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Pension probe seen risky for Resolution and Standard Life
LONDON (Reuters) - Insurers Standard Life and Resolution are most at risk from a British regulatory probe into whether retirees who buy annuities - investment policies that provide a regular income until death - get a fair deal, analysts said.

Consumer confidence picks up in January
LONDON (Reuters) - British consumer morale rose in January when people grew less pessimistic about the year ahead and more willing to undertake major purchases, a survey from researchers GfK NOP showed on Thursday.

UK final salary pension schemes close at record rate
LONDON (Reuters) - UK companies closed final salary-based pension schemes at a record rate last year as funds struggled against rock bottom returns on their staple investments and growing life expectancy, the National Association of Pension Funds (NAPF) said on Monday.

UK households slightly less gloomy on finances
LONDON (Reuters) - Britons were slightly more optimistic about their financial prospects in January although household finances in general continued to deteriorate, a survey showed on Monday.

London bankers fear bonus “donuts” to double
LONDON (Reuters) - Twice as many London bankers fear the dreaded “donut”, or zero bonus, in the current pay season compared to a year ago, according to a survey released on Monday.

OFT says more changes needed in current accounts
LONDON (Reuters) - Banks should simplify charges for overdrafts to help make the chequing account market more competitive by allowing people to decide easily who offered best value, Britain’s consumer watchdog said.

Intimidating debt collectors push Britons to suicide
LONDON (Reuters) - Irresponsible lending and intimidating debt collectors are pushing thousands of people in Britain into depression and suicide, a report said on Wednesday and separate data showed more people are taking their own lives.

HMV to accept vouchers
LONDON (Reuters) - Administrators of HMV said the music retailer would soon accept gift cards again, adding it was hopeful the firm would remain trading whilst a buyer is sought.

HMV to accept vouchers
LONDON (Reuters) - Administrators of HMV said the music retailer would soon accept gift cards again, adding it was hopeful the firm would remain trading whilst a buyer is sought.

Ethical investors step up focus on tax avoidance
LONDON (Reuters) - Growing anger at aggressive tax avoidance by big business has prompted ethical investors to consider shunning shares in companies that don’t pay their fair share of tax.

HMV to accept vouchers
LONDON (Reuters) - Administrators of HMV said the music retailer would soon accept gift cards again, adding it was hopeful the firm would remain trading whilst a buyer is sought.

Jobless claims fall to lowest since mid-2011
LONDON (Reuters) - Unemployment fell for the 10th quarter running at the end of last year and jobless claims hit their lowest since mid-2011 in December, a rare bright spot as the economy flirts with another recession.

Inflation sticks at 2.7 percent for third month
LONDON (Reuters) - British inflation held at 2.7 percent for the third month running in December, while producer prices dipped below forecast as a rise in utility bills was offset by lower fuel costs.

BoE’s King scolds Goldman over bonus tax plan
LONDON (Reuters) - Bank of England Governor Mervyn King criticised Goldman Sachs on Tuesday for considering a delay to paying bonuses until after a cut in Britain’s top income tax rate in April.

Bank of England warns against risky bets on weak economy
LONDON (Reuters) - Bank of England Governor Mervyn King warned on Tuesday that investors appeared to be making worryingly risky bets at a time when Britain’s economy was weak and its banks had not yet recovered from the financial crisis.

UK firms’ pension deficit to rise after inflation verdict
LONDON (Reuters) - Top British firm’s pension scheme liabilities will rise about 20 billion pounds after a decision not to alter how the country’s oldest measure of inflation is calculated, consultant Mercer said.

Government takes aim at soaring state pension bill
LONDON (Reuters) - Britons will have to work longer to earn a full state pension but will benefit from a higher flat rate when they retire, the government said on Monday as it sought to put a lid on the soaring cost of its universal basic pension provision.