Annual house price growth has dipped every month since August - but property values still hit record highs

Property prices in England and Wales saw their smallest annual change in more than a year in March according to the latest monthly index from LSL Property Services. Values edged up 0.2 per cent last month and 5.6 per cent annually meaning the average home now sits at £275,123, another record high. In March 2014, prices sat at £260,503.

Fall in unemployment gives Chancellor pre-election boost but pick-up in pay is slower than expected

The last labour market figures before the general election saw an expected drop in unemployment in the three months to February from the 5.7 per cent in the previous quarter.

Home moving costs jump 20% in A YEAR to almost £12k as buyers and sellers hand more over to estate agents and the taxman

The UK's booming property market has pushed moving costs higher with big rises in stamp duty and estate agents fees, that are worked out as a share of sale prices, helping to push the cost of moving home from £7,475 in 2004 to £11,894 last year. Much of the rise came in the last year when costs jumped 20 per cent from £9,948. Centre for Economics and Business Research said most home movers were left scrambling to pay the extra bills having underestimated their cost.

Greece suffers IMF knockback as Lagarde says she would 'certainly not support' repayment delays

Christine Lagarde of the IMF said she would 'certainly not support' any delay to repayments from Athens, pointing out that no advanced economy has ever been given such leeway.

Investor confidence is wobbling due to election uncertainty - even as Footsie notches up record highs

The FTSE 100 hit a closing record of 7096.78 on Wednesday, but a survey shows just 36 per cent of investors expect the London stock market to be higher in six months' time.

AA slams rising petrol costs for motorists despite global oil price falling 5% in April

The need for fair pricing on forecourts has been largely ignored by politicians during the General Election campaign, the motoring group added.

The Diary of a Private Investor: Biotech stands accused of being a bubble but I'm holding on for now - and making money

Before the dotcom bubble I had only really heard of two bubbles before - Dutch tulip mania of the 17th century and the South Sea Bubble a hundreds year later. Now they are everywhere it seems.

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FTSE LIVE: Footsie plunges with global markets spooked by China short selling talk, Bloomberg terminals outage

The FTSE 100 index was down 61.9 points, or 0.8 per cent at 6,998.1, plunging from an early session peak of 7,093.52 and curtailing an assault on its all-time high of 7,119.35 recorded early yesterday morning. Traders said reports that Chinese fund managers will be allowed to lend stocks for short selling was hammering shares globally, with stock futures in the US and China dropping sharply.

Morrisons axing 720 jobs at head office weeks after giving five mangers their marching orders

David Potts who became chief executive of Britain's fourth largest grocer just last month said head office staff would be offered jobs in stores or voluntary redundancy.

WH Smith sees rising profits but falling sales as it offers newsagents new franchise opportunity 

The firm which sells books, newspapers and stationery posted an increase in pre-tax profit to £72million for the six months to February 28 from £69million. Total sales were flat at £611million.

Goldman's best results in four years spur payout for staff - with an average of £87k each

The bank reported an 11.2 per cent rise in compensation and benefit expenses to £3billion in the quarter.

BP boss faces investor protest vote against £10m pay packet

Dudley's pay and perks package totalled £10.2million for 2014 - and caused proxy voting company Glass Lewis to claim it 'exceeded market peers'.

Healthy sales rise lifts Unilever shares by 2.6% as trading in India and China improves

Unilever had previously been weighed down by lacklustre sales in the emerging markets and expensive currency conversions.

Honda crowned the most reliable car for ninth time but which brand - loved by the rich and famous - is bottom of the pile?

Honda has once again been named the most reliable used car manufacturer in comprehensive research by What Car? and Warranty Direct. It means the Japanese badge has taken the crown nine years on the trot in annual data which analyses 50,000 policies on three to eight-year old cars.

The Wall Street party isn't over just yet: MAIKE CURRIE gives four reasons why investors should keep the faith with the barnstorming US

Since the dark days of the credit crunch, US shares have led the pack, but from the beginning of this year, the American stock market has lagged, falling behind the UK, Europe and Japan. There is the threat of interest rates rising in the US, but here are four reasons why some exposure to the US market still makes sense.

