European equities markets were lower again Thursday as declines in metals prices pushed shares in miners down in London. The FTSE 100 fell 1.68 percent to 5,047.81 while the FTSE 250 dropped 0.85 percent to 9,064.28. Miner Lonmin led declines on the 100 and had the worst day in its sector as [ Read More → ]

Barnsley Building Society has introduced a new rate of 3.00% gross on its online saver account, available to new and existing savers. TotallyMoney.com recently reported the results of a study, which suggested that 6% of savers who had opted for fixed term deals were already regretting locking their money away. And [ Read More → ]

The British Insurance Brokers’ Association (BIBA) has called on the Government to introduce support to make it easier for older travellers and motorists to find appropriate and affordable protection. BIBA is seeking a tailored exception allowing for age to be used in insurance rating provided that it is proportionate to risk [ Read More → ]

Most home buyers purchase life assurance when they arrange a mortgage, but only a minority obtain another form of financial protection that they are five times more likely to need before they reach retirement. Critical illness assurance pays a tax-free lump sum on diagnosis of any one of [ Read More → ]

Winter’s coming, but breathe easy. While the average cost of heating oil in the Northeast is expected to rise to $2.73 a gallon this season, that’s only 7 cents higher than last winter - and nowhere near what it was in the summer of 2008, when a [ Read More → ]

Massachusetts lawmakers will consider new rules today to protect consumers from abuses involving overdraft charges on bank accounts, unsolicited loans from financial institutions, and reverse mortgages. For instance, State Senator Steven Baddour, a Democrat from Methuen, has filed a bill to require institutions that mail unsolicited loan offers - such [ Read More → ]

In a move that could spur other banks to follow suit, American Express Co. said it will permanently eliminate all monthly fees on all of its gift cards starting today. The announcement comes just ahead of the holiday shopping season and before new rules that will require banks and retailers [ Read More → ]

Most people don’t realise that once they have split from a partner or spouse, their ex- can still have a damaging effect on your credit rating. Credit file myths explained Thousands of people are be affected by this problem, dubbed the “ex-factor” by credit [ Read More → ]

The Financial Services Authority (FSA) has revealed a package of measures to protect consumers in the Payment Protection Insurance (PPI) market and ensure they are better treated when buying PPI or complaining about it. Single premium PPI products have long been controversial, particularly with consumer watchdogs who claim that the policies [ Read More → ]

Decline in the consumer credit market continues, but the contraction rate has stabilised, according to new figures published today by the Finance & Leasing Association (FLA). Overall, business written by FLA members, who provide secured and unsecured loans, credit and store cards, and motor finance, fell by 17% in July 2009 [ Read More → ]