers

Whom should homebuyers believe about when interest rates will rise Is now the time to remortgage or will you get a better deal in a years time  - Click here to read more

Saturday Papers: US finalised sweeping overhaul of financial regulation - other news

New regulation would impose a $19bn levy on Wall Street - Click here to read more

Saturday Papers: Avis Europe plans to raise £151m to expand in China - bid news and gossip

Morgan Stanley pays $102m to settle a suit brought by the state of Massachusetts - Click here to read more

How to avoid the 'unavoidable Budget'

According to the doomsters we are all going to be worse off as a result of the Budget increases in taxation  But will we really or is it just high earners who will suffer  And can we mitigate the worst effects of the changes - Click here to read more

Sunday Papers: G20 leaders expected to commit to halving budget deficits - other news

Kirby Adams the controversial chief executive of Corus is to quit the company - Click here to read more

Sunday Papers: Mitchells & Butlers to sell ten-pin bowling centre chain - bid news and gossip

Fitness First is being lined up for a £2 billion listing - Click here to read more

How one sentence could hail a new future for pension saving

The government may finally have made it pay to save in a pension writes Steve Bee - Click here to read more

Ten things the Budget did for savers

We know taxes are going up and government spending is going down but what did chancellor George Osbornes emergency Budget do for savers Here are the ten things you need to know about changes to pensions ISAs and capital gains tax   - Click here to read more

Saturday Papers: US finalises sweeping overhaul of financial regulation - other news

New regulation would impose a $19bn levy on Wall Street - Click here to read more

Union may postpone BA strike vote in hope of deal

The union representing British Airways cabin crew has said that Tuesdays strike ballot is likely to be delayed as members consult on a new offer from BA - Click here to read more

Government to create Equitable Life compensation commission

The coalition government will establish an independent commission in the first session of parliament that will design a scheme to pay compensation to Equitable Life policyholders - Click here to read more

Govt plans pensions deal to counter public sector unrest

Prime minister David Cameron could offer state employees a deal on pensions in order to avoid industrial action over the slew of job cuts the coalition government is planning according to The Daily Telegraph - Click here to read more

G20 agrees tougher capital rules for banks

The G20 group have agreed to implement budget cutting measures and tougher capital rules for banks to prevent a repeat of the banking crisis but leaders decided that each country should determine its own plan - Click here to read more

Monday Papers: G20 backs drive for crackdown on banks - other news

Leaders insisted on implementing tough capital rules to force banks to hold sufficient buffers to guard against a future crisis - Click here to read more

Monday Papers: GM hopes to raise between $10b and $15b - bid news and gossip

MA Industries to buy Albaugh for about $1 billion to bolster its presence in the Americas - Click here to read more

House prices fall in May

House prices fell by 02% in May the first negative monthly movement for over a year according to figures from Land Registry - Click here to read more

Which UK stocks can fill the BP income gap?

The suspension of BPs dividend for the remainder of 2010 has left a large hole in the dividend yield expected from the FTSE this year But where are investors looking to fill the income void - Click here to read more

Pension rule leaves over 75s no access to lump sums

Retirees will not be able to take a lump sum from their pension after the age of 75 under the interim rules imposed by the Budget - Click here to read more

We are walking on deflationary quicksand

The clowns pulling the levers of fiscal and monetary policy will take us back into recession with outright deflation beckoning as we all turn Japanese according to SocGens perma-bear Albert Edwards - Click here to read more

German goalkeeper Oliver Kahn reveals investment picks

It seems veteran German football star Oliver Kahn is smarter than the average footballer when it comes to investing He revealed his investment strategy in an interview with a German magazine  - Click here to read more

Morning Line: benefits, CGT and pensions ? none of it is set in stone

How different will the governments money-raising plans look in a years time - Click here to read more

Tax expert suggests door is still ajar for more CGT rises

The top rate of capital gains tax could rise as soon as next year to 40% or 50% despite the Budget already hiking it from 18% to 28% according to accountant Mario Gregori - Click here to read more

Should the speed limit be dropped to 20mph?

Time to reclaim urban streets from motorised vehicles ministers have said as they launch proposals for a 20 mph speed limit - Click here to read more

FTSE flat as BP gains but banks weigh

UK shares are posting a modest recovery after falling 4% last week   - Click here to read more

My Sipp: piloting my portfolio through conflicting market forces

Wherever we look markets and policy makers seem caught in the grip of opposing forces Rob Kyprianou explains what this means for his self-invested personal pension (Sipp) - Click here to read more

Introduction to the Citywire Money forums

Fourteen years after forums first appeared on the web weve finally built some of our own You could say were fashionably late to the party - Click here to read more

Q&A: what regulation means for banks

Banks were at the heart of the financial crisis and are now the subject of efforts in the UK and internationally to improve their regulation The big question is can we punish the banks without damaging the economic recovery we need  - Click here to read more

Is it time for goal-line technology following Lampard's non-goal?

Or is a little controversy all part of the games appeal - Click here to read more

Morning Line: Interest rates - a little pain now or a lot of pain later?

Recent comments from MPC member Andrew Sentance suggest a rate hike might be closer than many people think - Click here to read more

Banks yield to improvements for cash ISA savers

Banks will have to clearly publish the interest rates on the face of cash ISA statements and will also speed up ISA transfers after an investigation from the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) - Click here to read more

FTSE falls 2% as risk aversion takes hold

(Update) The FTSE is back to levels seen at the end of May as signs the Chinese economic growth is slowing and European debt worries weigh   - Click here to read more

Auditors? failings in the crunch prompts regulatory scrutiny

The role of auditors is to be scrutinised following criticism that they were not sceptical enough of companies during the financial crisis - Click here to read more

Are finance professors and their theories to blame for the financial crisis?

Finance boffins have gained prominence in recent years the efficient market theory in particular but has its influence contributed to the financial crisis - Click here to read more

European fears send investors fleeing to T-bills

The yield on US Treasury bills has fallen to levels not seen since the height of the credit crunch as investors flee to safety on the back of European sovereign debt risk and poor US economic data - Click here to read more

FTSE back below 5,000 on weak Chinese data

All FTSE 100 stocks started the day in the red as euro weakness and disappointing data in China and Japan add to worries about the future pace and shape of global economic growth   - Click here to read more

Pension saving succumbs to the downturn

The proportion of people saving adequately for retirement has sunk to its lowest since 2006 as the full impact of the downturn on peoples pension provision becomes evident a report finds - Click here to read more

Tuesday Papers: Markets seek new direction after G20 - other news

Siemens plans to set up its own bank - Click here to read more

Tuesday Papers: Elevation Partners acquires additional 5m shares in Facebook - bid news and gossip

Raven Russia plans to move to the main market of the LSE - Click here to read more

Wednesday Papers: US lawmakers scrap plan for $19bn bank fee - other news

Democrats struggled to secure sufficient votes to pass the Wall Street reform bill - Click here to read more

Wednesday Papers: Bidding war seen as Scott Wilson agrees offer - bid news and gossip

A £161m URS offer for the design and engineering consultancy was topped by a £189m bid by CH2M Hill - Click here to read more

Housing market: beware the Budget?s knock-on effects

Soon well see just how cruelly even the most property-friendly Budget can affect the market - Click here to read more

Investment Line: Can sterling's post-election honeymoon last?

Despite dire warnings about what a coalition government would do to the currency sterling has performed well in the seven weeks since the UK general election But can it stay strong for much longer  - Click here to read more

Morning Line: Are we prepared for the job carnage to come?

The Treasury estimates that up to 13 million jobs may be lost over the next five years according to reports today - Click here to read more

John Redwood: Evercore is victim of City whispering campaign

Redwood dismisses claims by peers that his firm is taking risky bets and acting like a hedge fund - Click here to read more

Suspects in alleged Ponzi scheme ordered to return £115m to investors

Investment plan offered returns of up to 13% a month but FSA warns investors are unlikely to ever see their cash again - Click here to read more

Cameron to hand more regulatory powers to Europe

David Cameron is planning to hand regulatory supervision to the European Union despite previously opposing plans to give Europe greater powers according to The Daily Telegraph - Click here to read more

House prices growth slows

Nationwide figures add to evidence that the housing market is starting to cool - Click here to read more

What the CGT hike means for trusts and international investors

Christopher Shaw group head of wealth planning at Societe Generale Private Banking Hambros talks investors through what the changes to CGT will mean for trusts and international investors - Click here to read more

Tony Bonsignore leaves Citywire

Northampton fan sharp divider of readers opinions incisive-yet-controversial writer Tony Bonsignore is leaving Citywire - Click here to read more

What went wrong in markets in the second quarter?

The early optimism after the European Central Banks May bailout package soon subsided as a slew of weak economic data sent markets into a tailspin - Click here to read more

John Carlin?s World Cup Blog: now for the real contest

The riff-raff have left the stage; now the aristocracy of football need to show their true worth - Click here to read more

New funds aim to help investors reduce carbon footprint

A new investment company intends to offer investors the opportunity to capitalise on the fortunes of carbon efficient companies - Click here to read more

Benefits and pensions: how are we going to sort out this mess?

Means-tested entitlements for the elderly whether they are taken up or not act as a disincentive to saving for younger people - Click here to read more

EU set to clampdown on bankers' bonuses

The European Union is set to pass legislation that could restrict the cash element of bonuses to just 20% - Click here to read more

China's revised growth numbers: why the economists are dismayed

Economists strategists and fund managers have largely dismissed the revised growth figures released yesterday which led to a widespread market sell off - Click here to read more

Thursday Papers: Ireland records 2.7% GDP growth - other news

German policymakers and bankers are braced for emergency capital injections - Click here to read more

Thursday Papers: Portugal blocks Telefónica?s Vivo bid - bid news and gossip

Lisbon uses special veto rights to block Telefónicas 715bn offer - Click here to read more

Morning Line: The house price double dip

A couple of surveys showing house price rises slowed in June a 01% increase according to Nationwide and talk of a housing crash begins immediately Is this the tipping point - Click here to read more

Markets fall again on disappointing Chinese data

World markets started the second half of the year on the back foot as yet more disappointing economic data weighed - Click here to read more

Why the outlook for the pound is now brighter

John Freeme of currency exchange specialists HiFX explains why the Budget was good for the pound and what to look out for next - Click here to read more

UK shares head further south after yet more US jobs misery

US shares struggled at the open as investors weighed yet more downbeat jobs news against a successful Spanish government bond auction   - Click here to read more

Optimism over UK corporate earnings is evaporating

Forecasts for UK stockmarket earnings down month on month led by downgrades in the oil and gas and life insurance sectors - Click here to read more

Trio of BoE rate-setters dampen talk of interest rate hikes

Pound lower again after a third Monetary Policy Committee member says it is too early to lift interest rates - Click here to read more

No newspaper roundups this weekend

Due to unforeseen circumstances there will be no newspaper roundups this weekend The service will resume as normal on Monday We apologise for the inconvenience - Click here to read more

The crises of capitalism, and their inescapable conclusion

Radical but influential anthropologist David Harvey exposes the flaws in our ways of thinking about the financial crisis in this brilliant animated video - Click here to read more

10 answers to your questions about pensions and tax

How much should you save for a pension What are the rules on taking a tax free lump sum Plus more of your questions answered - Click here to read more

Markets retreat from highs after US job losses

Markets fell back from mid-morning highs after news 125000 Americans lost their job in June - Click here to read more

Longer life expectancy is enough to drive you to drink ? or worse

Oh hell! Scientists have developed a genetic test that can fairly accurately predict whether we will live to 100 - Click here to read more

Morning Line: Why the Bank of England has to talk down the economy

The only difference between the UK and other developed countries is that inflation has been rising meaning rate-setters here have one more reason to be nervous - Click here to read more

HMRC paid £1.24m to just seven directors last year

The government has revealed in its quango rich list that seven directors of HM Revenue and Customs earned up to £124 million in pay and benefits last year - Click here to read more

Share tips for a falling market

Despite the FTSE All-Share index suffering a near 17% fall there are still individual stocks showing bullish characteristics writes Graeme Dickson - Click here to read more

Life expectancy gap between rich and poor widens

The gap in life expectancy between the rich and poor has widened despite targets to reduce inequality by 2010 according to the governments auditor - Click here to read more

Inflation or deflation? We pit hawks against doves

Depending on who you listen to the global economy could soon be assailed by deflationary quicksand or through hyper-inflation - Click here to read more

New rules pressure investors to scrutinize companies

A new set of principles aims to encourage more active engagement from big investors in the companies they back - Click here to read more

Stockbroker jailed for unauthorised trading

Trader given two-and-a-half year sentence after costing employer £3 million on unauthorised HSBC shorts - Click here to read more

Miners win major compromises on Oz mining tax

Mining companies have won big concessions from the Australian government on the shape of its planned mining tax - Click here to read more

Global slowdown fears mount on US and Asian data

Momentum in manufacturing from China to the United States is slipping fuelling fears of a global slowdown in the pace of recovery - Click here to read more

Keydata Crisis: one year on and still the boss won't say sorry

Tens of thousands of investors in Keydata Investment Services have endured a nightmare year since the company was forced into administration Yet Stewart Ford its multi-millionaire founder refuses to say sorry and blames the City regulator - Click here to read more

Q&A: What could push the pound higher?

The pound has been enjoying a bit of a relief rally recently but what moves the pound and can it keep going higher - Click here to read more

The pensions steamroller all companies face

It has basically been decided that employers will need to fill the gap left by the demise of the old state second pension Steve Bee questions whether they are ready for some huge changes - Click here to read more

Put spice in your pension without buying risky shares

Emerging market bonds deserve a look for pension investors wanting their savings to pack a punch without taking on the level of risk associated with investing in shares - Click here to read more

Claiming business expenses: a guide for the self-employed

The self employed can claim relief from tax on certain expenses incurred during the course of business Geoff Everett and Liz Richardson of Smith and Williamson explain what qualifies under the strict rules - Click here to read more

Tuesday Papers: Investors take stock as growth doubts linger - other news

Fairfield Energy aims to achieve a market value of more than $1bn - Click here to read more

Tuesday Papers: Abertis investors eye ?25bn buy-out - bid news and gossip

Daiwa set to pay $1bn for KBCs global convertible bond and Asian equity derivatives businesses - Click here to read more

Bradford & Bingley investors not entitled to compensation, rules valuer

The independent valuer of Bradford and Bingley says shareholders are not entitled to any compensation for the loss they suffered when the bank was taken under government control in 2008 - Click here to read more

Should it be illegal to re-sell tickets at rip-off prices?

Or is ticket touting a fair trade - Click here to read more

BP may prefer new CEO over strategic investment

There are many problems for BP in accepting a strategic investor it may prefer to dump its bosses instead and hope for the best - Click here to read more

Kevin Murphy: Why I doubled my stake in BP

Why the co-manager of the Schroder Income fund believes he has found value in the troubled oil giant - Click here to read more

Odey backs ?cheap, attractive and under-owned? equities

Hedge fund stalwart Crispin Odey says markets are pricing in profits falls of up four times those actually seen during the credit crunch - Click here to read more

FSA bans six mortgage brokers in fraud crackdown

The Financial Services Authority has banned six brokers and fined one of them £130000 as part of its mortgage fraud crackdown - Click here to read more

Morning Line: Eurocrats are right to interfere with our pensions

The failures of the financial crisis have convinced the EU it needs more control over member state finances including pensions Can the eurocrats succeed where we are failing - Click here to read more

£4.5m tax fraud gang receive combined 43-year sentence

An Ukrainian gang which stole more than £45 million by making a series of fake tax repayment claims has received jail sentences for a combined 43 years - Click here to read more

FTSE lower on further signs of Chinese slowdown

With the US markets closed for Independence Day and little economic news due investors are preparing nervously for interest rate decisions from the Bank of England and European Central Bank - Click here to read more

Civil servants? redundancy pay to be slashed

The government plans to push through emergency legislation to reduce the cost of cutting thousands of public sector jobs    - Click here to read more

Tom Tuite Dalton: The top three trusts for income

The BP dividend suspension and share price fall have highlighted the advantage of income diversification The investment company sector has much to offer says Oriel fund analyst Tom Tuite Dalton  - Click here to read more

Blue Sky bought by investment banking giant Incapital

Blue Sky Asset Management has been bought by the European arm of US investment bank Incapital as part of a new targeted approach to work with IFAs and wealth managers in the UK - Click here to read more

Equitable Life appoints BlackRock as investment manager

The asset management group is tasked with proving investment and risk management for policyholders and group scheme members - Click here to read more

Lloyds under pressure to sell Scottish Widows

Resolution and Chinese group Ping An are in frame to buy Scottish Widows in a deal which could be worth £7 billion according to reports - Click here to read more

Seven magnificent ways to invest in global emerging markets

Long-term investors simply cannot ignore the power of emerging markets to shoot them out of trouble in retirement Here are seven ways we recommend for investing in the shares of companies from countries as diverse as Brazil Russia India and China - Click here to read more

Sir Alan Budd to leave Office for Budget Responsibility

(Update adds Treasury response) Chairman of the Office for Budget Responsibility Sir Alan Budd is to step down from the role at the end of this month after just three months in the job - Click here to read more

BP rally continues as it rules out issuing new shares

BP has quashed talk it will issue new shares to Middle Eastern investors saying it has enough cash - Click here to read more

6 Music is saved! Another triumph for the whinging rockerati

The BBC Trust has caved into pressure from the luvvies; shame on it - Click here to read more

BP and miners push FTSE higher in morning deals

BP rose another 4% after it said it would not issue new shares to a strategic investor - Click here to read more

Legal dispute forces BT union to cancel strike ballot

Communication Workers Union forced to cancel its strike ballot following legal challenge from BT But several other unions push ahead with strike plans - Click here to read more

Ocado seeks £1 billion valuation

Ocado which delivers Waitrose groceries is looking at selling shares between 200 pence to 275 pence with loyal customers getting the option to buy a stake - Click here to read more

MP warns against financial regulation 'on the hoof'

Treasury Committee chairman Andrew Tyrie has warned that the government may be creating financial regulation policy on the hoof in scrapping the Financial Services Authority and transferring many of its powers to the Bank of England   - Click here to read more

Sir Alan Budd leaves Office for Budget Responsibility up in the air

(Update) Chancellor George Osborne has suffered a setback after Sir Alan Budd (above) the chairman he appointed to found the Office for Budget Responsibility said he would leave at the end of the month - Click here to read more

John Carlin's World Cup Blog: Romance 0, Vorsprung durch Technik 1

All the stars failed to shine but we do at least have a great semi-final to look forward to - Click here to read more

Employers insist graduates have 2:1 degree

With more graduates chasing fewer jobs three quarters of employers will only consider applicants with a first class or 2:1 degree   - Click here to read more

Morning Line: don't soften us up for cuts we don't need

The coalition government has thrilled many right wingers with its plans to scale back the state but in being so aggressive on spending cuts it is taking a big risk on consumer confidence - Click here to read more

The costs facing the 11 public sector pension schemes

John Hutton the head of the governments Public Service Pensions Commission must examine public sector pension schemes and make recommendations on how to control their cost Here we break down their liabilities and contributions - Click here to read more

10 tips to prepare for redundancy

With thousands of public sector jobs about to be axed many people are worried about what would happen if they were made redundant Here are ten ways you can prepare for the worst - Click here to read more

Watch out Henley, the Thought Police are here!

Is the regulator capable of deciding whether a fund manager at Invesco Perpetual - or anywhere else - is thinking independently - Click here to read more

Wednesday Papers: Risk rally ebbs on US economy worries - other news

US justice department investigates several HSBC customers over potential tax evasion - Click here to read more

Wednesday Papers: My-wardrobe.com gets $9m investment from Balderton - bid news and gossip

RBS is preparing to sell up to £3bn of real estate loans - Click here to read more

Looming mortgage drought threatens housing market

As dark economic clouds gather a double-dip in the housing market looks less like media speculation and more like tomorrows news - Click here to read more

Two members of tax fraud gang ordered to repay £92m each

Two members of a tax fraud gang have been ordered to repay a record £923 million each in the biggest-ever confiscation order secured by HM Revenue and Customs - Click here to read more

Amazon launches online grocery store

Amazon has today launched a new grocery section on its website boasting thousands of popular household brands challenging online supermarkets Ocado and Tesco   - Click here to read more

Put the Bank of England in charge of public sector pensions

Should the Bank of England be put in charge of putting our public sector pensions on a more rational economic footing - Click here to read more

FSA fines three mortgage brokers £50,000

The Financial Services Authority has fined three partners of Sheffield mortgage broker Pace Financial Management a combined £50000 for failing to prevent one of its own staff members committing fraud - Click here to read more

Homeowners clueless about mortgage interest rates

Three quarters of mortgage holders do not know how an interest rate rise would affect their monthly payments     - Click here to read more

Bank of England to keep interest rates on hold this week

Andrew Sentance may want to raise rates now but fellow Bank of England rate setters will want to see the next inflation report before making any move - Click here to read more

Does Shell really deserve the anti-BP money?

