The English-Scottish debate over Dunfermline's fate misses the pointTHE conspiracy theorists have added some colour to the controversy over Dunfermline Building Society’s merger with Nationwide. But they’re coming at it from opposite sides and from a flawed perspective.Read article
ABN Amro wants to reclaim assets sold to RBSIn what looks like a Robbie Keane style return of the prodigal son, ABN Amro is in talks to take back some of the assets it sold to Royal Bank of Scotland.Read article
Legal challenge to Goodwin and co will be a hard nut to crackTHE near-collapse of the banks was bound to prompt calls for an inquiry but it is clear that some want to make an example of the bank bosses and force them to pay for their misdemeanours - quite literally.Read article
Nationalisation of banks would give them freedom to get back to normal operationsSORRY to have to say this, but anybody with shares in Royal Bank of Scotland had better not be relying on them to provide for their retirement. Any time soon, they could be wiped out if the government opts to fully nationalise the bank.
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Smooth talking Friends leave a big hole in policy payoutsTHANK you very much, Friends Provident. After years of paying me a paltry annual bonus (little more than £8 a year - not even enough for a decent lunch at Starbucks) the firm has cut payouts on its with-profits policies by 20%. That’s just in time for my 20-year policy to mature next month.Read article
Watchdog finds a short solution by lifting the banIT looks as if the Financial Services Authority has managed to find a compromise on the short-selling issue that should help settle a few nerves.Read article
Interest rate failings should make way for a curb on creditWITH inflation retreating from 4.5% to 4.1% the governor of the Bank of England has this morning sent his obligatory letter to the chancellor, Alistair Darling, and it contains an admission that much of the pressure on prices, upwards or downwards, is beyond the bank’s control.Read article
Output figures offer dire warning of things to comeIndustrial output fell sharply in the three months to October which means only one thing: it is likely to have fallen even further in this quarter.Read article
Guerilla tactics do little to ensure HBOS survivalWHEN the full story of this financial era comes to be written they will have to devote a whole chapter to the takeover of HBOS and the band of freedom fighters who continue to fight for its independence.
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Fingers crossed, but boxed-in Chancellor may have hit the wrong targetsSORRY Alistair, but the £20bn “fiscal stimulus” ain’t stimulating enough. A step in the right direction, maybe, and there are some measures that will ease the pain in the short term. But anybody struggling with a business or a modest income won’t be cheering too loudly.
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Tax cuts must be meaningful and immediate followed by further interest rate cutThe weight of expectation must be bearing down on Alistair Darling as he prepares for next week’s pre-budget report.
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Tartan duo risk derailing the only deal on the HBOS tableTHE battle for the hand of HBOS is in danger of tipping the bank over the edge. For Sir Peter Burt and Sir George Mathewson to intervene at this late stage puts the deal with Lloyds TSB in serious danger. Read article
Local income tax is a burden too far for hard-pressed businessesWITH companies of all sizes facing at best a period of uncertainty and at worst a serious downturn, this hardly seems the time to be considering plans to impose more costs and administrative burdens on businesses.
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Why the banking crisis must not become a row over the unionHow sad that the battle for Scotland’s banks has turned into an unseemly excuse to hurl abuse at the English, the union, the Westminster government and anybody else who dare touch the great untouchables.Read article
Is it too early to talk about the R word? That's R for RecoveryHow ironic that the day that Britain's biggest banks were part-nationalised, October 13, should coincide with the birthday of Margaret Thatcher, one of the free market's biggest champions.Read article
Time to dump inflation remit and cut rates by one per centThe markets are already factoring in a half per cent cut in interest rates on Thursday which is why the Monetary Policy Committee has to show some courage and cut rates by a full one per cent.
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Santander’s eye for a bargain sees it leap up the UK savings league
SPANISH bank Santander is suddenly on everyone’s lips and it’s a story of banking achievement that must provide a few lessons for its rivals.
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Poor value,but shareholders may have to grin and bear itEVERY takeover promises to be good for shareholders, bad for jobs, though research has shown that it often turns out to be the other way around.
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Financial chaos will lead to revolution in the banking worldThe events of the past 48 hours make those of the previous 12 months look like a dress rehearsal.Read article
Will the SNP be able to answer business energy concerns?So far, the Scottish government has had an easy ride from the business community which has been happy with its general performance and its overall commitment to growth.
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The housing market has finally come to its sensesWELL, the government had to do something. And removing the burden of stamp duty from thousands of homebuyers will be seen as a good thing. Except that it will not make that much difference.
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