A frantic rush by landlords and second home buyers to beat the new stamp duty deadline saw mortgage lending in March rocket 59 per cent higher than a year ago. The Council of Mortgage Lenders said it had seen the biggest stamp duty distortion of the property market ever, as buy-to-let purchasers stormed the market
'I've got many small pension pots - should I merge them?' Our retirement Agony Uncle Steve Webb answers your questions
Former Pensions Minister Steve Webb is This Is Money's Agony Uncle. He is ready to answer your questions, whether you are still saving, in the process of stopping work, or juggling your finances in retirement. Read Steve's answer to a worker who wants to find out how much she's saved up in many small pension pots and whether it's worth combining them.
DON'T MISS
- Use our cunning Lottery trick to beat the odds on Premium Bonds How to boost your chances of winning £1m
- Bodie's classic Capri from hit TV show The Professionals sells for a world record £55,000 Fast Ford fever
- Beware builders flogging shoddy new-build homes: Wonky windows and holes in walls
- Take a snooze, watch TV, have sex: What motorists said they'd be comfortable doing in a driverless car Easy riders
- Workers' long wait for a big pay rise: Bank suggests firms are using low inflation as excuse to hold down wages
- How Aruna Seth survived the credit crunch to sell her luxury shoes for £650 in Harrods Start-up tips
- I ordered a Warren Evans bed but only three-quarters of it turned up, so why was I told I'd have to wait ten days for the rest? LAURA WHITCOMBE
- Vodafone misled mobile phone customers into buying useless PAYG credits Over four years
- Brits swap kebabs for homemade salads as they tighten their belts Scaling down on food
- Post Office launches three best buy mortgage deals Deals for those with smaller deposits
- Mitsubishi admits falsifying fuel economy figures for 625,000 cars after being exposed by Nissan Discovered inaccurate figures in its tests
- Just one in six couples have claimed the £220 marriage tax break since it launched last year
- Fight the greedy energy giants: After a mild winter they're sitting on £1bn of YOUR cash... - but they won't give it back unless you ask.
- Check how home-owning, debt and savings in your postcode compare to the rest of the UK Surrey residents most likely to hold a credit card.
- I like the idea of investing in collectibles like art and wine... but how do I do it? INVESTMENT CLINIC.
- The Grand Designs that drove their owners to despair... and are now up for sale Homes featured on TV makeover show set to make a small fortune for the 'exhausted' families.
BUSINESS, CITY & MARKETS
FTSE CLOSE: Footsie finishes lower as ECB boss Mario Draghi fails to inspire traders; oil price sticks at $45
The FTSE 100 closed down 28.82 points at 6381.44 after the European Central Bank failed to announce fresh action to stimulate the eurozone economy. The US Dow Jones was down 44.6 points at 18,051.7 while Germany's DAX was up 14.4 points at 10,435.7 and France's CAC 40 dipped 9.1 points to 10,435.7. Brent crude was at $45.01 and US WTI crude at $43.54 a barrel. 'European markets were mostly lower on Thursday after a humdrum European Central Bank press conference saw no new policies announced or hinted at for later,' said a City trader.
SAVE MONEY, MAKE MONEY: OUR TIPS TO GET RICHER
- This is Money's five favourite best buy cash Isas for 2016
- Looking for a better bank? Five of the best current accounts
- Energy bills: Could you cut save by switching?
- Best credit cards for spending, holidays and rewards
- The best mortgage rates and should you fix?
- Ten tips for cheaper car insurance - and compare prices
- Best debit and credit cards for spending overseas
- The best and longest balance transfer credit cards
- Best (and cheapest) DIY investing Isa platforms
- Ten tips for buy-to-let and how to find a mortgage
MONEY NEWS & ADVICE
'Know your customer and give them the best possible service': How Aruna Seth survived the credit crunch to sell her luxury shoes for £650 in Harrods - and all over the world
A former pupil of Croydon High, and Young Enterprise competitor, her footwear has graced the pedicured feet of celebrities from Pippa Middleton (who wore a pair to her sister Kate's wedding reception back in 2011) and Britain's Got Talent judge Amanda Holden to Countdown numbers guru and Strictly Come Dancing competitor Rachel Riley.
