Holiday makers heading to the continent were handed yet another spending boost as the pound rose to a seven-year high versus the euro. The pound ticked up nearly a euro-cent today and is currently worth 1.353, a value not seen since January 2008. Jeremy Cook, chief economist and head of currency strategy at currency trader World First, said sterling's surge today was 'broadly' investors worrying about the result of today's EU finance ministers meeting in Brussels.
Do we really need to pay thousands to chartered surveyors and lawyers to buy our freehold when it is only worth about £4k?
My co-leaseholder and I are thinking of buying the freehold of the house that contains our two flats, which is owned by a third-party freeholder. Can we avoid paying up to £3,000 in fees to lawyers and surveyors and just put in a lowish offer to the freeholder without serving notice, in the hope that they bite? Can we serve notice without a lawyer?
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- Now 25 mortgages charge LESS interest than an easy access savings account pays 'The best ever chance to fix at a low rate'.
- Savers need to act quickly or risk missing out on top accounts Yet more best buys are axed within weeks of launch.
- Want a fixed-rate savings account? Take a shorter deal as interest rates will remain at record low until at least next year.
- JAMES CONEY: Barclays' closure of Premier Life account shows loyalty counts for nothing Ditch and switch now
- £780 for a £229 tumbledryer?! MPs urge crackdown on rent-to-own that charges poorest families three times over the odds
- Petrol prices back on the up! Forecourts quick to react as oil recovers from $45 low to $58.
- Ageing population 'will see UK drop out of top 10 world economies' Mexico, Turkey, Nigeria, Vietnam, Colombia, Poland and Malaysia could all overtake.
- UK retailers count the cost of discounting habit Sales hit as bargain-addicted shoppers won't pay full price.
- How much state pension will YOU get? Over-55s can apply for forecasts to help get ready for freedom reforms.
- Pensioner bonds limit is scrapped as 600,000 savers grab market-beating rates We reveal what you need to know about the new deadline.
- ED MONK: Is your pension good value? What happened when I tried to check if a relative's pension was worth it?
- Seven new STRAW homes go on sale in Bristol Homeowners are being promised prices below the average of £216,500, and miniscule fuel bills.
- Listen to the latest This is Money show Crowdfunding, pensioner bonds, the cheapest ever mortgages and bargain sport
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Me & my money: Strictly judge Bruno Tonioli
'Always buy the best you can - it will last forever,' he says
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BUSINESS, CITY & MARKETS
FTSE CLOSE: Investors fret ahead of Greek debt showdown in Brussels; oil price slips back to $55
The FTSE 100 closed down 10.95 points at 6818.17 as Greek finance minister Yanis Varoufakis arrived to do some hard talking with eurozone supremos in Brussels. But the crunch negotiations are not expected to yield a conclusion about Greece's debt plight until early next week. That means a number of nervous trading days could lie ahead while investors ponder the worst case scenario - Greece's ejection from the eurozone. London markets were dampened by a dip in the oil price, which is currently just above $55 a barrel.
SAVE MONEY, MAKE MONEY: THE BEST RATES, DEALS AND TIPS THAT CAN MAKE YOUR RICHER
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MONEY NEWS & ADVICE
Rare Royal Navy £2 coins tipped to be worth a mint in years to come are dished out in change to lucky HMS Belfast visitors
A £2 coin which commemorates the vital role the Royal Navy played in the First World War is set to become one of the rarest coins in UK circulation. Just 100 of the coins have been issued by the Royal Mint in partnership with the visitors' centre at the iconic HMS Belfast, located near Tower Bridge in London.
'The best ever chance to fix at a low rate': Now 25 mortgages charge LESS interest than an easy access savings account pays
There has never been a better time to be a mortgage borrower looking for a cheap fixed rate with home loan costs at record lows according to Bank of England figures. Mortgage pricing has fallen so low that research for This is Money shows there are 25 home loans priced below the best easy access savings deal - and that only pays 1.5 per cent.
£780 for a £229 tumbledryer?! MPs urge crackdown on rent-to-own retailers that charge poorest families three times as much to buy household goods in instalments
Retailers such as BrightHouse, PerfectHome and Buy as you View allow the poorest families to buy goods such as televisions, washing machines and beds and pay in instalments rather than upfront. But the high levels of interest they charge mean the poorest households who tend to buy in this way can end up paying more than triple the cost compared to buying upfront, MPs warned.
Pensioner bonds limit is scrapped as 600,000 savers grab market-beating rates: We reveal what you need to know
Chancellor George Osborne has axed the £10billion inflow limit for the popular pensioner bonds meaning the over 65s now have a set deadline to open them instead. Previously, pensioner bonds - officially known as 65+ Guaranteed Growth Bonds - offered by government-backed National Savings and Investments had a £10bn limit resulting in a mad scramble to bag the bonds when they launched on 15 January.
