Mortgages

Consumer requests for mortgages have risen by 50% since January 2009, pointing towards increased activity in the mortgage market, according to Unbiased.

Mortgage sources performed on Trigold's Prospector system rose by 50% in January, according to the latest figures from the software provider.

House prices rose by 2.9% in 2009 and 0.8% in December, according to the latest Government figures.

The FSA has banned Walthamstow-based mortgage broker Kevin Byrne for allowing a fake client to apply for a mortgage.

Moody's has warned mortgage lenders will be forced to merge when the Government schemes come to an end.

Asking prices for houses in England and Wales experienced their biggest monthly increase since April 2007, according to Rightmove.

The Building Societies Association (BSA) has urged against buy-to-let regulation when the FSA sets its final rules for the mortgage market in the coming months.

The AMI says procuration fees must remain a remuneration option when the FSA sets its final rules for the mortgage market next month.

Repossessions hit their highest level for 14 years to reach 46,000 in 2009, according to figures from the Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML).

Zurich UK's protection sector led the way as its Life business grew by 6% last year, taking the total value of new premiums (APE) to £501m.