Investors have piled into Royal Dutch Shell as they have retreated from BP But this oil major has its own problems - Click here to read more

Wiltshire man pleads guilty to defrauding Friends Provident of £2m

A Wiltshire man has pleaded guilty to defrauding Friends Provident of more than £2 million by manipulating an investment bond product   - Click here to read more

Online holiday scams are growing, experts warn

People who book holidays online must to do more to protect themselves against the growing number of holiday scams on the internet - Click here to read more

Markets yet to fully price in slowdown, warns HSBC's Dunsford

HSBC GIF Global Macro fund manager Jim Dunsford says value is emerging in equities but they could have further to fall - Click here to read more

Public sector pensions likened to ?Ponzi scheme?

The independent Public Sector Pensions Commission calls for change to halt the spiralling cost of unfunded public sector schemes - Click here to read more

Why I won?t be using Amazon for my weekly food shop

I asked for ice cream not ice cream candles - Click here to read more

Thursday Papers: Colony Capital close to deal for Miramax - bid news and gossip

London headhunter Hogarth Davies and Lloyd is suing Nomura over fees - Click here to read more

Fund of the Week: Ruffer Investment Company

Ruffer a pioneer of absolute return investing has consistently delivered strong returns to investors in all market conditions - Click here to read more

State-owned banks could be snapped up by new fund

New venture aims to buy parts of nationalised banks like Northern Rock Royal Bank of Scotland and Lloyds Banking Group   - Click here to read more

Trio banned after £2 million insurance scam

The Financial Services Authority (FSA) has banned three insurance professionals for their parts in a £2 million fraud - Click here to read more

Should you make investment calls based on the Baltic index?

The index which tracks worldwide international shipping prices has more than halved from its May high but economists warn against ditching commodities    - Click here to read more

UK economy slowed in second quarter, say economists

Economy grew 07% in the three months ending in June according to estimates by the National Institute of Economic and Social Research - Click here to read more

Interest rates held at 0.5%

The Bank of Englands rate-setting committee has voted to hold interest rates at their historic low of 05% - Click here to read more

Why investors are buying banks again

Bank shares are having a good day after a full house of good news over the last twenty four hours - Click here to read more

Morning Line: Population growth and scorched public services ? an explosive mix?

What happens when the rocketing number of people coincides with years of cuts to public services an unbending refusal to save for the future and a hefty bill to pay for the generation of baby boomers - Click here to read more

House price fall picks up pace

House prices fell for the third straight month in June dropping another 06% according to data from Halifax - Click here to read more

UK will not seek exemption from EU bank rules

Financial Services Authority dismisses claims that it will challenge tough European rules governing bankers pay - Click here to read more

Surging banks push global markets higher

US markets climbed 3% as some upbeat news in the banking sector reassured investors that markets were undervalued after the recent sell-off   - Click here to read more

Five fold increase in UK property millionaires since 2000

There has been a five fold increase in the number of property millionaires in the UK in the past decade with the credit crunch proving a mere blip in the fast upward trend according to Santander - Click here to read more

How to avoid getting short changed by your bank

A survival guide on how to get the best out of your bank - Click here to read more

Pension schemes face sweeping EU rules

In addition to the creation of an EU-wide pension protection fund pension schemes in member states would need more capital to cover liabilities - Click here to read more

IMF warns of growing risks to global economic recovery

The International Monetary Fund expects global growth to slow in 2011 but says that governments must tighten fiscal policy - Click here to read more

Do councils really only ever fine drivers who endanger children?

Councils are trying to take the moral high ground with car parking penalties when we know many of their practices are highly dubious - Click here to read more

Lloyds offers 18 year old bank account costing 10% of income

Lloyds recently tried to sell an 18 year old student a packaged current account that charges more than 10% of his total monthly income without telling him about the fee       - Click here to read more

Private final salary pensions to get lower inflation rise

The government is to switch the index linking of private sector final salary pension schemes to the consumer price index (CPI) in a move that helps employers but hits pensioners and workers - Click here to read more

Friday Papers: Carlyle acquires landmark London properties - bid news and gossip

The buyout group has completed the £671m acquisition of central London properties - Click here to read more

John Carlin's World Cup Blog: a Spanish rhapsody

Barca in red shirts or La Liga rejects in orange ones Hmm tough choice that one - Click here to read more

Would you pay to find out what diseases you face?

Personal genetic testing is big bucks You can find out and do your best to prevent illnesses you may face in later life for less than $500 - Click here to read more

Does Britain need the 'grumpy old men' bank?

City grandee Sir David Walker and former Labour MP John McFall (main picture) made their names bringing banks to account But do we need them to launch a company buying up banks in Britain - Click here to read more

Pension scheme trustees powerless against new inflation target

The Trades Union Congress has claimed pension trustees will be powerless to protect schemes from linking to the Consumer Price Index - Click here to read more

Leigh Harrison's top share picks for income

The Threadneedle fund manager names five top income picks for tough markets - Click here to read more

BT ends strike talks with new pay deal

BT and the Communication Workers Union (CWU) today announced they have agreed a new three year pay deal worth 93% - Click here to read more

Shares tick higher, buoyed by more Wall Street gains

Shares are on track for a strong weekly performance after yet more gains in the US and Asia overnight - Click here to read more

Economics chief Budd quit after Osborne pressure over jobs data

The government has admitted the newly formed Office for Budget Responsibility made last-minute changes to job forecasts - Click here to read more

Retirement Radio: How the baby boomers stole their children's future

The contract that binds society together is breaking down says David Willetts MP - Click here to read more

Saturday Papers: Euro pares gains as risk rally slows - other news

Money market funds enjoy their biggest weekly inflows in 18 months - Click here to read more

Saturday Papers: Buy-out battle rages for Findus Italy - bid news and gossip

Permira Lion Capital and BC Partners are set to enter the final bid for Findus - Click here to read more

Five easy ways to organise your finances in 48 hours

Read on for our five step guide to sorting out your finances and making the most of your money  - Click here to read more

State pensions should be backed by cash, not political promises

Pensions backed by money have more certainty than pensions backed by political pledges writes Steve Bee - Click here to read more

We need ?active ageing? to solve the pensions crisis

Until we enable people to work longer we can have no hope of a solution to our pensions crisis or avoid a frightening increase in old age dependency - Click here to read more

Sunday Papers: Chinese export surge fuels trade surplus - other news

Budd to lay out a blueprint to make the OBR more independent - Click here to read more

Sunday Papers: Kent Reliance in talks with JC Flowers - bid news and gossip

A joint venture will see the KRBS and JC Flowers both put £50m into a new vehicle - Click here to read more

10 job hunting tips for graduates

With nearly 70 graduates applying for every job vacancy and the amount of graduate roles on offer predicted to plummet further this year finding a job is no easy feat for people in their twenties Here are 10 ways graduates can improve their chance of success in the job market - Click here to read more

Budd to shake up OBR to ensure independence

Office of Budget Responsibility (OBR) chairman Sir Alan Budd will set out a plan to ensure the watchdog is more independent following doubts about its projections for the UK economy - Click here to read more

JC Flowers to invest £50m in Kent Reliance

Private equity firm JC Flowers is in talks to fund a £50 million rescue of mutual Kent Reliance in the first step of a plan to consolidate struggling building societies - Click here to read more

Exxon given go ahead to make £100bn bid for BP

The US government is believed to have given oil giant Exxon the go ahead to launch a £100 billion takeover bid for BP - Click here to read more

Monday Papers: Top bankers discuss ?20bn European Recovery Fund - other news

The fund could bail out failed banks in the event of another financial crisis - Click here to read more

Monday Papers: Blackstone to run Bank of America fund - bid news and gossip

The buyout giant is taking over the management of a portfolio of Asian real estate investments - Click here to read more

More than 15,000 people scammed by fraudsters in six months

The amount of money individuals lost in the first half of 2010 ranged from £6 to over £1 million - Click here to read more

Budd says OBR needs to be free of Treasury to ensure independence

(Updated) Office of Budget Responsibility chairman Sir Alan Budd says the group needs non-Treasury staff and needs a new office to help ensure its independence   - Click here to read more

US bank reforms risk derailing commodity markets

Concerns are mounting that the restrictions on the US banking sector could suck liquidity out of the commodity markets - Click here to read more

EC proposes increasing bank deposit compensation to ?100k

The European Commission is set to increase the level of compensation for bank depositors to 100000 and is proposing returning lost money within seven days if a bank collapses - Click here to read more

CPI link hastens demise of final salary pensions

The government has provided employers with a perfect excuse for reducing pension benefits with its switch to the consumer price index for occupational schemes - Click here to read more

Pound falls as data shows recession was deeper than thought

Sterling is on the back foot after the final reading of GDP shows the UK shrank 64% in the downturn more than first thought  - Click here to read more

Morning Line: Is your fund manager really necessary?

Some fund managers have claimed that the BP debacle highlights the virtues of active fund management But the figures dont really bear this out - Click here to read more

Q&A: Is the worst really over for BP?

BP has had a good run as analysts and investors say even their most pessimistic forecasts are more than priced in and takeover talk has taken off - Click here to read more

Ocado flotation: what the weekend papers said

Scepticism is growing about the prospects for this years biggest stock market flotation - Click here to read more

FTSE ticks higher ahead of data onslaught this week

BP is keeping the FTSE 100 in the black as bid speculation takes hold  - Click here to read more

House prices may not regain 2007 peak for a decade

UK house prices are unlikely to reach their pre credit crunch peak for five possibly ten years according to accountants PricewaterhouseCoopers - Click here to read more

More pain ahead for homeowners as demand slows

Surveyors say there is rising evidence that house prices are set to fall in the months ahead - Click here to read more

RBS chief: Taxpayers must profit from bank bailout

(Update) Stephen Hester says taxpayers can and should make a profit on the banking bailout but  new Treasury Committee chairman Andrew Tyrie says the government should instead focus on improving competition   - Click here to read more

The best global funds for investment income

BPs suspension of its dividend following problems in the Gulf of Mexico is the latest blow to investors seeking income in the UK Here we reveal how to source your dividends from overseas with the aid of Citywire Selection - Click here to read more

Big investors expect global economy to decline

A growing number of fund managers expect the global economy to deteriorate in the next 12 months while sentiment towards the US stockmarket hits its lowest since November 2006 - Click here to read more

Nationalised banks are failing the financially excluded

RBS may be majority owned by the taxpayer and Lloyds Group partially taxpayer owned but they arent doing much for financial social inclusion  - Click here to read more

Inflation falls to 3.2%

(Update) Consumer price inflation has fallen to 32% driven down by lower fuel prices official data showed today - Click here to read more

FSA paid KPMG six-figure sum for staff tax advice

The Financial Services Authority paid £230000 to KPMG for tax advice for 43 international staff on secondment in 2009 a Freedom of Information request has revealed - Click here to read more

FTSE opens higher after solid start to US earnings season

All eyes are on UK inflation data later which is expected to show a decline to 32% - Click here to read more

Banks urged to offer bank accounts to bankrupts

Many banks ban people going through bankruptcy from opening even a basic bank account where they can pay in their wages according to Citizens Advice - Click here to read more

Lenders told to check borrowers? income for all mortgages

The Financial Services Authority is proposing that lenders be responsible for making sure borrowers are able to pay their mortgages   - Click here to read more

BA and 17 FTSE firms could 'benefit immediately' from CPI link

British Airways would be one of the biggest winners from government plans to link pension schemes to the consumer price index - Click here to read more

Tuesday Papers: Investors cautious ahead of US earnings - other news

Bank lending to small and medium-sized businesses is showing little sign of improving surveys find - Click here to read more

Tuesday Papers: Aon to buy Hewitt in $4.9bn deal - bid news and gossip

Asia-based hedge fund managers generate higher returns survey finds - Click here to read more

Government launches banking competition inquiry

The Treasury Committee has announced the launch of an inquiry into competition in the banking sector - Click here to read more

Banks need to be more honest about charges, say MPs

Banks lure in customers with misleading introductory offers said the new chairman of the Treasury Committee as he launched an investigation into banking competition   - Click here to read more

The great funds of China

The Chinese stock market has had a tough year so far but the long-term prospects for the country are standing strong Here are five funds to help you tap into this phenomenal investment growth story - Click here to read more

Morning Line: New rules will create millions of mortgage prisoners

Its already difficult enough to get a mortgage but if the FSA cracks down on income requirements we could have a whole generation of mortgage prisoners - Click here to read more

Pound adds to gains as unemployment falls

Unemployment fell again in the three months to May but there is still concern that it could begin to rise next year   - Click here to read more

Ryanair slammed for 'misleading' cheap flight ads

Ryanair was today reprimanded for misleading customers with adverts for cheap flights following a complaint from fellow budget airline easyJet - Click here to read more

Webb: CPI link is a less volatile measure for pensions

Pensions minister Steve Webb has justified the move to link final salary schemes to the consumer price index (CPI) saying it is more stable and more suitable for pensioners than the retail price index (RPI) - Click here to read more

Bankers attacked for selling over-complex and risky products

FSA chairman Lord Turner (pictured) argues against the large bonuses bankers receive for selling over-complex and risky products  - Click here to read more

Wednesday Papers: Solid start to US earnings season trumps China worries - other news

The eurozones 440bn sovereign rescue fund will be operational by the end of the month - Click here to read more

Wednesday Papers: ABN Amro takes 25% stake in The Order Machine - bid news and gossip

Citigroup sells off its interests in $5bn of private equity assets - Click here to read more

Consumers do not want to pay for smart meters

Nine in ten people think energy companies not consumers should pay for smart meters to be installed a consumer group has said    - Click here to read more

Angela Knight: New rules must not stop banks lending

British Bankers Association chief executive Angela Knight says new rules for bankers need to be based on logic and reason not emotion - Click here to read more

Public pension reforms may prove hard to stomach

The Public Sector Pensions Commission has come up with a raft of recommendations to address the crisis in funding We look at its proposed menu for change - Click here to read more

Stop laying into the students

Firsts handed out like confetti Mickey Mouse courses declining standards and todays layabout illiterate generation: just a few of the accusations regularly levelled at students and younger people in general - Click here to read more

BP faces seven year ban on US drilling

A US congressional committee has passed a bill to stop BP from drilling for offshore oil or gas in the US for seven years - Click here to read more

Activist investor Myerson vows to clear his name after ban

Activist investor Brian Myerson has threatened to take his case to the European Courts after the Takeover Panel banned him from engaging in merger-related business for three years - Click here to read more

New ?graduate tax? could replace university tuition fees

Vince Cable to propose replacing tuition fees with a graduate tax students pay when they begin working as part of plans to reduce higher education funding costs    - Click here to read more

Gartmore fund manager resigns over FSA probe

Gartmore fund manager Guillaume Rambourg has resigned from the firm and intends to devote all his attention to FSA investigators - Click here to read more

Economic woes as Chinese and US growth slows

(Update) FTSE opens lower after data showing the Chinese economy slowed markedly in the second quarter while the Federal Reserve is cutting back its 2010 forecasts - Click here to read more

Thursday Papers: Dovish Fed minutes stem rush to risky assets - other news

German prosecutors on Wednesday staged raids on more than a dozen Credit Suisse offices - Click here to read more

Thursday Papers: Candover talks with Aimco near collapse - bid news and gossip

The UK private equity group prepares to sell Ontex and Parques Reunidos for more than 3bn - Click here to read more

Student funding: 'Graduate tax' or make companies pay?

The government is considering a graduate tax targeting higher earners as part of plans to radically reform the higher education funding system - Click here to read more

Osborne admits further welfare spending cuts are likely

Chancellor George Osborne tells the Treasury Select Committee that further cuts will be made if possible in a bid to reduce the deficit quicker - Click here to read more

Gold price can top $3000 says star investor

Golds 18-year bull run could peak beyond $3000 says the manager of one of the best-performing funds of the past decade   - Click here to read more

Treasury Select Committee to get power of veto over OBR appointments

In a surprise move Chancellor George Osborne has given the Office for Budget Responsibility the ability to veto his hires - Click here to read more

Ryanair?s O?Leary apologises for ad depicting Stelios as Pinocchio

Adverts had called on Easyjet founder Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou to stop hiding the truth about the airlines flight delays and resume publishing weekly performance details - Click here to read more

Pension savers given greater choices at retirement

Pension savers will be given more choice over how they receive the money they have saved in a pension at retirement under new plans outlined today by the government - Click here to read more

Why a graduate tax is a bad idea

And why graduates who earn more should not be made to pay more for their education - Click here to read more

Home owners have short window of opportunity to remortgage

A potential double dip in house prices persistent inflation which could push up interest rates and historically affordable mortgages mean the opportunity to remortgage could be fleeting - Click here to read more

Would you pay £20K more to live closer to a station?

Londoners would it seems But arent there higher priorities for City dwellers like having a garden or a larger house Is it just more evidence of the absurdity of house prices in the capital - Click here to read more

Pensions: how to avoid the annuity trap and provide a good income in retirement

Buying an annuity is arguably the second most important financial transaction people have to make in their lives after buying a home Here is a quick guide to help you make the best decision - Click here to read more

Over one million energy customers forced to cut themselves off

Over a million people using prepayment energy meters have been forced to cut off their own energy supply in the last year - Click here to read more

Goldman Sachs fined record $550 million

US investment bank Goldman Sachs has agreed to pay a mammoth $550 million fine to settle claims that it mis-led investors into backing a doomed mortgage-backed security - Click here to read more

BP shares soar as it stops oil gushing from Gulf leak

BP has stopped oil gushing from its well in the Gulf of Mexico for the first time since the disaster at the end of April - Click here to read more

US fund abandons bid for embattled Candover Investments

A rescue bid for Candover Investments planned by a US pension fund has been abandoned - Click here to read more

Sex.com anyone?

The internet domain name Sexcom is for sale and expected to raise millions But can you make money by investing in domain names - Click here to read more

New investment to feed the world and make a profit

A new fund is investing in American firms to exploit the growing demand from crops in developing countries - Click here to read more

Friday Papers: US Senate passes financial reform - other news

Fairfield Energy on Thursday postpones its $500m listing - Click here to read more

Friday Papers: Nokia Siemens in talks to buy Motorola arm - bid news and gossip

NTT has agreed an all-cash deal to buy Dimension Data - Click here to read more

Airport staff to be balloted for summer strike

Unite union today announced it will ballot staff at BAA airports over strike action - Click here to read more

Treasury queasy at liberating pensions from inheritance tax

Government plans to abolish the rule forcing people to buy an annuity with their pension savings demonstrate a curious hostility to those wishing to pass on assets when they die   - Click here to read more

Writing a will: watch out for scams

If you fall victim to a rogue will writer you could be left hundreds of pounds out of pocket and without a will you can rely on It is therefore vital you take steps to protect yourself - Click here to read more

Saturday Papers: other news

- Click here to read more

The top ISAs and bonds for hard-pressed savers

Inflation is eating into savers funds and it is increasingly difficult to make a real return with such low interest rates - Click here to read more

Exchange traded funds face income tax alert

Take care if you invest in exchange traded funds outside the tax wrapper of an ISA (individual savings account) or Sipp (self-invested personal pension) You may be liable for a higher tax rate on your investment gains than you thought - Click here to read more

Are we facing a return to recession?

There are signs the recovery could be short-lived but is a second recession really inevitable We look at the arguments each way - Click here to read more

Estate agents: barter with them, but beware the pitfalls

House sellers have been advised to negotiate their fees down But if your estate agent is too much of a pushover is he really the negotiator you want on your side - Click here to read more

Saturday Papers: Betfair to consider £1.5bn listing - other news

AIG is to pay $725m to a group of Ohio pension funds to settle class action lawsuit - Click here to read more

Saturday Papers: FriendFinder Networks makes $210m bid for Playboy - bid news and gossip

Citigroup notched a second consecutive quarter in the black - Click here to read more

Sunday Papers: Telefonica gives up bid for Brazilian Vivo - bid news and gossip

Government to demand a radical shake-up in bank lending to small and medium-sized businesses - Click here to read more

Free banking? There is no such thing, says Tyrie

Hidden bank charges are coming under Parliamentary scrutiny thanks to Andrew Tyrie the new chairman of the Treasury Select Committee - Click here to read more

NS&I pulls inflation linked savings products

The government backed savings body has withdrawn its savings certificates from sale and reduced the rates on other products in a blow to savers struggling to make a return above inflation - Click here to read more

Q&A: Would breaking up BP solve its Gulf of Mexico woes?

IS BP really ready to sell its petrol stations - Click here to read more

Tuesday Papers: TPG and Carlyle win bid war for Healthscope - bid news and gossip

The consortium trumped a rival bid from Kohlberg Kravis Roberts - Click here to read more

10 tips to drive down rising car insurance costs

The price of car insurance has soared in recent months and unfortunately looks set to continue rising Here are 10 things you can to do help keep costs down   - Click here to read more

How to set up your own business

Students about to graduate this summer should consider starting their own business if they cant get a job universities minister David Willet has said This is no easy task but help is at hand - Click here to read more

Investor confidence is falling, and it's little wonder

A growing number of investors believe recent upbeat news is merely papering over the cracks of a glut of weak economic data  - Click here to read more

Healthy banks? Stress tests will do little to boost confidence

The European Central Bank is poised to publish the results of its bank stress tests on Friday but investors are sceptical about whether the measure will restore stability to the markets - Click here to read more

Save child trust funds says new lobby group

The Save the Child Savings Alliance has written to the government asking to keep the child trust fund wrapper open - Click here to read more

Time to trade investment trust favourite RIT Capital Partners?

