News and comment
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Welcome to your on-line financial newsletter. This service is regularly updated to bring you news of important developments in financial matters.
Citywire News
- Video Comment: What the Next and Debenhams results mean
Tue, 06 Jan 2009 12:50:00 GMT
Next and Debenhams sent retail stocks soaring earlier today after performing better than feared, but what do their numbers tell us about the state of the high street?
- Eurozone inflation falls to two year low
Tue, 06 Jan 2009 12:47:54 GMT
Inflation in the Eurozone is estimated to have dropped to 1.6% in December - its lowest level in two years, data showed today.
- Midday Market: FTSE rising as investors cheer better than expected retail numbers
Tue, 06 Jan 2009 12:31:52 GMT
High street resilience provides boost for UK shares.
- Smaller firms face pensions decline
Tue, 06 Jan 2009 10:28:28 GMT
Pensions provision across smaller firms is rapidly deteriorating as schemes struggle to survive ?hostile? economic conditions, according to research.
- On-line retailer puts up 'for sale' sign as sales plunge
Tue, 06 Jan 2009 10:26:23 GMT
Fashion retailer EBTM saw sales plunge 33.3% but discount house wares group Dunelm has been winning market share.
BBC Business News
- Marks and Spencer cuts 1,000 jobs
Tue, 06 Jan 2009 13:37:54 GMT
Marks and Spencer will announce on Wednesday that it is cutting 1,000 jobs from its workforce of 70,000, the BBC confirms.
- European gas supplies disrupted
Tue, 06 Jan 2009 13:10:19 GMT
Several EU countries report major disruption to their gas supplies from Russia as Moscow accuses Ukraine of shutting pipelines.
- Long goodbye
Tue, 06 Jan 2009 13:04:21 GMT
Woolworths staff feel the pain of closure
- Robert Peston
Tue, 06 Jan 2009 12:10:03 GMT
UK retailers are facing a sterling challenge
- Pressure rising
Tue, 06 Jan 2009 11:36:46 GMT
Russia ups ante in bitter gas dispute with Ukraine
London Stock Exchange News
- FSA to lift short selling ban
Tue, 06 Jan 2009 10:16:00 +0000
An emergency ban on the short selling of UK financial stocks could be lifted later this month under new proposals from the Financial Services Authority (FSA).
- Japanese market closes at two-month high
Tue, 06 Jan 2009 09:57:50 +0000
Rising optimism that the incoming administration of US president-elect Barack Obama will enact a new round of economic stimulus measures triggered a wave of buying on Japan's major stock market, with the benchmark Nikkei 225 hitting a two-month closing high on Tuesday (January 6th).
- Brown 'not considering new bank bailout'
Mon, 05 Jan 2009 11:49:24 +0000
The government is working on new ways to increase banks' lending to businesses and individuals but it is not considering a second "bailout" of industry using taxpayers' money, the prime minister has said.
- New year hopes send Nikkei to 2-month high
Mon, 05 Jan 2009 09:34:34 +0000
Japan's Nikkei 225 closed at a two-month high on Monday (January 5th), reflecting investors' hopes that the benchmark index can put 2008's worst-ever annual performance behind it and advance on the back of new economic stimulus plans.
- Concerns over car sales hit US shares
Mon, 05 Jan 2009 05:51:19 +0000
Wall Street kicked off the first full week of trading in 2009 with early losses as investors braced themselves for what are expected to be weak end-of-year sales figures from the automotive industry, according to reports.
Mortgage News
- SHIP members predict boom in drawdown business
Tue, 6 Jan 2009 11:41:39 GMT
Many equity release providers are predicting that drawdown business will account for 70% of the equity release market by 2010, research from Safe Home Income Plans shows.
- Bluefin brand launches with backing from AXA
Tue, 6 Jan 2009 11:09:21 GMT
A group of financial services firms have come together with backing from AXA to launch under a single brand called Bluefin.
- Rice confirms RAMP closure
Tue, 6 Jan 2009 11:02:40 GMT
John Rice, managing director of the Regulatory Association of Mortgage Packagers, has confirmed the organisation is set to close its doors after more than five years.
- Consumers bury their heads in the sand over debt
Tue, 6 Jan 2009 10:06:10 GMT
Over half of consumers worried about spiralling debt have not sought advice on how to manage their money problems, research from MoneyExpert.com reveals.
- TMW launches buy-to-let products
Tue, 6 Jan 2009 09:49:42 GMT
The Mortgage Works has launched two buy-to-let products for the new year, including a one-year fixed rate deal at 3.49%.
BBC News
- Singh accuses Pakistan on Mumbai
Tue, 06 Jan 2009 13:44:25 GMT
The Mumbai attack must have had support from some official agencies in Pakistan, Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh says.
- Arctic snap expected to continue
Tue, 06 Jan 2009 13:38:05 GMT
Temperatures are expected to stay well below zero in many parts as the UK continues to witness an outbreak of Arctic air.
- Marks and Spencer cuts 1,000 jobs
Tue, 06 Jan 2009 13:37:54 GMT
Marks and Spencer will announce on Wednesday that it is cutting 1,000 jobs from its workforce of 70,000, the BBC confirms.
- Heating oil theft closes school
Tue, 06 Jan 2009 13:36:01 GMT
A theft of heating oil is behind one of 20 school closures in freezing temperatures across Wales.
- NHS patient error deaths 'rising'
Tue, 06 Jan 2009 13:35:05 GMT
More than 3,000 people have died as a result of patient safety incidents in just one year in England, figures show.