Beware builders flogging shoddy new-build homes: They're sold as a quick way to get on the housing ladder - but with wonky windows and holes in walls many are far from being a bargain
James Hayward, pictured, thought a newly built, five-bedroom family house in Halifax, West Yorkshire, would be a great way to get on the housing ladder. But Mr Hayward and wife Liz discovered holes in the plasterwork, paint missing from walls, the boiler hanging off, alarming bulges protruding from the gables and dents in the garage door. They are not alone in their problems, as our investigation reveals.
How to earn £1,000 of interest tax-free: What you need to know about the new savings allowance
Savers have had little to cheer about since 2009 with interest rates evaporating before their eyes. But from this month there will be good tidings at last - if not on rates, at least on protecting their dwindling returns from tax. We explain how you could now earn £1,000 - or £500 - interest tax-free.
How to make the most of your investing Isa: Holly's MacKay's hot tips on where to put your money to work
Investment expert and Boring Money founder of Holly Mackay, pictured, holds account with more than 20 companies that enable investors to run their Isas online. She shares her thoughts on the country's top Isa providers and says that squirrelling something away in this tax-friendly shelter should be one of the pillars of most investors' financial plans.
How to boost your chances of winning £1m: Use our cunning Lottery trick to beat the odds on Premium Bonds - and you won't even lose a penny
For years savers have poured money into Premium Bonds because interest rates on savings accounts are so low. It's more logical than you might think. It's like playing the National Lottery without the risks. If you don't win you still get your original money back. But now major changes call that into question
INVESTMENT CLINIC: I like the idea of investing in collectibles... how do I do it?
I like the idea of investing in collectibles. Are they are good investments, and how do I go about it? Holly Black, of the Investment Clinic, explains how these days you can invest in just about anything. Art, wine, whisky, stamps and coins are among the more popular choices for those looking at alternative investments. But you must know the risks.
As a Peugeot 205 GTI sells for a record £25,000 at auction, how the hot hatch became hot property
If you want something sensible buy an anorak. That advertising slogan of its heyday was taken to heart by a classic car collector who paid £25,200 for a mint condition Peugeot 205 GTI at auction. Simon Lambert takes a look at why among some more pedigree sales, it was the more modest 25 year-old hot hatch that got the classic car world talking.
MORE BUSINESS, CITY AND ECONOMY NEWS
YOUR MONEY ESSENTIALS
The five signs an ATM has been tampered with: As card machine fraud soars we reveal the tell-tale signs to look out for
When using a cash machine, it is important to be alert for signs of criminal activity - of which there can be many. This graphic details just a few - from cash dispense units with false fronts to loose elements. Up to 2,500 Britons fall victim to card fraud at ATMs every week, according to Financial Fraud Action UK - and those going to the US on business or holiday have been told to take extra care. It comes after the number of machines hacked by criminals in America last year rose 546 per cent in 12 months to its highest ever level, according to New York Stock Exchange-listed software firm Fico. When using a cash machine, it is important to be alert for signs of criminal activity. Fico's fraud specialist Brian Kinch has given MailOnline some telling signs that an ATM has been tampered with. Pictured are ticket skimmers, which are gadgets superimposed to steal card information on top of real cash machines.
'I wish I'd never bought a house': BBC Breakfast's Steph McGovern reveals getting on the property ladder was a bad move
Steph McGovern, the BBC Breakfast presenter, says the worst financial decision she ever made was investing in property. McGovern, who bought a three-bedroom terrace house in Middlesbrough just before the 2008 financial crash, estimates the home is worth 15 per cent less than she paid for it. She reveals all in Me & my money.
VW takes fresh aim at SUV rivals with the all-new Tiguan, RAY MASSEY tests the latest incarnation of its 'sleeper' success
Volkswagen's Tiguan is a 'sleeper'. You might not think it but this is the carmaker's third biggest selling model in the UK after the Golf and Polo. The new version is lower, wider and longer than its predecessor with a longer wheelbase that means extra legroom. As a new VW Tiguan is released, Ray Massey gets behind the wheel to test it out.
Mortgage rates cut to tempt landlords in but the future of buy-to-let looks bleaker as tax rises loom
The countdown to even more tax rises d has begun while the Bank of England is asking mortgage lenders to tighten up the acceptance criteria for new borrowers. This could see thousands frozen out of the buy-to-let market altogether. The National Landlords Association suggests investors may sell off up to 500,000 properties in the next year. Sanjay Arora, pictured, says he has seen ups and downs
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.
TIPS, TOOLS AND HELP FOR LANDLORDS
Guides and tools
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 - from £9.99
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
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.
