IF YOU want to get the best return on your money and have already put all you can into a cash Isa this year, you may want to consider equity Isas – Isas that invest in stocks and shares. Equity Isas have a number of advantages over their cash counterparts. [ Read More → ]

LOS ANGELES — Federal prosecutors have announced a settlement with a Los Angeles-based bank that was sued along with two auto dealerships for allegedly charging non-Asian customers higher interest rates on car loans. Under the agreement, Nara Bank will pay up to $410,000 to customers who were overcharged, according to a [ Read More → ]

BOSTON (AP) - One steady bit of good economic news: Inflation remains near zero. So who would want to pay extra these days to add a dose of inflation protection in their portfolio? Plenty of people. It turns out sales are hot for Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities, a common hedge against rising [ Read More → ]

The New Zealand economy is better placed than many but is still at the mercy of an uncertain global economic recovery, according to credit reporting agency Dun & Bradstreet (D&B). Its quarterly Global Economic & Risk Outlook Report, released today, said a sustained improvement in the global economic outlook was not [ Read More → ]

It’s no coincidence that HSBC should offer its lowest ever mortgage rate – 1.99pc for two years – just as official confirmation came this week that new borrowing has fallen to a record low. Lenders are having to compete harder than ever to stay in business and homebuyers [ Read More → ]

For the fourth consecutive month, the European Central Bank (ECB) has elected to keep interest rates unchanged at 1%. The last time the ECB cut rates was in May and prior to that, rates were cut seven times since October 2008 when rates stood at 4.25%. Germany and France, Europe’s largest [ Read More → ]

There was more pain at the pumps for drivers this week when fuel duty increased by 2p per litre; the third increase in petrol and diesel tax in nine months. Once VAT is included, this latest duty rise will total 2.3p per litre – pushing the average price [ Read More → ]

Helping borrowers with little or no equity in their homes refinance their mortgages has turned out to be far more difficult than government officials expected. When the Home Affordable Refinance Program, or HARP, was rolled out in March, the Obama administration said that millions of borrowers would be able to refinance. [ Read More → ]

Life with a credit card presumably got a little easier in August. Under new federal regulations, credit card companies have to give more warning before upping your interest rate and more notice before your bill is due. And another round of consumer-friendly changes goes into effect in February. It’s all part [ Read More → ]

Do you need to worry about inflation? Prices for goods and services have been relatively tame for the last three decades, but billionaire investor Warren Buffett recently put words to the fear of many market professionals. Inflation may not be around the corner. But, he said in a recent opinion [ Read More → ]