Inflation falls in April, giving more leeway for stimulus
LONDON - British inflation fell twice as fast as expected last month, giving incoming Bank of England governor Mark Carney more leeway to support the economy with more stimulus should the recovery weaken.
Buy-to-let lender Paragon to launch bank in 2014
LONDON - Buy-to-let mortgage provider Paragon plans to set up a bank next year, taking advantage of new rules designed to encourage competition to Britain's established lenders.
Breakaway Scotland to face high saver protection costs
LONDON - The cost of protecting Scottish savers would prove difficult to bear if the country broke away from the rest of the UK, a study by the Treasury said on Monday.
UK fuel poverty drops to lowest level since 2008
LONDON - The number of British households struggling to pay their energy bills dropped in 2011 to its lowest level since the beginning of the financial crisis in 2008, according to the latest government figures published on Thursday.
UK jobless claimant count falls sharply
LONDON - The number of Britons claiming unemployment benefit fell much more than expected in April, official data showed on Wednesday, in the latest sign that the economy is starting to find its feet.
Banks avoid investigation by competition authority
LONDON - Britain's biggest banks were spared a full-blown inquiry into the personal current account market after the consumer watchdog said changes already being implemented could stimulate competition in the industry.
Housing demand highest since late 2009, prices rise
LONDON - Demand for housing in Britain rose to its highest level in nearly 3-1/2 years in April, helped by a new government scheme to boost the sector, and a measure of prices notched its first gain since mid-2010, a monthly survey showed on Tuesday.
Centrica to use cold snap profit to freeze energy bills
LONDON - Britain's largest gas supplier, Centrica, said it will use the profit it made from high gas demand during a cold snap to keep energy tariffs at current levels, forecasting earnings for the year in line with expectations.
Bank of England holds fire as policymakers await Carney
LONDON - The Bank of England decided against pumping more stimulus into Britain's fragile economy on Thursday, as policymakers await the arrival of new governor Mark Carney amid signs that a slow recovery may be taking hold.
New bank Shawbrook makes profit in second year
LONDON - New British bank Shawbrook said on Thursday it moved into profit during its second year of operations and expected to double lending to businesses in 2013, picking up customers overlooked by established lenders.
UK's worst property loans rise to near quarter of total
LONDON - Almost a quarter of commercial property loans in Britain are higher in value than the underlying real estate, a study showed on Friday, highlighting the toxic legacy of reckless lending before the financial crash.
Pension funds take on leveraged loans in search for yield
LONDON - UK pension funds are dipping a toe into the specialist market for high yielding but risky bank loans in an effort to offset poor returns in their traditional investment portfolios.
Government backs push for alternative small firm funding sources
LONDON - British firms should look for funding outside the banking sector, Business Secretary Vince Cable said on Monday, marking the latest effort to generate growth among small- and medium-sized businesses (SMEs).
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