http://www.finance-matters.org If it's about finance, and it matters, you can read about it here! Sat, 28 Nov 2009 22:18:55 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en From The Pensions Regulator:The regulator today launches a campaign aimed at encouraging good governance and administration and better management of pension scheme risks. A statement published alongside results of the 2009 pension scheme governance survey outlines the regulator's key focus areas. ... http://www.finance-matters.org/2009/11/keeping-pensions-safe-improving-scheme-governance-and-administration/ From The Pensions Regulator:The Pensions Regulator today published the latest edition of its annual Pensions Regulator chair, David Norgrove said: “The three tranches of scheme valuations have been conducted in very different economic circumstances and this ... http://www.finance-matters.org/2009/11/regulators-2009-recovery-plan-report-shows-how-schemes-are-coping-in-the-downturn/ From IVANews:clampdown on firms which promise to help struggling borrowers repay debts could lead to unscrupulous companies being banned. The Office of Fair Trading is launching a probe into debt management firms following fears that consumers who are already in distress are being left worse off. Misleading advertising and poor advice ... http://www.finance-matters.org/2009/11/crackdown-on-dodgy-debt-firms/ From This is Money:Net lending, which strips out redemptions and repayments, also held firm at £3.1bn, slightly higher than the £2.8bn figure recorded in August. Both spending and repayments on credit cards were unchanged from the previous month at £5.7bn and £6bn respectively. David Dooks, BBA statistics director, said: 'The longer it ... http://www.finance-matters.org/2009/11/bba-mortgage-lending-double-2008-levels/ From This is Money:The average estimate suggests it will take five years for the market to recover. One group, Capital Economics, claimed it could take until 2019, while others said it would be any time between 2012 and 2016. 'Prices need to fall a further 20% to 25% to get back ... http://www.finance-matters.org/2009/11/house-prices-five-years-to-recover/ From This is Money:The building society looked at the impact on house prices of the local primary school having 10% more 11-year-olds who achieved a level four or above in their key stage 2 Standard Assessment Tests than surrounding schools. House prices in all regions of England were higher if they ... http://www.finance-matters.org/2009/11/house-prices-4-6-higher-close-to-good-schools/ From This is Money:Bank and building society standard variable rates have plunged to historically low levels. New fixed, tracker and discount deals have recently been slashed as banks and building societies seek to compete with Northern Rock, which itself is desperate to lend to homeowners. However, borrowers should look beyond ... http://www.finance-matters.org/2009/11/check-the-fees-before-switching-mortgage/ From This is Money:Some new borrowers with Britain's fourth-biggest society will be charged a minimum of 5% if they move to SVR. Others will be charged a minimum of 4.5%. But existing customers will still be allowed to pay its actual SVR of 3.5% - one of the ... http://www.finance-matters.org/2009/11/skipton-raises-svr-to-5-for-new-borrowers/ From This is Money:Around £115m has gone on Rent to Homebuy since it was launched in July last year. It pays part of people's rent for up to five years while they save for a deposit. But nobody who signed up has actually managed to buy their own home yet. ... http://www.finance-matters.org/2009/11/home-buy-scheme-is-115m-flop/ From This is Money:But the cost of mortgages is still high for those without a large deposit. Saffron Building Society last week launched a two-year fixed rate at 5.89% that is available to borrowers with at least a 10% deposit. Cheltenham & Gloucester, part of Lloyds TSB Group, also ... http://www.finance-matters.org/2009/11/lenders-stay-tough-on-loan-to-value-deals/