Steady as she goes: Virgin Money launches further buyback after solid third quarter August 2, 2023 Virgin Money’s margin remained stable, despite increasing competition in the market, as Richard Branson’s bank said it anticipates a £175m share buyback at its end of year results. The challenger bank launched a £50m buyback today, after it passed the Bank of England’s stress test, and expects to deliver a £125m buyback with its full [...]
As mortgages go up, Britons’ inability to do maths is putting them in financial peril August 2, 2023 Brits who are bad at maths are losing around £2,850 every year - a figure which will only be exacerbated by the cost-of-living crisis, writes Ludovic Subran.
3 Ways To Improve Credit Risk Models for Financial Lenders August 1, 2023 Assessing financial risk based on historical credit performance, is no longer the leading factor to underpin lending decision-making, with our modern and inclusive economy. I know that traditional banking and finance professionals may not agree with that statement, especially if they have been accustomed to many years of using the management of credit as an [...]
The new London hotel that’s perfect for a west London staycation August 1, 2023 81% of UK holidaymakers are expected to book a UK hotel getaway this year, as the cost of living crisis keeps Brits from booking international trips. If you’re thinking about a London staycation, The Adria in South Kensington has a few things that others don’t. As the pandemic pointed out, holidaying at home – especially [...]
Crash warning: House prices slump in July as market hits 2009 lows August 1, 2023 House prices have slumped by 3.8 per cent year on year, the latest closely watched figures from Nationwide show, as a season of high interest rates and weak consumer confidence continues to batter the market. The figure is the weakest since July 2009, although it is only slightly lower than the -3.5 per cent recorded [...]
Food inflation slumps to lowest level this year but experts caution against declaring victory yet August 1, 2023 Food inflation has slipped to its lowest level this year and has fallen for the third month in a row, an encouraging signal that suggests the UK is through the worst of the cost of living crisis, a new survey out today shows. The cost of groceries climbed 13.4 per cent over the year to [...]
Are central banks to blame for the inflation crisis? August 1, 2023 As we enter what looks like the final leg of central banks’ interest rate rising journeys, it’s as good a time as ever to trace why they have been jolted into action after over a decade of ultra loose policy and whether their response to the inflation crisis has been effective. Coming out of the [...]
Electric vehicle charging roll-out slowed by local authority delays, research shows July 31, 2023 The roll-out of electric vehicle charge points has been slowed by delays at the local authority level and is currently set to fall well short of government targets, new research has found. FOI data obtained by the law firm RPC shows 8,000 chargers were installed by local authorities in the UK over the last year, [...]
Rishi Sunak: 2030 petrol and diesel car sale ban is here to stay July 31, 2023 The 2030 ban on the sale of petrol and diesel vehicles will remain as a government policy, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has said. Speaking on BBC Radio Scotland’s morning show, Rishi Sunak insisted a ban on “sale of new cars,” has been the policy “for a long time,” and “remains the government’s policy.” “I’m committed [...]
Ofgem risks losing public trust after British Gas’ profit bonanza July 31, 2023 Four years of heavy losses and instability in the energy industry were upended last week when British Gas posted record profits.