Brokers predict ‘mortgage price war’ as lenders including HSBC and Nationwide cut rates again August 9, 2023 Brokers have suggested there could be a “mortgage price war” as lenders continue to reduce rates amid hopes inflation is finally on the way down. Nationwide reduced prices on some of its fixed products by up to 0.55 percentage points while HSBC reduced rates by up to 0.2 percentage points. TSB also lowered rates by [...]
Bellway ‘taking steps to reduce headcount’ as rate hikes continue mortgage slowdown August 9, 2023 British housebuilder Bellway’s underlying operating margin will contract from 18.5 per cent to 16 per cent as mortgage rates continue to slow down demand in the sector. The home construction company completed the build of 10,945 homes in the year ended 31 July falling from 11,198 in the same period last year. As the central [...]
Inflation to remain above Bank of England’s target until 2025, think tank warns August 9, 2023 Inflation may remain above the Bank of England’s two per cent target for the next few years as price increases have increasingly spilled over into the wider economy, a think tank warned today. According to forecasts from the National Institute of Economic and Social Research (NIESR), inflation is forecast to fall to 5.2 per cent [...]
Cornish Lithium secures vital £54m cash boost after warning of financial difficulties August 8, 2023 Cornish Lithium has secured a vital cash injection to boost its lithium ambitions, with fresh backing from a group of institutional investors.
NS&I: Premium Bonds odds set to improve to best level in more than 15 years August 8, 2023 Premium Bonds odds will improve to the best level seen in more than 15 years from September, savings giant NS&I (National Savings and Investments) has announced. The odds will improve to 21,000 to one, from 22,000 to one previously – their best level since the April 2008 prize draw. NS&I estimates that there will be [...]
Reeds Rains owner expects ‘substantially lower’ profit due to tough mortgage market August 7, 2023 LSL Property Services, which owns estate agents Reeds Rains and Your Move, said it now expected the group's annual profit to be "substantially lower" due to subdued activity in the mortgage market.
FTSE 100 close: London flat after US jobs figures fuels Fed rate speculation August 7, 2023 London’s FTSE 100 opened the week in sluggish fashion as investors take in fears across the pond that the Fed could hike rates again. The capital’s premier blue chip index closed on 7,556.41 points, 0.11 per cent down, while the FTSE 250, which is more aligned with the domestic market, was also broadly flat on [...]
London and south east house prices fall fastest with analysts predicting five per cent crash August 7, 2023 House prices dropped by 0.3 per cent from June to July, the latest data suggests, with London and south east homes falling fastest in value. House prices fell by -2.4 per cent on an annual basis , easing from -2.6 per cent in June, the latest figures from Halifax show. The 0.3 per cent fall [...]
More support with energy bills unlikely this winter, admits Grant Shapps August 7, 2023 Grant Shapps has warned households are unlikely to receive fresh support from the government this winter for their energy bills.
From train robberies to ‘Hi Mum’ texts, we are fighting an ever-changing face of fraud August 7, 2023 We've almost all received a "hi mum" message trying to defraud us, but for the victims who fall for the scammers, we must have a safety net, writes Chris Hayward.