How much state pension will YOU get? Over-55s can apply for forecasts to help get ready for freedom reforms
The estimates indicate whether workers can get the full state pension when they reach retirement age, but only over-60s have been allowed to apply until now. Over-55s have been impatient for the forecast service to be extended to them, because sweeping new pension freedoms are due to become available to everyone in this age group from April onwards.
You can huff and puff but this house won't blow down! Seven new STRAW homes go on sale in Bristol
Homeowners are being promised fuel bills up to 90 per cent cheaper than in a standard brick-built house and a purchase price below the average cost of a house in Bristol, which is currently £216,500. With over 3.8million tonnes of would-be waste straw going spare in the UK, it is not surprising that a separate straw housing development is currently underway in Cornwall.
'My mum's looked after at home - rather than in a home': Take care now to meet the cost of caring later
Changes to how we pay for later life care will be phased in from April. But reforms are unlikely to bridge a widening gap between State provision and the cost to individuals. Fanfare surrounding a new £72,000 cap on care costs has led many people to believe this is the total amount to pay for care. But millions may be surprised to learn it is not. In fact, middle Britain could end up spending double this. Michael Perrot's mother was cared for at home until she died.
'I'm so angry I may smash my collection of NatWest pigs': Despite protests, bailed-out bank refuses to halt devastating closures
RBS is refusing to back down on plans to shut more than 90 NatWest branches this year despite protests from customers impacted by the closures. The bank, still majority owned by taxpayers, is pushing ahead with the closures despite ongoing industrywide discussions with Business Secretary Vince Cable over how communities left branchless can still access banking facilities. Pru Hobson-West is furious.
TONY HETHERINGTON: I transferred my pension savings of £158,000 into carbon credits, which have gone up in smoke. Have I lost my pension?
In 2012 I was persuaded to transfer my pension savings of £158,000 into carbon credits, for a much greater return. The investment company, Diffraction Limited, went into liquidation last year, but I was told my investment was safe as my credits were held by Citadel Trustees Limited. Now I have been informed this company has also gone into liquidation.
Bank of England set to slash inflation outlook again raising the prospect of the UK's first ever 'deflation report'
Inflation could fall so low that it turns negative this year, raising the prospect of the Bank of England's first ever deflation report, one economist has warned. Bank governor Mark Carney has already acknowledged there is a strong chance the Consumer Price Index rate of inflation will turn negative this year.
Me & my money: 'Always buy the best you can - it will last forever,' Strictly judge Bruno Tonioli on why savers can still splash out
'Just because you are a saver doesn't mean you shouldn't spend,' says Strictly judge Bruno Tonioli, but his tip is to do it on something that lasts. From his first flat, to a Porsche he saved for to start his life's passion with great sports cars and the shoes he bought in the 1970s, Bruno says wise spending should go on quality.
MORE BUSINESS, CITY AND ECONOMY NEWS
Britain's economy roars back to growth with output up and signs of a recovery back on track, says think-tank
Britain's economy has roared back to life following a slowdown at the end of last year, according to the latest figures, writes Hugo Duncan. The National Institute of Economic and Social Research estimated that gross domestic product - total output in the UK - increased by 0.7 per cent between November and January. That was up from the 0.5 per cent rise in output between October and December and suggested that the economy bounced back at the start of 2015.
UK retailers count the cost of discounting habit: Sales hit as bargain-addicted shoppers won't pay full price
American fads such as Black Friday - which are now the norm in the UK - have dragged Christmas sales into November, resulting in the weakest January performance for retailers in three years. But not all firms heavily discounted over the Christmas period, with fashion retailer New Look saying it maintained full prices. As a result it reported third quarter profit increased 28 per cent to £35.2million and online sales up 32.4 per cent over the Christmas period.
YOUR MONEY ESSENTIALS
'This time I'm using the net for a divorce, not lawyers': Breaking up? It doesn't have to break the bank
The divorce statistics for 2014 will be published in the next few weeks. With around four in ten marriages ending up in tatters, this means couples are breaking up at a rate of about 2,300 every week in England and Wales. Divorce is an emotional time, but - as our guide shows - there are ways to save money. Sarah Thomas (pictured) knows splitting up is expensive.
MIDAS SHARE TIPS: Burgundy producer Domaine Chanzy is raising money for a wine flotation. Now that takes some bottle...
Here's something a little different - a French wine maker joining AIM and using crowdfunding to raise money for the flotation. The company is Domaine Chanzy, a leading producer of Burgundy wines. For wine enthusiasts and more adventurous stock-pickers, the flotation could prove both fun and rewarding.
