Executive Member of Abacus LLP Geoff Underhill, has today expressed his concern and astonishment regarding the report the FSA has made in allowing the banks to review their own processes in the interest rate swap scandal. "Allowing the banks to review their own processes seems to me like allowing the lunatics (who…

Marriage is in sharp decline among the working classes but on the rise among high income earners, new analysis has revealed. The proportion of people in the highest social class who are married has increased to more than two-thirds in the past ten years. It marks a reverse of an…

Owners of undeveloped lnd could be next on the hit list by the Lib Dem Mansion Tax. The party is said to be exploring plans to levy a 5-figure charge on potentially valuable empty land with a view to persuading developers to build new homes. The tax would apply to…

A patient is suing an NHS hospital trust after he had the wrong testicle removed during surgery. The 48 year old man has been told that he can no longer father a child because his remaining testicle is believed to be cancerous. Source: The Times, Wednesday February 20th If you, your…

A former pupil of the Chetham School of Music claims attempts to expose the sexual abuse by teachers were 'brushed aside' and 'covered up' in the 1980's. Acclaimed Pianist Paul Lewis has been reported as saying "Every pupil was aware of what was going on," however, adults feared whistle blowing…

The phrase ‘interest rate swaps’ is often used as shorthand for several products used by firms with outstanding bank loans to cut their exposure to rising interest rates. Different types include swaps, collars and structured collars. A customer who purchases a swap buys a contract that pays them money if…

Police have arrested a violin teacher, 57, over historic sex abuse claims at the prestigious Manchester music school where choirmaster abused former pupil, says Daily Mail Reporter... A violin teacher who came to Britain on the  invitation of Yehudi Menuhin has been arrested by detectives investigating sex  abuse at Chetham’s School of…

Landlord mortgages soared by a fifth in 2012 reports the Daily Mail's Lee Boyce... £16.4bn lent to investors in 2012 - 19%  higher than the previous year 136,900 BTL mortgages agreed last year - almost 50,000 higher than 2009 'Buy-to-let is only going to grow in  popularity as mortgage rates become…

Taken from www.propertywide.co.uk blog January 18th... While the Government’s £80bn Funding for Lending scheme prompted fierce competition between lenders, it was aimed in principle at borrowers with larger deposits. As a result, first-time buyers struggling to build up sufficient funds for a typical 20% deposit have faced obstacle after obstacle…

The availability of mortgage finance for first time lenders is the best it has been in years, contributing to a 5% rise in house sales last year. The Council of Mortgage Lenders report that new mortgage loans made to first-time buyers rose by 8% in November, and a Bank of…