Take a snooze, watch TV, have sex: What motorists said they'd be comfortable doing while travelling in a driverless car
More than a quarter of motorists said they'd trust the technology behind a driverless car enough to feel comfortable having a nap while on the road. Chatting to others in the car, browsing the web and watching TV were also things motorists said they'd do while a car piloted itself - and two respondents said they'd go a lot further.
ABOUT THIS IS MONEY
Premium Bonds winners
Prize value | Winning bond No. | Area |
---|---|---|
£1,000,000 | 156TA530227 | Devon |
£1,000,000 | 148NB758264 | Mid Scotland and Fife |
£100,000 | 78YM696418 | Bromley |
£100,000 | 194QH173336 | Avon |
£100,000 | 193YM044522 | Overseas |
£100,000 | 181JB419735 | Bristol |
£100,000 | 155BJ778670 | Nottingham |
£100,000 | 103EA347628 | Inner London |
£50,000 | 97LB404771 | Harrow |
£50,000 | 85LH712626 | Kent |
£50,000 | 52NJ179234 | Ealing |
MOST READ MONEY
- Can I get a refund on my AC/DC tickets because of Axl Rose? I'm not happy Brian Johnson will be replaced
- The five signs an ATM has been tampered with As card machine fraud soars we reveal the tell-tale signs to look out for.
- How to earn £1,000 of interest tax-free What you need to know about the new savings allowance.
- Come on energy firms... just give us all our cash back DAN HYDE says the power giants are abusing direct debit.
- Personal loan rates are starting to creep back up but here's a clever way to save on your interest What you need to know
- Should you invest in a VCT? Investors can get tax-free dividends and a 30% income tax break... - but beware the risks.
- 'I wish I had never bought a house' BBC Breakfast presenter Steph McGovern on buying a home just before the financial crisis and her love of fast cars
- Dutch politicians back proposal to ban sales of petrol and diesel cars by 2025 - but existing owners could still drive them.
- How to make the most of your investing Isa Holly's MacKay's hot tips on where to put your money to work
- House prices jump £3,800 in a month to a new high in buy-to-let stampede Wave of 'trader-uppers' lift asking prices
- Say goodbye to the G-Wiz and hello to the e2o - but would you pay £13k for this? New electric city car
- What does the future hold for former punters' favourite Gulf Keystone after its week of trauma? Small cap ideas special
- From loo looting to runaway wheelie bins: The craziest caravan calamity insurance claims Life on the road
- Harlequins to launch bond offering 5.5% in aim to raise £7.5m London-based rugby club wants to attract new audiences abroad.
- From gold to classic cars and wine, how to make money tax-free from alternative investments
- BP boss Bob Dudley defends his acceptance of a controversial £14m pay deal Despite the oil giant's massive losses
- Mortgage rates cut to tempt landlords in but the future of buy-to-let looks bleaker as tax rises loom
- VW takes fresh aim at SUV rivals with the all-new Tiguan, RAY MASSEY tests the latest incarnation of its 'sleeper' success Does the new one cut the mustard?
- Equity crowdfunding platforms welcome steps to help small investors get a fairer deal After watchdog's criticism
- Four out of five small business workers would report unethical practices - and 10% have ALREADY spotted dodgy dealings Would you shop your boss?
- Ten of the most disappointing new cars Road testers reveal the motors that left them longing for anything else.
- Sunday newspaper share tips: Safestay | Travis Perkins and should you prepare to sell in May? We round-up the tipsters
- The incredible PRIVATE swimming pool with a retractable glass roof at the heart of a £14MILLION London flat
- Could keeping animals at home save you a small fortune... and deliver a taste of the good life?
- Best mobile and broadband providers revealed Pioneering Giffgaff and Zen Internet put giants like EE, Vodafone and TalkTalk to shame.
- Royal Mint launches another 'legal tender' coin you can't spend with a £5 Queen souvenir costing at least £20... - but which coins are worth investing in?
- How to shop safely online, as Aspace's collapse leaves customers out-of-pocket 'I paid £500 for bunk beds but they didn't arrive.'
- Why is Barclays giving a boost to Herbalife by allowing it to set up in branch? TONY HETHERINGTON investigates.
