Sports Direct boss Mike Ashley takes a massive £224m hit following poor half-year figures and fears over business practices

Sports Direct boss Mike Ashley takes a massive £224m hit following poor half-year figures

Fears of a slowdown in sales growth at the UK arm saw shares in the FTSE 100 firm fall 73p to 592.50p, wiping £440m from the market value of the sports retailer. The firm, controlled by Newcastle United owner Ashley, was forced to use the update to defend a string of allegations about the way it conducts its business.

British savers get no hint of improving returns as Bank of England holds interest rates at rock bottom for 81st month

A London evening newspaper board with the news of the Bank of England interest rate rise, which was announced today. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Thursday July 5, 2007. Homeowners faced another hike in mortgage costs today after the Bank of England raised interest rates by a further 0.25% to 5.75%. See PA story ECONOMY Rates. Photo credit should read: John Stillwell/PA Wire

The Bank has signalled in that an interest rate rise in the UK may still not come for another year, despite calls from many investors to start 'normalising' monetary policy.

Could an F1 legend's favourite car really be this tiny electric runabout? We meet SIR STIRLING MOSS to test the Renault Twizy

SIR STIRLING MOSS helps us test the electric Renault Twizy

Sir Stirling Moss won 16 Grand Prix at speeds exceeding 150mph - now he drives an electric car with a 50-mile range. He is one of the 557 UK drivers who currently own an offbeat two-seater runabout Renault Twizy. The racing legend joins us for a test drive to tell us why he loves them.

CITY FOCUS: Firing people at will, betting on rivals and even changing the locks... Five outlandish business tactics of Mike Ashley

Newcastle United's English owner Mike Ashley attends the English Premier League football match between Chelsea and Newcastle United at Stamford Bridge in London on January 10, 2015.








 AFP PHOTO / IAN KINGTON  RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or live services. Online in-match use limited to 45 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications.        (Photo credit should read IAN KINGTON/AFP/Getty Images)

This morning Mike Ashley is nursing a paper loss of £224m after shares in Sports Direct plunged. But there is nothing more that this billionaire bruiser likes than a challenge.

Paragon Bank sees savings deposits top £1bn in less than two years helping fuel the buy-to-let boom

Paragon has attracted more than 25,000 customers since and has featured heavily at the top of the independent This is Money savings tables .

Like
MailOnline

Follow
@MailOnline

MARKET REPORT: Bravery pays off for Micro Focus defying fears to flourish after buying up larger American rival

MARKET REPORT: Bravery pays off for Micro Focus defying fears to flourish after buying up

Broker Investec advised clients to buy up to £16 following better-than-expected interim sales, growth and operating cost figures. Analyst Julian Yates is of the opinion that 40 per cent of the group's £3.29bn market capitalisation could be returned in cash to shareholders over the next couple of years.

ALEX BRUMMER: Mining crisis is shaking the bedrock of South Africa's increasingly fragile economy

Daily Mail City Editor Alex Brummer.
byline

The strongest elements of South Africa in recent years have been the strength of its rugby and cricket teams and the determination not to let politics get in the way of finances.

Bankers enjoy a £9.2m bonanza following a record year for takeovers and corporate tie-ups

11D-commen lead mergers (Read-Only).jpg

Figures from industry experts Dealogic show investment banks have raked in £9.2bn this year from advising on mergers and acquisitions (M&A;) around the world.

Blow to savers who helped rescue Lloyds as bank wins right to cancel high-interest bonds issued during the financial crisis

A pedestrian walks past the branch of Lloyds Bank in the City of London, England.
The state-backed banking group announced it is to cut 9,000 jobs over the next three years as part of plans which will see the net closure of 150 branches. 
The group, which is 25% owned by the taxpayer, said it plans to "digitise" the bank, adding that it wants to simplify the business and be more efficient. See PA story CITY Lloyds.

PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Tuesday October 28, 2014. 
Photo credit should read: Stefan Rousseau/PA Wire

The High Street giant was yesterday given the green light by the Court of Appeal to cancel high interest bonds issued shortly after it was bailed out by taxpayers.

Frosty outlook for Imperial Leather maker Cussons'due to weakening economy in Nigeria

AY_30981404 (Read-Only).jpg

The launch of a new range of Carex bodywash products, and a St Tropez tanning lotion that can be applied in the shower had contributed to UK sales in the half-year to November 30.

Costa Coffee and Premier Inn owner Whitbread sees shares tumble 2.5% after new CEO's first week on the job 

Alison Brittain, executive at Lloyds.
Alison Brittain who is to become one of just a handful of female FTSE 100 bosses after being appointed to lead Premier Inn and Costa coffee owner Whitbread. 
Brittain, 50, will boost the ranks of female chief executives of the 100 top-flight firms - currently numbering just five - after being poached from the state-backed banking group. 

See PA story CITY Whitbread. Photo credit should read: Nick Ansell/PA Wire

New chief executive Alison Brittain, just one week into the job, said she is evaluating a raft of new ideas including a service that would allow customers to pre-order their coffee online.

Top fund managers of 2015 revealed: Which investing gurus will be celebrating this Christmas, and which have had a year they would rather forget?

Who will be celebrating this Christmas? Top managers of 2015 revealed

Investing can be a fickle business, with markets and sectors falling in and out of vogue as sentiment fluctuates and wider economic events take their toll. A report highlights the 100 investment managers who boast the best five- year track record. However, there are some notable changes from last year as a tumultuous year in markets took its toll on some managers.

Biggest shortage of homes for sale on record pushes prices higher despite government initiatives to boost housebuilding 

A woman walks past an estate agent's window display on Brompton Road in Knightsbridge in London, England.  
The governor of the Bank of England, Mark Carney, has given his strongest warning yet about the dangers to Britain's economy posed by the booming housing market saying that the market represented the biggest risk to financial stability and the long-term recovery.  

(Photo by Rob Stothard/Getty Images)

An average of 45 properties were for sale per branch in November in England and Wales, the lowest since records began in 1997, according to Rics.

My interest-only tracker mortgage is 0.27% plus base rate: will Barclays have to pay me if the Bank of England's bank rate turns negative?

I have great mortgage I signed up to years ago - interest only at 0.27% above the bank rate. What if the bank rate goes to minus 0.5 per cent - will Barclays have to pay me every month?

Water firms told to use sewage to generate energy and increase water trading with other firms in bid to keep bills down

A sewage worker in the victorian  sewers under Knightsbridge, west London. Monday 2nd August 2004  PA Photo: Kirsty Wigglesworth

Ofwat said the plans, which also include rising bills in line with the rate of consumer price inflation rather than retail price index, could deliver savings of £1billion.

Pensioners may have to pay thousands of pounds in fees for financial advice before they are allowed to sell unwanted annuities

Pensioners may be forced to pay hefty advice fees before they are allowed to sell their annuities, a statement from the Treasury has suggested.

Britain's biggest buy-to-let tycoons Fergus and Judith Wilson strike £250m deal with Arab investors to sell 900-property Kent empire

Buy-to-let tycoons Fergus and Judith Wilson sell property empire in Kent to Arab investors

Britain's biggest - and most notorious - buy-to-let landlords have struck an agreement to sell their entire property empire for £250million to Arab investors. Fergus and Judith Wilson revealed more than a year ago their intentions to sell their 1,000-strong property portfolio - and were expecting around £100million.

Quarter of UK workers suffer unexpected income droughts in last year thanks to rise of zero-hours contracts, charity warns

More than a quarter of UK adults faced a shock fall of income in the past year, and 6.5m of those used a credit card to cope with costs, despite a steady economic recovery.

