Santander offer for A&L 'sets the floor' for shares

Alliance & Leicester investors thrown a lifeline as demutualised building society agrees to be taken over in a £1.25bn deal by Santander

Fri, 18 Jul 2008 18:26 BST

Higher rate savings hit

Higher rate taxpayers are finding it harder to get a good rate of return on their savings as inflation continues to rise

Fri, 18 Jul 2008 18:26 BST

Managers stand firmly by asset class

Private equity may not seem the investment of choice in a climate where numerous financial deals have fallen through, banks have reined back lending and company growth prospects are looking bleak.

Fri, 18 Jul 2008 17:37 BST

Equitable Life policyholders free to move

Investors with policies still languishing in Equitable Life funds may not have to stay put in order to receive compensation

Fri, 18 Jul 2008 18:26 BST

Shifting fortunes necessitate shifting funds

Diversify. That is the advice now coming from advisers and fund managers in response to rising inflation and the shaky equity market

Fri, 18 Jul 2008 18:26 BST

Investors turn to the rising sun to bolster portfolios

The credit crunch and rising inflation still hamper the performance of US and European markets. But it appears the land of the rising sun is not taking as big a hit in the downturn.

Fri, 18 Jul 2008 17:25 BST

Storms leave the windfalls looking much less juicy

Shares in former building societies and demutualised insurers held by millions of private investors have been among the biggest casualties of the financial turmoil of the past year

Fri, 18 Jul 2008 18:26 BST

A&L deal could reduce borrower choice

Consumers could face a stripped-down choice of mortgages and savings accounts – but potentially some more attractive rates – if the proposed takeover of Alliance & Leicester (A&L) by Santander goes ahead.

Fri, 18 Jul 2008 18:26 BST

Younger high earners seen as 'will-haves'

Ambitious young City high-flyers are not being served properly by the traditional wealth management industry, according to the director of a new "wealth club"

Fri, 18 Jul 2008 18:26 BST

Borrowers seek security of long-term mortgages

Borrowers are locking into high mortgage rates for five or 10 years, as the cost of arranging two-year deals has jumped and the outlook for short-term rates is uncertain.

Fri, 18 Jul 2008 18:26 BST

Investors told not to panic over fall in market

Investors are being warned not to panic at the news that the UK has officially entered a bear market as experts say opportunities still lie ahead

Fri, 11 Jul 2008 18:47 BST

Property pensions decline

Fewer people are planning to use property as their sole pension arrangement, as house prices fall further

Fri, 11 Jul 2008 18:46 BST

Drawdown investors face shrink in income

Pension investors who have chosen not to purchase an annuity could face a sharp drop in their monthly income as a result of recent stock market falls

Fri, 11 Jul 2008 18:41 BST

Mortgages remain mercurial

The base rate may be unchanged, and swap rates may still be falling, but mortgage pricing remains mercurial.

Fri, 11 Jul 2008 18:32 BST

Wealth managers keep steady amid the turmoil

Wealth managers have shielded their clients from the worst of the market turmoil this year, according to the latest Private Client Indices (PCI) produced by Asset Risk Consultants (ARC).

Fri, 11 Jul 2008 17:50 BST