Finance
Suddenly, everyone is scared about interest rates
US Federal Reserve chair Janet Yellen is scheduled to step down tomorrow from her eight years at the helm, and for most of her tenure, interest rates remained at historic lows. She finally gave into clamors for tightening in 2015 and raised rates.The Fed has raised rates twice more, and initiated …
BusinessWatch out: interest rates will rise at the end of February
If you’re planning to remortgage, do it now – a little-known change could push up rates<p>There’s going to be an interest rate rise on 28 February. In just a few weeks you are going to see about 0.25% added to mortgage and savings rates. But you won’t see a press release from the Bank of England that …
Property (UK)Federal Reserve imposes new penalties on Wells Fargo
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Federal Reserve announced Friday it is imposing more penalties on Wells Fargo, freezing the bank's growth until it can prove it has improved its internal controls. In addition, bank agreed to replace four board members.<p>It's the latest blow against the San Francisco bank that …
BusinessNearly two million people owed up to £54 in refunds - see if you're one of them
You could be one of almost two million people who is entitled to more than £50 worth of refunds.<p>It is all down to overcharging customers on a service …
CorruptionNatWest bank dumps long-term customer with no explanation
Growing numbers of people are being shown the door as banks ‘de-risk’ their businesses<p>How would you feel if you were dumped by your bank with no explanation?<p>You’ve been a loyal customer for years, but then a letter arrives saying your bank has decided it will shut your accounts, and you will have …
Personal Finance (UK)How safe your money really is in a bank - The rules protecting you and the massive loopholes in them
We all want to know our hard-earned cash is safe, yet many of us are not clear on what safety net is in place.<p>As a saver, the main thing you need to …
Personal Finance (UK)Wells Fargo Tumbles as Fed Brings Down the Hammer
Remember how a lighted regulatory touch was supposed to buoy the banking sector? Well, maybe we need to rethink that after the <b>Federal Reserve</b> …
BusinessMiddle of Nowhere Class: When just 2.56% pay 100% of India's income tax & govt wants more
<b>Governments treat the middle classes rudely and squeeze taxes out of them as they are the usual suspects – without lobbies or electoral power.</b><p>Since</i> …
EconomicsHidden money: Munich electrician discovers €80,000 behind electrical outlet
Germany's lost property laws should mean a Munich electrician is up for a reward worth thousands of euros. But the honest finder has been left empty …
World News'Virgin upped our monthly bill and then said it would charge £111 for cancellation'
<i>We are a pair of pensioners living on a fixed income. We have a contract with Virgin Media in my wife’s name for a package including television, broadband and telephone facilities.</i><p><i>We renewed the contract for a further 12 months. The cost of the package is £44 per month. This was much less than the</i> …
Personal Finance (UK)Washington's New Consumer Cop Is Gutting His Own Agency. Here's Why You Should Care
From unwinding enforcement to cutting funding requests to $0.<p>For years, one federal agency has been working to make things better for …
U.S. PoliticsDebt collectors called in as frustrations grow with start-up tow.com.au
Motorists around the country could be stranded on the side of the road and left out of pocket if Brisbane entrepreneur Dominic Holland continues to …
StartupsWells Fargo Heard Little Fear in Client Calls as Stocks Plunged
The S&P 500 may have just suffered its worst weekly stumble since the start of 2016, but clients at Wells Fargo & Co. are mostly calm, cool and …
BusinessMontreal tax bills are going out and they may shock some taxpayers
Mario Caluori has spent a lot of time analyzing the municipal tax bills for his semidetached, single-family home on 2nd Ave. in St-Michel.<p>In the …
Valérie PlanteFed penalizes Wells Fargo over consumer abuses
The Federal Reserve is restricting Wells Fargo from growing any bigger than it was at the end of 2017, CNN reports, after learning of "widespread …
U.S. PoliticsSan Diego Unified Pension Bill Soars 33 Percent, Not Alone in Region
The San Diego Unified school board discusses budget cuts for the 2017-2018 school year. / Photo by Jamie Scott Lytle<p>Amid all the talk about San Diego …
San DiegoEthical bank Triodos launches investment platform
Bank used by McMafia star James Norton to allow people to invest directly in bonds or equity<p>You want to support projects that benefit people and the planet, but you’d also like to get a decent return on your cash if possible.<p>If that sounds like you, ethical Triodos Bank is offering the chance to …
Personal Finance (UK)The Trump Administration Just Made it Easier for Banks to Screw Over Minority Borrowers
Mick Mulvane, the White House budget director and interim head of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.Cheriss May/Zuma<p>Looking for news you can …
Liberal ViewWhy 2017 Was a Year to Forget for Wells Fargo & Company
Scandals and sluggish growth made for a year that was not a standout for the storied bank.<p>Nearly all of the "big four" banks in the U.S. -- <b>Wells …
InvestingBank of Russia Allows Crypto Mining But Proposes Miners Sell Their Coins Overseas
<b>The Bank of Russia said it will allow cryptocurrency mining in the country, given tax, control, and reporting considerations. However, the central</b> …
CryptocurrencyForeign portfolio investors seek relief from LTCG tax
'The introduction of a tax on LTCG will be a deterrent for foreign investors and could potentially result in a movement of trading activity away from …
Arun JaitleyMortgage Rates Friday: Rising Sharply in Strong Economy
You can trust that we maintain strict editorial integrity in our writing and assessments; however, we receive compensation when you click on links to …
Look out N.Y., L.A. and Chicago: The new tax law makes Dallas even stronger
The rich will get richer, thanks to the new tax law, and Texas will become an even better destination.<p>For many years, Texas has been attracting …
OpinionCarillion collapse: UK puts up £100m to back Carillion contractor loans
<b>Contractors affected by the collapse of outsourcing giant Carillion will be able to apply for government-backed loans from High Street lenders.</b><p>Thousands of Carillion suppliers were left unpaid after the construction giant collapsed in January.<p>Ministers say the state-owned British Business Bank will …
UK PoliticsJeremy Corbyn releases his tax return - revealing admin error that left him on the hook for £6,000
An admin error left Jeremy Corbyn on the hook to pay more than £6,000 of tax in one go, his office has revealed.<p>The discrepancy - which aides insist …
UK PoliticsCarillion: government to back loans to firm's struggling contractors
Companies owed money by collapsed outsourcing giant will be able to apply for support<p>Contractors hit by the collapse of Carillion will be able to apply for government-backed loans from high street lenders as part of a £100m support package.<p>The business secretary, Greg Clark, said the British …
BusinessIs Dell’s Debt Load Pushing It Into a Deal?
As Dell Technologies publicly confirmed that it was exploring a number of potential transactions — ranging from an initial public offering to a combination with VMware, of which it owns 80 percent — much of the media coverage has focused on why it’s doing so.<p>One theory has been the company’s debt, …
BusinessCredit Acceptance Is Still A Strong Buy
There is a lot of confusion about the earnings report so we will explain the details and nuances.<p>The accounting change this quarter is toward more …
BusinessFormer Director Cordray Says CFPB Work Needs to Continue
Richard Cordray, former director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, discusses the future of the agency and his run to become governor of …
BusinessUS stocks swoon, sending Dow down more than 650 points
U.S. stocks slumped Friday, and the market suffered its worst week in two years, as fears of inflation and disappointing quarterly results from technology and energy giants spooked investors. The Dow Jones industrial average dropped by more than 650 points.<p>Bond yields rose and contributed to the …
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