Even the best investment trusts including this one backed by Jacob Rothschild sometimes present trading opportunities - Click here to read more

Morning Line: Most people will still have to buy an annuity

Government plans to abolish the requirement to use pension savings to purchase an annuity by age 75 will change nothing for the vast majority of pension savers  - Click here to read more

Cocoa trade will leave bitter taste in the mouth of chocoholics

The Armajaro hedge fund snapped up 241000 tons of cocoa beans in the biggest single trade in 14 years which could force up the price of chocolate - Click here to read more

FSA fines father and son £180k for market abuse

Father and son fined by FSA for market abuse relating to shares in Tower Resources Plc - Click here to read more

Ocado flotation: poor interest from customers ? but company was warned

Ocados planned stock market flotation took several further blows at the weekend as newspaper reports added further doubts about its plans - Click here to read more

Markets fall for fourth successive day as BP woes return

Shares fall again as worries about the US economy and European sovereign debt weigh - Click here to read more

BT to increase call charges by 10%

BT will increase the cost of calling from a landline and its monthly line rental fee from the beginning of October - Click here to read more

Former Prudential chief Mark Tucker to head AIA

Former Prudential chief Mark Tucker will go head-to-head with his old employer in Asia after taking the helm of AIAs Asian business according to reports - Click here to read more

Cameron to launch Big Society plan to raid old bank accounts

Prime minister David Cameron will today launch his Big Society a plan to pass money in dormant bank accounts to communities to help them fund local projects - Click here to read more

BP consults shareholders about possible break up, say reports

BP directors have been canvassing shareholder opinion on whether to break up the oil giant following the problems in the Gulf of Mexico according to The Sunday Times   - Click here to read more

Our top 10 homes for property millionaires

There are now more than 100000 property millionaires in the UK as prices have soared But where do the seriously rich live - Click here to read more

Morning Line: 'Bonfire of the taxes' or just a fatter bill?

An Office of Tax Simplification looks good on paper But a taxpayer friendly result is unlikely - Click here to read more

Four recession indicators flash red

A range of data now suggests that the US is set to contract during the next two quarters - Click here to read more

Pound falls as government borrowing higher than hoped in June

Sterling falls against the euro and dollar as data shows government debt is not falling as fast as hoped - Click here to read more

Mortgage lending rises 15% in June

Mortgage lending has increased by £17 billion since May according to the Council of Mortgage Lenders - Click here to read more

Shares lower as disappointing company earnings weigh

Shares open lower as CandW Worldwide warns government cuts will hit profits - Click here to read more

Mortgage Rescue Scheme funding cut

Funding for a government scheme that helps protect homeowners at risk of repossession is to be reduced the housing minister announced today    - Click here to read more

Tuesday Papers: Earnings provide lift against Europe debt concerns - other news

Hoare Govett won a co-broker mandate at Cable and Wireless Worldwide - Click here to read more

How do savers beat inflation now?

The surprise withdrawal of all National Savings and Investments savings certificates has left savers scratching around for a safe haven for their money which will show a real rate of return - Click here to read more

Goldman Sachs 82% earning drop pulls FTSE lower

Goldman Sachs results were far worse than analysts had expected adding to pain after disappointment overnight from IBM and Texas Instruments - Click here to read more

Economic watchdog chief Budd said he was mad to take the job

Sir Alan Budd chairman of the newly formed Office for Budget Responsibility said he must have been mad to take the job but is hopeful a successor can still be found when he steps down - Click here to read more

Wednesday Papers: Goldman profits plummet by 83% - other news

The Wall Street bank suffered as the exceptional trading conditions that followed the 2008 financial crisis evaporated - Click here to read more

BA cabin crew reject new pay offer

British Airways cabin crew have rejected the airlines latest pay offer raising the possibility of more strike action - Click here to read more

Treasury Committee warns of Budget's impact on poorest

The Treasury Committee has warned of the impact that the emergency Budget measures will have on the poorest sector of society - Click here to read more

Goldman Sachs 82% earnings drop pulls FTSE lower

Goldman Sachs results were far worse than analysts had expected adding to pain after disappointment overnight from IBM and Texas Instruments - Click here to read more

Three great ways to invest in the emerging power of India

In the third of our series on emerging markets we look at three investments to help you buy into the India growth story - Click here to read more

Ocado denies it needs more cash after stock market debut

Shares in Ocado fell nearly 14% to 155p in the first day of conditional trading as a number of investors shorted the stock - Click here to read more

House prices: the areas where it is cheaper to buy than rent

A new survey reveals the places where it is cheaper to buy a home than rent one provided you can get the mortgage - Click here to read more

Now could be the moment to buy back into China

With the market down by a third many high profile investors are now starting to find value in Chinese equities - Click here to read more

Mortgage ?calculation error? leaves 18,000 customers with shortfall

Thousands of Yorkshire and Clydesdale mortgage customers have been left with a shortfall on their mortgage after the bank miscalculated their monthly repayments   - Click here to read more

Morning Line: perhaps Andy Pandy can do a better job on 'death taxes'

The detested death tax has hit the headlines again Andy (Burnham) and Andrew (Lansley) are at each others throats over the vexed issue over paying for long-term care for the elderly Poor old Andrew (Dilnot) is sitting in the middle What are we to make of it all - Click here to read more

Are train ticket machines too hard to use?

And what should be done to improve the rail service - Click here to read more

Bank of England?s Sentance the lone voice for interest rate rise

Pound falls on news that the Bank of Englands rate-setting committee remains divided with members voting seven to one against lifting rates at their last meeting - Click here to read more

Can we afford to ditch 30,000 troops?

New cost-cutting proposals would involve a major reorganisation of the British military - Click here to read more

M&A lifts the FTSE 1.5% in opening deals

Reckitt Benckiser has bid for condom-maker SSL and BP has sold $7 billion of assets   - Click here to read more

BP sells $7bn worth of assets amid talk Hayward to stand down

BP has sold $7 billion (£46 billion) of assets amid speculation that its chief executive Tony Hayward is set to stand down   - Click here to read more

Ocado slashes price of share issue

Ocado has been forced to slash the price of its share issue to 180p after weeks of criticism that the online grocery delivery companys valuation was too high - Click here to read more

Why I'm backing gold mining shares through the global turmoil

Experienced investor David Kempton tips junior gold miners to profit through the continuing uncertainty in markets - Click here to read more

Thursday Papers: Oil groups form $1bn spill response unit - other news

Santander is gearing up to list its UK operations on the LSE - Click here to read more

Thursday Papers: Reckitt snaps up SSL for £2.5bn - bid news and gossip

Paulson and Co is to launch a new fund open to retail investors - Click here to read more

Network Rail wins approval for six figure bonuses

Network Rail has won approval to pay £235 million in bonuses to many of its senior executives despite protest from the Prime Minister and trade unions - Click here to read more

Has Goldman Sachs weathered its 'perfect storm'?

Goldman Sachs may have endured a dreadful second quarter but analysts believe it is far from down and out - Click here to read more

Santander plans £3 billion UK listing to expand further

The Spanish bank may need to float part of its UK business to fund its planned acquisition of RBS branches - Click here to read more

Bernanke quashes market hopes on more stimulus

The Fed chairman said he would act again but is certainly not ready to now - Click here to read more

From Aberdeen to Brasilia: three reasons to invest in Latin America

The prospectus for the soon-to-be-launched Aberdeen Latin American Income fund explains why investors are taking the region seriously - Click here to read more

Two jailed over £7m boiler room scam

Fraudsters who made more than £56 million over the course of a three-year boiler room scam were each jailed for seven years at Ipswich Crown Court today - Click here to read more

Saturday Papers: Only seven institutions fail stress tests - other news

Five of them were cajas Spanish savings banks - Click here to read more

Saturday Papers: RBS in talks with US buyout firms over GMS - bid news and gossip

Sanofi-Aventis makes preliminary takeover approach to Genzyme the US biotech group - Click here to read more

Cor! look at my courgettes

A tale of horticultural boom and bust from a north London allotment - Click here to read more

Seven banks fail European stress test

Seven banks have failed the European stress test including Hypo Real Estate in Germany five banks in Spain and one in Greece - Click here to read more

Investors back BP as buy and Hayward to keep job

An exclusive survey of professional investors conducted by Citywire over the past two days has shown they back BP chief executive Tony Hayward to keep his job and rate the stock a buy - Click here to read more

Markets tread water ahead of GDP and bank stress reports

UK shares posted modest gains in opening deals as investors waited for growth data later this morning - Click here to read more

Citywire reader wins broadband battle with 3 and Carphone Warehouse

Mobile phone company 3 and retailer Carphone Warehouse have agreed to refund a customer for a broadband service she was unable to use for more than 18 months after purchasing the deal - Click here to read more

Keydata scandal causes compensation claims to soar

The collapse of Keydata Investment Services has sparked a 500% rise in the number of investment-related claims to the Financial Services Compensation Scheme - Click here to read more

Cazenove: Get the inflation debate wrong and you will be 'toast'

Cazenove multimanager Marcus Brookes believes investors must not risk finding themselves on the wrong side of the inflation versus deflation debate - Click here to read more

ECB president criticises US stimulus policy

Jean-Claude Trichet advocates upping taxes and reducing public spending in stark contrast to the US - Click here to read more

Standard Life's McVie downplays inflation fears

Tam McVie investment director at Standard Life Investments believes UK inflation fears have been overdone and is positioning the Global Absolute Return Strategies fund for a drop in the consumer price index - Click here to read more

Friday Papers: New York files suits against BofA and Merrill - other news

The state alleges its pensioners suffered losses because of both companies actions during the financial crisis - Click here to read more

Friday Papers: GM acquires AmeriCredit in $3.5bn deal - bid news and gossip

Standard Life rejects £29bn Tomkins offer - Click here to read more

Inflation changes to pensions leave us in the dark

Its not at all clear who will lose out as a result of pensions changes nor by how much writes Steve Bee - Click here to read more

10 scandalous adverts that were banned from TV

This month weve seen Burger King forced to remove an advert making a chicken burger look bigger than the real thing a Tesco ad bite the dust for wrongly claiming all its stores bake fresh bread from scratch and Ryanair made to apologise for depicting rival EasyJet founder as Pinocchio However here are 10 of the best television adverts that have been removed from our screens over the years Remember these were banned for a reason so read on at your peril - Click here to read more

BP preparing for exit of chief executive Tony Hayward

BP is preparing to announce the departure of chief executive Tony Hayward and his replacement with US managing director Bob Dudley - Click here to read more

Sunday Papers: Interest rates will stay low until 2014, predicts E&Y - other news

Equitable Life chief Chris Wiscarson damns Chadwick Report - Click here to read more

Sunday Papers: Virgin Active in the running for £1bn sale - bid news and gossip

The health and fitness chain has met a series of private equity - Click here to read more

Monday Papers: Alarm at banks? unreported risk - other news

BP poised to announce the departure of its chief executive Tony Hayward - Click here to read more

Monday Papers: US buyout group raises $613m for Africa - bid news and gossip

Private equity groups are producing disappointing returns a London-based think-tank said - Click here to read more

BP claims 'no final decision made' on Hayward

Though it looks near certain the chief executive Tony Hayward will depart BP has effectively deferred the announcement until after a board meeting this evening - Click here to read more

Bolton on why China could lead next leg of bull market

Legendary investor Anthony Bolton believes the Far East giant will be at the vanguard of a multi-year bull run - Click here to read more

Markets await US GDP figures for further cue

Traders likely to be muted on the results of European banking stress tests - Click here to read more

Old bill, new bill: how to protect yourself if regulators let you down

The government is changing the way financial services are policed No one knows if the reforms are going to work so it is down to you to protect yourself  - Click here to read more

Ombudsman denounces proposed £400m Equitable payout

The Parliamentary Ombudsman Ann Abraham has denounced Sir John Chadwicks proposal to pay Equitable Life policyholders just £400 million as unsafe and unsound  - Click here to read more

Why would India want a ?special relationship? with us?

Declining nation with aging population over-reliance on the financial sector and stagnant economic growth seeks partner with average age of 25 years old near double digit economic growth and a burgeoning middle class of 143 million - Click here to read more

Stress tests: what the results mean for bank shares

Many European bank stocks have risen following publication of the EU stress test results although there are concerns the tests may not have been tough enough   - Click here to read more

Morning Line: interest rate rise or not, savers are unlikely to benefit

Seldom have economists been so divided over when interest rates will rise But whatever happens it is unlikely that savers will benefit  - Click here to read more

Is the country mouse more honest than the town mouse?

Is that how a village can leave their local grocery store unlocked and unmanned 24 hours a day without anything being stolen - Click here to read more

Equitable Life chief criticises Chadwick compensation figures

Equitable Life chief executive Chris Wiscarson has written to Treasury minister Mark Hoban to criticise the Chadwick Report which has controversially proposed that policyholders should receive only a tenth of their losses - Click here to read more

The investment trusts to replace Gartmore European

For all the fuss his Gartmore European trust performance over the past few years is not that sparkling relative to peer group - Click here to read more

Avoiding Annuities: is 'drawdown' the right way out for you?

The government is abolishing the unpopular rule forcing people to buy an annuity when they retire This makes it easier to draw down an income and retain control over your savings It sounds good but is it the right answer for you - Click here to read more

Tuesday Papers: Hayward to be offered BP Russia job - other news

Jain moves to integrate Deutsche Banks investment banking units - Click here to read more

Tuesday Papers: BC Partners agrees sale of Picard Surgelés - bid news and gossip

The deal with Lion Capital could be valued at up to 15bn including debt - Click here to read more

BP chief Hayward steps down after $17 billion quarterly loss

(Update) Oil giant BP confirmed chief executive Tony Hayward will be replaced after the Gulf of Mexico disaster pushed the group to an unprecedented $17 billion (£11 billion) loss in the second quarter - Click here to read more

New home sales data boosts Wall Street

European indices also inch higher as traders reacted to the stress test results - Click here to read more

FSA probes Connaught after 70% share fall

The Financial Services Authority is probing social housing maintenance company Connaught after its share price dropped 69% following a warning it was in urgent need of additional funding - Click here to read more

BP: should anyone hold this stock outside of an investment fund?

The dreadful impact the Gulf of Mexico crisis has had on the BP share price underlines the advantages of saving into a properly diversified investment fund We highlight eight from Citywire Selection - Click here to read more

Broadband providers are still not up to speed, says Ofcom

An overwhelming 97% of broadband customers are not receiving the connection speed they are paying for according to Ofcom  - Click here to read more

Treasury consults on raft of tax reforms

The Treasury has launched a raft of nine tax consultations including one addressing pension tax relief and inheritance tax - Click here to read more

Investment in India: the obstacles to growth

India has great growth prospects But the obstacles to growth in the country should not be underestimated say fund managers - Click here to read more

Roger Guy goes defensive on US and Chinese growth concerns

The Gartmore European fund manager has moved out of cyclical stocks as the headwinds in the global economy get stronger - Click here to read more

Banks boost the FTSE as regulatory pressures ease

News that new international banking rules will be less stringent than feared lifted UK banks between 46 and 675% in morning deals    - Click here to read more

FSA bans ex-Northern Rock finance director

The Financial Services Authority has banned former Northern Rock finance director David Jones and fined him £320000 for misreporting mortgage arrears figures - Click here to read more

Lloyds stops selling payment protection insurance policies

(Update) Consumer groups claim victory after Lloyds bank announces controversial loan protection policies will no longer be sold to Lloyds TSB Halifax Bank of Scotland Cheltenham and Gloucester and Black Horse customers - Click here to read more

Banks cut savings rates without telling customers

Many savings providers rely on newspaper adverts and branch notices to inform customers about changes made to the interest rates on their accounts - Click here to read more

Wednesday Papers: Investment banking boosts UBS earnings - other news

Deutsche Bank reported net income of 12bn for the second quarter - Click here to read more

Wednesday Papers: Soros in talks to buy stake in BSE - bid news and gossip

Soros Fund Management is planning to pay about $40m for a 4% stake - Click here to read more

Economy at risk of return to negative growth

The outlook for the UK economy has deteriorated over the last three months and the risk of negative growth has increased says leading think tank NIESR - Click here to read more

Why everyone is excited about Lloyds shares again

New global banking rules look set to be watered down adding to the reasons to buy Lloyds say analysts    - Click here to read more

Morning Line: In support of a 'negative income tax'

Reform of the tax and benefits system is decades overdue and could produce the greatest boost the economy has had in years creating real incentives to work while saving billions - Click here to read more

British Gas profits almost double in six months

British Gas saw profits rise 98% in the first half of 2010 after the UK suffered one of the coldest winters on record - Click here to read more

Banks lead European markets to 5-week closing high

US stocks fell after consumer confidence retreated to a five-month low - Click here to read more

Will a 'stronger, better' BP be a top dividend payer again?

BP is doing all the right things to pay down debt and reassure investors but will it ever be the dividend payer it was If not should you own its shares anyway - Click here to read more

House prices rise slightly in June

Land Registry reports 01% rise in June following Mays slight fall Figures come in contrast to other indices which are showing falling prices - Click here to read more

Santander hiring 600 staff as it goes on customer service assault

Spanish bank hiring 600 UK staff as it tries to improve its much-maligned customer service - Click here to read more

House prices: Nationwide reports first drop since February

Nationwide has reported a 05% drop in the price of an average UK property adding to evidence that prices are heading lower - Click here to read more

Shell profits nearly double

(Update) Anglo-Dutch oil giant Royal Dutch Shell said its profits had soared 94% in the second quarter thanks to oil price rises production increases and cost-cutting - Click here to read more

Stocks fell amid downbeat assessment of US economy

Lower-than-expected orders for durable goods also weigh on markets - Click here to read more

Thursday Papers: ICBC plans to raise $6.6bn in rights issue - other news

Three former executives of units of GE Capital charged with fraud - Click here to read more

Thursday Papers: Private equity firms in $850m HGI deal - bid news and gossip

Buy-out arm of Goldman Sachs and CDR join hands to acquire HGI from Jordan Company - Click here to read more

Phil Haddon: The funds I have picked for my Sipp

Phil Haddon online editor of Citywires Global edition explains where he has invested his self-invested personal pension or Sipp - Click here to read more

Retirement debate: Is the government right to allow us to work beyond 65?

The governments decision to press on with plans to abolish the default retirement age has divided opinion What do you think about employees being allowed to work beyond 65 - Click here to read more

Fed up with bank rip-offs? It pays off to shop around

Until consumers wake up and take an interest in their finances the rip-off will continue Lorna Bourke looks at the best places to put your money now - Click here to read more

Technology firms drag Wall Street lower

Investors remained cautious as they await US GDP figures - Click here to read more

Friday Papers: IASB proposes accounting overhaul for insurers - other news

The board has proposed a single accounting system for the industry - Click here to read more

Friday Papers: Li Ka-shing pays £5.8bn for UK utility - bid news and gossip

KBC Peel Hunt unveils £74m staff-led buy-out from its Belgian parent - Click here to read more

BA loses £164 million after strikes and volcanic ash

British Airways shares are on the up despite the airline reporting higher losses in the second quarter There is relief that the financial impact of cabin crew strikes and volcanic ash was not higher than expected - Click here to read more

Duncan Smith: welfare reforms will save money and get people back to work

Work and pensions minister Iain Duncan Smith is proposing to overhaul the welfare state with a new universal benefit that he claims will cost less and remove artificial barriers to work - Click here to read more

Emerging Markets: three ways to profit from Brazilian flair

In the fourth of our series on emerging markets we look at three ways to tap into the Brazilian growth story As the country gears up to host the 2014 World Cup and the 2016 Olympics we ask if it can deliver on the investment front as well  - Click here to read more

The CFDealer: two stocks to buy, one to sell

Flushed with the success of my tips and recent bid targets SSL International and Dimension Data here are three more ideas for active investors - Click here to read more

The man who wants to save child trust funds

A campaign is growing to save child trust funds from the scrap heap Do you agree parents and family should be allowed to continue saving into the schemes for children even if the government stops handing out free money - Click here to read more

Keydata tax liability grows to £12m

HM Revenue and Customs has made a £12 million tax claim against Keydata Investment Services for its breach of ISA rules according to the Financial Services Authority - Click here to read more

Push start from Fidelity helped Ocado get its flotation away

Ocado had to rely on existing shareholders - and fund management group Fidelity in particular - to get its recent stock market flotation away - Click here to read more

Lorna Bourke: beware car insurance rip-offs

How I found myself paying over the odds for motor insurance I took out for my daughter - Click here to read more

Saturday Papers: Buy-out groups eye $1bn stake in Nokia Siemens Network - bid news and gossip

PPR receives significant signs of interest in its retail arms - Click here to read more

Saturday Paper Round: other news

Apologies there are no paper summaries today - Click here to read more

Saturday Paper Round: tips and comment

Apologies there are no paper summaries today - Click here to read more

Saturday Papers: US growth falls back to 2.4% - other news

Consumption growth fell to 16% from 19% - Click here to read more

Fund of the Week: M&G Optimal Income

The MandG Optimal Income fund run by Richard Woolnough is one of our favourite investments Head of research Jonathan Miller explains why - Click here to read more

Sterling climbs on US woes but are we really faring better?

