Saturday,28 Jan 2012

.: Money Market United Kingdom - The Consumers Voice :.

RBS boss under fire for bonus

Royal Bank of Scotland head Stephen Hester has been slammed for accepting a £963,000 bonus in shares at a time when many are struggling to make ends meet.But industry experts said the banker had earned his reward after making the bank safer and rebuilding its performance. The debate over executive pay is not an easy one to square.

Savings

Personal loans get more expensive as credit crunch bites

The good news for those with great credit ratings is that the best rates available are now lower than before. Personal unsecured loans are getting more expensive despite base rates remaining at 0.5% since March 2009. Read more

How to save £2,000 on “lifestyle essentials”
Since 2000, household spending on top ten lifestyle items has increased by 46%, from £4,010. New research shows the average household needs to…
Top savings tips for 2012
Low interest rates and high inflation are whittling down savings, with many losing money in real terms as accounts pay as little…
Will your savings last a week?
If you lost your job, would your savings stretch for longer than a week? According to new research from Fist Direct, 28%…

Business and Finance

Small business owners warned to improve record keeping

The Inland Revenue has launched a scheme to check and investigate small traders and self-employed people to ensure they are... Read more

FSA fines HSBC for mis-selling to elderly
Between 2005 and 2010 NHFA advised thousands with an average age of 83 to invest in unsuitable financial…
A tri-lingual lawyer with a penchant for coffee
Vitoria Nabas is a dual qualified European Lawyer and fluent in English, Portuguese and Spanish. As the founder…
Spanish MBAs top global league
International executives are choosing Spain for their MBAs as the country offers intellectual and cultural opportunities. Spain has become…

Consumer

A gamble too far?

Sports betting firm Centaur Global Holdings Ltd said in 2009 that it held £5m in client funds; but on the 9th of January 2012 it... Read more

Transition to a better future?
From West Country towns to Brazilian favelas, the Transition movement has been busy offering an alternative…
Social media mugging: the rise of “smugging”
60m Facebook, Twitter and other social media accounts have been accessed without permission over 12 months. “Smugging”,…
A global voice for consumers
Consumers International ensures our concerns are raised at the world’s top tables; a small organisation with…

Insurance

Simple insurance products: don’t hold your breath

Simple products need to be a viable commercial proposition for the insurance industry, while offering consumers straightforward choices. The government’s vision... Read more

Insurance companies not keeping up with social media
Social media is set to play a transformational role in insurance over the next five years, but insurers are reluctant…
Multi car insurance
With one in two homes owning more than one car, it is surprising that so few insurers offer multi-car policies.…
Does modular private medical insurance offer choice or just confuse?
Modular health insurance policies allow customers to add together options to build a product that suits their needs. Health insurers used…

Investment

The investment year ahead

After the European debt crisis in 2012, the focus will shift to China and its economy. 2011 was a volatile year for the markets with the problems in the eurozone dominating... Read more

Medical before buying annuity key
Those approaching retirement can get a much larger pension income if they have a medical condition or they smoke, but…
The growing role of social media in spread betting
Social media sites such as Facebook, Twitter and YouTube play a central role in the everyday lives of millions of…
A recession proof investment
Sales of some of the world’s most expensive wines have rebounded as buyers spend thousands for a case. The world’s most…

Ausbanc Inhouse News

The Euro is under a real attack

Evidence of the attack on the European currency came when rating agency S&P threatened downgrades. The Eurozone is on a knife-edge, not just because of its... Read more

The FSA should be a model for Spain
How the established and traditional financial markets lead by example in adapting to modern times. The Financial Services Authority (FSA), the UK’s industry regulator, has issued its largest ever retail fine…
Colombia’s housing market roars
Colombia offers great investment opportunities, the housing market is booming and consumers do spend. Colombia’s housing market is growing at 8.8% a year and there is further scope for future…
Ausbanc’s ConsuMiami 2012
Preparations for ConsuMiami 2012, the first consumer fair organised by consumers for consumers, continues to gather pace as Spanish oil producers express their interest. ConsuMiami will be held in Miami in…

International

ConsuMiami edges closer

ConsuMiami aims to create a new economic model in which customer satisfaction is the main objective. Preparations for ConsuMiami 2012, the... Read more

The rising global tide of unemployment
Jobless on the rise: add to the mixture slowing global growth and a eurozone crisis and chill winds are blowing. Unemployment…
ConsuMiami 2012
The first international consumer fair organised by consumers for consumers. Consumer advocacy group Ausbanc, organiser of ConsuMiami, says one of the…