News

The FTSE 100 was down almost 2% this afternoon as fears over Europe's sovereign debt woes and tighter monetary policy in China continued to weigh on investors.

The House of Lords has held a debate on the impact that private medical insurers' reimbursement policies have on cancer patients.

Doctors' failure to address awkward health issues and patients' lack of willingness to disclose problems "create a worrying trend that could exacerbate the UK's health issues," Aviva has said.

The direct compliance cost to firms of mortgage intermediaries adopting the RDR's 'independent' and 'restricted' labels will cost firms £17m in a one-off charge, the FSA estimates.

AIFA policy director Andrew Strange has warned ministers the RDR is likely to be seen as a failure because it does not meet the key standards of good regulation, including avoiding constant flux.

Laurent Kssis at LaBranche Structured Products Europe (LSPE) discusses European ETF trades for the week ending 12 November

The FSA has outlined plans to ensure key messages about the service mortgages intermediaries offer and their charging structures are clearly given to clients, including oral disclosures for some advice streams.

A consultation on legislation overriding the rules linking pension increases to RPI will go ahead, pensions minister Steve Webb revealed at the TUC Member Trustee Network annual conference.

The FSA is planning to extend the 'restricted' and 'independent' labels to mortgage intermediaries.

The FSA considered moving to an all-advised mortgage market but says consumers should not be "forced" down the advice route.