The pound has leapt to a five-month high against the dollar as investors compare the UK favourably with the US Are these hopes valid   - Click here to read more

Beware these five pitfalls when switching energy suppliers

Switching energy suppliers can save you hundreds of pounds a year but switch to the wrong deal and you could find you end up paying more - Click here to read more

Divorce in the downturn: where to get advice

The economic slump has made it even more difficult for warring couples to go their separate ways - Click here to read more

US jobs data and earnings reports latest test for equities

Procter and Gamble and Clorox are among companies that will declare results this week - Click here to read more

Monday Papers: Chinese data add to fears for recovery - other news

PMI slid from 521 in June to 512 in July - Click here to read more

Monday Papers: Carlyle enters exclusive talks to buy B&B Hotels - bid news and gossip

Bridgepoint is poised to acquire two of Frances biggest jewellery chains - Click here to read more

Sunday Papers: Fresh bonus fears as bank profits rise - other news

Osborne warns UK banks to keep a tight rein on pay and bonuses - Click here to read more

Sunday Papers: Dana Petroleum agrees to meet KNOC over £1.7bn deal - bid news and gossip

Clear Channel to act as a promoter of Formula One - Click here to read more

Woodford snaps up 29% stake in Zimbabwe investment fund

Star fund manager Neil Woodford is investing $25 million (£16 million) in a Zimbabwean oil telecommunications and property company - Click here to read more

Bank earnings and global data push markets to a six-week high

The pound climbed another two cents against the dollar after better-than-expected bank profits and some well received US data led investors to sell the dollar - Click here to read more

Barclays goes behind bars to recruit new customers

Is this taking new banking a step too far - Click here to read more

HSBC powered by drop in bad debt charges

A fall in bad debt provisions helps HSBC more than double half-year profits to £7 billion says chief executive Michael Geoghegan   - Click here to read more

Investment Trusts: how to play the tech resurgence

Richard Scott of Hawksmoor Investment Management highlights three investment trusts to play the technology theme - Click here to read more

Holidaymakers waste millions on credit card charges abroad

UK holidaymakers will spend £3 billion on credit cards abroad this year and pay £62 million in foreign transaction fees for the privilege - Click here to read more

Did you know it is illegal for interns to work for free?

And if this is the case why are there so many adverts around for unpaid interns - Click here to read more

Shares storm higher on jump in bank profits

HSBC reveals half-year profits more than doubled to $111 billion (£7 billion) sending the FTSE 100 2% higher - Click here to read more

The 'safe haven' currencies competing for champion status this season

What is the Liverpool or Manchester United of the currency world We compare the foreign exchange markets and the Premiership to find out - Click here to read more

BP challenged over plans to drill in Libya

BPs plans to start drilling for oil and gas off Libya have been challenged amid increasing calls for a moratorium on deepwater operations following the spill in the Gulf of Mexico according to reports - Click here to read more

Santander finally gives Citywire reader his money back

After two months numerous phone calls several letters and one bounced cheque one Santander customer really thought the Spanish bank had stolen his money   - Click here to read more

Public sector pensions: Treasury wastes £6.6bn a year on 'illogical' NI subsidy

The government loses £66 billion a year allowing public sector workers to pay less national insurance (NI) than private sector employees says independent pensions consultant Ros Altmann - Click here to read more

ITV launches pay-TV push as Crozier goes for growth

New ITV chief executive Adam Crozier has decided to push the broadcaster into pay TV as part of a five-year recovery plan to wean it off its dependency on advertising - Click here to read more

Kent Reliance to create new bank with JC Flowers investment

Kent Reliance building society is restructuring and creating a new bank as part of a £50 million refinancing by private equity firm JC Flowers - Click here to read more

Wall Street at 10-week high on strong corporate results

Upbeat ISM manufacturing data gives further impetus to stocks - Click here to read more

Tuesday Papers: HSBC leads banks rebound - other news

BNP Paribas posted a 39% increase in first-half net profit to 44bn   - Click here to read more

Tuesday Papers: Santander snaps up assets in UK and US - bid news and gossip

The Spanish bank to buy $43bn of car loans from HSBC - Click here to read more

Lloyds and RBS look sellable but a rushed disposal is risky

The government is sitting on a paper profit on its investment in Lloyds and RBS Timing a successful exit from the banks will be tricky for the chancellor - Click here to read more

RBS completes sale of 318 branches to Santander

RBS has agreed to sell 318 branches to Santander for a £350 million premium - Click here to read more

Wednesday Papers: RBS fined £5.6m over sanctions slip - other news

Connaught lenders sell their debt claims against the social housing maintenance company - Click here to read more

Wednesday Papers: Citi to put online bank Egg up for sale - bid news and gossip

The business could attract interest from Santander and Metro Bank analysts said - Click here to read more

The smart money is following Dobell into Tullow Oil

After a tough six months investors are increasingly seeing what drew MandG Recovery manager Thomas Dobell to bet big on this company - Click here to read more

Treasury turns screw on holiday home owners

An estimated 20000 owners of holiday letting properties face paying more tax after the government announced a crack down on second home owners - Click here to read more

Towry claims to have cleared Edward Jones backlog

Independent financial advisory firm Towry claims to have cleared a backlog of former Edward Jones clients who did not want to join the group following its acquisition of the US stockbroker last year - Click here to read more

Midday Market: FTSE pulled back on profit-taking

The FTSE 100 traded 21 points lower at 5376 as investors locked in gains on banking stocks and waited for more potentially downbeat economic news from the US - Click here to read more

City regulator fines RBS £5.6m for money laundering breaches

The Financial Services Authority has fined Royal Bank of Scotland Group £56 million for systems failures that could have seen the state-owned bank transfer money to suspected terrorists - Click here to read more

Public sector pensions: £6.6bn a year wasted on 'illogical' subsidy

The government loses £66 billion a year allowing public sector workers to pay less national insurance (NI) than private sector employees says independent pensions consultant Ros Altmann - Click here to read more

Poetry Corner: And the winner is...

Find out who got the bubbly - Click here to read more

Lloyds shares rise 3.5% after forecast-busting £1.6bn profits

Banking group Lloyds reported much better than expected profits as the charges on loans gone bad came in well below forecasts - Click here to read more

Evans succeeds Moreau as AXA UK boss

He succeeds Nicolas Moreau as group chief executive officer of AXA UK taking effect from October - Click here to read more

L&G beats forecasts with 34% jump in earnings

Legal and General has posted a 34% jump in first half earnings from £404 million to £542 million and increased its dividend 20% - Click here to read more

Santander injects £4.5bn into UK after buying 318 RBS branches

Santander has injected £45 billion into its Santander UK business to fund acquisitions and pay for the planned restructuring of the business here - Click here to read more

The banks are right to lend less and charge more

The chancellor should focus on getting the banks to improve their customer service and improving customer choice rather than setting lending targets  - Click here to read more

Thursday Papers: Lloyds back in black with £1.6bn profit - other news

- Click here to read more

Thursday Papers: Goldman eyes ?prop desk? shake-up - bid news and gossip

- Click here to read more

My experience with travel insurers

Will your travel insurer pay out Travel insurance generates a lot of complaints as I know only too well from personal experience - Click here to read more

BP static kill a ?significant milestone?

The oil giant stems the Gulf of Mexico leak with mud ahead of the planned drilling of a relief well - Click here to read more

Wheat woes spell good news for investors in agriculture

Wheat prices have soared as a result of Russian wildfires highlighting the long-term investment opportunities in agriculture according to Desmond Cheung of BlackRock who specialises in the sector - Click here to read more

FTSE flat ahead of interest rate announcements

The FTSE 100 makes modest gains ahead of the Bank of England interest rate announcement as investors weigh positive results from insurers Aviva and RSA but uninspiring numbers from Barclays - Click here to read more

US equities rise on better-than-expected economic figures

ADP employer services said companies hired 42000 in July beating the median economist estimate in a Bloomberg Survey - Click here to read more

Aviva profits up 21%, signs new distribution deal with RBS

Aviva operating profits have jumped 21% to £127 billion in the first half of this year The insurer is also entering a new distribution agreement with RBS replacing their current joint venture  - Click here to read more

Fears for BP start to evaporate

BP shares look past their worst now the Deepwater Horizon well has been capped and the US says three quarters of the oil has evaporated or been captured - Click here to read more

The worst 20 postcodes for burglary claims

Read on to find out where the worst postcodes for home theft insurance claims are in the UK And find out how you can cut the cost of your cover - Click here to read more

Imperial Consolidated director jailed for fraud

A former director of £250 million investment group Imperial Consolidated has been sentenced to three and half years imprisonment for conspiracy to defraud at Blackfriars Crown Court - Click here to read more

Pensions: will the life companies play fair on annuities?

Government reforms to give people more flexibility with their pensions should in theory see annuity rates rise - Click here to read more

Bank of England leaves rates at record low

As was widely expected the Bank of England has left UK interest rates at a record low of 05% - Click here to read more

Friday Papers: RBS to unveil £2bn deal over card processing arm - bid news and gossip

3i moves to cut debt with plans for 1bn sale of German groups - Click here to read more

Poetry Corner: 'We Are Santander'

Charting the inexorable rise of the high street conquistadores In rhyming verse - Click here to read more

Giles Hargreave piles into Hargreaves Lansdown shares

Leading smaller company fund manager Giles Hargreave has snapped up a 25% stake in the well-known asset manager Hargreaves Lansdown - Click here to read more

Jonathan Ruffer: my big bet in Japan

Star fund manager Jonathan Ruffer has told investors in his Ruffer Investment Company that the fortunes of the fund over the next year will come down to a big bet on Japan - Click here to read more

RBS bounces back into profit - but only just

(Update) The recovery of Royal Bank of Scotland under Stephen Hester continues although first half operating profits of £11 billion shrink to just £9 million when the cost of the toxic clean-up is taken into account - Click here to read more

Resolution gets 95% take up for its £2bn rights issue

Resolution the life insurance takeover specialist says the vast majority of new shares issued in its fund raising to buy AXA UK Life were bought by its investors - Click here to read more

Old Mutual sells US life business for £220m

Old Mutual has sold its US life insurance business to US hedge fund Harbringer Capital for £220 million while announcing a 43% rise in profits in its half-year results - Click here to read more

Disappointment over weekly jobs data weigh on Wall Street

Dow shed five points and SandP lost one point after higher-than-expected jobless claims - Click here to read more

The 10 top places to buy property abroad

If youre thinking about investing in a holiday home overseas here are the top 10 countries where people are currently interested in buying property according to Primelocationcom - Click here to read more

Fund of the Week: Neptune US Opportunities

This North American fund managed by Felix Wintle is one of the star picks in Citywire Selection our list of best investment ideas Here is why   - Click here to read more

Steve Bee: are our pensions affordable after all?

Treasury figures quoted by the civil service unions suggest the cost of paying everyone a decent state pension may not be as economically ruinous as if often supposed - Click here to read more

Saturday Papers: Shadow still cast over RBS despite return to profit - other news

Hester stresses on the the much lower net profit figure of £9m - Click here to read more

Saturday Papers: KKR funds buy-out of RBS payment arm - bid news and gossip

And Old Mutual sells its US life business to Harbinger Capital for $350m - Click here to read more

Ratewatch Special: best mortgages and savings accounts

The best deals on long-term fixed and tracker mortgages and the leading rates on savings and instant access accounts - Click here to read more

Divorce: who gets what in the break-up?

The second article of our series on divorce looks at the different financial settlements that can be reached between individuals going seperate ways - Click here to read more

Sunday Papers: tips and comments

Individual capitalism is the way of the new world - Click here to read more

Sunday Papers: City bonuses jump 25% to £10b - other news

And more than £20bn of defence contracts face the axe as the MoD attempts to stem a £35bn deficit - Click here to read more

Sunday Papers: Jimmy Choo may change hands for £500m - bid news and gossip

Owners have been sounding out investment banks about strategic options - Click here to read more

Lloyds to pay bumper dividends in 2012

Lloyds will pay bumper dividends from 2012 as long as it can replace cheap Bank of England funding say analysts  - Click here to read more

Stock markets eye Fed meeting for further cue

The US central banks policy-making committee meeting due on Tuesday may provide a fillip to equities - Click here to read more

Bank stokes economic fears with growth downgrade

The Bank of England will revise down its forecasts for growth in its inflation report this week stoking fears about Britains economic future according to reports - Click here to read more

Monday Papers: Fed set to downgrade outlook for US - other news

The US central bank will meet on Tuesday to discuss ways to reboot the flagging recovery - Click here to read more

Monday Papers: Hightech UK group in talks to sell controlling stake to Russia - bid news and gossip

And News Corps proposal to takeover British Sky Broadcasting may cause exodus of executives - Click here to read more

Citywire employee wins £460 compensation from Santander

When one Citywire employee switched to a Santander current account not only did he fail to get his £100 cashback bonus and the 0% overdraft he was promised it ended up costing him £310 in overdraft charges - Click here to read more

Are you sure you don't want to break up the banks?

Splitting the banks between utilities and casinos might be more transparent and better for investors - Click here to read more

Tax changes protected incomes during the recession

Most people hardly felt the impact of the recession on their spending power as tax cuts meant average disposable incomes remained the same official stats show   - Click here to read more

Met Detective jailed over £4.6m mortgage fraud

Detective Sergeant Charles Overend was sentenced to five and a half years imprisonment at Southwark Crown Court for his part in a £46 million mortgage fraud   - Click here to read more

Citywire Selection: SR Europe removed after Dyson departure

With the departure of Rupert Dyson as manager we are removing the £55 million SR Europe investment trust from Citywire Selection the guide to our best investment ideas - Click here to read more

Morning Line: Are house prices falling for you?

Thinking of buying or selling Beware house price reports - Click here to read more

FTSE 100 directors' pay surges 20% to £3m in 2010

The highest paid blue chip company directors enjoyed bumper bonuses although base salary growth was moderate - Click here to read more

Markets falter ahead of US rate decision

Shares lost ground in morning deals after disappointing data in the UK and in China while investors steel themselves ahead of the statement from the US rate-setting committee this evening - Click here to read more

Emerging Markets: three funds for risky Russia

Russia is regarded as the riskiest of the Bric emerging markets We explain why some investors are taking the plunge and highlight three funds that you could add to your portfolios - Click here to read more

Osborne told to communicate more to win support for cuts

The government can secure backing for unpopular spending cuts if it spends more time explaining what it wants to do and why new research has found   - Click here to read more

Wall Street gains as investors await Fed meeting

SandP 500 rises six points to the highest level in more than two months - Click here to read more

Tuesday Papers: House price dip stokes fears - other news

First decline in a year says surveyors report - Click here to read more

Tuesday Papers: Property trust merger halted by independents - bid news and gossip

And News Corp is to sell control of its three Chinese television channels - Click here to read more

FTSE 100 pension deficits estimated at £73bn despite funding push

FTSE 100 pension deficits have remained high at a combined £73 billion despite a 200% increase in funding since 2008 according to Pension Capital Strategies (PCS) annual report while liabilities have increased to £434 billion - Click here to read more

Councils to get cash bonus for new homes

Councils will receive extra funding for having new homes built in their areas the government announced today - Click here to read more

Peter Lees: 'the best stock-pickers' market since World War II'

We have brilliant companies in the UK that understand their overseas markets but we have to look after them says FandCs veteran head of UK equities  - Click here to read more

Cash in on the clearer picture at Aviva

After an encouraging set of half-year results the shrewd money is buying shares in insurance giant Aviva - Click here to read more

Wednesday Papers: Fed downgrades outlook - other news

Monetary policy bias shifts toward easing   - Click here to read more

Wednesday Papers: US buy-out groups eye Morgan Stanley fund - bid news and gossip

KKR and TPG have expressed tentative interest in the business - Click here to read more

Fed downgrades growth to stir deflationary fears

The US Federal Reserve led by chairman Ben Bernanke has downgraded its expectations of the US economic recovery moving towards the deflationary camp - Click here to read more

Wall Street regains some ground after Fed remarks

Stocks pared losses after the US central bank said that it will buy Treasuries with maturing debt to strengthen the economic recovery - Click here to read more

Standard Life goes for the holy grail

Standard Life is going for the holy grail in financial services throwing millions of pounds at developing a simple online investment proposition for the mass market - Click here to read more

No good news for borrowers or savers - but ignore King at your peril

The Bank of England governor Mervyn King had some stark warnings for us today; growth will be slow interest rates on savings will be paltry and credit will be scarce But ignore his message at your peril - Click here to read more

Wealth manager warns FTSE could fall 'below 3,420'

After 10 months of sideways trading on the FTSE 100 equity investors should be bracing themselves for a likely FTSE break out below 4790 points in the second half of the year according to wealth manager Full Circle Asset Management - Click here to read more

The government had no choice in the debate over the economy

The coalition government has had little choice but to play the hand it has been dealt: a hand of grim fiscal realities - Click here to read more

Morning Line: tackle benefit fraud ? but what about tax cheats?

Tax cheats undoubtedly get away with ten times the amount the government will save by investigating benefit fraud and a serious clamp down on tax evasion is long overdue - Click here to read more

Oil price falls as demand outlook is 'highly uncertain'

The International Energy Agency has lifted its oil demand forecasts for 2010 and 2011 but warned slower than expected growth could lead to sharp falls in demand  - Click here to read more

Consumer confidence drops to lowest level for 15 months

The pound is continuing its retreat from recent highs as investors remain nervous about the state of the world economy and consumer confidence in the UK fell for a third consecutive month - Click here to read more

British bank accounts emptied by 'sophisticated' online fraudsters

Cybercriminals based in Eastern Europe target around 3000 customers of British bank in complex multi-level scheme - Click here to read more

Global markets pounded as economic worries return

Signs of slowing growth across the globe have returned just as central bankers warn the forecast is looking increasingly gloomy - Click here to read more

Thursday Papers: Bank cuts forecast for UK output - other news

Weak trading partners pose risk to growth - Click here to read more

Thursday Papers: Fortress buys 80% stake in AIG arm - bid news and gossip

The American insurer also calls on investors for stakes in AIA - Click here to read more

M&A hopes lift shares in morning deals

The FTSE 100 shrugged off yet more pain in the US and in Asia overnight with Cairn boosted by talk of a bid from Vedanta - Click here to read more

Prime minister backs local ban on cheap booze

David Cameron has said he supports local councils who want to ban the sale of cheap alcohol but will not introduce a minimum alcohol price nationwide - Click here to read more

Prudential takes £284m hit on aborted AIA deal

Prudential says it has cut the £450 million costs of its failed bid for Asian insurer to £284 million - Click here to read more

Lloyds sell-off continues as funding fears weigh

Mervyn Kings comments that he will not extend Bank of England loans to the bailed out banks adds to fears Lloyds may struggle to find new sources of cheap funding   - Click here to read more

Home repossessions continue to fall - for now

Lenders expect fewer repossessions this year than previously thought but warn that unemployment and deficit cutting measures could take their toll - Click here to read more

Keydata Crisis: Norwich MP demands meeting with FSA boss

Chloe Smith MP for Norwich North has called for a meeting with Financial Services Authority (FSA) chief executive Hector Sants to discuss the collapse of investment group Keydata - Click here to read more

Morning Line: Bernanke and King were right to defy the markets

If the central bankers reacted every time the markets cried wolf they would have nothing left in the arsenal if things get really bad - Click here to read more

Morning market rally runs out of steam as US misery piles up

Shares are down across the globe again and oil is 2% lower as US jobless claims climbed back to February highs this week and after a flurry of profit warnings - Click here to read more

You may be saving more, but are you getting the best return?

Lorna Bourke delves into the small print to find the best places for people to save - Click here to read more

Wall Street suffers a third down day on labour market concerns

The Dow Jones shed 06% and SandP dropped 05% in response to an unexpected increase in jobless claims and a disappointing revenue outlook from Cisco - Click here to read more

Friday Papers: Pru?fights back with large rise in profits - other news

The company confirmed the forecast £450m bill for the abortive AIA has beed cut by more than £70m - Click here to read more

BP agrees to record fine over refinery blast

BP has agreed to pay a record fine for health and safety violations at its Texas City refinery and an immediate £320 million towards ongoing safety provision at the plant - Click here to read more

Eurozone economy beats forecasts as German output leaps

The euro bounced higher against the dollar after early reports show eurozone countries reported much stronger than hoped for growth in the second quarter   - Click here to read more

Morning Line: Who is Philip Green?