Are gifts stashed in the boot covered? Drivers hide £1.5bn worth of Christmas presents in the car - but most don't check if they're insured to do so

In attempt to hide presents from prying eyes before Christmas, 8m drivers admit to storing gifts in their cars, But less than half check to see if they're covered by their insurance provider.

Energy saving tips: Would stuffing my freezer with old newspapers cut my energy bills? 

Energy saving tips: Would stuffing my freezer with old newspapers cut my energy bills? 

I've heard that I could cut my energy bills by stuffing my freezer with newspaper. Is this an old wives' tale or is there some truth to it? If it is true, how much am I likely to save if I try it out?

The VW cars that need emissions checked revealed: Carmaker says only 36,000 vehicles have incorrect CO2 figures - not the 800,000 feared

Nine model variants are being retested, including a 1.0-litre Polo BlueMotion petrol and Scirocco, Jetta, Golf and Passat models with 2.0TDI engines. All reassessments will be completed by Christmas.

Investing Show: How to avoid problem shares... so you can pick the winners

Investing Show: Jeremy Lang on how to avoid problem shares and pick winners

Jeremy Lang, of Ardevora, reveals how he doesn't meet company bosses and plans for bad news to last longer than expected to avoid mistakes and deliver market-beating returns. Also, on this fortnight's show, Simon Lambert, of This is Money, Richard Hunter, of Hargreaves Lansdown and Nick Batsford, of TipTV, discuss the prospects for a Santa rally, how markets fared in 2015 and reveal the best-performing investment trusts of the year.

Which firm drove YOU bonkers in 2015? Beware bunglers, it's our Wooden Spoon Awards time again

Who drove you bonkers in 2015? Vote in the Wooden Spoon Awards

If you're brassed off with bungling banks, have been treated atrociously by telecoms giants or are fed up with being fobbed off by energy firms, now is your chance to get revenge. This is our eighth Wooden Spoon Awards and it's become the trophy big business fears the most - and that's because your opinion matters.

Why those low-cost car loans aren't as cheap as they seem: The hidden charges and penalty fees sales staff don't tell you about 

Why those low-cost car loans aren't as cheap as they seem

Nearly eight in ten of the 1.2 million new cars bought in the 12 months to the end of August were via dealer finance - an increase of 10 per cent compared to a year ago. But our investigation has uncovered concerns that showroom staff are masking the car's true cost, glossing over fees and charges.

Savers aged 90 are being sold 20-YEAR plans: City watchdog says investment firms are exploiting elderly customers

Savers in their 80s and 90s are being persuaded to place 20-year bets on the stock market, according to the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA)

Lloyds staff still feel pressurised to sell to clients despite ditching sales targets, says union 

Pedestrian walk past a branch of a Lloyds bank in central London, England. 
Britain's state-rescued Lloyds Banking Group said on July 31, 2015, that net profits rose by 31 percent in the first half, despite setting aside further funds to compensate customers who were mis-sold insurance. Horta-Osorio said the lender was focused on becoming "the best bank for customers and shareholders while at the same time supporting the UK economy".    AFP PHOTO/LEON NEAL        (Photo credit should read LEON NEAL/AFP/Getty Images)

A report by Lloyds Trade Union suggests that exactly 50 per cent of staff feel under pressure to sell products such as credit cards, loans and insurance policies.

ASK TONY: My mother died and I arranged to pay the bills - now npower is demanding £120 for a gas leak at her house

ASK TONY: My mother died and I arranged to pay the bills - now npower is demanding £120

My mother died in April this year.When I next visited her property, I checked the meter and smelled gas so called the emergency service to get it fixed. Since then, I have had three reminders from npower demanding payment for gas which could not possibly have been used within the property.

The ten day wait to tell Lloyds a loved one has died: High Street giant admits policy forcing staff to book appointments has backfired

People standing in curved line, elevated view

In an effort to cram in as many appointments as possible, those with more complex needs such as sorting out a deceased loved one's financial affairs, have been forced to the back of the queue.