SIMON LAMBERT: Don't expect buy-to-let's interstellar gains to be repeated - 1996 was a much better time to invest in property than today

Astonishing claims of a 1,400% return over the past two decades are built on borrowed money but there's another important point to consider - property was unloved and cheap in 1996. That made buy-to-let a turbocharged value investment. Investors could still do well today, but they shouldn't expect a repeat of the past.

Money Morals: My 22-year-old son's living at home because he can't afford to move out but he's just booked a holiday to Spain. Can I tell him he can't go? 

In our Money Morals series we invite readers to help solve a dilemma. This week we ask, if your grown-up son or daughter is living at home but spending extravagantly, can you tell them to rein it in?

The Investing Show: What next for the Footsie, buy-to-let returns, and how to invest when markets are riding high

In the second episode of our new Investing Show, we take a look at what next for the FTSE 100, what a potential US rate rise would mean for investors, and the temptation of buy-to-let returns. In this show special guest Justin Urquhart Stewart, of Seven Investment Management, discusses how to invest when markets are riding high.

Divorce could slash your retirement income by £2,100 a year: How the cost of splitting up lasts into old age

Divorced people planning to retire this year expect an annual retirement income of £15,700, while those who haven't divorced anticipate receiving £17,800 a year.

My mum is not in my stepfather's will and he's left the house to his kids - can we challenge the inheritance after he dies? 

My stepfather has always prevented her from contributing to the purchase of their homes. I have now learnt that when my stepfather dies the home has been left, in his will, to his two sons. I would like to know whether there is any course of action we can take when one of them dies?

Shawbrook Bank launches new best buy one year fixed-rate cash Isa - but longer term deals axed by others

Challenger bank Shawbrook has launched a short term fixed-rate tax-free deal which has seen it climb to the top of the independent This is Money best buy tables.

Pension companies swamped with 230,000 calls in four days as confusion reigns over new freedoms

Pension firms fielded nearly 230,000 calls from people wanting to find out about new pension freedoms in the week following the changes launched on April 6.

Britain faces a 'very real housing crisis': Homes shortage will continue to inflate property prices, experts warn

A shortage of property for sale is adding to pressure on house prices, despite a recent slowdown in activity and the London property market coming off the boil. House prices are tipped to rise 2.5% this year and 4.5% a year for the next five years, by RICS, which has warned the next government must address the UK's property problem.

Mobile phone customers each paying £92 extra a year for handsets their contract has already paid for

Vodafone, EE and Three customers continue to be charged under one bundled price, while O2, Virgin Media, Tesco Mobile and Utility Warehouse separate handset and other tariff costs.

How a sinister new twist on those phone call scams cost Jenny £4,000

The owner of a small hair salon has been duped out of £4,000 after being tricked into believing that bailiffs were about to burst into her business. In a fiendish new twist on the phone scams sweeping Britain, Jenny Tofts was duped by supposed court officials who rang out of the blue and then, over the course of an afternoon, persuaded her to make a payment to call them off.

MARKET REPORT: FT publisher Pearson at bottom of the class as investors catch wind of ill-fated iPad scheme

FT publisher Pearson found itself at the bottom of the Footsie's class, after closing 57p or 4 per cent down at 1,370p. Investors heard about the latest disastrous chapter in its ill-fated iPads-for-all programme in Los Angeles and sprinted for the exit. Following the end of the £875million education initiative that would have seen all students in the Los Angeles schools district outfitted with an iPad with Pearson educational software, the Los Angeles Unified School District has now notified US computer giant Apple that it will no longer be using or paying for the Pearson Education curriculum that was meant to accompany the iPads. iPad initiative: FT publisher Pearson found itself at the bottom of the Footsie's class, after closing 57p or 4 per cent down at 1,370p

CITY FOCUS: David Lenigas - is there money where his mouth is? 