A review of Whitehall cuts requires an intractable defiant and single-minded thinker Sir Philip Green is the perfect choice - Click here to read more

Eurozone economy beats forecasts on 'phenomenal ' German growth

(Update) Eurozone growth came in well ahead of forecasts in the second quarter thanks to a much better-than-expected performance from Germany - Click here to read more

Markets turn higher after US consumer confidence data

Better than hoped for consumer confidence data lifted US markets in opening deals but worries about the outlook for the US economy remain and capped gains - Click here to read more

Investors beware, the 'Hindenburg Omen' has reappeared

Perhaps the clue is in todays date Friday 13 but equity investors should be very afraid if the reappearance of a US technical indicator believed to herald an imminent market crash is to be believed - Click here to read more

What is Britain?s ugliest building?

A tower of breakfast-extracting ugliness yesterday won an annual award for Britains ugliest new building - Click here to read more

Aviva rejects £5bn RSA bid for general insurance business

Aviva has rejected a £5 billion bid from RSA for its general insurance operations in the UK and other markets according to Sky News - Click here to read more

The best mortgage deals amid falling house prices

Buy now and risk your deposit being eroded if house prices fall  But wait until house prices settle and there could be a mortgage shortage  - Click here to read more

Investors cut exposure to shares as economic fears grow

Retail investors have reduced the amount of money they have invested in shares over the last year as they are increasingly nervous about the outlook for global financial markets - Click here to read more

Banks use credit card giveaways to lure in customers

Credit card deals are in the forefront of the battle for current account customers  - Click here to read more

Ask Citywire: Is my money safe?

With a little help from the Investment Management Association we explain the role of the Financial Services Compensation Scheme and how your savings and investments are protected   - Click here to read more

Saturday Papers: Blackstone plans to buy Dynegy - bid news and gossip

In a separate transaction the US buyout firm will sell four of Dynegys plants to NRG for $13bn - Click here to read more

Japan: why investors think the sun is finally about to rise

There are signs a turnaround in in the fortunes of the Japanese stock market is imminent But after disappointing investors for more than 20 years should you believe the hype - Click here to read more

Sunday Papers: Cairn shareholders set for £1bn windfall in Vedanta deal - bid news and gossip

The Greenland explorer may confirm the move to sell a 51% stake to Vedanta today - Click here to read more

Stock markets watch retailers? results for further cue

Investors will also focus on US industrial production data housing starts and Producer Price Index figures due on Tuesday - Click here to read more

Monday Papers: Low share trades to cost state £1bn - other news

UK share trading volumes are on track to reach an eight-year low - Click here to read more

Monday Papers: Advent to sell or float retailer Takko - bid news and gossip

And Paternoster has been put up for sale - Click here to read more

Japan: 'the bear market is over'

Leading investors are hopeful that Japan will take action against its strong currency boosting its export-led economy But after disappointing investors for more than 20 years should you go near its stockmarket - Click here to read more

Pursuit Dynamics: could be time for another run with this small cap tech darling

There are few smaller companies creating quite the stir in the City that Pursuit Dynamics is this summer - Click here to read more

Morning Line: Banking customers should share costs more evenly

Is it fair that those most in need young families bringing up children who are more or less obliged to borrow pay very high fees and overdraft charges while relatively wealthier customers pay nothing no matter how many cheques they write a month   - Click here to read more

Rail fares could rise by 8%

Passengers could see rail fares soar by as much as 8% if the transport department suffers big cuts in the spending review this autumn - Click here to read more

HMRC collects £238m too much due to tax code errors

HM Revenue and Customs collected £238 million too much in tax as a result of taxpayers being given the wrong tax code according to estimates from accountancy group UHY Hacker Young (UHY) - Click here to read more

China eclipses Japan as world's second largest economy

China has eclipsed Japan to claim its place as the worlds second largest economy in Q2 - Click here to read more

Tuesday Papers: Barclays fined over sanctions breach - other news

The bank will pay $298m to US authorities to settle investigations relating to payments that the group facilitated to countries facing government sanctions - Click here to read more

Tuesday Papers: Aviva?s big investors in plea over RSA offer - bid news and gossip

And Dell to acquire 3Par a data storage company in a $115bn deal - Click here to read more

The blue chips I'm buying for global exposure

It is no time to go out on a limb but we are fortunate in the UK to have truly international world-class companies that are undervalued paying a decent dividend and even have takeover potential writes David Kempton - Click here to read more

10 products that are a complete waste of money

From peanut butter makers to anti-wrinkle eye cream and wash balls experts at Which have put together a list of 10 products that they say are just not worth buying For fun weve come up with 10 more money-wasting items of our own - Click here to read more

Q&A: will food prices continue rising?

Inflation in the UK may be dropping but food prices are rising Why is this happening and will it continue - Click here to read more

Morning Line: British banks continue to 'trade with the enemy'

Barclays is the latest bank to face a multi-million dollar fine for breaching the complex net of financial sanctions - Click here to read more

Pensions: government pushes for end to all contracting out

The Department for Work and Pensions is considering extending the abolition of contracting out to all pension schemes - Click here to read more

Ford forces Keydata victims' website offline

Lawyers representing Keydata founder Stewart Ford have forced the Keydata victims group to suspend its website after a potentially libellous statement was posted by one of its members   - Click here to read more

Inflation dips but remains above target

Transport costs fall but price of food rises as inflation dips to 31% above the 2% target - Click here to read more

F&C surges 23% as activist buys £15m stake

Shares in FandC Asset Management have surged by some 23% on news that activist investor Sherborne Investors had bought a 52% stake in the firm - Click here to read more

Airport strikes averted as BAA agrees new pay deal

The threat of strikes at six of the UKs main airports is over for now after airport operator BAA and Unite union agreed a new pay deal yesterday - Click here to read more

Shareholders tell Aviva to reconsider RSA bid - reports

Aviva shareholders are planning to press the insurer to reconsider the £5 billion offer from RSA for its UK Ireland and Canada general insurance business according to reports - Click here to read more

Barclays fined $298m for breach of US sanctions

Barclays has been fined $298 million with US prosecutors which ends an investigation into its dealings with countries under government sanctions including Cuba and Iran - Click here to read more

Tech and materials stocks lift Wall Street

Wall Street nudged up on Monday after technology and material stocks helped the market outweigh an earlier slide driven by concern about an economic slowdown - Click here to read more

Duncan Smith told benefit reforms must save £10 billion

The Treasury has told work and pensions secretary Iain Duncan Smith he must find £5 of savings for every £1 he spends simplifying the benefits system according to reports in the Financial Times - Click here to read more

David Kempton: the blue chips I'm buying for global exposure

It is no time to go out on a limb but we are fortunate in the UK to have truly international world-class companies that are undervalued paying a decent dividend and even have takeover potential - Click here to read more

Wednesday Papers: Accounting change set to burden companies - other news

Retailers airlines and ship operators can expect to assume billions of dollars more liabilities on their balance sheets - Click here to read more

Wednesday Papers: Potash rejects $39bn approach by BHP - bid news and gossip

The worlds largest listed fertiliser producer describes the $130 a share cash offer as grossly inadequate - Click here to read more

Give to charity and get one back on the government

Rising taxes are bad news but the silver lining in the austerity cloud is that tax relief available for charities is also on the increase We explain how the government is inadvertently encouraging us to be more charitable - Click here to read more

Morning Line: Can we believe the house price indices?

The Government is reviewing official house price statistic because it is concerned that the different methods used for calculating house prices may be causing confusion - Click here to read more

Bank of England ignores lone voice calling for rate rise

The Monetary Policy Committee considered a small increase in the base interest rate at its latest meeting but all but one member eventually voted for rates to remain on hold - Click here to read more

Another travel company collapses

Kiss Flights has become the latest in a long line of the travel operator casualties after its parent company Flight Options Limited ceased trading last night - Click here to read more

Activist investors increase stake in F&C to nearly 10%

Activist investor Sherborne Investors has continued to build its stake in FandC Asset Management acquiring a further 228 million shares in the past 24 hours - Click here to read more

US stocks advance on positive retail earnings

Higher-than-estimated earnings from Walmart and Home Depot BHP Billiton Ltds $39 billion bid for Potash Corp and stronger US production figures boost shares - Click here to read more

A-level anguish? Don't despair, there are alternatives to university

There has been nothing but bad news for university hopefuls lately For anyone collecting A-level results today here is a guide to apprenticeships and other viable alternatives to uni - Click here to read more

More travel companies expected to collapse this autumn

(Update) Kiss Flights will not be the last travel company to go bust this year travel experts have today warned - Click here to read more

The bond guaranteed to beat inflation

National Counties building society has filled the gap left by National Savings with a five-year bond guaranteed to beat inflation - Click here to read more

Richard Buxton: some consumer stocks look oversold

Richard Buxton the Schroder UK Alpha Plus fund manager on our Citywire Selection list has added to positions in Taylor Wimpey and Debenhams believing the housebuilder and retailer have been oversold - Click here to read more

L&G shares rise on Zurich bid talk

Legal and General shares jump to a 12-month high as the latest bout of takeover speculation suggests Zurich is considering a bid for the UK insurer - Click here to read more

Target?s outlook boosts Wall Street

The Dow Jones rose 01% SandP climbed 02% and Nasdaq closed 03% higher after Target said third quarter earnings would match analyst estimates - Click here to read more

Thursday Papers: GM?filing?begins?road?back?to?market - other news

The company  files for an initial public offering in New York and Toronto - Click here to read more

Thursday Papers: BHP turns hostile with $39bn Potash bid - bid news and gossip

The mining company takes its offer directly to shareholders - Click here to read more

FTSE yo-yos as economic woes compete with industrial data

The FTSE pulled back slightly from earlier lows as investors digested a raft of data on retail sales mortgage lending and the public finances - Click here to read more

Keydata: Ombudsman orders Norwich & Peterborough to compensate elderly couple

The Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) has told Norwich and Peterborough building society it must compensate an elderly couple it advised to invest in Keydata the investment group that collapsed last year - Click here to read more

General Motors lines up $20bn IPO

Just a year after the US government was forced to take a 61% stake in the firm the 102-year old carmaker is set to return to the stock market - Click here to read more

Dawn Chorus: Target?s outlook boosts Wall Street

The Dow Jones rose 01% SandP climbed 02% and Nasdaq closed 03% higher after Target said third quarter earnings would match analyst estimates - Click here to read more

Lifting the lid on Woodford's controversial Zimbabwe fund holding

Masawara the newly listed Jersey fund investing in the African nation has proved a controversial bet for star Invesco Perpetual fund manager Neil Woodford - Click here to read more

Exclusive: How the FSA walked by rogue broker three years before its collapse

The City watchdog the Financial Services Authority (FSA) considered Wills and Co the stockbroker that failed this year as a low impact firm not requiring monitoring three years before its collapse - Click here to read more

Fund of the Week: Investec Emerging Market Debt

- Click here to read more

Neptune?s Geffen warns of mid-cap bloodbath

UK investors who focus on mid-caps could find themselves trapped by a dearth of liquidity warns Neptune head of investment Robin Geffen - Click here to read more

Investment in ETFs hits all-time high

Investment in exchange traded funds which offer investors exposure to a particular index or commodity but trade like regular shares has hit an all time high - Click here to read more

M&A boost fails to keep markets in the black

On a quiet day for the markets with no economic figures and no UK companies reporting BG Group led the risers after speculation of a bid by Shell   - Click here to read more

Keydata: Norwich & Peterborough appeals ombudsman ruling

Norwich and Peterborough building society is attempting to delay payouts to Keydata investors as it tries to get a handle on what its total compensation bill will be - Click here to read more

Revealed: The worst five absolute return funds over three years

Citywires research reveals that using the absolute return label is no guarantee of performance - Click here to read more

Dawn Chorus: US stocks tumble as jobless filings rise

Benchmark indices close at the lowest in a month after the Labour Department said initial claims for unemployment insurance rose last week to 500000 - Click here to read more

Friday Papers: Tax office to soften stance on avoidance - other news

The move has been designed to cut a mounting legal logjam and unlock billions of pounds tied up in court battles over avoidance - Click here to read more

Friday Papers: Intel to purchase McAfee for $7.7bn - bid news and gossip

The worlds largest chipmaker is paying $48 a share in cash a 60% premium on McAfees Wednesday closing price - Click here to read more

Cast your vote for Trafalgar Square?s new monument

Never before has a giant Battenberg cake done battle with a blue cockerel or a musical cash point - Click here to read more

A new threat to our pensions

We want a system that gives us control over our pensions not one that controls us says Steve Bee   - Click here to read more

Ask Citywire: What are the best funds for generating income?

Reader Vic Styles has built up an impressive portfolio within his ISA and now wants to put it to work Here are our top three fund recommendations - Click here to read more

Saturday Papers: HSBC leads race for S Africa?s Nedbank - bid news and gossip

And KNOC launches a £19bn hostile takeover offer for Dana Petroleum - Click here to read more

Saturday Papers: NBNK Investments raises £50m in IPO - other news

And Swedens economy is on course to grow at 45% in 2010 - Click here to read more

The best savings products to protect your cash from inflation

Inflation may be down a smidgeon but savers are still seeing their capital eroded by inflation - Click here to read more

Mortgage rates improve as demand weakens

Homebuyers wariness of making a commitment to move house and lack of demand for mortgages is forcing lenders to revamp their products writes Lorna Bourke who looks at the best mortgages around - Click here to read more

Mortgage problems? Join the queue

The government recently advised homeowners on the need to seek help as early as possible if theyre concerned about their ability to keep up with mortgage payments Good job were a nation that knows how to queue - Click here to read more

Sunday Papers: Interest rates 'may hit 8%' in two years - other news

And UK banks to warn the Coalition Government that its shake-up of financial regulation risks creating an accountability gap - Click here to read more

Sunday Papers: BHP to plead with investors over Potash - bid news and gossip

Marius Kloppers will this week lead a team of BHP Billiton executives on a charm offensive - Click here to read more

Santander voted worst for customer service, again

First Direct Smile and One Account meanwhile were voted the best banks for customer service in a satisfaction survey - Click here to read more

Don't ignore the cash back potential of credit cards

A bizarre piece of research shows that more people would take part in a medical experiment or lick the pavement than have ever taken out a cashback credit card - Click here to read more

10 of the most unethical ways to make money

From blood diamonds and sweatshops to life settlement policies we look at some of the most questionable ways people make a profit - Click here to read more

Dawn Chorus: Stock markets focus on economic data after a dull week

Investors await reports on the US housing market durable goods and the preliminary reading of GDP for further cue - Click here to read more

Monday Papers: Bonuses furore hits banking chiefs? pay - other news

The average pay of top bankers in the US and Europe fell by nearly 60% in 2009 - Click here to read more

Monday Papers: HSBC closes in on Nedbank?stake - bid news and gossip

UK bank fends off fierce competition from its rival Standard Chartered - Click here to read more

Morning Line: who would benefit from interest rates at 8%?

Predictions that interest rates will hit 8% within two years however unlikely will be welcomed by hard pressed savers But will higher interest rates designed to choke off persistent inflation really feed through into higher deposit rates for savers  - Click here to read more

Markets boosted by bid action and miners

Insurers and miners fuelled a FTSE rise on Monday morning with MandA action once again helping stocks higher - Click here to read more

Inflation and declining wages hit household finances

Household finances have come under increased strain as income levels drop but the prices of goods and services rise - Click here to read more

Financial futurology and your pension

The future weve ended up in is nothing like the one that was predicted by the futurologists of the past writes Steve Bee - Click here to read more

FSA fines SocGen £1.6m for transaction reporting failures

The Financial Services Authority has fined the London branch of Société Générale £16 million for failing to provide accurate reports of transactions - Click here to read more

Indebted Pension Protection Fund to unveil new funding plan

The Pension Protection Fund is to unveil how it plans to generate the cash needed to meet its obligations to employees - Click here to read more

Morning Line: Why shouldn't benefits be cut?

Why shouldnt families on benefits take a cut in income at a time when families in work have suffered a substantial reduction in their spendable income Lorna Bourke asks - Click here to read more

Government bond yields sink to record lows on double dip fears

The yields on the benchmark 10 year UK and German government bonds plumb new depths while Treasuries sink to 18 month low - Click here to read more

Dawn Chorus: Dismal home-sales data trigger Wall Street sell-off

Indices plunged to seven-week closing lows in response to 27% decline in US home sales - Click here to read more

Wednesday Papers: PPF to unveil long-term pension funding plans - other news

And purchases of previously owned homes in the US tumbled 272% in July to a 15-year low - Click here to read more

Wednesday Papers: Santander executive charged with insider trading - bid news and gossip

Juan Garcia has been accused of insider trading in relation to the hostile $39bn bid by BHP Billiton for PotashCorp - Click here to read more

FTSE plummets 2.2% on further macro fears

Sterling was also down while Treasury yields reached their lowest levels yet this year - Click here to read more

Oil from the Arctic: a price worth paying?

Cairn Energy is searching for oil off Greenland pouring hundreds of millions into the venture It may fail but others will follow - Click here to read more

Insurer given record fine for losing 46,000 customers' details

The Financial Services Authority has fined Zurich Insurance £227 million for the loss of computer back-up tapes containing the details of 46000 policy holders - Click here to read more

Miners bear brunt as FTSE falls below 5,200

Miners the biggest losers as the FTSE falls below the 5200 mark - Click here to read more

Administrator takes over BP spill compensation fund

BP said it has already paid out nearly $400 million to individuals and businesses in response to the Gulf of Mexico oil spill as it handed over responsibility for further claims to an independent assessor - Click here to read more

The stocks to avoid if deflation strikes

(Update) The FTSE 100 stocks with the biggest pension deficits will be the biggest losers if the economy slips into deflation - Click here to read more

Tuesday Papers: UBS on the F1 starting grid - other news

The deal will give the Swiss bank a platform to underpin its rebranding and advertising campaign - Click here to read more

London Underground staff to strike in September

Thousands of London tube workers will strike this September in a dispute over plans to axe 800 jobs and close ticket-offices - Click here to read more

Markets slide further into the red on US housing market fears

Stock markets on both sides of the Atlantic continued their decline on Wednesday afternoon as economic fears were stoked by another grim US housing market report - Click here to read more

Can the US now avoid a double dip?

After a bright start to the year in which double dip fears were all but erased the US economy appears to be stuttering again Are the ingredients in place for a double dip - Click here to read more

Markets slide further into the red on US housing fears

Stock markets on both sides of the Atlantic continued their decline on Wednesday afternoon as economic fears were stoked by another grim US housing market report - Click here to read more

Dawn Chorus: Wall Street shrugs off weak economic data with late rebound

Technicals spur buying offsetting dismal figures on durable goods orders and new-home sales - Click here to read more

Thursday Papers: SocGen slapped with £1.6m fine for filing inaccurate reports - other news

And new home sales in the US fell by 324% in July - Click here to read more

Thursday Papers: Dell to ratchet up its bid in battle for 3Par - bid news and gossip

The new bid will compete with Hewlett-Packards rival $16bn offer - Click here to read more

F&C sees assets drop £2.5bn and reduces dividend

FandC Asset Management has seen assets under management decline by £25 billion to £953 billion in the first six months of the year registering a loss of £195 million after tax as it incurred a number of costs relating to redundancies legal action and the acquisition of Thames River Capital - Click here to read more

FTSE ends losing streak, led higher by miners

A late rebound in US stock markets coupled with some upbeat corporate results helped European markets to end their losing streak on Thursday morning - Click here to read more

ING UK Real Estate Income Trust bags £20m profit

The property trust saw its NAV rise by 10% in the first half of the year and announces new debt facility - Click here to read more

Lloyds swamped by customer complaints

Lloyds Banking Group racked up nearly 300000 customer complaints in just six months - Click here to read more

Bank of Baroda tops the savings charts

If you expect interest rates to move up and want to leave yourself maximum flexibility while getting the best savings rate possible go for an instant access account or a one-year fixed rate bond - Click here to read more

House building and the disastrous impact of 'Big Society'

Distortion and spin is tearing apart an economically and socially vital industry - house building - at a time of great need and fragility writes Linton Chiswick - Click here to read more

Q&A: What does the International Monetary Fund do?

