Aspiring homeowners with low deposits had a torrid year in 2020, as deals vanished from the market and rates shot up. However, experts have now said there are reasons for optimism in 2021 as lenders return to the market. According to figures released by comparison site Moneyfacts, there are now around 160 deals available for … Read more
The spread of COVID-19 in a hospital’s surrounding community can affect the survival rates of patients, a new study suggests. Researchers found that, overall, coronavirus mortality rates declined during the first six months of the pandemic. However, hospitals in counties where infection rates increased during the late spring and early summer had a higher percentage of … Read more
Offices and other commercial premises to share a £481m business rates rebate as the coronavirus pandemic triggers a surge in appeals The Valuation Office Agency (VOA) has issued an urgent interim agreement Offices have been hit hard by Covid-19 with many remaining shut There will be reductions of 25% off the rateable value of all … Read more
What 300 years of smallpox epidemics in London can teach us about Covid-19: Infection with a small amount of virus can IMPROVE survival rates — and might be a beneficial side-effect of wearing masks Researchers from Canada analysed London death records from 1664–1930 This covered the introduction of health measures, variolation and vaccination The period … Read more
Topsy-turvy: A third of us would withdraw money from our accounts and stuff it under our bedroom mattress if rates turn negative What should investors and savers do if interest rates turned negative? New research just published by financial giant Aegon suggests that a third of us would withdraw money from our savings accounts and … Read more
Bank of England leaves rates at record low of 0.1% and holds off on buying more Government bonds as it awaits the outcome of Brexit talks All nine members of the Monetary Policy Committee voted to keep rates on hold The Bank also left its Government bond-buying programme unchanged But it signalled it was ‘ready … Read more
Bank of England leaves rates at record low of 0.1% and holds off on buying more Government bonds as it awaits the outcome of Brexit talks All nine members of the Monetary Policy Committee voted to keep rates on hold The Bank also left its Government bond-buying programme unchanged The Bank has created £895bn of … Read more
While the pandemic has wreaked havoc on vast swathes of British business, trading firms are in the pink. Households are estimated to have built up around £100billion of extra cash in lockdown as spending on everything from travel to meals out evaporated. Many of these ‘accidental savers’ have looked for ways to put this money … Read more
Finance bosses warn Bank of England to proceed with caution as it weighs up whether to take interest rates negative for the first time in UK’s history By Lucy White For The Daily Mail Published: 22:24 GMT, 14 December 2020 | Updated: 22:42 GMT, 14 December 2020 Finance bosses have urged the Bank of England to … Read more
For almost 160 years, National Savings and Investments has been one of this country’s most-cherished institutions. Since its launch by William Gladstone, hundreds of millions of people have entrusted it with their nest eggs. It has protected the nation’s savings through most of Queen Victoria’s reign, two world wars, a financial crash and now a … Read more