The amount of debt written off by banks and building societies reached a record high during the final quarter of 2009. Iniduals and companies defaulted on £6.1bn worth of mortgages and loans during the three months to the end of December, the highest level since the Bank [ Read More → ]

 of  Companies Lloyds Banking Group Barratt Developments William Hill Wolseley Lloyds Banking Group Hold at 52p, advises Keefe, Bruyette & Woods. Recent full-year results from the banking giant, which now includes the former HBOS, proved something for both optimists and pessimists, says KBW. Loan impairment charges were higher than the broker forecast during 2009, with [ Read More → ]

Selecting a Broadband package is a minefield. It’s a market being driven by too good to be true monthly tariffs and promises of free and super fast connections that just don’t add up. Our quick guide to broadband cuts through the fog. We’ll tell you which package is the best [ Read More → ]

Citizens Advice has dealt with 3.25m debt and benefit problems in the last year alone, a record for the organisation. Many of these relate to fuel debts, overdrafts and phone debts. But by getting a better deal on each, you can save £400 on average, which will go a [ Read More → ]

 View full sizeJamie Francis/The OregonianAnneliese Hugo and Suzy Shaver greet their first-grade classmate, Ethan Lister, with a hug on the playground at Mulino Elementary School. During cancer treatments, Ethan is often late for school, but his class is quick to welcome him with hugs like this one and encouragement according [ Read More → ]

NEW YORK — Major stock indexes rose to their highest levels in more than a month today after corporate buyouts raised hopes about the economy. The Dow Jones industrial average rose 79 points. The Standard & Poor’s 500 index, the basis of many mutual funds, erased its losses for the [ Read More → ]

CHICAGO (Reuters) - A specialized trading strategy known as dividend trades harms markets, misleads investors, and should not be included in overall reports of trading volume, the said on Monday. So-called dividend spread trading accounted for nearly 4 percent of U.S. options trading last year, ISE said. Inclusion of the trades [ Read More → ]

The Obama administration announced Monday that borrowers with little or no equity in their homes will have another year to take advantage of a refinancing program that so far has made little progress. The Home Affordable Refinance Program was set to expire in June, but so far it has reached fewer [ Read More → ]

NEW YORK — Mixed reports Monday on manufacturing, construction and personal income and spending made clear that the economy is enjoying modest growth even though the recovery remains fragile. Manufacturing output expanded in February for a seventh straight month. Factory output has provided one of the few areas of strength for [ Read More → ]

Q: I am about to receive an inheritance from my mother’s estate. The amount is enough to pay off a condo that I own as an investment (it is currently rented out). I am torn between doing that and starting a tax deferred annuity or other [ Read More → ]