Going for growth: From US small caps to India, MAIKE CURRIE's four ideas to invest for better returns as world economy slows
Why do people invest? In three words: to make money. This is done in two ways, your investment grows in size, giving you a long-term capital gain. Or, your investment pays you an income. Maike Currie, of Fidelity, gives four ideas for investing when growth is in short supply?
Woodford to launch investment trust backing early-stage companies - and you won't pay anything unless it beats the market
The investment trust will initially focus on medium and large sized established UK companies before moving towards listed and unlisted smaller and growing businesses. There will be no set management charge but instead an as yet unspecified performance fee.
Can't afford a buy-to-let? Now you can snap up crowdfunding shares in a home instead - but beware the risks on these investments
Many people have looked enviously at the bumper returns reaped from buy-to-let over the years, but the high cost of entry has locked most out of investing. In a bid to cash in on investors who like the idea buy-to-let but cannot raise the deposit, a string of crowd-funding endeavours have cropped up. We take a look at one and its dangers.
A friend had ski insurance but when he broke his arm off-piste he wasn't covered. What should we look for?
A friend broke her arm after a collision on the slopes and had to pay a fortune for the 'blood wagon' to bring her down the mountain. Because she had been outside one of the main slopes at the time, her insurance wouldn't cover the cost. I want to make sure we are covered and know what to look out for in a ski insurance policy before we go
If my nephew goes for 'black box' telematic car insurance will his bad driving push up premiums next year?
My nephew passed his driving test first time but the cost of insuring a vehicle himself is almost prohibitive. My sister discovered that some insurers would offer cover at a reduced price with a 'telematics box' installed.I'm worried about what happens if the insurer reviews the information on the box and decides the increase the premium. How likely is it that they will do this?
Pension freedom - triumph or disaster in the making? How to enjoy the big rewards, and make sure it doesn't go horribly wrong
Pension freedom reforms are just two months' away and retirees are eagerly awaiting the opportunity to unlock savings built up over decades. It's set to bring huge benefits to people trying to decide how best to fund their retirement - and hoping to spend a portion of their cash enjoyably. Others could be tripped up by the new rules and make mistakes that cost them dear.
You're HIRED! Apprentice winner Ricky Martin's simple tips for a winning CV and success in high-pressure interviews
Monday was the busiest day of the year for interviews, as people hunt for a start-of-year new job. One man who knows all about standing out from the crowd is Ricky Martin, The Apprentice winner who scooped £250k from Lord Sugar for his recruitment firm. He gives us his top tips to perfecting your CV and landing that dream role.
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Are the UK stock market and economy set for a good year in 2015?
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Is low inflation good or bad news and when will interest rates rise?
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Justin Urquhart-Stewart: How to invest for low inflation in 2015
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Rolls-Royce celebrates fifth successive sales record
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Meet Derek the snow drifting ultimate #PensionFan
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Foreign Office advice on buying property in Spain
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Gogglebox stars Steph and Dom talk pensions and future plans
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Tim Price: Low interest rates are a coiled spring for trouble ahead
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Me and my Money: Marvin Humes on family and finances
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TipTV: David Lenigas on the Gatwick Horse Hill oil find
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How to recognise the warning signs of a scam: Clive's story
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TipTV: Mike Ingram on the US ending QE and markets
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Values have soared, but is a classic car an investment?
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We visit the farm 33m below London's streets
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Michael Lewis explains rip-off high frequency traders
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Clem Chambers of ADVFN thinks a market crash is coming
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Richard Reed - how we built Innocent from from just £500 of fruit
GUIDES: HOW TO SAVE MONEY AND MAKE MONEY
WHAT NEXT FOR YOUR MONEY?
50 ways to save money: Simple steps to cut what you spend that could clear your debts or seriously boost your savings
To clear the average national household debt of £13,000 at 6% interest with a monthly repayment of £100 will take around 17 years. There are, however, plenty of simple ways to make significant savings on your regular spending that could clear your debt - or boost your savings - in less than a year. This is Money's top 50 - updated - money-saving tips may appear light-hearted but are deadly serious.
When will interest rates rise? Deflation fears and eurozone QE mean rates may not move this year, as the hawks back down
This has been a big week for monetary policy. The European Central Bank finally announced quantitative easing in the eurozone, with a plan to print 60bn-a-month, while at home in the UK the Bank of England's rate hike hawks backed down. The question now is whether rates will now even rise at all in the UK this year?
Our savings picks: This is Money's five favourite best buy cash Isas for 2015
From last year savers will be able to save up to a whopping £15,000 tax-free - all of which can go into a cash Isa. We pick our five favourite cash Isas for savers, don't miss this essential Isa reading that is kept up-to-date throughout the year.