City Focus Graphic_.jpg

News of an oil strike near Gatwick Airport last Thursday portrayed the Weald basin as the Home Counties' version of Dallas, with estimates of up to 100billion barrels of oil in the ground. This week the company behind the announcement, UK Oil & Gas Investments, toned down its claims of a potential gusher, to rein in what one exasperated observer called its 'wild' assertions. The man behind UKOG - David Lenigas - talks up news about companies in which he is involved - and is an avid Twitter user.

Netflix is playing its cards right with 60m subscribers and £1bn sales 

The company releases its own shows as well as older box sets and films, with households paying monthly to watch as many programmes as they want on TV, computer or mobile phone.

Leading shareholder group ISS backs Alliance Trust shake-up call

Institutional Shareholder Services said it backed proposals from US hedge fund Elliott Advisors to place three new directors on the board.

Debenhams has Costa and Sports Direct in its sights as profits take a surprise upturn

The department store chain cut promotions, which had merged into one and had distracted staff, lifting pre-tax profit to £88.9million from £85.2million.

Drinks giant Diageo suffers sales dip after scaling back on amounts of alcohol offered in pubs

The Guinness and Johnny Walker whisky maker reported a slip in third-quarter sales that was worse than expected, sending shares 3.5 per cent lower.

Should I take a tax-free lump sum from my pension?

I have a private pension pot of about £50,000, alongside a final salary scheme that will pay me £10,000 a year. How do I weigh up whether to take a tax-free lump sum? Alan Higham, retirement director at Fidelity Worldwide Investments, answers a reader question.

How to make your savings work harder: The tax breaks that boost your monthly income

Senior woman inserting coins into piggybank.

Image by   Nick White/Image Source/Corbis

Savers hunting for an account that pays them a monthly income will earn just 1.5 per cent, even if they have substantial sums tucked away.

ASK TONY: My mobile was stolen and by the time I reported it £1,130 worth of calls had been made - is Vodafone's £200 bill fair?

During a recent holiday to Barcelona, my phone was stolen. I had become separated from my friends, so had no way of calling my network - Vodafone - straight away to alert them to the incident. By the time I managed to call Vodafone, the thief had made £1,130-worth of fraudulent calls to Spanish premium- rate numbers. Vodafone said that I had to pay these charges. After negotiations, they have offered to reduce the bill by £200.

Customers with energy tariffs ending this month urged to switch or face 9% hike

CNABJ2 BRITISH DOMESTIC GAS BILL RE ENERGY COSTS BILLS HEATING FUEL FUELS RISING PRICES KEEPING YOUR HOUSE WARM HOMES INSULATION ETC UK. Image shot 2012. Exact date unknown.

Eight energy deals are coming to an end on April 30 - and six will mean increases of around £91 a year for a typical customer.

Beware invoice fraudsters: Businesses warned to guard against a new computer scam

A man uses a laptop computer keyboard.
AKH4M7 business be aware of hacking and crime

Fraudsters are sending emails that purport to be from regular suppliers or other trusted companies, Financial Fraud Action UK is warning.

Lost bags? Flight delayed? Major airlines to set up new independent complaints service - but it probably won't be free

Major airlines are to set up ombudsman-style schemes that customers can turn to if they have a dispute. At present, complaints about flights are dealt with by the regulator, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). But it struggles to deal with the huge number of cases it receives and can't force airlines to follow its decisions or make payments.

Sting in the Help to Buy tail as many lenders do not have remortgage deals available to those ending fixed-rates

A woman looks at houses for sale in a estate agents window, advertising the new help to Buy scheme, in Allerton, Liverpool, England. 


PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Tuesday October 8, 2013. See PA story MONEY Help. Photo credit should read: Peter Byrne/PA Wire

First-time buyers who snapped up a home through the Government's Help to Buy scheme could find they struggle to get the cheapest mortgage deals when their current one ends.

Barclays unveils Blue Rewards current account add-on offering £12 monthly bonus to take on cashback rivals

Barclays has exclusively unveiled details of its new current account add-on which comes with a monthly loyalty reward and cashback on a variety of shops.

INVESTMENT CLINIC: Strategic bonds offer good returns, but is the money protected?