Savers with more than £85k in a bank need to act now to keep cash protected before FSCS limit falls by £10k

Shadow of hand over a pile of GBP banknotes
propertyjan2
for london and regional property page jan 2nd
quid
banking
banknote
commerce
bank
banking
commerce
commercial
denomination
denominations
face
value
fund
hoard
kitty
cash
pounds
notes
lots
of
English
British
UK
bank
note
graphic
colours
stark
stylised
stylized
stirling
GBP
wages
pension
accounts
accountancy
accounting
balance
commerce
consumers
income
dosh
earn
earnings
cashflow
economy
shadow
grab
hand
AW4TDC

From the end of this year, the Financial Services Compensation Scheme limit will be slashed from £85,000 to £75,000 - and £170,000 to £150,000 on joint accounts.

Are your dividends under threat? We reveal the shares at risk of a cut and those that look resilient

Are your dividends under threat? We reveal the shares at risk and those that look

Already this year grocer Sainsbury's has cut its dividend along with miner Antofagasta, insurance giant RSA, Vanish owner Reckitt Benckiser and Tullow Oil. Some of these firms were once seen as safe havens in terms of paying dividends and the cuts have triggered concerns that this might be part of something much bigger. Who is next?

Why the first 24 hours are critical to salvage your home: We spend a day with emergency teams getting flood victims back on their feet

Dated: 07/12/2015
Brian Coopland who lives on Eden Park Crescent in Carlisle with his daughter Toni pictured on their driveway amongst the stripped out contents of their home which was flooded on Sunday morning.
FAO Janet, Mail picture desk.

Brian Coupland, pictured here with daughter Toni, has lived in his four-bed semi in Carlisle for 15 years and this is their second flood. Last time they were out for six months.

Avoid a New Year debt hangover: If you really need to borrow to finance Christmas watch out for these five most expensive forms of credit

Five most expensive forms of credit for borrowers to finance Christmas

The extra pressure on pay packets from festive spending means that just under a third of people will turn to borrowing. While there are certain advantages to paying by credit in some situations, a lot of the time it simply adds to your costs. If you are forced to borrow, here are the worst types of debt to avoid if you want to sidestep a New Year debt hangover.

Fixed bond and Isas set to plummet with Charter Savings, Shawbrook, Metro, Tesco and Coventry all cutting deals

Coins on scrabble board game.

AWGW7J

On bonds, the top one-year deals are with Shawbrook Bank and United Trust Bank at 2.15 per cent (1.72 per cent) and FirstSave at 2.12 per cent (1.7 per cent).

Meet the champagne swigging professor on a mission to solve Britain's savings crisis by persuading us to put more into our pensions

benartzi-clipped.psd

Professor Shlomo Benartzi, from Santa Monica, has become a superstar in the pensions world for the ways he has found to persuade savers to put aside more for their retirement.

The English winemaker who beat the French... and now wants to take on the beer giants too 

The English winemaker who beat the French... and now wants to take on the beer giants too 

Frazer Thompson, ceo of UK winemaker Chapel Down, is not short of ambition and is now raising £1m to build a new brewery in nearby Ashford where beers and ciders will be produced. But wines remain the driving force of the company's fortunes and Chapel Down has won a series of international awards in recent years - even defeating the French.

Online grocer Ocado sees rising sales growth but no news on overseas deal

Ocado delivery van, London, England, Britain, UK.

BXK155

The online grocer, which delivers Waitrose products among the others, said its gross retail sales rose 13 per cent to £351.8million in the 16 weeks to the end of November.

Turnaround at luxury firm Mulberry as handbag specialist posts 5% rise in sales

Total sales for the six months to the end of September rose to £67.8million and pretax profit came in at £0.1million, compared with a loss of £1.1million in the same period last year.

Sports Direct shares slump 12% as first half profits fail to meet expectations

Sports Direct's pretax profits for the six months to October 25 climbed by a quarter to £187.3million, up from £149.7million a year earlier, mainly due to the firm booking a big gain on its investment income.