Best paid UK jobs 2014: Compare your pay to the national average in the league table of salaries across 350 trades and professions
The influence of financial services on the economy is spelled out again as City brokers steal top spot in this year's official list of highest earners. According to the detailed 2014 annual salaries survey, brokers pocketed around 40 times more this year than those at the bottom of the list - the people responsible for keeping children safe on the way to school. Lollipop crossing patrols earned around £3,400.
Premium Bonds winners
Prize value | Winning bond No. | Area |
---|---|---|
£1,000,000 | 199ZJ038316 | Cornwall |
£1,000,000 | 157LK843986 | West Midlands |
£100,000 | 95AM662070 | Norfolk |
£100,000 | 93FE937577 | Kent |
£100,000 | 35HD524511 | West Scotland |
£100,000 | 143WZ658603 | Cleveland |
£50,000 | 57QY965463 | Hertfordshire |
£50,000 | 235XE429302 | Bristol |
£50,000 | 214HF436031 | Dorset |
£50,000 | 201RL410155 | Hertfordshire |
£50,000 | 200FF269950 | Dorset |
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MIDAS SHARE TIPS
- MIDAS SHARE TIPS: Burgundy producer Domaine Chanzy is raising money for a wine flotation. Now that takes some bottle...
- MIDAS SHARE TIPS UPDATE: Pattern is for more growth at Walker Greenbank
- MIDAS SHARE TIPS: Landlord Grainger looking like hot property with new-builds
- MIDAS SHARE TIPS UPDATE: Canny marketing helps Irn-Bru maker AG Barr fizz
- MIDAS SHARES TIPS: Cake maker Finsbury Food Group is going in One Direction - UP
- MIDAS SHARE TIPS: New stocks join Dogs of the Footsie portfolio which has proved highly resilient - but will they burn brightly?
- MIDAS SHARE TIPS: Jamie's crockery maker Churchill China serves up success on a plate
- MIDAS SHARE TIPS UPDATE: Kitchen tip Howden is up 81% and prepares some more tasty results
- MIDAS SHARE TIPS: Sprinkling of gold dust should make drugs firm Midatech Pharma a 2015 winner
- MIDAS SHARE TIPS: Brickmaker Michelmersh Brick Holdings all fired up by recovery in building
- THE FULL MIDAS SHARE TIPS ARCHIVE
- Pound hits seven-year high against the euro as European finance ministers hold emergency meeting to avert...
- Baffling state pension forecasts scrapped and replaced with 'one figure' version after flood of complaints
- Loyal customers leaving Barclays after being told they're TOO POOR: Some have been with the bank for 60...
- Do we really need to pay thousands to chartered surveyors and lawyers to buy our freehold when it is only...
- Savage home loan price war slashes thousands off bills: The best mortgage deals revealed
- Pension savers can take small pots from old employers with them automatically when they change jobs from...
- Looking after your legacy: Step-by-step guide to navigating the probate maze after the death of a loved one
- Is this the way all retirement homes should be run? When firm running Woodchester village went bust, the...
- FTSE CLOSE: Investors fret ahead of Greek debt showdown in Brussels; oil price slips back to $55
- iPhone chip designer ARM Holdings sees quarterly profits surge on back of strong licences and royalty...
- Durex to Dettol firm Reckitt sees 2014 sales rise but job cuts and heavy cost-cutting programme to come in...
- Sky scores in TV sports war with plans to spend £4.2bn to show 126 Premier League games per season from 2016...
- Homebuilder Redrow posts record half-year profits, disputing claims London housing market is cooling
- Africa-focused blue chip oil and gas explorer Tullow Oil scraps its final payout as it posts its first...
- Rare Royal Navy £2 coins tipped to be worth a mint in years to come are dished out in change to lucky HMS...
- Loyal customers leaving Barclays after being told they're TOO POOR: Some have been with the bank for 60 years but booted out because they don't earn £75,000
- Is this the way all retirement homes should be run? When firm running Woodchester village went bust, the residents took charge...
- 'The best ever chance to fix at a low rate': Now 25 mortgages charge LESS interest than an easy access savings account pays
- Pound hits seven-year high against the euro as European finance ministers hold emergency meeting to avert 'Grexit'
- Ageing population and poor productivity 'will see UK drop out of top 10 world economies by 2050'
- MARKET REPORT: Revived private equity takeover talk lifts Hampsire-based defence group Chemring
- Baffling state pension forecasts scrapped and replaced with 'one figure' version after flood of complaints
- How much state pension will YOU get? Over-55s can apply for forecasts to help get ready for freedom reforms
- Tax row engulfs Rexam predator Ball Corporation as a third of the US giant's subsidiaries are based in tax havens
- The dividend hunter's best friends: 14 of the best and most consistent income funds revealed
- Savage home loan price war slashes thousands off bills: The best mortgage deals revealed
- Savers need to act quickly or risk missing out on top accounts as yet more best buys are axed within weeks of launch
- ASK TONY: Air France lost our suitcase and we are still out of pocket for emergency clothing
- £780 for a £229 tumbledryer?! MPs urge crackdown on rent-to-own retailers that charge poorest families three times as much to buy household goods in instalments
- Looking after your legacy: Step-by-step guide to navigating the probate maze after the death of a loved one
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MOST READ MONEY
- 'I transferred £158,000 into carbon credits - have I lost my pension? Tony Hetherington investigates
- Lloyds in dock for sales tactics as staff are set high-pressure targets Attempts by Lloyds to stamp out mis-selling run into trouble
- Our friends had winter sports insurance but when one of them broke their arm skiing off-piste they weren't covered. Why?