- Would Brexit push up mortgage rates? Osborne warns lenders will raise borrowing costs if UK leaves EU
- Fines of £53bn on banks in 16 years But regulators have done little to change the hard-sell culture of the banks, says JEFF PRESTRIDGE
- What do the retired wish they'd known in hindsight? The lessons from the future for today's generation of savers.
- How do you solve a problem like inheritance tax? SIMON LAMBERT on how to make IHT much more palatable.
- Could this £6 gadget protect your wallet from fraudsters trying to 'skim' your contactless card details?
- Should you buy a new boiler or hire one? New rental plan needs no money upfront - but costs could soon add up.
- Household debt binge hits pre-crisis levels Britons go mad for new cars and cheap loans, Bank of England warns.
- Can't decide between a two and a five-year fix? Newcastle's new 1.99% mortgage is a best-buy three-year deal for those with a 20% deposit/.
- BT big winner in the TV battle for new customers as it goes big on sport - but Sky sees its growth stutter
- 'Should I buy top-ups or fill in missing NI years to boost state pension?' Our retirement Agony Uncle Steve Webb answers your questions.
- Medicine and economics graduates earn three times more than arts students (and it helps if you go to Oxbridge or the LSE) The university subjects that pay off...
- 'Climate of uncertainty' brewing in Britain's housing market as prospect of Brexit, buy-to-let jitters and weakening pound loom
- First-time buyers will need a £64K salary and a £46K deposit to purchase a typical £270K home by 2020 Research by charity Shelter.
- Savers retiring on 10% less than a year ago Double blow from poor investment returns and dreadful annuity rates.
- Energy efficiency loan scheme that cost taxpayer £240m had 'negligible green benefits' - and paid its staff £100k each Green Deal fiasco.
- HSBC trumpets global reach - but its fees for sending cash abroad are the highest 'World's Local Bank' blasted for worst rates on overseas transfers.
- Dividend hero manager's favourite shares City of London trust's Job Curtis on the latest Investing Show
- The £1MILLION doughnut: Grand Designs home up for sale Round house with a hole in the middle
- Passive investing sees 160% rise in two years since advisers were banned from raking in commission Focus on cheaper investing
- ALEX BRUMMER on IMF warning that banks in Italy and Greece (and even Germany) hold €900BILLION of rotten loans Eurozone at vortex of new financial crisis fears.
- NS&I; savers face tax bill on cash they don't have - and pensioners who snapped up three-year bond last year most at risk
- You're on your own if a conman raids your bank account As a fraud epidemic sweeps Britain, just two in 1,000 cases are ever investigated .
- Sainsbury's won't let me clear my late mum's debts and they're hounding my dad over them ASK TONY.
- 'Gold will soar 700%': Economist claims precious metal set for $10k an ounce Savers will plough into gold as cyber-criminals hack into digital wealth.
- Housewives cheated out of pensions by the state: Women were told they'd win in the shake-up... - but thousands who gave up careers will get almost nothing.
- Britain's buy-to-let market showing early signs of a slump Investors factor in rising stamp duty costs.
- World faces new financial crisis and recession if central banks don't keep stock markets steady IMF warning.
- Will paltry savings rates make you delay retirement? One in four say poor returns are derailing plans to stop work at 65.
- Savers ditch millionaire fund managers for trackers that pick shares for a fraction of the cost Can a smart robot boost your Isa?
- 'Huge rise' in nuisance calls on the cards if two-year deadline for PPI claims is imposed Which? warning.
- Rotten service, soaring prices and shock bills... Is it time to ditch the mobile phone giants?
- Over 65? The ten pots of cash and freebies you could be entitled to - and how to claim them From cheaper council tax to payments for cold snaps
- Should you invest with a smaller fund manager? Investment boutiques were generally the best place to put your money in the past five years
- House price inflation slows to 7.6% Ripple effect from capital means property values are now growing fastest in the South East
- ALEX BRUMMER: Pass me the Nurofen... It's a deeply gloomy IMF spring economic outlook The title of the IMF's spring economic outlook says it all: Too Slow For Too Long
- The last hurrah for buy-to-let? Biggest ever distortion of the property market as landlords rushing to beat...
- 'Turning pensions into Isas would be a disaster' says minister Baroness Altmann - despite speculation...
- Will house prices rise in your area in the next six months? Some optimistic homeowners expect values to rise...
- 'I've got many small pension pots - should I merge them?' Our retirement Agony Uncle Steve Webb answers your...