The International Monetary Fund or IMF played a key role in the financial crisis but what does it actually do - Click here to read more

Dawn Chorus: US stocks erase early gains on economic worries

Dow ends below 10000 as investors remained cautious ahead of an expected downward revision in the US GDP and speech by Bernanke - Click here to read more

Friday Papers: EU bank regulators overhaul stress tests - other news

The new guidelines are designed to be applied by regulators day by day - Click here to read more

Friday Papers: Berkshire Hathaway to buy out Wesco - bid news and gossip

Buffetts firm will acquire the remaining shares it does not already own in the subsidiary managed by Charles Munger - Click here to read more

Five UK growth stocks to outperform in a slowdown

Citywire A-rated fund manager Anthony Cross offers five UK stocks he believes are generally unappreciated by the market but which he thinks have the capability to outperform in a low growth environment - Click here to read more

UK economy grows even faster than previous estimate

UK economic growth in the second quarter has been revised up to 12% from a previous estimate of 11% led by the construction sector - Click here to read more

US economic growth revised down to 1.6%

The second quarter US GDP number has been cut back from 24% to 16% but this was still better than expected - Click here to read more

Stephen Lansdown steps down as Hargreaves executive

Stephen Lansdown has resigned as an executive director of Hargreaves Lansdown and has taken up a non-executive position at the company - Click here to read more

US home sales fall to record low in July

US mortgage levels fell to yet another record low in July with existing home sales plunging 27% during the month - Click here to read more

Homeowners must protect themselves against unemployment

How would you pay off your mortgage if you lost your job Lorna Bourke looks at the help available - Click here to read more

Saturday Papers: Trichet warns on delaying debt cuts - other news

And Bernanke said the Federal Reserve stood ready to boost the flagging US economy - Click here to read more

Saturday Papers: DTCC in talks over possible EMCF stake - bid news and gossip

And Intoll board has recommended an improved takeover offer from Canada Pension Plan Investment Board - Click here to read more

Mortgages: don't write off a fixed rate

Most people are opting for a tracker mortgage but it is not the right option for everyone Lorna Bourke considers the options for borrowers - Click here to read more

?Double dip? fears should not concern the smart investor

The intelligent investor should use the boombust cycle to his advantage - Click here to read more

Dawn Chorus: Stock markets face key reports after dismal week

Figures on jobs manufacturing and services will steer indices in September - Click here to read more

Monday Papers: ECB likely to extend emergency bank support - other news

And the number of highly paid staff at the FSA has trebled in the past four years - Click here to read more

Monday Papers: Sanofi steps up Genzyme pursuit - bid news and gossip

French pharmaceuticals group reiterated an earlier proposal to take over the US biotech company at $69 a share in cash - Click here to read more

Sunday Papers: Joel Cadbury in £4m pub buy-out - bid news and gossip

And Heritage targets Iraq after Uganda pull-out - Click here to read more

Taxpayer to make £27 billion profit from bank bailouts

Analysis suggests the taxpayer could make as much as £27 billion from the bailed out banks over the next five years - Click here to read more

Company pensions to be scaled back to meet cost of reforms

Many companies will reduce the benefits they offer in pension schemes for employees as they seek to claw back the money they will have to spend to meet government reforms - Click here to read more

Dawn Chorus: Smaller-than-expected rise in personal incomes weigh on Wall Street

The Dow Jones dropped 141 points SandP lost 16 points and Nasdaq shed 34 points - Click here to read more

Tuesday Papers: Osborne plans 25% Treasury jobs cull - other news

Chancellor to scale back departments role - Click here to read more

Tuesday Papers: Hugo Boss to increase number of stores - bid news and gossip

The German fashion house is trying to lift sales from 16bn last year to 25bn by 2015 - Click here to read more

Pound survives 100 days of coalition - but will it last?

Sterling performed well during the first 100 days of coalition government John Freeme from foreign currency exchange specialists HiFX considers whether this strength will continue - Click here to read more

FSA fines and censures mortgage brokers over fraud

The Financial Services Authority has banned one mortgage broker and fined another for failing to prevent false mortgage applications being made to lenders - Click here to read more

Morning Line: Why should first time buyers suffer?

If the Bank of England is serious about capping mortgage loan-to-value ratios as a means of preventing another credit crisis then it risks excluding more young people from home ownership Is this what the coalition really wants - Click here to read more

Shares under pressure again as US economic woes pile up

Investors remain nervous ahead of a slew of important US data this week - Click here to read more

Hargreaves Lansdown's profits rise in record year

The financial services provider has lifted its dividend after attracting thousands more customers onto its Vantage fund supermarket - Click here to read more

How likely is a double dip recession in the UK?

While the slowdown in the US and elsewhere is a reason to be wary there are still few signs the UK will fall back into recession - Click here to read more

EDF Energy hikes electricity bills for 1.2 million customers

EDF Energy blames the rise on an increase in distribution and transmission costs and will be writing to the households affected - Click here to read more

Dawn Chorus: US equities erase early gains to end flat

Concerns over Fed minutes overshadowed early advance made in response to positive consumer spending and housing data - Click here to read more

Wednesday Papers: JPMorgan to close ?prop? trading division - other news

The move comes as Wall Street moves to comply with new US financial services rules banning proprietary trading - Click here to read more

Wednesday Papers: HSBC sells US car loans business to Santander - bid news and gossip

The Spanish bank will pay $4bn for the portfolio in cash and assumed debt - Click here to read more

Weak manufacturing data pulls the pound lower

Shares power higher after Chinese data showed fears of a slowdown may have been overly pessimistic   - Click here to read more

Morning Line: Is pension compulsion the only answer?

Against a background of recession or at best very low growth the future for pension saving looks dire  - Click here to read more

Global markets surge after forecast-busting US manufacturing data

After a miserable performance in August global stock markets made an upbeat start to September as better than expected US manufacturing data lifted spirits adding to the positive news out of China and Australia this morning - Click here to read more

Standard Life to cut 500 jobs

The Edinburgh-based insurer has announced 500 jobs are to go across the organisation in the next 15 months - Click here to read more

Taxpayer owned RBS cuts another 3,500 jobs

RBS has announced 3500 more UK staff are set to lose their jobs but 500 offshore jobs will be created - Click here to read more

From boob jobs to Mr Potato Head: Five US stocks to beat the downturn

The US may be set for a protracted period of low growth but the market continues to throw up opportunities for the bottom-up stockpicker says Igniss Terry Ewing - Click here to read more

House price fall picks up pace ? Nationwide

House prices dropped for a second month in August as the imbalance in supply and demand that drove prices higher in 2009 continues unwinding - Click here to read more

Pressure on the pound after more signs the recovery is slowing

Shares tread water as falling house prices and slowing growth in the construction sector suggest the pace of UK economic growth peaked in the second quarter  - Click here to read more

IMF warns indebted countries against ?quick fixes?

International Monetary Fund says UK among countries with large debts and limited room to manoeuvre - Click here to read more

Pensions window of opportunity for high earners

Higher earners have no time to lose if they want to take advantage of new rules say experts - Click here to read more

Dixons post unimpressive numbers despite World Cup boost

Sales of TVs during the World Cup proved insufficient to allow Dixons owner DSG to beat expectations in its latest numbers - Click here to read more

Thursday Papers: RPS acquires Boyd Exploration Consultants - bid news and gossip

The Canadian gas and oil consultancy will pay up to C$139m in cash for the deal - Click here to read more

I thought I didn't need a will - but I was wrong

Making a will is often not as simple as you might think A professional will-writer goes through the process with Victoria Bischoff - Click here to read more

Brussels agrees powers to directly tackle British banks

New EU agencies will be able to impose decisions directly on financial institutions over-ruling national regulators like the FSA - Click here to read more

BP says cost of Gulf spill has reached $8 billion

BP has revealed that the Deepwater Horizon rig disaster has so far cost it $8 billion (£519 billion)  - Click here to read more

Dawn Chorus: Wall Street gains on positive economic figures

The Dow Jones closed 05% higher SandP gained 09% and Nasdaq advanced 11% in response to positive data on initial jobless claims pending home sales and retailers same-store sales - Click here to read more

Friday Papers: ECB rules out double dip - other news

The bank forecast that the eurozone would expand this year and in 2011 much more strongly than previously expected - Click here to read more

Friday Papers: CD&R to buy Univar stake from CVC - bid news and gossip

The US private equity group is buying the stake in a deal valuing the chemicals distribution group at $42bn - Click here to read more

Position your portfolio for a rally

Although doom and gloom persists among investors HSBCs Philip Poole says risk assets could rally in the fourth quarter as indicators tick up - Click here to read more

Credit card rates set to rise as write-offs soar

If you are wondering why you pay such a high interest charge on your credit card look no further than the latest debt figures from the Bank of England   - Click here to read more

Mortgages: cut out the middle man for the best rates

Increasingly high street banks are not only by-passing brokers the only place a potential homebuyer can get truly impartial advice on a home loan but they are restricting their best offers to existing customers - Click here to read more

Don't let spending cuts uncertainty cloud your investment decisions

How can the smart investor benefit from the lean deficit-crunching times ahead - Click here to read more

Another loss for savers as competition dwindles

The rates on offer for savers have been falling while a rare inflation-beating product proved so popular it has been withdrawn - Click here to read more

Saturday Papers: US jobs data allay double dip concerns - other news

The private sector had created 235000 jobs in the past three months - Click here to read more

Saturday Papers: Beijing eyes counterbid for PotashCorp - bid news and gossip

The Chinese government has backed Sinochem to trump BHP Billitons $39bn hostile offer - Click here to read more

The end of the 'cheap mortgage'

Linton Chiswick questions whether the regulator is about to call time on the last remaining cheap mortgage - Click here to read more

Sunday Papers: Warning of 'sharp interest rate rise' in 2012 - other news

The Bank of England is this week set to hold interest rates at 05% - Click here to read more

Sunday Papers: Rothschild and Cohen back ?1bn lender - bid news and gossip

The Finaciers along with the Australian sovereign wealth fund have committed to invest 450m in Haymarket Financial - Click here to read more

The two pensions and why we shouldn't lump them together

We need another word for pension writes Steve Bee - Click here to read more

Landlords brace themselves for benefit caps

There are concerns that cutbacks in Local Housing Allowance will push increasing numbers of tenants into arrears But demand for rental properties remains high so what is the outlook for landlords - Click here to read more

Dawn Chorus: Stock markets upbeat on optimism about US economy

Investors eye a series of central bank meetings for signs of confidence over the state of recovery in developed economies - Click here to read more

Monday Papers: Santander could hire 6,000 new staff - other news

The spanish lender launches a recruitment drive as it presses ahead with UK expansion   - Click here to read more

Monday Papers: Private equity groups line up bids for Polkomtel - bid news and gossip

Potential suitors are lining up 4bn leveraged buy-out bids for Polands leading mobile phone operators - Click here to read more

Santander is not hiring 6,000 extra staff

Reports that Santander is planning to hire an extra 6000 staff in the UK to help improve customer service are incorrect according to the Spanish bank - Click here to read more

Osborne scraps pre-Budget report

Chancellor George Osborne is to scrap the pre-Budget report and replace it with a slimmed-down autumn statement according to the Financial Times - Click here to read more

Equitable Life victims push for full compensation

Victims of the Equitable Life scandal and the board of the company are making a final attempt to persuade the government to pay full compensation - Click here to read more

Morning Line: Why should taxpayers pay up for the Taxman's mistakes?

The fact that nearly six million individuals have paid the wrong amount of tax does not instil much confidence in those who have to file their self-assessment forms by 31st October - Click here to read more

HSBC chair Stephen Green accepts job as trade minister

(Update) HSBC chairman Stephen Green has agreed to become minister for trade and investment from January - Click here to read more

Keydata Crisis: $20m Lifemark loan puts compensation in doubt

The prospect of a $20 million (£13 million) loan to Lifemark the troubled Luxembourg group linked to the Keydata scandal has cast more doubt over whether investors will receive a full pay-out from the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) - Click here to read more

FTSE driven down by Australian mining tax

UK listed miners suffer as Julia Gillard the Australian prime minister promising a 30% tax on mining profits wins political support - Click here to read more

Ocado chief disappointed by share performance as price continues falling

Shares in the online grocer dropped again even as the recently-listed company reported sales growth of 29% - Click here to read more

Thousands caught out in prepayment electricity scam

Around 85000 customers who buy their electricity in advance have had been left out of pocket after being sold illegal electricity credit by doorstep criminals - Click here to read more

Dawn Chorus: Asian stocks mixed despite new US stimulus plan

A stronger yen and plunge in oil prices weigh on markets overshadowing Obamas $50bn stimulus plan - Click here to read more

Tuesday Papers - tips and comment

Petrobras Brazils energy champion prepares the biggest share offering in history   - Click here to read more

Tuesday Papers: BC Partners offers 'early bird' discount in new fund - bid news and gossip

The private equity group is offering investors in a planned 6bn fund a discount of 5% off its fees - Click here to read more

Nouriel Roubini: The US consumer will drag us back into recession

Influential market commentator Nouriel Roubini (pictured) believes the US has run out of bullets in its efforts to stimulate its economy and predicts that the US consumer will drag the global economy back into recession - Click here to read more

Ask Citywire: ask us a question about money and we will get you an answer

Got a question about personal finance or investment Post it in our forums and we will help you get an answer - Click here to read more

Fund of the Week: Old Mutual Global Strategic Bond

The Old Mutual Global Strategic Bond fund run by Stewart Cowley is one of our star picks in Citywire Selection which is based on our independent analysis Senior investment analyst Frank Talbot explains why - Click here to read more

Wednesday Papers: HP sues to block Hurd?s move to Oracle - other news

HP said it had gone to court to protect important information - Click here to read more

Wednesday Papers: Vodafone sells China Mobile stake for £4.3bn - bid news and gossip

The UK mobile phone group said that 70% of the proceeds from the sale would be returned to shareholders - Click here to read more

IFA sentenced to five-and-a-half years in jail for mortgage fraud

IFA Mark Campbell was handed the jail sentence after Birmingham Crown Court heard how he helped Michael Browne from Coventry acquire loans overstating his income in mortgage applications - Click here to read more

Stansted airport to central London in 35 mins? National Express ad banned

A National Express advert claiming trains from Stansted aiport to London take 35 minutes has been banned for misleading passengers - Click here to read more

BP to accept it shares part of the blame for Gulf of Mexico disaster

A BP report is expected to show staff on the Deepwater Horizon rig missed warning signs ahead of the explosion that killed eleven staff - Click here to read more

Bank fears and mining tax hold FTSE down

Stress test doubts hurt banks while Australian mining tax threat continues to affect miners - Click here to read more

China the global favourite for outside investors

Further proof of the rising dominance of the BRIC economies came this week in a survey from the UN which tipped India and Brazil to overtake the US in foreign direct investment flows by 2012 while China was top of the list - Click here to read more

Economic growth slowing but remains 'robust', says think tank

UK growth was 07% in the three months ending in August down from 13% in the three months ending in July according to estimates from NIESR - Click here to read more

European debt worries re-emerge as Ireland extends guarantees

Fears that the high levels of debt in peripheral European countries could cause yet another shock in the markets have re-emerged - Click here to read more

FSA planning to slap £20 million fine on Goldmans

The FSA is expected to announce that it is fining Goldman Sachs £20 million for the way it sold mortgage-backed securities in the UK in the period leading up to the credit crunch - Click here to read more

Dawn Chorus: US equities gain as European concerns ease

A successful Portuguese debt offering and news that Anglo Irish Bank would wind down assets boost markets - Click here to read more

Thursday Papers: Goldman faces £20m fine from UK regulator - other news

Near-record penalty follows a five-month investigation into the investment banks international business - Click here to read more

Thursday Papers: Foster?s rejects A$2.7bn bid for wine assets - bid news and gossip

And Sinochem has asked Temasek to join a consortium that would bid for all or part of Potash Corporation of Canada - Click here to read more

Bank of England holds interest rates at 0.5%

The Bank of Englands rate setting committee has voted to keep interest rates at their record low of 05% for an 18th consecutive month - Click here to read more

Fidelity: The best places to go for UK income stocks

Dividend cuts are so last year - stocks beat gilts and corporate bonds for income seekers explains fund manager Michael Clark - Click here to read more

Five properties raided in £65m 'boiler room' fraud

Around 40 police officers and investigators swooped on the residences in pursuit of information linked to an international mis-marketing of shares scandal - Click here to read more

Osborne names Chote as new budget watchdog head

Highly regarded economist Robert Chote has agreed to replace Sir Alan Budd as the head of the Office for Budget Responsibility - Click here to read more

FTSE rises despite disappointing economic data

Gains from mining and bank shares more than offset worrying economic data sending FTSE up nearly 1%  - Click here to read more

FSA slaps £17.5 million fine on Goldmans

(Update) The FSA has fined Goldman Sachs £175 million for breach of FSA principles - Click here to read more

Junior oil shares: risky, but the returns can be enormous

Experienced investor David Kempton explains what junior oil companies he is investing in and why There are dangers but careful assessment and following a few obvious rules can mitigate much of the risk he says  - Click here to read more

Friday Papers: Deutsche lines up pre-Basel rights issue - other news

And AIA has struck a distribution deal with Industrial and Commercial Bank of China - Click here to read more

HSBC's Turner says double-dip risk overplayed

The prospect of a double-dip recession has been overplayed according to HSBC chief economist Dennis Turner speaking at the New Model Adviser retreat in Brighton - Click here to read more

Shareholders, don't ignore what government bonds are telling us

The equity market and the government bond market seem to be giving investors mixed messages but you can use the bond markets to decide where to put your cash - Click here to read more

FTSE meanders, waiting for new direction

Investors are sticking to the sidelines waiting for more clear signals about where the market will head next - Click here to read more

Double-dip recession risk overplayed, HSBC chief economist says

The prospect of a double-dip recession has been overplayed according to HSBC chief economist Dennis Turner - Click here to read more

Morning Line: Is it the end of retirement as we know it?

Is retirement as we know it really over Are people that poverty stricken that they cant afford to stop working A raft of surveys suggests this is the case - Click here to read more

OECD says UK growth will slow but will top G7 league

The Organisation of Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) has said that the UK will be the best performing G7 nation in the second half of 2010 despite a slowing rate of growth - Click here to read more

Dawn Chorus: Positive economic data boosts Wall Street

The Dow Jones gained 03% SandP advanced 05% and Nasdaq closed 03% higher in response to stronger-than-expected jobs and trade data - Click here to read more

'Unusually' high number of private investors held Connaught

Private investors piled-in institutional investors fled and short-sellers stood on the sidelines The demise of Connaught was the catalyst to unusual investor activity - Click here to read more

Nearly one million people fall victim of landlord scams

Housing charity Shelter warns tenants to watch out for these five common scams   - Click here to read more

Higher or lower: Where will the FTSE end the year?

While the newsflow has been mixed and there have been some sharp moves the FTSE is still where it started the year Will that continue in the months ahead - Click here to read more

Savings options for income-hungry over-50s

Those suffering most from miserable savings rates are those saving for retirement the elderly who depend on interest from cash on deposit to supplement income But what are their options - Click here to read more

Saturday Papers: US stocks gain on strong wholesale inventories data - other news

And Chinas trade surplus dropped in August from $287bn in July to $2003bn - Click here to read more

Saturday Papers: Santander wins Polish bank stake auction - bid news and gossip

The spanish bank will pay £246bn for a 70% stake in Bank Zachodni WBK - Click here to read more

Public sector pensions: unfunded or not, it?s their money

The pensions promised so far to public sector employees like nurses teachers and the police force are no different to the pay that was put into their bank accounts for the work that they did in the past It is their money - Click here to read more

Annuities: you only have one chance, so get it right

Once you have bought your annuity - which provides an income from your retirement savings - thats it You cannot swap it for something with a better rate as you can do with a savings account So shop wisely - Click here to read more

Sunday Papers: Diamond says casino critics have 'no basis in reality' - other news

And ITV is hoping to sign Simon Cowell star judge of The X Factor and Britains Got Talent to a new three-year deal - Click here to read more

Sunday Papers: Mellon considers bid for Jimmy Choo - bid news and gossip

Some sovereign wealth funds pension funds and private individuals approach Tamara Mellon to back her in the £500m bid - Click here to read more

How to pay for home repairs

Mortgage money is tight and lenders are reluctant to make advances for non-essentials  But one area where most lenders are amenable to requests for further borrowing is if you need to spend money on repairs to your property  - Click here to read more

The smart investor must take a sober approach to M&A

Are the synergies created by mergers and acquisitions the gold at the end of the investment rainbow - Click here to read more

Mortgage options improve for first time buyers

With the housing market in the doldrums there is more competition in the mortgage market and first time buyers are the main beneficiaries  - Click here to read more

How to avoid a shortfall on your mortgage

If your mortgage lender makes a mistake and charges you too little for your monthly repayments be aware that even though the error is not your fault you will still have to pay the outstanding balance back - Click here to read more

Standard Life plans to target consumers directly

David Nish chief executive of Standard Life has said the Edinburgh-based pension and investment group wants to increase its direct contact with customers - Click here to read more

Monday Papers: Basel sets banks new capital rules - other news

The deal sets a new key capital ratio of 45% plus a new buffer of a further 25% - Click here to read more

Monday Papers: HP close to $1.5bn deal for ArcSight - bid news and gossip

And BAE is selling parts of its US commercial aerospace businesses - Click here to read more

Dawn Chorus: Basel III deal and encouraging economic data boost Asian stocks

Nikkei 225 Stock Average surged 13% Shanghai Composite Index gained 02% and The MSCI Asia Pacific Index rose 09% in response to heartening figures out of China and the US - Click here to read more

James Glass: ARCH offers rapid discount narrowing opportunities

ARC Capital Holdings (ARCH) is an AIM-traded private equity vehicle with a portfolio of retail and consumer businesses that provide exposure to domestic growth in China - Click here to read more

Five ways that airlines and airports love to rip us off

Airports and airlines are constantly coming up with new and innovative ways to overcharge and rip off their passengers today check-in charges tomorrow toilet charges Here are five of their favourites to watch out for - Click here to read more

Morning Line: why the unions should agree to public sector pay cuts

The trade unions should avoid confrontation with the government and accept that some well-paid public sector workers should have their pay cut as has happened in the private sector - Click here to read more

Emerging markets: no longer a niche as Asian consumers 'buy local'

Asian consumers are increasingly buying local brands a trend that affects the way investors allocate their money between the UK and emerging markets says Jan de Bruijn head of Asian equities at Gartmore - Click here to read more

Banks and miners lift FTSE to four-month high

Impressive Chinese industrial production figures provide further cheer for investors on top of the Basel banking settlement - Click here to read more

Unions threaten co-ordinated strikes over spending cuts

Trade unions will meet today to discuss plans to co-ordinate widespread industrial action in response to the proposed public sector spending cuts - Click here to read more

Banks buoyed by Basel deal on reserves

Banking shares advance as regulators confirm the new levels of reserves that banks will have to maintain in order to help prevent another financial crisis - Click here to read more

Unions vote yes for co-ordinated strikes over spending cuts

(Update) Union representatives have voted in favour of joint industrial action if the government goes ahead with plans to slash public sector spending - Click here to read more

Lorna Bourke: my top 10 tips for saving for your retirement

People need to rethink their long-term plans for retirement even if you are still in your twenties or thirties - Click here to read more

Look for discount bargains in less liquid assets

Where can we now accept discount risk and expect to earn an enhanced return in payment - Click here to read more

Citywire Selection: an introduction to our favourite investment trusts

They are unloved compared to other funds yet investment trusts have a strong showing in Citywire Selection our guide to the best investment ideas - Click here to read more

Q&A: How do the new banking rules on capital affect you?