I'm thinking about investing in strategic bonds, as I hear they give a good regular return. But is the money I put into them guaranteed? Holly Black replies.

Is 2015 the turning point for a 100 years of rising prices? The investments that perform best during periods of low inflation and deflation

History suggests that because of demographic changes we may now be about to enter a period of near-zero inflation for a lot of the next century. This is going to have major implications for many aspects of life, but especially managing wealth. Is 2015 a turning point in global inflation and, if it is, what can you do to weather the storm? Pete Comely, author of a new book 'Inflation Matters' explains...

British households' spending power on the rise as inflation stays at 0% for second month

The CPI showed that inflation stayed at the 0 per cent recorded in February despite some expectations that falling petrol prices could have turned the rate negative.

Average house price growth slows to 7.2% and London no longer leads UK property inflation league

House prices in Britain increased by 7.2 per cent in the 12 months to February 2015 latest data from the Office for National Statistics show.

Star fund manager Neil Woodford increases size of his new fund by £300m after strong savers' demand

Fund Manager, Neil Woodford, founding partner of Woodford Investment Management.

The Patient Capital trust, which will invest in start-up science firms, was originally supposed to be only £200million in size.

Savers with up to £1m in their account to be protected under the compensation scheme for up to six months

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(USED FOR METRO FINANCE SPECIAL)
rights managed

New rules to come into force on July 2 will give savers extra cover under the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) if they have a large amount in their account for up to six months.

Metro Bank aims to create extra 3,300 jobs by 2020 - we visit its 'university' to unlock the secret to its customer service success

Metro Bank plans to create an extra 3,300 jobs by the end of the decade, it boldly announced last week amid a visit to its Kingston-upon-Thames branch by Chancellor George Osborne. On the same day as the Chancellor visited, This is Money went behind the scenes at its Fulham Broadway store. Buried underneath is its 'university' - study rooms in which staff are encouraged to continue progressing through the company.

Clydesdale Bank fined £20.6MILLION for doctoring and ignoring PPI evidence to cheat customers out of compensation

BY3H3X Clydesdale Bank at the Clydesdale Bank Plaza, Lothian Road, Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland, UK

Failings in the way it handled PPI complaints mean that tens of thousands of legitimate claims may have been rejected, leaving customers considerably out of pocket.

Esher, Surrey named income tax hotspot of Britain due to celebrity faces and London commuters who pay four times the national average

Residents living in the Esher and Walton constituency have seen average income tax bills jump eight per cent in a year.

London house prices forecast to drop 3.6% this year as mansion tax fears and stamp duty hit overseas demand - but rest of the UK will see a small rise

A very light 2 double bedroom flat for £1,850,000 in Park Mansions, Knightsbridge, London.

The value of properties across the UK is expected to rise by just 1.5 per cent in 2015, says the CEBR. That would be the first time since 2009 that national price growth is higher than in London.

Politicians attacked for raiding pensions to fund 'pet policies' like inheritance tax and tuition fee cuts

Conservatives' Inheritance tax cuts would be paid for by cutting back the amount higher earners are able to pay annually into their pension and still qualify for tax relief.

As end of the tax disc age catches out motorists: The new car tax rules you need to know to avoid an £800 fine or having your car clamped

Thousands of new drivers are having their car clamped because they are unaware of the new car tax rules, new figures suggest. When a car changes ownership, the tax no longer changes hands with it. Instead the previous owner receives an automatic refund and the new owner must pay the tax in full.

Newly flush British households splash out on restaurant meals, nights in hotels and days at the museum... 

A group of friends toasting at dinner party.

The latest Visa UK Expenditure index found that the biggest drive in households spending was hotels and eating out, which rose 7.1 per cent over the last year.

Cash spending continues to shrink as debit card payments now account for nearly £30 of every £100 spent

Cash withdrawals from current accounts now make up just £18.33 for every £100 that people spend, according to a bank's analysis of customer transactions.

From pitch to auction house: Dion Dublin makes his Homes Under the Hammer debut - and says it's far more daunting than football

Monday morning, football legend Dion Dublin makes a debut of a different kind. He will be presenting on BBC One show Homes Under the Hammer, joining property TV rock stars Lucy Alexander and Martin Roberts. Lee Boyce speaks to him ahead of his big debut.