- Lloyds Bank to close 21 branches, cut 625 jobs and outsource roles to India in new cost-cutting drive, says...
- Fraudsters trick 5,000 victims into handing over an average of £25k EACH via bank account transfers
- VW diesels among the CLEANEST: Independent tests reveal 70% of diesels on sale fail to meet 2017 benchmark...
- Rules for selling second-hand pensions for cash revealed, but expert warns of rip-offs in 'firesale' of...
- FTSE CLOSE: Footsie finishes lower as ECB boss Mario Draghi fails to inspire traders; oil price sticks at...
- Osborne overshoots borrowing target with £74bn budget deficit for the financial year - £1.8bn more than the...
- Ladbrokes suffers worst Cheltenham Festival in memory and faces another £3m payout if 5000/1 Leicester win...
- Sky shares slide nearly 5% despite a rise in profits and revenues as customer growth slows in the face of...
- Government ready to take 25% stake in Tata Steel: Financial backing promised for serious bids
- Workers' long wait for a big pay rise: Bank of England suggests firms are using low inflation as excuse to...
- 'Know your customer and give them the best possible service': How Aruna Seth survived the credit crunch to...
- Mitsubishi admits falsifying fuel economy figures for 625,000 cars after being exposed by Nissan
- The Capri craze continues: Bodie's classic Ford from hit TV show The Professionals sells for a world record £55,000
- Take a snooze, watch TV, have sex: What motorists said they'd be comfortable doing while travelling in a driverless car
- The US Giant limbering up to scupper Germans' bid for the London Stock Exchange
- How to boost your chances of winning £1m: Use our cunning Lottery trick to beat the odds on Premium Bonds - and you won't even lose a penny
- 'I've got many small pension pots - should I merge them?' Our retirement Agony Uncle Steve Webb answers your questions
- The last hurrah for buy-to-let? Biggest ever distortion of the property market as landlords rushing to beat stamp duty hike send mortgages up 59%
- Workers' long wait for a big pay rise: Bank of England suggests firms are using low inflation as excuse to hold down wages
- Pensioners who offload annuities second hand risk getting landed with extra tax bill that could tot up to £3,200 each
- FTSE CLOSE: Footsie finishes lower as ECB boss Mario Draghi fails to inspire traders; oil price sticks at $45
- Babycare giant Johnson & Johnson hurt as mums ditch No More Tears shampoo and talc in favour of organic products
- VW diesels among the CLEANEST: Independent tests reveal 70% of diesels on sale fail to meet 2017 benchmark but scandal-hit makers are among the best
- Would you buy a new-build home? I wouldn't, says SIMON LAMBERT, but I'd definitely like to build my own
- Beware builders flogging shoddy new-build homes: They're sold as a quick way to get on the housing ladder - but with wonky windows and holes in walls many are far from being a bargain
- Lorraine's home insurance should cost £142. So why is Nationwide charging this dream customer £926?
- MOST READ IN DETAIL
MIDAS SHARE TIPS
- MIDAS SHARE TIPS: Book a bargain with Safestay as property tycoon turns to luxury hostels
- MIDAS SHARE TIPS UPDATE: Our tip Travis Perkins is poised to build on solid foundations
- MIDAS SHARE TIPS: How friends in high places could help crane hire group Lavendon rise above the rest
- MIDAS BOND TIP: Second retail bond from lawsuit funding specialist Burford offers 6.1% return
- MIDAS SHARE TIPS UPDATE: Life is sweet as gaming tip Keywords Studios soars 50%
- MIDAS SHARE TIPS: Plastic is fantastic for Epwin Group, a firm that decks homes out with products such as guttering
- MIDAS SHARE TIPS UPDATE: Shares in training provider Learning Technologies we tipped rocket by 83%
- MIDAS SHARE TIPS: Charity bond gives 5% annual interest and the feelgood factor for the ethically minded
- MIDAS SHARE TIPS UPDATE: A bitter taste for now, but cocoa grower United Cacao should be a stock market darling
- MIDAS SHARE TIPS UPDATE: Healthcare Royalty Trust flotation catches a cold
- MIDAS SHARE TIPS: Cricket boss Giles Clarke, founder of Majestic Wines, goes in to bat for South African mining firm Ironveld
- MIDAS SHARE TIPS UPDATE: Picture looks rosy for our tip Quarto as demand for books stays strong
FUND AND TRUST IDEAS
- FRANKLIN UK RISING DIVIDENDS: 'Rising' star Colin looks to the US for a new formula
- BAILLIE GIFFORD GLOBAL DISCOVERY: EU vote? US election? No, I'm focusing on real winners...