The UK banks seem able to pass the new regulatory hurdles with ease but does that mean they will begin paying dividends again and what do the new rules mean for lending  - Click here to read more

Dawn Chorus: Wall Street surges on Basel III deal and positive Chinese data

The SandP 500 climbed 11% breaking through its 200-day moving average for the first time since early August - Click here to read more

Tuesday Papers: BofA searches for assets to sell - bid news and gossip

And Sir Stuart Rose is to join private equity group Bridgepoint as an adviser - Click here to read more

Tuesday Papers: Brussels lifts eurozone's growth forecast - other news

GDP in the currency bloc would grow at 17% in 2010 the European Commission said - Click here to read more

Inflation remains at 3.1%

Higher air fares and rising clothing and food costs meant prices rose 31% again in the year to August adding to worries that too little is being done to rein in inflation  - Click here to read more

Inflation remains at 3.1%

Higher air fares and rising clothing and food costs meant prices rose 31% again in the year to August adding to worries that too little is being done to rein in inflation  - Click here to read more

Investors hit out at N&P over Keydata advice

Investors have hit out at Norwich and Peterborough Building Society over its advice to invest in Keydata after the collapse of the structured product provider threw their retirement plans into disarray - Click here to read more

The charts that show N&P's Keydata advice failings

Norwich and Peterborough chief executive Matthew Bullock has admitted the building society could face a £50 million fine for its advice on Keydata policies and the charts here  the result of a survey by law firm Regulatory Legal show just why he might be worried - Click here to read more

N&P failed to explain Keydata risks in nine out of 10 cases

Data obtained by law firm Regulatory Legal has shown how Norwich and Peterborough Building Society (NandP) failed to explain to clients the risks associated with investing in Keydata policies in nine out of 10 cases - Click here to read more

Can inflation be reined in without a rate rise?

Inflation was more than 1% above target again in August but can it fall - as the Bank of England has said - without an interest rate increase Economists believe it can - Click here to read more

Dawn Chorus: US stocks close flat as financials offset retail gains

The Dow Jones slipped 02% the SandP fell 007% and Nasdaq gained 02% even though better than expected retail sales and business inventories data fed optimism about economic recovery - Click here to read more

Wednesday Papers: Credit Suisse unit in York Capital move - bid news and gossip

The asset management arm of the Swiss bank is paying $425m for a minority stake in the hedge fund firm - Click here to read more

Morning Line: Benefit cuts are only half the story

Cuts in benefits must be complemented by raising the starting point for paying income tax if the long term unemployed are to be incentivised to return to work - Click here to read more

Greece has made a 'strong start' cutting its debt, says IMF

International Monetary Fund says Greece has made good progress implementing reforms but warns the government that risks remain  - Click here to read more

Second hand car complaints soar 18%

The Office of Fair trading is urging consumers to ensure they know their rights and carry out a simple list of checks before they buy - Click here to read more

Gold price surges to new record high

Investors continue to pile into the safe haven precious metal while central bank buying is also squeezing supply - Click here to read more

?We let it slip?, but you must accept reforms, Mervyn King tells unions

Union members and businesses are right to be angry at the financial sector for causing the problems that led to the downturn Bank of England governor Mervyn King told the annual Trades Union Congress conference today  - Click here to read more

Q&A Tax chaos: What happened and what you need to do next

(Update) People who have underpaid tax by more than £2000 and need time to repay what they owe will not be charged interest HMRC announced today - Click here to read more

Cap on crude price won't sink oil shares

The unofficial current cap on the oil price will not prevent sold-off oil stocks climbing from current levels a range of analysts and investors have said - Click here to read more

FTSE flat as job figures disappoint

Gold oil and drugs dominate FTSE 100 fallers as official figures show the number of job seekers up for the first time since January - Click here to read more

Unemployment data shows jobs recovery is coming to an end

Employment was still rising in the three months to July but a surprise rise in the number of people claiming unemployment benefit in August suggests unemployment is already on the rise again   - Click here to read more

Two years on from Lehman, structured product pain continues

Two years on from the collapse of Lehman Brothers investors in structured products backed by the bank have enlisted the support of MPs as they continue to battle for compensation - Click here to read more

House price downturn? It's all the same to Rightmove

Neither the credit crunch nor the rocky and uncertain property market has done anything to quell the need to both speculate to accumulate and to stay abreast of a changing digital world writes Linton Chiswick - Click here to read more

Investment trusts: what you need to know

Heard about investment trusts but never invested in one Our guide helps you to find and interpret the relevant data before taking the plunge - Click here to read more

Which banks have fared best since the collapse of Lehman Brothers?

Two years on from the collapse of Lehmans it seems all is well for those UK banks that survived the crisis but shareholders have shared very mixed fortunes  - Click here to read more

Surprise fall in retail sales knocks pound

UK retail sales showed a 05% fall in August compared to July the first fall in sales since January - Click here to read more

Dawn Chorus: Wall Street inches higher despite weak manufacturing data

Healthcare and consumer staples boost equities as investors shrug off disappointing figures from the New York region - Click here to read more

Thursday Papers: Greece rules out possibility of default - other news

Greeces finance minister strongly rejected the idea that Athens will be forced to restructure its debts - Click here to read more

Binmen threaten strike action over pay and job cuts

GMB union members employed by private contractor Veolia will be balloted for strike action if talks to avert pay and jobs cuts are unsuccessful - Click here to read more

Natwest accused of mis-selling packaged current account

A Natwest customer has accused the bank of mis-selling after his mobile phone insurance would not cover the loss of his £460 iPhone and his travel insurance did not provide the level of protection promised by the salesman  - Click here to read more

Dawn Chorus: Mixed economic data keeps Wall Street in tight range

While initial jobless claims fell last week the Philadelphia Feds manufacturing index remained in the negative weighing on US stocks - Click here to read more

Friday Papers: US turns up heat over renminbi - other news

Geithner encourages the US Congress to pile pressure on China to force it to allow its currency to rise - Click here to read more

Friday Papers: BC in talks to buy back Foxtons debt - bid news and gossip

The move marks an extraordinary reversal after the private equity firm lost control of the estate agency last year - Click here to read more

New gold highs help to lift FTSE back above 5,600

Miners and technology shares lead the FTSE 100 back towards its highest level since the end of April - Click here to read more

Q&A: Why do the world's governments want weaker currencies?

The Bank of Japan has taken action to drag the yen lower and the US is trying to persuade China to push the dollar down Why - Click here to read more

What to do when you can't afford the mortgage

An answer to the question posted by reader Brian Roberts on Ask Citywire - Click here to read more

Homebuyers' confidence drops - but what should you do?

People may believe now is not a good time to purchase or move up the housing ladder but things are only likely to get worse - Click here to read more

Stocks retreat as US deflation fears grow

Shares turned lower in mid-afternoon deals as US data sparked new fears deflation could take hold across the Atlantic while growing fears about the level of Irish government debt also re-emerged - Click here to read more

Fund of the Week: AXA Framlington UK Select Opportunities

Our pick for this week looks at a fund run by one of the most experienced and successful UK fund managers Nigel Thomas - Click here to read more

Saturday Papers: US private equity groups eye stake in Hero Honda - bid news and gossip

TPG Capital and Carlyle express interest in the worlds largest motorcycles maker as Indias Hero and Japans Honda seek to end their joint venture - Click here to read more

Lorna Bourke: my top 10 tips for buy-to-let investors

Having been a landlord myself for more than 20 years the first thing you need to understand is that the property market is not homogenous and average prices mean very little  - Click here to read more

How Mr Average earned much more than his neighbour

Steve Bee recounts a story that is happening up and down the country one that should bring cheer to embattled pension savers - Click here to read more

Could US policy force the Bank of England to print more pounds?

If the US decides to do more to stimulate its economy it will put extra pressure on the Bank of England to do the same here - Click here to read more

The spending axe is about to fall - so save while you can

Everyone is waiting for chancellor George Osbornes autumn statement to see just where the spending cuts will fall This uncertainty is prompting people to save Lorna Bourke analyses the best homes for your money - Click here to read more

Sunday Papers: New fears over break-up of UK's banks - other news

The Independent Banking Commission will reveal this week that its investigation will also look at the lack of competition in the retail sector - Click here to read more

Government bonds: how safe is a bubble?

It seems that commentators can agree on only one thing at the moment: nobody has the faintest idea whether the stock market will be up down or at the same level in 12 months time - Click here to read more

Dawn Chorus: US consumer confidence decline weighs on Asian markets

Most equities inch lower after the Thomson ReutersUniversity of Michigan preliminary September index of consumer confidence dropped to one-year low - Click here to read more

Monday Papers: BP oil spill well effectively dead, says US - other news

And Walmart is gearing up for a move into small convenience stores in urban markets - Click here to read more

Monday Papers: Emerging markets M&A outstrips Europe - bid news and gossip

Dealogic data shows emerging market targeted MandA volume is up by more two-thirds to $5757bn   - Click here to read more

Ask Citywire: got any more questions for us?

The last round of reader questions have now been answered and we are looking for more of your personal finance and investment queries - Click here to read more

Burn your credit cards or Scrooge at the bank will snaffle your cash

A Bank of England report has confirmed that banks are raking in profits by hiking up the interest rates on credit cards and personal loans - Click here to read more

Investors pump up the volume on Weir Group shares

Pump and valves manufacturer Weir Group is in the spotlight following its promotion into the FTSE 100 Smart investors believe it is a company that will rise further - Click here to read more

FSA selects Lemos to chair new consumer education body

The Financial Services Authority has appointed Gerard Lemos head of a social research company Lemos and Crane to chair the recently-launched Consumer Financial Education Body - Click here to read more

Roger Bootle: It's all about momentum now

The question of whether or not the UK falls back into a double dip is irrelevant the critical factor is whether the economy can sustain any form of growth momentum says leading economist Roger Bootle - Click here to read more

What are exchange traded funds (ETFs)?

To accompany our special report on exchanged traded funds (ETFs) here is an explanation of how these popular low-cost but complex investments work - Click here to read more

Overnight Markets: Wall Street surges on deal activity

Equities climbed sending the Standard and Poors 500 Index up to a four-month high after IBM agreed to buy Netezza for $17bn and Lennar earnings top forecasts - Click here to read more

Tuesday Papers: BayernLB and WestLB in merger talks - tips, comment and bids

And BHP Billiton extends bid for Potash Corporation to secure regulatory approvals from Canadas competition watchdog - Click here to read more

Tuesday Papers: FSB turns spotlight on mortgage markets - other news

The worldwide review of residential mortgage underwriting and origination standards will address one of the main causes of the financial crisis - Click here to read more

Citywire Selection: our pick of the best sixteen exchange traded funds (ETFs)

Exchange traded funds (ETFs) are a popular low-cost way of investing in the stockmarket In a special report we reveal our favourite 16 ETFs covering a wide range of areas such as commodities and emerging markets - Click here to read more

Bull or bear? Value investors don't care

The short-term direction of the stock market is not important if you adhere to the sensible tenets of value investing - Click here to read more

Cable warns of 'train crash' over bank bonuses

Business secretary Vince Cable has warned that bankers would be heading for a train crash if they award themselves large bonuses as spending cuts take their toll according to reports - Click here to read more

Lib Dem minister proposes higher state pension to boost saving

Pensions minister Steve Webb has said the basic state pension needs to be increased from £97 to £135 a week as part of measures to encourage saving - Click here to read more

Ask Citywire: why is the pound still weak against the euro?

Parts of Europe are in pretty poor shape yet the pound is struggling against the single currency We investigate why - Click here to read more

Compensation limit for savers to increase in the new year

The Financial Services Compensation Scheme has announced that the protection limit for savers will increase from £50000 to the sterling equivalent of 100000 in January   - Click here to read more

FTSE falls 1% as US hints at further intervention

Economic fears hit the banks and commodities but gold miners benefit and soften FTSE fall   - Click here to read more

US poised to pump more money into the economy

US rate-setters have given their clearest signal yet that they are ready to print more money if the US economic recovery continues to lose pace - Click here to read more

Morning Line: taxation must be fair for all

Taxation must be fair so yes I do believe more cleaners and gardeners should be brought into the tax net BUT so should businesses be required to pay more - Click here to read more

Overnight Markets: Fed stance weighs on US stocks

The Standard and Poors 500 retreats from a four-month high after the Fed inched closer to further steps to spur the economy but did not announce further quantitative easing - Click here to read more

Two 'Dr Dooms' clash over Japan's prospects

Nouriel Roubini and Dr Marc Faber are both widely known in investment circles as Dr Doom for their generally pessimistic views on markets But on Japan they disagree - Click here to read more

Economist warns of US and China trade war

Economist Roger Bootle has warned that the trade gap between the US and China could spark a dispute between the two countries - Click here to read more

Car and household insurers rip us off like banks

A new report from Which reveals how some insurers are imposing extortionate administrative charges on car and home insurance policies - Click here to read more

Lorna Bourke: sticking to my guns on taxation

Taxation must be fair to all so yes as I wrote on Monday I do believe more cleaners and gardeners should be brought into the tax net BUT I also believe businesses should be required to pay more - Click here to read more

Watchdog fines IFAs for bad advice on Lehmans-linked investments

The Financial Services Authority (FSA) has fined two independent financial advisory (IFA) firms for the way they advised clients to invest in plans backed by Lehman Brothers the US bank that went bankrupt two years ago  - Click here to read more

Cable attacks banking 'spivs and gamblers' for crippling economy

Business secretary Vince Cable has attacked banking spivs and gamblers and accused the previous Labour government of combining the financial lunacies of Ireland and Iceland in its running of the UK economy - Click here to read more

Employers push government to bring forward pensions deadline

The government may bring forward the date at which it wants to start the automatic enrolment of workers into its planned National Employee Savings Trust (Nest) according to a pensions expert - Click here to read more

Call for financial education to be put on national curriculum

Financial education needs to be put on the national curriculum if the next generation are to become competent consumers with well-managed finances according to financial advice charity the Money Advice Trust (MAT) - Click here to read more

Thursday Papers: HSBC eyes Flint as compromise chairman - other news

And the Obama administration is set to lower its estimate of the cost of the troubled asset relief programme - Click here to read more

Overnight Markets: Wall Street edges lower on tech and banking profit outlook

The Dow Jones ends five-day winning streak after Adobe unveiled lower-than-estimated fourth-quarter revenue outlook and Deutsche Bank cut earnings estimate for Morgan Stanley and Goldman Sachs - Click here to read more

Struggling borrowers offered 'fairer' alternative to loan sharks

A new scheme to help financially excluded people avoid resorting to expensive pay day loans and illegal loan sharks is today being launched by the government - Click here to read more

Iberia/BA merger passes last major hurdle

Iberia has chosen not to exercise a get-out clause on its merger with British Airways it possessed if it felt the national carrier did not have an effective plan to tackle its pension deficit - Click here to read more

Lib Dem hedge fund donor Marshall warns Cable against attacks

Paul Marshall a founder of Marshall Wace Asset Management and one of the LIberal Democrats biggest donors has warned business secretary Vince Cable against further attacks on the City - Click here to read more

Bid Watch: Imperial Tobacco under pressure but tipped as target

As merger and acquisitions activity continues to pick up across global markets a new Citywire series looks at some of the stocks that could find themselves subject to a bid approach - Click here to read more

Emerging markets guru targets Nigeria and Palestine for future returns

Mark Mobius the veteran emerging markets fund manager at Franklin Templeton is turning his attention to Nigeria and Palestine in his quest for new investment opportunities - Click here to read more

Council tax revaluation plans cancelled by coalition

The government today pledged there will be no council tax revaluation in England for at least five years and peoples privacy will be better protected from snooping council tax inspectors - Click here to read more

Miners drag FTSE towards fourth day of losses

UBS has downgraded four miners saying new rules from governments around the world could limit the upside for the sector - Click here to read more

Emerging markets a safer place for your money now

Emerging markets have traditionally seemed like a risky home for your cash but the crisis has proven that no longer holds true say Barclays Capital - Click here to read more

London tube staff to strike again next week

Underground staff will begin the second in a series of 24 hour strikes on Sunday 3 October in an ongoing dispute over plans to axe 800 jobs and close a number of ticket-offices - Click here to read more

Overnight Markets: US stocks end lower on dreary jobs data

The SandP 500 falls below key 1130 level in response to a worsening profit outlook for banks and an unexpected increase in initial jobless claims - Click here to read more

Friday Papers: Geoghegan set to quit HSBC by year-end - other news

And Deutsche Bank warned of risks to the economy if banks compete in a race to the top to exceed new global capital standards - Click here to read more

Friday Papers: Hyundai E&C set for bidding war - tips, comment and bids

And Ally Bank is expected to sell its resort finance business to Centerbridge Partners - Click here to read more

Want a decent credit card? They're all 'exclusives' now

Like mortgages good credit card deals are becoming more difficult to obtain - Click here to read more

Will the banking commission build banks we can trust?

All the efforts to reform British banking following the financial crisis are missing a crucial issue: how do we make our high street institutions trustworthy sources of financial advice How do we instil ethical behaviour in our bank branches - Click here to read more

A fresh threat for embattled landlords

For a group so often castigated for an easy time a life of property-owning privilege mortgages paid by societys less fortunate landlords are very badly sheltered from market conditions - Click here to read more

Saturday Papers: US stocks surge on latest data - other news

The SandP 500 index on track for its best month in a decade with 22% advance - Click here to read more

Fund of the Week: Aberdeen Asia Pacific & Japan

- Click here to read more

The best mortgage options for first time buyers

Lower house prices are a good thing if you are a first time buyer although a drop in equity for existing homeowners will make it harder for parents to find the £20000 deposit they are expecting to lend or give their children - Click here to read more

Tax proposals: unfair, unworkable and electoral suicide

The taxman has come under criticism recently for its judge jury and executioner role in relation to tax collection But new proposals could make things even worse - Click here to read more

Savers get a bigger safety net - but rates remain dire

Fewer savers will have to break up their money into £50000 tranches in order to ensure that they are eligible for full compensation But that is the end of the good news  - Click here to read more

Bullish Buxton: 'FTSE to gain 20% in 2011'

Citywire A-rated fund manager Richard Buxton thinks equity markets and US and UK corporates are already pricing in a harsh double dip recession - Click here to read more

When poor health can help boost your pension income

Many of those people retiring might have relevant health conditions that qualify them for an enhanced or impaired life annuity - and it pays to shop around for the best deal - Click here to read more

Steve Bee: Another autumn, another pensions onslaught

Get set for change to your pension because autumn is the time when it will happen - Click here to read more

Sunday Papers: HSBC's Geoghegan in line for £36m package - other news

And David Ross co-founder of Carphone Warehouse is on the brink of breaking-up his retail property empire - Click here to read more

Q&A: Keynes or Hayek - did the crisis prove either heavyweight right?

The debate over whether governments should spend us out of recession or let market forces deal with the mess is hotting up again Which of the founding fathers of modern economics was right - Click here to read more

Where next for Gartmore Growth following Williams departure?