- JEFF PRESTRIDGE: Unprecedented demand for pensioner bonds has caused NS&I;'s administration to creak at the seams
- If my nephew goes for 'black box' telematic car insurance will his bad driving push up premiums? I'm worried he'll be charged more
- Fancy your own Wolf Hall? TV hit is set to spark demand for period properties like these ten houses
- First Direct sets new record lows with five-year fix at 2.28% and a decade-long deal at 2.89% Fixed rate mortgages keep on tumbling.
- You're HIRED! Apprentice winner Ricky Martin's tips for a winning CV And how to win at interview
- Pension freedom - triumph or disaster in the making? How to enjoy the big rewards, and make sure it doesn't go horribly wrong.
- Bank with no set rates and old-fashioned managers is booming Swedish challenger Handelsbanken sees UK profits rise 41%
- SUNDAY NEWSPAPER SHARE TIPS This week Domaine Chanzy from Midas, BT and GSK from Inside the City and Vodafone from Questor
- Mobile calls set to get cheaper as watchdog steps in to cap charges between networks Ofcom said 'termination charges' should fall by 42 per cent.
- Don't write off Tesco yet: Asda boss Andy Clarke says giant is still a major force in the supermarket battle
- Fed up with politicians? Now voters can crowdfund their own candidate for MP - and one is even taking on Nick Clegg.
- Europe at 'critical juncture' and faces stagnation and deflation Unless millions of jobs are created
- Sky face battle to keep lion's share of Premier League Ahead of £4bn bidding war
- Motorists keep a lid on the miles as lower petrol prices fail to spark increase in car use The cost of fuel is down to around 106.5p a litre.
- Long winter goes on for savers as Bank of England marks six years of record-low interest rates The bank rate was cut to its record low in March 2009.
- Households face tax hikes after next general election, warns IFS 'Austerity isn't enough to balance the books,' says think-tank.
- House price growth bounces back in January as homes gain another £3,800 in one month alone Average price across UK is now £193,130, says Halifax.
- THE MINOR INVESTOR: The wisdom of the crowd or herd mentality? The crowdfunding minefield
- From US small caps to India, MAIKE CURRIE's four ideas to invest for better returns as world economy slows Fidelity man going for growth.
- 'Barclays shut my account because I don't earn £75,000' How Louise is being booted out of the fee-paying account after 18 years.
- When Caroline got Alzheimer's she used lasting power of attorney to put Tony in charge What you must know about one of the most important forms you should fill out.
- ASK TONY: Barclays cash machine took my £400 and it won't give it back! They told me that this is a regular occurrence called 'cash purge dump'.
- Pensioners lose 12% in five months as annuities plummet to their lowest level in two years Figures reveal someone with a £100k pension pot could be £849 a year poorer.
- Why internet rates are no longer the best Savers can now earn the same or more with a High Street account.
- Why you'll now earn fewer air miles for your holiday if you fly economy Avios overhaul.
- 'There are ways to invest that have made money over decades' Tim Price on the investors who beat the market
- Landlords lose court fight against West Bromwich BS over tracker mortgage rate rise Buy-to-let battle takes new turn.
- RACHEL RICKARD STRAUS: We can't act surprised that comparison sites make a mint from us switching Snoop Dogg doesn't work for free
- JAMES CONEY: How the taxman gets it so wrong despite new computer systems What we need is a rethink of the whole bungling tax system.
- How can I start saving for my child's future? INVESTMENT CLINIC on how to start saving after having a new baby.
- Expedia returned the money for a holiday to my dead husband's account but it was closed and I am still waiting for a refund
- Savers to suffer further rate cuts as Barclays, Natwest and RBS slash deals by a third NatWest cut its cash Isa rates on Monday by a third.
- My cash Isa interest is being paid monthly into my current account and Barclays says I can't change it!