'Confusopoly' among energy suppliers means millions overpay because they can't understand cryptic bills

CF7P0F Confused young man using a notebook

Millions of households are spending too much to light and heat their homes because 'deliberately confusing' bills put them off shopping around, a think tank has claimed.

50 ways to save money: Simple steps to cut what you spend that could clear your debts or seriously boost your savings

50 ways to save money: How to cut what you spend and put more in 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.

How to choose the best (and cheapest) DIY investing Isa - and our pick of the platforms

Choosing the right DIY platform is crucial but a wealth of choice and changes to charges have left many investors scratching their heads. We pick some of the best. We also highlight why investing in an Isa makes sense, as it should protect your hopefully growing investments from tax forever.

Revealed: The world's cheapest and most expensive stock markets - and where the UK stands

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We highlight the world's cheapest and most expensive stock markets, measured on three popular valuation tools and where the UK sits.

INVESTING TIPS: Fund and trust ideas for beginner and cautious investors

Starting out: Fund tips for beginner or cautious investors

If you are new to investing then the huge number of funds and investment trusts on offer can be confusing. Fortunately, This is Money's experts have some ideas to get you started.

INVESTING TIPS: Top fund and trust ideas for income investors

Income investing: Dividends can deliver both a healthy boost to long-term growth and a way to earn from your investments.

Income investing can let you draw on your portfolio or reinvest dividends to build solid growth over time. Our experts give their fund and investment trust recommendations.

INVESTING TIPS: Top fund and trust ideas for emerging markets

On the up: Emerging markets such as Brazil are where much of the world's growth is expected to be over future years.

If you're looking to add some flair to your investing Isa with emerging markets, This is Money's experts have some ideas to get you started

When will interest rates rise? UK narrowly avoids deflation as 'noflation' sticks instead

The UK economy failed to post expected deflation as CPI instead stayed flat for the second month in a row, according to new official figures. That left the outlook for rates firmly unchanged, with a first move still expected upwards in spring 2016.

Our savings picks: This is Money's five favourite best buy cash Isas for 2015

"No smoking" sign on a wall --- Image by © Christopher Stevenson/Corbis

We pick our five favourite cash Isas for savers. This is essential Isa reading and is kept up-to-date throughout the year

What next for house prices? Buyers offered a chance to negotiate and save money as sellers cut asking prices

spt_split-weather-houses.jpg

The traditional pre-Christmas drop in asking prices has been far more pronounced than usual, according to Rightmove. We look at the outlook for house prices.

Looking for a better bank? This is Money's five of the best current accounts

Best five: which current accounts offer the best perks?

How hard does your bank account work for you? Here's our pick of the best accounts to make your money work harder, cut down on fees, or get free stuff.

What next for mortgage rates? Fixed rates tumble to as low as 1.29% as lenders keep on cutting

Lock in a five-year fix now: The bank rate could rise as early as next year, which would send mortgage rates up

Homeowners can fix for two years at just 1.29 per cent and up to ten years at less than 3 per cent. We highlight the best mortgage deals and look at whether it is time to fix.

Ten tips for buy-to-let: the essential advice for property investors

For many buy-to-let looks an attractive income investment in a time of low rates and stock market volatility. Climbing house prices, rising rents and improving mortgage deals are tempting investors - although they will need a big deposit. Read This is Money's top ten buy-to-let tips

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

April 2015
Prize value Winning bond No. Area
£1,000,000 55DM417553 Wiltshire
£1,000,000 115SG511998 Suffolk
£100,000 80MH293690 Devon
£100,000 5ZX425829 Devon
£100,000 2VQ611480 Surrey
£100,000 231CK511061 Birmingham
£50,000 53KX083995 Nottinghamshire
£50,000 35VF197037 West Midlands
£50,000 240RM142522 West Midlands
£50,000 185NT214902 Birmingham
£50,000 168WQ372604 South Gloucestershire
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