HSBC

Banks continued to be the cheapest mortgage lenders for existing borrowers in 2006, according to research from Defaqto.

The threat of an increase in interest rates in the new year grew yesterday after the International Monetary Fund sounded a warning another rise may well be needed, reports the Times .

Banks have begun a desperate attempt to replace billions of pounds of revenue they expect to lose next year under a regulatory crackdown, according to the Independent .

Graduates risk halving their income in retirement if they delay saving in a pension until they are 30.

The issue of long-term care funding was brought into the spotlight again this week after a report from the Commission for Social Care Inspection criticised the standard of home care services.

Another set of statistics about sales of pension term assurance was published yesterday, this time from HSBC which claims 84% of its life-only policies sold are PTA products.

A SENIOR HBSC official has admitted that the UK may no longer be an attractive place to be based for tax purposes, raising the possibility that the world's second largest bank could move its head office to another country, reports the Guardian.

Hiscox yesterday became the latest insurer to abandon London for a low-tax Bermudian domicile, reports the Times .

Homebuyers paid more than £1bn in tax during the three months to June, 30% more than in the quarter before, reports the Daily Telegraph .

Debt Free Direct has highlighted the problems facing thousands of people laden with bills after it forecast a surge in profit growth for this year, says the Guardian .