- BLACKROCK GOLD AND GENERAL FUND: Gold's looking brighter... but you still need nerves of steel
- JPMORGAN US EQUITY INCOME: How the American 'Aristocrats' are boosting dividend income
- INVESCO PERPETUAL UK GROWTH: Contrarian manager loads up on deeply unloved blue chip oil and bank stocks
- FOREIGN & COLONIAL: Buffer pays off as Britain's oldest trust delivers its 45th consecutive annual dividend rise
- CRUX EUROPEAN SPECIAL SITUATIONS: With 'skin in the game', City scion Pease focuses on search for quality
- JUPITER ASIAN INCOME: The garden's tended... now Jason Pidcock aims for stars
- TROY INCOME & GROWTH: Going is good for trust named after a racehorse that's risen while the market falls
- PICTET WATER: Fund's plan to prosper as global demand for water grows could prove watertight
- FIDELITY ENHANCED INCOME: Fund has one of the highest yields in the UK equity income fund sector
- JPM GLOBAL MACRO OPPORTUNITIES: Fund has a name change - but the focus is still absolute
- SCOTTISH AMERICAN INVESTMENT COMPANY: Dividend is king, say the Saints who leave no stone unturned
- SCOTTISH MORTGAGE: The cheap investment trust looking back to the future for growth in an 'impatient world'
Latest: Mortgages & home
- Post Office launches three best buy mortgage deals including attractive deals for those with smaller deposits
- Beware builders flogging shoddy new-build homes: They're sold as a quick way to get on the housing ladder - but with wonky windows and holes in walls many are far from being a bargain
- House prices jump £3,800 in a month to a new high as buy-to-let stampede unleashes wave of 'trader-uppers'
- Would Brexit push up mortgage rates? Osborne warns lenders will raise borrowing costs if UK leaves EU
- Can't decide between a two and a five-year fix? Newcastle's new 1.99% mortgage is a best-buy three-year deal for those with a 20% deposit
- 'Climate of uncertainty' brewing in Britain's housing market as prospect of Brexit, buy-to-let jitters and weakening pound loom
- House price inflation slows: Ripple effect from capital means property values are growing fastest in the South East
- 'New-build homes aren't the answer to rising house prices': Academic claims property-building and over-borrowing keep market inflated
- Is three the magic number for fixing your mortgage? Borrowers benefiting from record lowed rates on three-year fixed home loans
Latest from Saving & banking
- Another new challenger gets a banking licence - and Masthaven promises competitive savings rates by the summer
- LEE BOYCE: Huge losses from fraud continue to plague current account customers – treat all e-mails, phonecalls and texts from banks with caution
- Fraudsters trick 5,000 victims into handing over an average of £25k EACH via bank account transfers
- Best ever month for current account switching as more Britons use service to ditch their bank for pastures new
- Nest egg fears for Manchester Building Society customers: Savers should make sure their balance is no more than £75k
- Ignore Isas if you're saving from scratch: Rates are now so low you can do better with regular savings plans
- Plan to save the cheque by allowing customers to pay them in with mobile phones is delayed
- Lloyds snubs loyal customers by taking away their free, interest-paying current accounts - and tells them to sign up for one at £60 a year
- Surge in students being targeted by fraudsters trying to steal their bumper loan payments of up to £3k
- Saving for your first home deposit? This is Money's pick of the best Help to Buy Isas
ANSWERS FROM THE Experts
- ASK TONY: O2 charged me £902 for calls it claims I made on a plane - and they won't investigate the bill
- Can I get a refund on my AC/DC tickets now that Brian Johnson will be replaced by Axl Rose?
- TONY HETHERINGTON: Why is Barclays giving a boost to Herbalife by allowing it to set up in branch?
- TONY HETHERINGTON: Tesco’s blunder landed me with court judgment over council tax bill in Merthyr Tydfil - but I've never lived there
- ASK TONY: Sainsbury's won't let me clear my late mum's debts and they're hounding my dad over them
- I want to buy a new build flat with 10% deposit but no banks are willing to lend on it – why?
