Mortgages

The government has promised it will only implement changes to tax legislation retrospectively in "wholly exceptional circumstances", after concerns were raised that it could damage the UK's reputation.

House prices rose by 1.3% in August, the largest monthly increase since January 2010, according to data released by Nationwide.

Q&A

House prices across England and Wales rose 0.3% over the past year, buoyed by continued growth in the London market, according to the latest house price data from the Land Registry.

Financial services firms have warned the cost of complying with regulations after the Financial Services Authority is split next year could rise by 20%, according to a survey by consulting firm Protiviti.

Santander, the UK's second largest mortgage lender, has been criticised for hiking its standard variable rate (SVR) by 0.5% - to 4.74% - a move expected to affect several hundred thousand customers.

CONDENSED

The Money Advice Service (MAS) referred just 0.2% of its 1.3 million users to regulated financial advice last year, it has been revealed.

Intrinsic Financial has made two senior management appointments.

The Post Office is introducing specially trained mortgage specialists in five of its UK branches today.