British parents are going into debt and making significant personal sacrifices because they don’t want their children to miss out, according to National Savings and Investments (NS&I).
Nearly a third of British parents are increasing their overdrafts and more than a quarter are taking out a loan or using their credit cards to fund their children, […]

More than half of older people are cutting back on essentials such as heating and food, and one in 10 of the poorest pensioners have been forced into debt by the rising cost of living, according to Age Concern.
With a third of those eligible still missing out on the Government’s flagship benefit Pension Credit five […]

Nearly a quarter of UK travellers plan to go on holiday without any insurance this year, despite the collapse of several travel companies and airlines in recent weeks.  
The collapse of tour operator XL earlier this month, as well as that of low-cost airline Zoom, 24% of people still plan to travel this year without […]

The Financial Services Authority (FSA) has imposed a new rule designed to have a “calming effect” on the market for shares in financial firms.  
Speaking at the Lord Mayor’s City Banquet last night, Callum McCarthy, chairman of the FSA, announced the regulator would require traders to disclose short positions on financial institutions on a daily […]

Turmoil in the equity markets this week has pushed the UK pension deficit up by £20 billion to £70 billion. According to estimates from accountants PriceWaterhouse Coopers, deficits have more than tripled this year, sounding the death knell for the traditional final salary-type pension scheme that is now on its last legs, at least in […]

The UK pet insurance market is predicted to reach a value of almost £700 million by 2012.

The pet insurance market is one of the fastest growing insurance markets in the UK and is set to expand further, according to a new Datamonitor report.
Having spent many years as a niche product, this nation of animal lovers has […]

National Savings & Investments (NS&I) is reducing the interest paid out on many of its fixed rate products by up to 0.75% as of today. The cuts have been triggered by a fall in the yields on gilts – Government bonds which have a direct impact on NS&I’s fixed rates.
Savers in the new 31st issue […]

Lloyds’ agreed £12bn rescue plan for HBOS has attracted praise and criticism in equal share. After three days of turmoil in the financial markets threatened HBOS’ viability, the speedy takeover was welcomed by some as a necessary way of forestalling a run on the bank, and restoring some confidence in UK financial institutions.
Graham Spooner, investment […]