- ASK TONY: Debenhams ruined my £750 handbag and now they won't pay me enough to replace it
- 'Lloyds has kept me waiting months for the Avios points I've earned using my reward credit card so I can't book my free flights'
- TONY HETHERINGTON: Blunders by the HMRC cost me £10 a day in fines
- ASK TONY: Wedding thieves stole my £100 gift card, but John Lewis won’t help
Latest from Holidays
- From loo looting to runaway wheelie bins: The craziest caravan calamity insurance claims revealed
- British holidaymakers look long haul as pound fares well against SA rand and Thai baht despite Brexit-fear plunge versus euro
- Week in the Mediterranean sun gets more expensive for British tourists as pound dives against the euro
- It’s back to the 1970s as Britons head to Benidorm: Tourists turn to traditional resorts for holidays as terror fears grow
- Pound slide gives families £200 less holiday cash in US or Europe as fears mount about health of UK economy
- The cheapest city break destinations revealed: Marrakesh tops the list while Zurich is four times more expensive
- Thomas Cook customers to get full refunds for Egypt trips cancelled after terror attacks
- 'We shopped around for insurance to cover our son, who had a brain tumour': A guide to getting the best travel insurance
- Top 10 European airlines revealed: No UK firm makes it onto list of travellers' favourite carriers
Currency | Rate | Buy now |
---|---|---|
Updated 21 Apr 2016. | ||
Euro | 1.2424 | Buy Now |
US Dollar | 1.4047 | Buy Now |
Australian Dollar | 1.7854 | Buy Now |
Canadian Dollar | 1.7702 | Buy Now |
Chinese Yuan | 8.919 | Buy Now |
Croatian Kuna | 9.1904 | Buy Now |
Czech Koruna | 33.263 | Buy Now |
Danish Krone | 9.1552 | Buy Now |
Egyptian Pound | 11.09 | Buy Now |
Hong Kong Dollar | 10.821 | Buy Now |
Hungarian Forint | 377.48 | Buy Now |
Israeli New Shekel | 5.16 | Buy Now |
Japanese Yen | 153.84 | Buy Now |
Malaysian Ringgit | 6.2624 | Buy Now |
New Turkish Lire | 3.9069 | Buy Now |
New Zealand Dollar | 2.0051 | Buy Now |
Norwegian Krone | 11.277 | Buy Now |
Polish Zloty | 5.2382 | Buy Now |
Singapore Dollar | 1.8772 | Buy Now |
South African Rand | 19.86 | Buy Now |
Sterling | 1.0 | Buy Now |
Swedish Krona | 11.282 | Buy Now |
Swiss Franc | 1.3572 | Buy Now |
Thai Baht | 48.405 | Buy Now |
UAE Dirham | 5.1334 | Buy Now |
LATEST ON HOUSEHOLD Bills
- Vodafone misled mobile phone customers into buying useless PAYG credits over four-year period, Ofcom suspects
- Energy watchdog won't probe deal that saw Age UK recommend E.ON tariff that cost the elderly £245 more than a collective switch
- Should you buy a new boiler or hire one? New rental plan needs no money upfront - but costs could soon add up
- Lorraine's home insurance should cost £142. So why is Nationwide charging this dream customer £926?
- Fight the greedy energy giants: After a mild winter they're sitting on £1bn of YOUR cash but they won't give it back unless you ask
- Surrey households most likely to have a credit card: Check how home-owning, debt and savings in your postcode compare to the rest of the UK
- Millions of British households owed £1.5bn from energy suppliers after mild winter
- Could keeping animals at home save you a small fortune... and deliver a taste of the good life?
- BT big winner in the TV battle for new customers as it goes big on sport - but Sky sees its growth stutter
- Energy bills: Could you cut your fuel costs by switching to the best deals?
Latest from Cards & loans
- Could you soon be buying online with a 'selfie'? Mastercard set to unleash facial recognition payments from the summer
- How your credit card can save you from faulty goods: What everyone should know about their rights to a Section 75 refund
- Virgin Money's 40-month balance transfer deal is back: Credit card back to top of the best buys with latest time-limited offer
- Personal loan rates are starting to creep back up but here's a clever way to save on your interest repayments
- 'I paid £500 for bunk beds but they didn't arrive': How to shop safely online, as Aspace's collapse leaves customers out-of-pocket
- Could this £6 gadget protect your wallet from fraudsters trying to 'skim' your contactless card details?