British Gas owner Centrica sees shares spike as lower prices fail to dent earnings

A British Gas bill behind a burning hob.
British Gas's residential arm increased profits by 3.2% in the first half of this year.

File photo dated 00/00/00   PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Issue date: Wednesday July 31, 2013. See PA story CITY Centrica. Photo credit should read: Lewis Whyld/PA Wire

However the energy giant warned profit margins in its UK residential arm would take a hit after cutting gas prices by 5 per cent in August, marking the second price reduction this year.

MARKET REPORT: Burberry exodus continues as investors check out with the fashion firm struggling in the US

MARKET REPORT: Burberry exodus continues as investors check outwith the fashion firm

Shares in the firm which is most famous for its trench coats, cashmere scarves and ponchos, fell 18p to 1181p dragging down smaller rival Mulberry which reports half- year results today. Both firms are exposed to the slowdown in Asia. Two thirds of Burberry's revenues come from areas which are seeing big falls in growth.

ALEX BRUMMER: The FCA needs to get the disgraced HBOS execs banned from the Square Mile to prove its worth

Daily Mail City Editor Alex Brummer.
byline

Five months have passed since the City's top regulator Martin Wheatley unceremoniously left the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) having let the side down with some unfortunate briefing .

FirstGroup and Arriva secure rail franchises to boost Government's bid to build a Northern powerhouse

RAIL Cuts/Arriva...An Arriva train pulls into Newcastle after the company was fined  2 million for its late services the SRA announced today, Thursday 25 October, 2001. Arriva where also told that they would have to meet gradually-increasing driver targets to avoid a fine of  5,000 per driver per month, that the company falls short of the target. See PA story RAIL Cuts. PA Photo: Owen Humphreys.
...a...Newcastle...UK

The new contracts will mean 500 new carriages, more than 2,000 extra services a week, room for 40,000 extra passengers and the end of the old, unpopular Pacer trains.

Energy saving tips: Would putting cling film on my windows make my home warmer?

Would putting cling film on my windows make my home warmer?

I've heard that putting cling film on windows can help to insulate them, keeping your home warmer. Is this true? If so, how much money could I actually save using this method?

Teaching your little loved ones to save makes the perfect Christmas gift: We find the best deals on Children's bank accounts

Teaching your little loved ones to save makes the perfect Christmas gift: We find the best

Accounts for children are a popular choice with parents and grandparents wanting to teach them about savings and can make ideal presents for Christmas or birthdays. You can also encourage them to keep an eye on their interest rate as even on these accounts they can fall dramatically.

Farmers warned of surge in scam calls and emails from fraudsters targetting their EU grants

BNYGDD John Deere tractor harrowing a field in Perthshire. Image shot 2010. Exact date unknown.

During December, farmers begin receiving large grants worth hundreds of thousands of pounds through the European Union's main rural Basic Payment Scheme.

The gift that keeps on giving: They can't unwrap it but saving into a children's investment trust could prove a great present by the time they hit 18

Tired of giving children Christmas gifts that will be forgotten about five minutes later? Why not invest on their behalf? It could turn out to be a much more significant present later.

Thousands of new family homes could be built on green belt land in the biggest shake up of planning rules for three decades

Thousands of new homes could be built on green belt land in coming years

In what would be the biggest shake-up to planning protections for more than three decades, the ribbon of green belt land around towns and cities which prevents urban sprawl - bar in exceptional circumstances - could be built on more freely. The consultation comes as Chancellor George Osborne outlined plans for 400,000 new homes before 2020 in his Autumn Statement last month.

Oil collapses to seven-year low: Petrol prices forecast to fall below £1 a litre across Britain in time for Christmas

Oil collapses to seven-year low: Petrol prices forecast to fall below £1 a litre across

Brent crude futures slumped more than 5 per cent to $40.7 a barrel, and traded at the lowest level since February 2009, while US crude fell 6 per cent to below $38. The tumble followed a decision at the end of last week by the oil cartel Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries not to cut production. The key Opec meeting in Vienna on Friday ended in disagreement among members about how to deal with Iranian oil exports once Western sanctions are lifted.

