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 → ]

The Government has identified 22 ‘hot spots’ where residents are more at risk of repossession Photo: PA Local councils will then be able to offer advice and support to those facing repossession before proceedings begin. Currently, councils can offer these services only after they have been contacted by the home [ 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 → ]

Pensioners Bruce and Judy Bartle have lost their case against the finance company that lent them more than their house was worth to invest in Blue Chip. However the judge has ruled that the lawyer who advised them - a Blue Chip specialist who acted for over 150 investors in the [ Read More → ]

It isn’t just ex-partners that can ruin your credit rating, previous debt problems, missing a mobile phone payment, even moving house can all affect your credit score. But many people remain confused about what financial information is stored about us, and how this is used by lenders. Protect [ Read More → ]

The Boston-area housekeepers who were fired by Hyatt Hotels Corp. sent a clear message yesterday about the company’s offer to put them in new jobs at a staffing agency: They don’t plan to accept it. The housekeepers chanted “No way, Hyatt,’’ at a press conference yesterday afternoon after 77 of the [ Read More → ]

The City watchdog warned financial firms “to get their house in order” over claims of mis-selling. It is taking action over controversial “single premium” PPI, where the entire policy cost is paid upfront and often added to the debt that is being taken out. Firms representing more than [ Read More → ]

Goodbye to the 0pc mortgage Thousands of home owners who are currently enjoying rock-bottom mortgage rates will soon see these ultra-cheap deals come to an end. Borrowers lucky enough to have snapped up tracker deals with Halifax, Cheltenham & Gloucester (C&G) and Birmingham Midshires two years ago have been [ Read More → ]

WASHINGTON - The recession has hit middle-income and poor families hardest, widening the economic gap between the richest and poorest Americans as rippling job layoffs ravaged household budgets. The wealthiest 10 percent of Americans , those making more than $138,000 each year , earned 11.4 times the roughly $12,000 made by [ Read More → ]

The figures come despite official data that suggests consumers want to save money more than at any time in the last six years, as they tighten their belts to cope with the recession. Despite the all-time low savings rates that banks and building societies are offering, the so-called [ Read More → ]