- Three days left to snag the cheapest-ever personal loan! Sainsbury’s Bank offers 3.2% rate to Nectar card holders with squeaky clean credit scores
- Borrow interest-free for three-and-a-half years! The best balance transfer credit cards to help clear your debts
- Household debt binge hits pre-crisis levels as Britons go mad for new cars and cheap loans, Bank of England warns
Latest from Investing
- Woodford warns fund managers are ignoring opportunities off the beaten track, due to worries about investors cashing out
- FRANKLIN UK RISING DIVIDENDS: 'Rising' star Colin looks to the US for a new formula
- MIDAS SHARE TIPS UPDATE: Our tip Travis Perkins is poised to build on solid foundations
- MIDAS SHARE TIPS: Book a bargain with Safestay as property tycoon turns to luxury hostels
- How to make the most of your investing Isa: Holly's MacKay's hot tips on where to put your money to work
- Investors being overcharged by £1.8bn: Groups charging for funds which they claim are managed, but are actually trackers
- SMALL CAP IDEAS: What does the future hold for former punters' favourite Gulf Keystone after its week of trauma?
- From gold to classic cars and wine, how to make money tax-free from alternative investments
- Income investors enjoy temporary dividend boost - but cuts by big guns like Barclays and BHP will bite soon
THE INVESTING SHOW
- Investing Show: Mergers, market crashes and a dividend hero's favourite shares
- Investing Show: Could a smart beta tracker improve your investments?
- Investing Show: How to spot the dividend stars of the future
- Investing Show: Top bank shares and how to pick the best funds
- Investing Show: Tim Price says buy Japan - 'the standout value opportunity'
- Should investors be worried or ride out the stock market storm?
- How to avoid problem shares... so you can pick the winners
- Is now the time to get into Asia and emerging markets? The best places in the world to invest...
- Best oil and bank shares - and an investment trust manager's tips to invest for retirement income
- Reliable big dividend shares and the best emerging markets
- How to invest in bonds safely and dodge the traps
- Ten dividend shares for the next five years
- Five important questions for investors | Why Asia is the world's best opportunity
Latest: money and Cars
- Mitsubishi admits falsifying fuel economy figures for 625,000 cars after being exposed by Nissan
- VW diesels among the CLEANEST: Independent tests reveal 70% of diesels on sale fail to meet 2017 benchmark but scandal-hit makers are among the best
- Take a snooze, watch TV, have sex: What motorists said they'd be comfortable doing while travelling in a driverless car
- The Capri craze continues: Bodie's classic Ford from hit TV show The Professionals sells for a world record £55,000
- The safest car in the world? New bulletproof Maybach S600 Guard can withstand a rocket-propelled grenade attack and has a self-healing fuel tank - but will cost you £438k
- Hit and run drivers aren't fleeing the scene just because they're uninsured - many didn't think accident was serious enough to report
- Dutch politicians back proposal to ban sales of petrol and diesel cars by 2025 - but existing owners could still drive them
- As a Peugeot 205 GTI sells for a record £25,000 at auction, how the hot hatch became hot property
- Say goodbye to the G-Wiz and hello to the e2o - but is £13k for Mahindra's new electric city car a little too steep?
- VW takes fresh aim at SUV rivals with the all-new Tiguan, RAY MASSEY tests the latest incarnation of its 'sleeper' success
Latest from Markets
- FTSE CLOSE: Footsie finishes lower as ECB boss Mario Draghi fails to inspire traders; oil price sticks at $45
- Sky shares slide nearly 5% despite a rise in profits and revenues as customer growth slows in the face of increased competition
- DAILY BRIEFING: Punch Taverns sells less profitable boozers to help pay its debts
- MARKET REPORT: Neil Woodford profits as tech start-up Allied Minds - in which he has a 29% stake - sees shares jump 9%
- Babycare giant Johnson & Johnson hurt as mums ditch No More Tears shampoo and talc in favour of organic products
- Home improvements boom boosts Travis Perkins: Owner of Wickes, Toolstation and Tile Giant sees sales rise 4%
- Metro Bank attracts record number of new customers as it heads towards first profit; Virgin Money makes 'strong progress'
- Cambridge tech giant ARM sees profits and revenues rise despite fears about a 'saturated' smartphone market
- FTSE CLOSE: Footsie finishes flat as oil price rebounds to nearly $45; pound hit by rise in unemployment
- Brits swap kebabs for homemade salads as they tighten their belts and scale down on food spend
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.