- Ocado finally delivers: First annual profit arrives after 15 years Middle classes' online grocer in the black
- John Lewis and Waitrose axe final salary pensions that members didn't have to pay into Another gold-plated scheme falls
- Doctors, dentists and other middle class professionals targeted by the taxman HMRC clamps down on 'mass affluent' tax dodgers
- LEE BOYCE: Watching local sports teams for £10 has rekindled my passion The joy of cheap live football and rugby
- Where was Britain's first cash machine? A short history of how our mini-banks evolved
- Is it time you made more of the digital banking boom? Pay in a cheque with your phone and send money to a friend in seconds:
- New firm running delay-plagued Thameslink identified driver shortages a year ago Govia was hauled in front of the Transport Secretary
- Hedge fund manager Crispin Odey sets off equity timebomb Warning of recession where 'markets will get devastated'
- £1,000 for every mile per hour! Ferrari to unveil new £200,000, 200mph 488 GTB supercar at Geneva Motor Show next month
- There is an investor revolution coming - and that's why I'm removing opaque charges TD Direct explain their challenge to rivals on fees
- Thunderbirds are go! As TV classic gets remade, the price of toys is set to rocket
- Now you can hoard gold like Bond villains or the super-rich Royal Mint is selling solid ingots for about £50 each
- Don't let the exit fee put you off switching energy deal Neil Loryman's wish to switch was stymied by something more unusual - a postcode wrangle
- TONY HETHERINGTON Help - I paid doorstep salesman £295 to get my council tax bill reduced, but nothing happened
- How you can hoard gold like Bond villains or the super-rich The Royal Mint has just started selling solid ingots for about £50 each
- Are you anxious about pension freedom? Retirees are worried about making mistakes and running out of money
- The trick to making sure you get a good deal on Amazon Website tracks prices of your favourite items - and alerts you when they drop.
- Landlords lose latest round of tracker mortgage fight in blow that could affect millions of borrowers West Bromwich Building Society hiked tracker rates.
- Could you save £200 on your energy bills with a collective switch? How to use people power to cut your bills
FUND AND TRUST IDEAS
- Fidelity Global Dividend: Fund trawls for opportunities worldwide and has returned 56% since its 2012 launch
- AXA FRAMLINGTON BIOTECH: High risk - and rewards - in the genes for fund boss Linden Thomson
- JPM GLOBAL EQUITY INCOME FUND: Dividends soaring after US firms go on buyback spree
- EVENLODE INCOME FUND: Recipe for success - take a small firm with big dividends then add a touch of mayonnaise
- OLD MUTUAL EUROPEAN EQUITY: Euro may be tarnished, but fund sees silver lining
- NEPTUNE US OPPORTUNITIES: Fund bosses lead the charge to the US as bull run thunders on
- BRITISH ASSETS TRUST: After 116 years of steady play, the trust is set for huge changes
- Troy Asset Management: 'Sheltering investors' money during turbulent times is key', says fund boss Francis Brooke
- GUINNESS GLOBAL ENERGY: Fund is over a barrel as price of oil plummets towards $50
- BLACKROCK GLOBAL INCOME: Fund managers stick to diet of McDonald's, Nestle and hope they are here to stay
- Axa Framlington UK Select Opportunities Fund: It may be worth £4.4bn, but unwavering boss says size doesn't matter
- MARLBOROUGH UK MICRO-CAP GROWTH: Finding winning start-ups is no mystery for this Baker Street manager
Latest: Mortgages & home
- 'The best ever chance to fix at a low rate': Now 25 mortgages charge LESS interest than an easy access savings account pays
- Savage home loan price war slashes thousands off bills: The best mortgage deals revealed
- What next for mortgage rates? Fixed rates tumble to as low as 1.19% as lenders keep on cutting
- You can huff and puff but this house won't blow down! Seven new STRAW homes go on sale in Bristol
- 'Every year our landlord hiked the price by £150': How to fight back against the dreaded rent increase
- Fixed rate mortgages keep on tumbling: First Direct sets new record lows with five-year fix at 2.28% and ten-year deal at 2.89%
- Fancy your own Wolf Hall? Genuine Tudor homes might be high maintenance but the TV hit is set to spark demand for period properties like these ten houses...
- Can't afford a buy-to-let? Now you can snap up crowdfunding shares in a home instead - but beware the risks on these investments
- House price growth bounces back in January as homes gain another £3,800 in one month alone
Latest from Saving & banking
- Contactless spending limit hiked to £30 from September as 'swipe and go' surges in popularity
- Want a fixed-rate savings account? Take a shorter deal as interest rates will remain at record low until at least next year
- Surging demand for pensioner bonds prompts government scheme extension with bonds now on sale until May
- Savers need to act quickly or risk missing out on top accounts as yet more best buys are axed within weeks of launch
- Loyal customers leaving Barclays after being told they're TOO POOR: Some have been with the bank for 60 years but booted out because they don't earn £75,000
- Looking for a better bank? This is Money's five of the best current accounts
- Pensioner bonds limit is scrapped as 600,000 savers grab market-beating rates: We reveal what you need to know about the new deadline
- 'I'm so angry I may smash my collection of NatWest pigs': Despite protests, bailed-out bank refuses to halt devastating branch closures
- Spending on contactless cards trebles in just one year to £2.32BN - and transaction limit will soon be raised to £30
- Bank with no set rates and old-fashioned managers is booming: Swedish challenger Handelsbanken sees UK profits rise 41%
ANSWERS FROM THE Experts
- Do we really need to pay thousands to chartered surveyors and lawyers to buy our freehold when it is only worth about £4k?
