The Financial Services Authority (FSA) has fined and banned a network director for failing to ensure advisers under his management were qualified and competent.

Lowes Financial Management has appointed ex-Investec senior equity derivates structurer Sham Yapa as business development manager.

Tens of thousands of savers are receiving 0.4% return after tax or less following a rise in accounts paying derisory rates.

A leading Liberal Democrat has claimed the taxpayer is being "taken for a ride" over the sale of Northern Rock to a consortium led by Virgin, amid fears the bank wil have its assets stripped.

The government will freeze the annual exempt amount for capital gains tax (CGT), but will offer other routes for people cut tax liabilities.

The Chancellor has extended the small business rate relief holiday for another six months until April 2013.

Chancellor George Osborne has said he will expand credit lending facilities for small businesses which he expects will cut their borrowing costs by 1%.

The publication today by the FSA of plans to ban the sale of "toxic" traded life settlement investments to retail investors serves to seal the fate of advisers who recommended Keydata.

The Financial Services Authority (FSA) said it estimates half of all funds held in the UK traded life settlement policy market are in investments which are in "difficulty".

The Financial Services Authority (FSA) has said it plans to ban the sale and promotion of "toxic" traded life settlement policies because they are high risk and generally unsuitable for the majority of UK retail investors.