Petrol prices head towards £1-a-litre as Asda lops another 2p from price across its 277 stations to 101.7p

Asda will tomorrow cut the price of unleaded by 2p a litre meaning drivers will pay no more than 101.7p at its 277 stations UK-wide.

The drinks are on me! Rolls-Royce releases a limited edition £26,000 cocktail-making hamper that costs more than a BMW

Feeling parched? Want to whip up a quick cocktail?This hand-built hamper has everything you'll need to mix up your own drink, but it will cost you more than a brand new BMW 3 Series.

Would you pay £6,000 for a single malt? How to start whisky investing and make sure your returns don't go sour

How to start whisky investing and make sure your returns don't go sour

Some of the rarest whiskies are set to go under the hammer this week at Bonhams' famed Christmas auction in Edinburgh. You could snap up an early 20th century Laphroig, expected to fetch up to £6,000, or a 60-year-old Royal Brackla for £3,500 to £4,500.

Nearly half of energy switchers are leaving the 'big six' suppliers to try out a smaller challenger, data suggests

Nearly half of all energy switchers last month moved from one of the big six firms - British Gas, EDF, E.On, Npower, Scottish Power and SSE - to try a smaller challenger, research shows.

Credit card cashback threatened: EU cap on fees comes in today with bonus schemes set to suffer as a result

F102H6 CONTACTLESS PAYMENT

A new EU cap comes into force today which will limit the amount credit and debit card providers can charge retailers for transactions.

Live like the Lord of the Manor! Step into the shoes of the Earl of Suffolk by renting his former Chelsea home for £7,000 A WEEK 

Rent the Earl of Suffolk Henry Howard's former Chelsea home for £7,000 A WEEK 

The Grade II listed property dates back to 1792 and boasts a wood-panelled living room, billiards room and wine cellar. It is just moments from Harrods in London's Knightsbridge and is available to rent for £6,950 a week or to buy for £14.5million.

One in seven homeowners is becoming a mortgage prisoner as tough application rules shut them out of the best deals 

One in seven homeowners becoming a mortgage prisoner

Data from Nottingham Building Society shows up to one in seven homeowners have had difficulty getting a new deal since the Mortgage Market Review was introduced in April 2013. Mortgage prisoners are missing out on some of the cheapest-ever rates on the market, with 26 per cent rejected because they do not fit new affordability rules or because their credit record has deteriorated.

Generous Britons will spend far more than any other nation on Christmas gifts, two separate studies suggest

We are expected to spend £499 on average on presents this year, almost double the next most generous country, France, data from deals website Groupon suggests.

Christmas deliveries to be hit by 'shortage of drivers' as more shoppers choose to buy goods online rather than hit the high street

Deliveries in the run-up to Christmas could be hit by a chronic shortage of drivers to cope with soaring online shopping demand, according to a new report.

It's not a profit, honest! As councils rake in a record £693m from parking, we reveal the full list - including those that make the most

Councils make record surplus of £693m from parking charges

Councils in England made a record surplus from parking charges in the financial year starting April 2014, according to a new study. They collectively generated £693m from their parking operations after running costs were deducted, motoring research charity the RAC Foundation revealed. This is up nearly £30m from the previous 12 month period.

TIPS, TOOLS AND HELP FOR LANDLORDS

Partner services

Landlord insurance

Quick, easy - compare and buy today

Find a mortgage

Buy-to-let rates and advice

Boiler cover

Insure your heating system for less

easyProperty.com

Find tenants today for FREE

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....

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

Pick the best (and cheapest) investment Isa platform

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

spt_Cape 3.JPG

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

L Board sign on the rear of a blue saloon car , UK

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? Economists suggest no move until late 2016 as Bank puts caution centre stage

When will UK interest rates rise?