The trust is hanging on with £50 million in assets: the board sure ensure that the smaller companies sector does not lose another good fund - Click here to read more

Overnight Markets: Asian equities buoyant on positive US capital goods data

Surge in capital-goods orders bolstered hope exports to the worlds largest economy will increase - Click here to read more

Monday Papers: US Treasury stumbles selling Citi shares - other news

Washington is in danger of missing its deadline of divesting all of its Citigroup shares by the year-end - Click here to read more

Monday Papers: JPMorgan in talks for RBS power trading book - tips, comment and bids

And Bright Food the Chinese food group is in exclusive talks to buy United Biscuits - Click here to read more

Banking sector grows at fastest pace since before credit crunch

The UKs financial services sector has grown at its fastest pace since before the credit crunch with profitability improving for the fifth quarter in a row - Click here to read more

FTSE driven by corporate news as optimism fades

Analyst recommendations and a bid for a hair care company were the key events driving prices on FTSE 100 this morning after UK investors failed to build on the high-hopes generated by US data on Friday - Click here to read more

HSBC: Thornton to step down, Geoghegan to pocket £36m

HSBC non-executive director John Thornton is to step down from the board within six months after being overlooked for the position of chairman last week - Click here to read more

Milibands to go head-to-head over deficit

Leader of the Labour party Ed Miliband has offered his brother David the role of shadow chancellor raising concerns that a rift will emerge over how to tackle the deficit - Click here to read more

How to bet against government bonds

If the government bond bubble is about to burst how can investors cash in - Click here to read more

Morning Line: Until tax allowances rise, pensions can wait

If the government is serious about wanting everybody to save for their retirement then the sooner it moves to increase tax-free personal allowances to the £10000 promised in the Coalition manifesto the better - Click here to read more

Coalition spending cuts endorsed by International Monetary Fund

The IMF has praised the UK coalition governments appropriately ambitious deficit cutting plan and says the UK economy is on the mend - Click here to read more

The stocks and trusts with the longest unbroken dividend record

The former are thin on the ground the latter put the wider corporate sector to shame - Click here to read more

FTSE falls ahead of GDP figures

The FTSE 100 was down 1% this morning with no companies showing gains and confounding forecasts that the index would sit tight until UK GDP figures are released at 930am - Click here to read more

Debt management companies mislead consumers over fees

The Office of Fair Trading has warned 129 debt management companies they risk being shut down in an attempt to crack down on poor standards across the industry - Click here to read more

Tuesday Papers: RBS cuts further 500 support workers - other news

And United Parcel Service is moving ahead with plans to establish a domestic service in China - Click here to read more

Tuesday Papers: Unilever to buy Alberto Culver for $3.7bn - tips, comment and bids

And Southwest Airlines is to acquire rival AirTran the Florida-based low-cost airline for $14 billion - Click here to read more

Overnight Markets: Rush of deals fail to prop up Wall Street

The Standard and Poors 500 Index pared the biggest September gain in 71 years amid increasing European debt concerns - Click here to read more

UK economic growth unrevised at 1.2%

The latest figures show a drop in the level at which households are saving ahead of government cuts - Click here to read more

Gold surges through the $1,300 barrier

The precious metal continues to hit new highs as investors continue to be drawn to its safe haven status - Click here to read more

Local councils charge taxpayers extra for paying by credit card

Hidden credit card fees can increase the cost of paying by credit card by up to 200% consumer group Which has warned - Click here to read more

Bank of England's attitude to savers: Let them eat cake

Charlie Beans remarks that savers should not expect to subsidise their pensions with the interest from their savings is about as insensitive as Marie Antoinettes let them eat cake writes Lorna Bourke - Click here to read more

Bean speaks and savings levels fall

(Update) A day after Charlie Bean number two at the Bank of England controversially suggests savers should live off their capital new figures show a drop in the level at which households are saving - Click here to read more

Continued bond fund sales add to bubble fears

Investors continue to pour money into bond funds despite the growing concerns of a potential bubble forming in the asset class - Click here to read more

The world?s 10 biggest insurance claims

From terrorist attacks to flu pandemics and floods here are the 10 most expensive disasters to hit insurance companies around the world in the past decade according to Zurich North America The list is chronological and based on the number of lives lost overall business impact and the geographic scope and duration of the crises - Click here to read more

Overnight Markets: Wall Street inches higher on Walgreen earnings report

Gains in consumer-staples and health companies offset decline in the Conference Boards consumer confidence index - Click here to read more

Wednesday Papers: Posen calls for QE to be resumed - other news

MPC member calls for action now to avoid Japan-style deflation - Click here to read more

Wednesday Papers: Genzyme chief signals departure - tips, comment and bids

Henri Termeer could step down next summer and ease a takeover of the biotechnology business by Sanofi-Aventis - Click here to read more

Morning Line: Ed Miliband - hey punk, you are red

The new (but not New) Labour leader showed off his socialist credentials yesterday but can he get it right on the economy   - Click here to read more

Labour MP warns of cut to ISA allowance

Labour MP Andy Love has warned the government may cut the ISA annual allowance in the October comprehensive spending review  - Click here to read more

David Miliband quits front-line politics

David Miliband will not form the Shadow Labour Cabinet with his brother Ed - Click here to read more

Rush to cut defence spending and we all suffer

Who ever heard of reducing military spending in the middle of a war Defence secretary Liam Fox faces a battle of his own to prevent rapid and damaging cuts - Click here to read more

Corporate bond inflows soar in record month for funds

Investors continue to back fixed income helping push retail fund inflows to a new record high for the month - Click here to read more

The correct attitude for a smart investor

Is a pessimistic outlook more helpful to the smart investor than an optimistic one Is defence the best form of attack - Click here to read more

Lloyds, Barclays and Santander named most complained about banks

In an attempt to make banks deal with customer complaints more fairly and promptly the Financial Services Authority has today proposed changes to its complaints handling rules - Click here to read more

Anglo Irish bailout to cost Ireland up to £29 billion

Irish Finance minister Brian Lenihan reportedly warned that the Anglo Irish failure alone could bring down the country - Click here to read more

Dudley says BP can resume dividends in Q1 2011

As he assumes control of the oil giant Bob Dudley says dividends are likely to resume in the first quarter of 2011 - Click here to read more

Why 'helicopter drops' of money into the economy wouldn't work

If the banks wont lend should we simply create a new banking system to more directly release freshly minted money to businesses This is not the solution some claim it to be - Click here to read more

Andrew Tyrie MP: the man scrutinising regulation of banks

Arguably the most powerful backbencher in the House of Commons Conservative MP Andrew Tyrie is a fiercely independent figure - Click here to read more

FTSE steady despite growing European economic fears

Ireland put a £29 billion price tag on its bailout while Spain was downgraded by Moodys credit agency - Click here to read more

Bond funds selling faster than tech during bubble

The sales of corporate bond funds are now running at higher levels than those seen into equity funds in the months leading up to the TMT crash - Click here to read more

House prices show 'marginal' rise, but uncertainty ahead

House prices showed a marginal rise of 01% in September Nationwide reported today as it indicated uncertainty about the future direction of house prices - Click here to read more

Overnight Markets: Wall Street retreats despite positive earnings forecasts

With no big US economic data releases yesterday equities declined despite better-than-expected outlooks from Hewlett-Packard and Fedex amid concern that Europes debt crisis will deteriorate - Click here to read more

Thursday Papers: Goldman warns Europe on regulation - other news

Blankfein said the bank could shift its operations around the world if regulatory crackdown on the industry becomes too tough - Click here to read more

Thursday Papers: Sinochem struggling to mount Potash bid - tips, comment and bids

The Chinese group is facing difficulty in finding partners to mount a counterbid for PotashCorp and derail BHP Billitons hostile takeover  - Click here to read more

Neptune launches US and UK income funds

Neptune has added to its income profile with the launch of two funds investing in the UK and US - Click here to read more

Are energy prices going to rise this winter?

And what should consumers be doing to help keep their gas and electricity costs down - Click here to read more

Friday Papers: Irish face bill of ?50bn for bank rescue - other news

And the US government has clinched a deal that could allow the Treasury to sell its huge stake in AIG at a profit - Click here to read more

Friday Papers: AIG to sell two Japanese units to US group - tips, comment and bids

The US insurer will offload the life assurance subsidiaries to Prudential Financial for $48 billion - Click here to read more

Overnight Markets: Wall Street slips after positive economic figures

US equities ended their best quarter in a year with the SandP registering its biggest monthly gain since April 2009 - Click here to read more

Savers expect rates to rise and Santander reckons it has the answer

Lorna Bourke reviews the best places for your savings - Click here to read more

Four reasons why the pound continues to falter

In comparison to both the US dollar and euro the pound is now widely considered a riskier investment John Freeme from foreign currency exchange specialists HiFX explains why  - Click here to read more

ISA sales hit record levels after allowance increase

The increase in ISA allowances a year ago has seen investors more than double the money they have poured into the tax shelters - Click here to read more

Buy-to-let investors boosted by improved mortgage competition

Investors have suffered from a constricted supply of cheap mortgage finance But new products are now coming onto the market - Click here to read more

Savers ignore Charlie Bean and use earnings to pay off debt

In spite of Charlie Beans exhortations to us to spend spend spend as a patriotic duty to keep the economy afloat luckily not many people are taking much notice of him - Click here to read more

Morning Line: is the minimum wage rise enough?

Or does the question long debated miss the point entirely; can the same minimum wage apply in London as it does in Cornwall - Click here to read more

Investors warm to IMI shares as 'early stage Weir'

The former West Midlands metal-basher has come a long way over the last decade but there is more upside yet say some shrewd investors - Click here to read more

These stocks look cheap: but do not buy them

We highlight stocks that look enticingly cheap but are likely to prove value traps for investors - Click here to read more

FTSE steady but manufacturing growth slows

Data shows manufacturing slowing which could prompt more speculation about quantitative easing - Click here to read more

Npower agrees to refund customers £70 million

Npower has promised to refund nearly two million customers an average of £35 each putting an end to a long running dispute over changes it made to its charges in 2007 - Click here to read more

Saturday Papers: Hedge fund shift costs UK £500m - other news

The departure of just two fund managers to Switzerland estimated to cost the Treasury more than £200 million - Click here to read more

The real culprits behind the rise in mortgage fraud

Fraud appears to be getting worse But in their hurry to define and banish fraud is the FSA removing the human factor from the mortgage business - Click here to read more

A 'Bonfire of the Benefits' should help older people too

Making it pay to work is obviously a great idea writes Steve Bee While were at it why dont we see if we can make it pay to save too - Click here to read more

Bean's call for savers to start spending raises a stink

Calls by the Bank of England deputy governor Charlie Bean for consumers to start spending have not gone down well - Click here to read more

Sunday Papers: Stiglitz fears European 'austerity wave' - other news

The economist also warned that the future of the euro is looking bleak - Click here to read more

UK banks will need fresh bailout, thinktank warns

Britains banks may need a fresh state bailout as their borrowing needs will more than double to £25 billion a month next year the New Economics Foundation has warned - Click here to read more

Osborne to lay out plans to get Britain's 'economy moving again'

Chancellor George Osborne will today defend his radical spending cuts - Click here to read more

Brazil ?will be safe? under Lula?s successor, says fund manager

The elections in Brazil should not concern investors as exiting president Lula de Silvas expected successor will continue his economic growth plans according to Invesco Perpetuals Dean Newman - Click here to read more

Energy bills to rise to pay for new pipes

Energy bills are set to rise £6 every year until 2020 to cover the £32 billion cost of re-wiring Britain the industry regulator announced today - Click here to read more

Osborne axes child benefit for higher rate taxpayers

Chancellor George Osborne will cut child benefit for higher rate taxpayers from 2013 - Click here to read more

Monday Papers: Osborne pledges to end City?s dominance - other news

Investment in high-speed rail green technologies and medical research to be spared from the £83 billion purge on public spending - Click here to read more

Monday Papers: Vimpelcom near $7bn telecoms merger - tips, comment and bids

And Premier Foods is in talks to sell its meat-free businesses including Quorn - Click here to read more

Overnight Markets: Commodities prices boost Asian stocks

Mining companies and Japanese exporters advanced after commodity prices rose and the yen weakened against the dollar - Click here to read more

UK banks may need fresh bailout, thinktank warns

Britains banks may need a fresh state bailout as their borrowing needs will more than double to £25 billion a month next year the New Economics Foundation has warned - Click here to read more

Leading fund managers reject double dip recession fears

Adrian Frost Mark Lyttleton Richard Buxton and Ryan Hughes all back the market to move forward over the next year - Click here to read more

Why public sector workers face big pension contribution rises

Public sector workers could face having to double their pension contributions as soon as next spring under proposals expected to be announced by Lord Hutton on Thursday - Click here to read more

Overnight Markets: Wall Street falls on Microsoft downgrade

The Dow Jones fell 07% the SandP declined 08% and the Nasdaq shed 11% after Goldman Sachs downgrades the Windows maker to neutral - Click here to read more

Tuesday Papers: Harbinger Capital to halve Inmarsat holding - tips, comment and bids

And Bank of America Merrill Lynch has sold loans it made to Foxtons estate agents to Haymarket Financial - Click here to read more

Tuesday Papers: Call for new?global currencies deal - other news

Brazil raises tax on foreign capital inflows to 4% in an escalation of currency war between the worlds leading economies - Click here to read more

Five ways to make money from the finer things in life

Thanks to the state of the economy alternative investments such as art antiques and fine wine have started to look all the more appealing in recent years And if you get it right not only can this type of investment help spread risk across your investment portfolio they could generate returns that outdo the stock markets according to Which Money - Click here to read more

Retirement Radio: The good news on pensions? Things are getting worse

The time is ripe for a radical overhaul of our pensions system but it wont happen until public anger boils over says this months guest Robin Ellison - Click here to read more

France's rogue trader fined £4 billion

Rogue trader Jerome Kerviel has been sentenced to three years in prison and ordered to repay £4 billion to his former employer - far and beyond the £4 million the bank has been fined  - Click here to read more

Morning Line: where is the growth going to come from George?

The big swinging cuts come easy to chancellor George Osborne but he is on less sure footing with how to grow the economy - Click here to read more

FTSE helped higher by fresh activity in UK's largest sector

A pick-up in activity in the services sector boosted the FTSE 100 and helped ease fears of a double dip recession - Click here to read more

Public sector workers will have to pay more for their pensions

Public sector workers face having to double their pension contributions as soon as next spring under proposals expected to be announced by Lord Hutton tomorrow - Click here to read more

Hands off our mortgages!

The Financial Services Authority risks worsening the mortgage drought with proposals that would prevent millions of people getting a home loan and a foot on the property ladder - Click here to read more

Overnight Markets: Wall Street soars on Japan?s new currency measures

The Dow Jones up 18% the SandP surged 21% and the Nasdaq climbed 24% - Click here to read more

Wednesday Papers: AIG has option to sell more than half of AIA - tips, comment and bids

And VTB has confirmed it is in talks to sell a 10% stake to a pool of investors - Click here to read more

Wednesday Papers: Kerviel given jail and fine in SocGen trial - other news

The rogue trader was sentenced to three years in prison and ordered to pay 49 billion in damages - Click here to read more

Absolute return funds: ten knockout facts

Been battered by the stockmarket Let Citywire Selection introduce you to the intriguing world of absolute return investing - Click here to read more

Fitch downgrades Ireland

Ratings agency Fitch downgrades Ireland as bank losses are revealed to be higher than expected - Click here to read more

Markets boosted by global economic stimulus hopes

Stock markets across the world were boosted by Japan central bank moves This increased the likelihood of quantitative easing in the US The volatile mining sector was the biggest gainer on the FTSE       - Click here to read more

Sainsbury shares falter as strong sales growth already priced in

Strong growth in sales is already in the price but now Sainsbury has to steel itself as government spending cuts take their toll - Click here to read more

Tax break for married couples could ease child benefit cuts

David Cameron has said sorry for not flagging up plans to cut child benefit payments for higher earners sooner and hinted a tax break for married couples may be introduced to help soften the blow - Click here to read more

Warren Buffett: I can't imagine anyone having bonds in their portfolio

The legendary investor has warned on the dangers of chasing the bond rally and launched a fresh attack on the casino culture on Wall Street - Click here to read more

Morning Line: Hands off our mortgages!

The Financial Services Authority risks worsening the mortgage drought with proposals that would prevent millions of people getting a home loan and a foot on the property ladder - Click here to read more

Tax and benefits reform: can the coalition succeed?

The coalition has a real problem to overcome if it is to reform the tax and benefits system and combine them into a streamlined one-stop shop The tax system is based on individuals with husbands and wives being taxed separately while the benefits system is based on families - Click here to read more

Overnight Markets: Wall Street rally falters on poor jobs data

ADP report showed private employers in the US shed 39000 jobs last month the first downturn in several months - Click here to read more

Thursday Papers: GE acquires Dresser for $3bn - tips, comment and bids

The deal came after GE confirmed it had made a $12 billion offer for Wellstream but had been rebuffed   - Click here to read more

Thursday Papers: Wen warns against renminbi pressure - other news

And New York Fed has suffered $180 million loss on Hilton debt restructuring - Click here to read more

Stephen Lansdown sells £58 million stake in Hargreaves Lansdown

Hargreaves Lansdown co-founder Stephen Lansdown has sold over £58 million worth of shares in the Bristol-based wealth manager - Click here to read more

Morning Line: Bank of England adds to the pensions chaos

The likely return of quantitative easing adds to the risks being borne by pension scheme members  - Click here to read more

FTSE hovers ahead of monetary policy decision

Economic data is set to dominate markets this morning with interest rate decisions as well as employment and manufacturing data from the UK Europe and the US   - Click here to read more

House prices drop most on record, down 3.6% in a month

Halifax says it is too soon to conclude that Septembers drop - the largest since 1983 - is the beginning of a sustained fall with third quarter figures showing a milder 09% drop from the second quarter of the year - Click here to read more

IMF warns UK house prices could fall again

International Monetary Fund researchers say the house price correction could last eight years in total - Click here to read more

Overnight Markets: US stocks decline despite fall in new jobless claims

The Dow Jones and the SandP both declined 02% in response to weak commodities and firmer dollar - Click here to read more

Friday Papers: Microsoft acquisition of Adobe mooted - tips, comment and bids

And JPMorgan Chase acquires RBS Sempra Commodities trading book for $220 million - Click here to read more

Friday Papers: Bank of England holds rates at 0.5% - other news

The monetary policy committee also voted to retain its quantitative easing programme to the £200 billion already committed - Click here to read more

Investors tread water ahead of US jobs data

Analyst recommendations were the main price movers on the FTSE 100 this morning as investors waited for US nonfarm payroll data - Click here to read more

US job cuts worse than expected

US jobs were cut by 95000 in September well above the 5-10000 forecast by analysts mainly from the public sector  - Click here to read more

Alan Johnson named shadow chancellor

Former home secretary gets post ahead of Balls and Cooper - Click here to read more

Morning Line: when will MPs lead by example on pensions?

The Hutton review of public sector pensions says its recommendations will influence what happens to MPs overly generous retirement scheme The only question is when - Click here to read more

Q&A: Is this a ?currency war? and does it matter?

The rhetoric is growing drawing in increasing countries around the world: what is this war and whos fighting it - Click here to read more

Fund of the Week: Scottish Oriental Smaller Companies

Asian smaller companies has been the best performing investment region since markets hit their bottom - Click here to read more

Unhappy bank consumers still won't switch current accounts

The majority of consumers have never even considered switching their current account many for fear of harming their credit rating and to avoid the hassle of something going wrong - Click here to read more

Saturday Papers: Savings to fill child benefit gap - money news

Wealthy families are expected to pass more money down the generations to save on inheritance tax - Click here to read more

Saturday Papers: Osborne backs Bank action - other news

And worse-than-expected US jobs data clears way for new stimulus programme by the Federal Reserve - Click here to read more

Saturday Papers: Pershing and Vornado reveal JC Penney stake - tips, comment and bids

And Mailru Russias largest internet group with a 10% stake in Facdbook is set for $5 billion London listing of a subsidiary - Click here to read more

Sunday Papers: Consumers 'could suffer' after quango shake-up - money news

Consumer Focus will be scrapped in a shake-up of quangos while the Office of Fair Trading will be merged with the Competition Commission - Click here to read more

Sunday Papers: Senior bankers lobby regulators on banking pay - other news

And the IMF failed to reach agreement on tackling frictions over exchange rate policies - Click here to read more

Sunday Papers: Potash plans break-up to foil Billiton bid - tips, comment and bids

And Malcolm Walker has offered £1 billion to buy back the budget supermarket chain Iceland Foods - Click here to read more

Five golden rules for spread betting

Angus Campbell of trading platform Capital Spreads explains some simple rules to help financial spread betters - Click here to read more

Steve Bee: The impact of public sector pension reforms

Millions of public sector employees may soon find they will have some very important but difficult to understand choices to make on their pensions - Click here to read more

Don't fall for the latest cyber fraud scam

Cyber crime is always pernicious because it is so invasive; an attack within what we see as our own personal (cyber) space Increasing numbers of us are touched by financially-based crime over the internet writes financial planner Bruce Janman of Robert Bruce Associates - Click here to read more

Do you know what affects the cost of your