- Why does it cost twice as much to phone France and Spain on my BT landline as calling Russia and Brazil?
- Our friends had winter sports insurance but when one of them broke their arm skiing off-piste they weren't covered. Why?
- TONY HETHERINGTON: I transferred my pension savings of £158,000 into carbon credits, which have gone up in smoke. Have I lost my pension?
- If my nephew goes for 'black box' telematic car insurance will his bad driving push up premiums next year?
- I'm the executor of an estate - can I hire a solicitor to handle inheritance tax and still take care of the rest myself?
- ASK TONY: Barclays cash machine took my £400 and it won't give it back!
- Expedia returned the money for a holiday to my dead husband's account, but it was closed and I am still waiting for a refund
- My cash Isa interest is being paid monthly into my current account - and Barclays says I can't change it!
- I want to shift £3k of credit card debt that I am paying interest on to a 0% balance transfer deal – but will getting another card hurt my credit rating?
Currency | Rate | Buy now |
---|---|---|
Updated 11 Feb 2015. | ||
Euro | 1.3229 | Buy Now |
US Dollar | 1.4975 | Buy Now |
Australian Dollar | 1.897 | Buy Now |
Canadian Dollar | 1.8657 | Buy Now |
Chinese Yuan | 9.1341 | Buy Now |
Croatian Kuna | 10.033 | Buy Now |
Czech Koruna | 35.911 | Buy Now |
Danish Krone | 9.6844 | Buy Now |
Egyptian Pound | 10.983 | Buy Now |
Hong Kong Dollar | 11.468 | Buy Now |
Hungarian Forint | 397.46 | Buy Now |
Japanese Yen | 177.97 | Buy Now |
Malaysian Ringgit | 5.2706 | Buy Now |
New Zealand Dollar | 2.0022 | Buy Now |
Norwegian Krone | 11.158 | Buy Now |
Polish Zloty | 5.4091 | Buy Now |
Singapore Dollar | 2.007 | Buy Now |
South African Rand | 17.297 | Buy Now |
Sterling | 1.0 | Buy Now |
Swedish Krona | 12.241 | Buy Now |
Swiss Franc | 1.3557 | Buy Now |
Thai Baht | 47.57 | Buy Now |
UAE Dirham | 5.4444 | Buy Now |
Latest from Holidays
- How many Knuts would Harry Potter need to convert into Galactic Standard Credits if he visited the Star Wars Cantina? And other questions from the world of fictional money
- Avios overhaul: Why you'll now earn fewer air miles for your holiday if you fly economy
- 'We enjoyed luxurious five-star break at three-star price': From working holidays to home swaps - how to get away for less
- It's holiday easing: British travellers get a boost as the pound climbs to a seven-year high against the euro
- Flight delay compensation mess continues, as airlines find new excuses to reject claims despite passenger victory
- How to claim flight delay or cancellation compensation
- New prepaid card on which sterling can be converted into 14 currencies set for launch with backing of former EMI boss Eric Nicoli
- Britons set for continental spending power boost as pound gains versus euro - but Swiss-bound skiers get stung as the franc soars
- Holiday bookings rocket as chilly Britons plan escapes to the sun - and Tenerife is in hot demand after Birds of a Feather Christmas special
LATEST ON HOUSEHOLD Bills
- £780 for a £229 tumbledryer?! MPs urge crackdown on rent-to-own retailers that charge poorest families three times as much to buy household goods in instalments
- Workers are three times more likely to insure their pets than their incomes - but half couldn't pay the bills if they were too ill to work
- 'This time I'm using the net for a divorce, not lawyers': Breaking up? It doesn't have to break the bank
- Compare the market: Now it's compare the commission as websites come under scrutiny from MPs and Ofgem
- Mobile calls set to get cheaper as watchdog steps in to cap charges between networks
- Price comparison website bosses under attack from MPs for not showing customers the best deals
- RACHEL RICKARD STRAUS: We can't act surprised that comparison sites make a mint from us switching - Snoop Dogg doesn't work for free
- Price comparison sites accused of hiding the best energy deals from their phone customers - because they won't earn a commission
- Water bills set to fall by £9 next year - and struggling households will share a pot worth £40million to help them pay their bills
- LEE BOYCE: My resolution to watch local sports teams for £10 has rekindled my love for live football and rugby
Latest from Cards & loans
- New banking shame as two million credit card holders get in line for up to £270 compensation for paying for 'security' policy they already got for free
- The perils of slimming pills: How you could end up £100 a month lighter - and how to avoid being taken in by claims in the ads
- Borrow interest-free for 35 months: The best balance transfer credit cards to help clear your debts