Interest rates will not move until mid-2016 and may not even rise for the whole of next year, economists have suggested following the latest Bank of England inflation report. A big shift back in the markets outlook for rates had preceded the second Super Thursday combination of an MPC verdict, minutes and Inflation Report.

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

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.

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

Ten tips for buy-to-let

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

What next for house prices? House price rises ease but London market is picking up again

spt_split-weather-houses.jpg

After a slowdown earlier this year, the London market appears to be continuing to push ahead of the rest of the UK. We look at the latest figures.

Best paid jobs 2015: Compare your salary to the national average in this league table of 350 professions - and see the year's winners and losers

Compare your pay to the UK average across 350 professions

Musicians have seen pay rises averaging nearly 20 per cent in 2015, while cleaners are getting 17.8 per cent more, and window cleaners 12.3 per cent. Artists in general are earning 14.6 per cent more in 2015 than 2014, according to the huge annual data dump of pay scales by the Office For National Statistics highlights.

Premium Bonds winners

December 2015
Prize value Winning bond No. Area
£1,000,000 225EP035620 Cumbria
£1,000,000 117TJ752915 Bedfordshire
£100,000 82NM750247 Overseas
£100,000 237VF815101 West Sussex
£100,000 235VA243441 Staffordshire
£100,000 210QR492410 Outer London
£100,000 181VR908480 Cheshire West and Chester
£50,000 95HD121785 West Yorkshire
£50,000 66AP304308 West Yorkshire
£50,000 239DM620920 Hereford and Worcester
£50,000 234GZ543912 Avon
More Premium Bonds winners
   

MOST READ MONEY

Britain's manufacturing sector facing bitter winter as output drops again in October

Total production output across the UK increased by 1.7 per in October compared with a year earlier, the Office for National Statistics said.

Tourist rates

Currency Rate Buy now
Updated 11 Dec 2015.
Euro 1.3556 Buy Now
US Dollar 1.4834 Buy Now
Australian Dollar 2.0253 Buy Now
Canadian Dollar 2.0115 Buy Now
Chinese Yuan 9.3767 Buy Now
Croatian Kuna 10.152 Buy Now
Czech Koruna 36.206 Buy Now
Danish Krone 9.9849 Buy Now
Egyptian Pound 10.335 Buy Now
Hong Kong Dollar 11.447 Buy Now
Hungarian Forint 419.7 Buy Now
Israeli New Shekel 5.6086 Buy Now
Japanese Yen 181.0 Buy Now
Malaysian Ringgit 6.2624 Buy Now
New Turkish Lire 4.1931 Buy Now
New Zealand Dollar 2.1947 Buy Now
Norwegian Krone 12.752 Buy Now
Polish Zloty 5.7972 Buy Now
Singapore Dollar 2.0763 Buy Now
South African Rand 22.191 Buy Now
Sterling 1.0 Buy Now
Swedish Krona 12.387 Buy Now
Swiss Franc 1.4603 Buy Now
Thai Baht 52.647 Buy Now
UAE Dirham 5.4306 Buy Now

Long-term savings

Monthly savings plan

Find out how much a regular monthly savings scheme could make me.

Results
Or lump sum investments

Calculate how much a lump sum investment could be worth.

Result

Mortgage Affordability Calculator

Your monthly payment

Enter how much you plan to borrow and find out your monthly bill. Assumes interest calculated annually.

Result
Your total mortgage

Enter the amount you can afford to pay monthly (eg. your current rent) to find out how much you can borrow...

Result
Are you over-stretching

How much of your income goes on your mortgage?

Result

My interest-only tracker mortgage is 0.27% plus base rate: will Barclays have to pay me if the Bank of England's bank rate turns negative?

I have great mortgage I signed up to years ago - interest only at 0.27% above the bank rate. What if the bank rate goes to minus 0.5 per cent - will Barclays have to pay me every month?