Market News - latest headlines

 

Energy efficiency programme 'needs more investment'

13 May 2009

Broadband — Plans to make the UK more energy-efficient are underfunded and in need of a radical overhaul, a report suggests.

Orange launches 'Comes with Music' price plans

13 May 2009

Mobile phones — Orange has announced a new partnership with Nokia, offering its customers a variety of price plans to suit music-lovers.

Contactless card payments 'increasingly in demand'

13 May 2009

Credit cards — The demand for contactless card payments is on the rise, with customers generally finding it easy to use, research reveals.

Customers 'paying for loyalty to local energy suppliers'

13 May 2009

Gas & electricity — Consumers are paying up to 33% more by staying loyal to their local energy supplier, new figures show.

Insurance cut-backs 'rife during a recession'

13 May 2009

Car insurance — Britons are reducing the amount of insurance they take out as they look to cut their outgoings, an expert reveals.

Ofgem allows faster wind and low-carbon generators

12 May 2009

Gas & electricity — Regulatory body Ofgem has announced it is to relax rules which restrict the faster connection of wind and low-carbon generators.

Mobile broadband 'seen popularity boost over last 2 years'

12 May 2009

Broadband — A new study has found that the mobile broadband market has had a significant boost over the last two years.

Motorola releases motion-enabled mobile phone

12 May 2009

Mobile phones — Motorola has launched its 3G mobile phone, which allows people to use movement to operate its functions.

Electronic ISA transfers a reality for Lloyds Banking Group

12 May 2009

Current accounts — Lloyds Banking Group has announced it is to participate in a new electronic ISA transfer scheme.

Energy tariffs 'need to be standardised'

12 May 2009

Gas & electricity — Energy suppliers need to standardise tariffs in order for consumers to be able to make comparisons, an expert suggests.

Britons saving more cash, figures show

11 May 2009

Current accounts — The amount of money Britons put aside increased considerably in the first quarter of 2009, new figures reveal.

Google to launch Star Droid mobile phone application

11 May 2009

Mobile phones — Google is set to launch Star Droid, a mobile phone application which allows users to identify stars and planets.

Plans unveiled to roll out smart meters

11 May 2009

Gas & electricity — Every home in the country will have a smart meter installed by 2020 under new plans announced today (May 11th).

Abbey relaunches Zero credit card

11 May 2009

Credit cards — Abbey Zero is to return to the market today (May 11th), offering customers no foreign exchange and cash advance fees.

UK 'needs to do more with renewable energy'

11 May 2009

Gas & electricity — The UK needs to catch up with its European counterparts by using renewable energy sources, says one expert.

Nationwide reduces cost of personal loans

8 May 2009

Personal loans — Nationwide is offering new competitive rates on its personal loans, it has been announced.

Motorists 'resort to risky driving to avoid potholes'

8 May 2009

Car insurance — Many of the country's drivers are taking dangerous action to avoid the number of potholes on Britain's roads, figures show.

Orange cuts price of mobile broadband for businesses

8 May 2009

Broadband — Orange has reduced the cost of its Business Everywhere mobile broadband packages, it has been revealed.

British Gas reductions 'should give rise to other cuts'

8 May 2009

Gas & electricity — Other energy suppliers should follow the lead of British Gas and reduce costs for their customers, it is believed.

Savers should 'act now to protect their cash'

8 May 2009

Current accounts — The Bank of England's decision to hold the base rate at 0.5% should encourage savers to make the most of their money, it is claimed.