- Biggest boom in credit card demand since records began as Brits geared up for Christmas splurge
- Play your cards right: The best credit cards for spending, holidays, rewards or clearing your debts in 2015
- Millions face Christmas debt hangover as charity reports surge in calls relating to missed rent and mortgage payments
- One in eight Britons face Christmas financial hangover as new personal debt soars to highest level in nearly seven years
- Payday lender crackdown kicks off to protect customers from unscrupulous practices and spiralling fees
- One in three may have errors lurking in their credit reports - and even tiny errors can lead to being turned down for a credit card or mortgage
Latest from Investing
- Fund managers slam 'emotive hyperbole' over their investment charges and reject simplification of fees
- One in three 'active' investment funds are expensive clones of the stock market, claim industry campaigners
- The dividend hunter's best friends: 14 of the best and most consistent income funds revealed
- MIDAS SHARE TIPS UPDATE: Pattern is for more growth at Walker Greenbank
- MIDAS SHARE TIPS: Burgundy producer Domaine Chanzy is raising money for a wine flotation. Now that takes some bottle...
- SMALL CAP SHARE IDEAS: Mobile marketing firm CDialogues set to see profits grow 10-fold in four years if targets reached
- Fidelity Global Dividend: Fund trawls for opportunities worldwide and has returned 56% since its 2012 launch
- INVESTMENT EXTRA: Shareholders in BP, Serco, Tesco and Barclays have all been through the wars - but are the bad times over or can it get worse?
- SUNDAY NEWSPAPER SHARE TIPS: Domaine Chanzy, BT, GSK, Vodafone
Latest: money and Cars
- Petrol prices back on the up! Forecourts quick to react as oil recovers from $45 low to $58
- Have you still got a tax disc in your car? Just 20% of us have removed them from our windscreens
- Motorists keep a lid on the miles as lower petrol prices fail to spark increase in car use
- Strongest January for car sales since 2007 as economic confidence drives demand back to pre-recession levels
- Hundreds of customers complain to Ombudsman about car finance deals after being landed with unexpected bills
- £1,000 for every mile per hour! Ferrari to unveil new £200,000, 200mph 488 GTB supercar at Geneva Motor Show next month
- Volvo's boss on the new XC90 4x4 and the cars it hopes will challenge Mercedes, Audi and the luxury league
- The clutch went on my nearly-new car after just 650 miles and the dealer blamed my driving - but I've been a faultless driver for decades
- Lost your car key? That will be £280 to replace! Rise of 'smart' key technology adds to the cost of getting locked out
- Loophole that means no one is to blame for this terrifying head-on smash as 'ethical' insurer Co-op refuses to pay out
Latest from Markets
- FTSE CLOSE: Investors fret ahead of Greek debt showdown in Brussels; oil price slips back to $55
- Africa-focused blue chip oil and gas explorer Tullow Oil scraps its final payout as it posts its first annual loss in 15 years
- Commodities giant Glencore to offload its near 24% stake in platinum miner Lonmin to shareholders, and plans to cut spending
- Homebuilder Redrow posts record half-year profits, disputing claims London housing market is cooling
- Durex to Dettol firm Reckitt sees 2014 sales rise but job cuts and heavy cost-cutting programme to come in 'tough' 2015
- iPhone chip designer ARM Holdings sees quarterly profits surge on back of strong licences and royalty revenues
- Thomas Cook stems losses on cost saving plan but warns of headwinds from Europe as German customers delay bookings
- Sky scores in TV sports war with plans to spend £4.2bn to show 126 Premier League games per season from 2016 to 2019
- MARKET REPORT: Revived private equity takeover talk lifts Hampsire-based defence group Chemring
- Tesco set to cash in some loyalty points as turnaround at Britain's biggest grocer continues
TOP CALCULATORS
- This is Money's calculators and tools All our calculators in one place. See how they could help you
- Historic inflation: how the value of money has changed The effects of inflation since 1900 and what past prices mean today
- True cost mortgage tool - rates AND fees Compare the cost of rival fixed and tracker rate mortgages
- Mortgage affordability: How much you can borrow Find out how much you can afford to borrow and the difference between repayment and interest-only
- Monthly or lump sum savings calculator How much a regular monthly savings scheme could make or a lump sum could be worth.
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