Attractive Range Of Exclusive Mortgage Deals By London and Country

Not only have the major lenders competed with one another to offer best buy mortgage deals but some of the smaller lenders have also been keen to flex their muscle in the market.

Attractive Range Of Exclusive Mortgage Deals By London and Country

This has resulted in London and Country having a number of attractive exclusive mortgages to offer customers.

These include a 2 year fixed rate up to 80% Loan To Value (LTV) from Market Harborough at 3.6% with a £1094 fee and free valuation and legal work for remortgages, and a 3.49% tracker from Furness, available up to 80% LTV with a low £199 fee and free valuation and legal work for remortgages.

David Hollingworth, Head of Communication at L&C said, ‘it is pleasing to see more competitive mortgages return to the market, particularly at higher LTVs. This means more people can get mortgage finance than previously and those looking for a mortgage at present can take advantage of some great value schemes’.

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A New Government-Run Service Is Set To Provide Impartial Financial Advice For Millions Of UK Citizen

A new Government-run service is set to provide impartial financial advice for millions of UK citizens looking for help with money matters.

A New Government-Run Service Is Set To Provide Impartial Financial Advice For Millions Of UK Citizen

The service – called Moneymadeclear – was launched by Chancellor of the Exchequer Alistair Darling and will provide free consumer advice from independent financial experts.

Moneymadeclear gives people the chance to pick up the phone, talk face-to-face or get information online with regard to money worries, financial planning and information on consumer rights.

The service also gives advice to consumers who think they may have been mis-sold a financial product and don’t know what action to take.

A service such as this is long overdue says life insurance comparison site QuoteBoffin.co.uk:

“Consumers have long deserved a service that is concise and impartial as Moneymadeclear, especially for people who have concerns over money but do not know who to turn to.

Moneymadeclear also supports the different ways in which people take in information as well as the resources consumers have available. For example, some people prefer to use the web to get information whilst others are more comfortable meeting an advisor face to face and so forth.”

The Government has trialled the service in the North East and North West since last April. The trial helped 500,000 people and is expected to assist a million people in the next year alone.

Chancellor Alistair Darling said:

“Moneymadeclear is free, impartial advice for all, whether you are unsure about the small print in a mortgage form; want advice opening a savings account for your children or grand-children or want some help dealing with repayments before they get out of hand.”

In a post recession economy the importance of financial support for concerned consumers will undoubtedly be welcomed by people looking to firm up their finances.

QuoteBoffin.co.uk went on to say “Although the UK has officially left the recession it’s going to take many years to see a full recovery. This means that continued job losses, mounting debt and high interest rates will put continued strain on consumers.

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LV=, Insurance, Pensions And Investments Group, Has Announced That It Is Opening New Offices In Huddersfield

This is in addition to LV=’s road rescue company, Britannia Rescue, which is already based in Huddersfield town centre, employing around 100 people. The new LV= offices will be in Folly Hall and are scheduled to open in July 2010. This will also become the new home to Britannia Rescue, which will be moving from its current offices in Station Buildings, where it has been based for over 20 years. Having celebrated its 25th year of operation in Huddersfield last year, Britannia Rescue has reached capacity at Station Buildings and needs to move to enable the business to expand further.

LV=, Insurance, Pensions And Investments Group, Has Announced That It Is Opening New Offices In Huddersfield

As well as the Britannia Rescue management team, LV= will open a new 24-hour call centre in Folly Hall to deal with both calls from LV= car insurance customers who have been involved in an accident, and Britannia Rescue breakdown calls. The 24-hour service will also be expanded to LV= home insurance customers during 2010 and the new office is set to become the company’s primary 24-hour call centre.

The new jobs there will be advertised later in the year and will include customer service advisor roles, team leader positions and management opportunities.

LV= is a leading mutual financial group with over 3.6 million members and customers. The company offers a wide range of financial products including insurance, pensions and investments.

The new LV= office at Folly Hall will have the capacity for around 175 people. It is located 10 minutes from the station in a Grade II listed building which has been renovated as part of the regeneration of Huddersfield’s Waterfront Quarter.

Simon Stevens, general manager of LV=’s Huddersfield operation, said: “We are delighted to be expanding in the town. Huddersfield has been a fantastic base for our Britannia Rescue business and with our positive experience here we are confident that Huddersfield will also be a great location for part of the LV= car insurance claimsoperation.

“We are committed to Huddersfield and to providing new jobs in the area. LV= is a fast-growing general insurer and when many other financial companies are making redundancies we are actually expanding. This means that not only is there the opportunity for local people to join us, but there are also great career prospects and the chance to move up in the company.”

Cllr Mehboob Khan, Leader of Kirklees Council, said: “It is excellent news that such a well known and respected company is investing in our area. We have a good relationship with LV= through their Britannia Rescue operation which has been based in the two for many years and we are delighted they have chosen to expand their operation in Huddersfield and create jobs for local people. Working with Kirklees businesses, from small traders to larger organisations, is one of the many ways in which the council continues to tackle the problems caused by the recession.”

Barry Sheerman, MP for Huddersfield, said: “The fact that LV= is expanding in Huddersfield is an excellent omen. Increasingly Huddersfield is being seen as an exceptional place to live and work, and in which to find talented and hardworking employees. The Folly Hall scheme adds to the innovative regeneration of our waterfront development and I hope that LV= and the town prosper together.”

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Barclaycard Freedom Scheme Customers To Receive Boost From npower

Barclaycard Freedom customers are being provided with the chance to boost their accounts by up to £160 of Reward Money in a year, thanks to npower’s new reward offer launch.

Barclaycard Freedom Scheme Customers To Receive Boost From npower

The reward, the first in the scheme to be paid regardless of the amount the customer spends on their card, is recorded in £s not points, and can be spent by customers immediately with tens of thousands of participating retailers across the UK.

Barclaycard Freedom, which launches in March, offers the concept of a rewards programme to many small and medium retailers for the first time. In addition to encompassing household names, including npower, over 30,000 retail outlets have been invited to be part of the scheme at launch. On average there will be 200 retailers within a five mile radius of where a Barclaycard cardholder lives and many more retailers are expected to join in the coming months.

Celebrating the partnership, npower is also doubling its sign-up incentive to £60* of Reward Money for Barclaycard Freedom customers transferring their gas and electricity to npower before May 17th 2010. Along with the £100 annual loyalty payment for both new and existing npower customers paying by monthly direct debit for both fuels, Barclaycard Freedom holders could earn enough in a year to buy a meal out for the entire family, special treat for someone or have a shopping spree online, simply by choosing npower as their gas and electricity supplier.

Giuseppe Di Vita, Managing Director of npower Retail Markets, commented: “Our customers have told us that they would like more freedom of choice in the way that they are rewarded for joining and staying with npower. Participating in the Barclaycard Freedom scheme enables us to give our customers the choice of up to 30,000 retailers to redeem their Reward Money. Our customers will benefit from a straightforward, simple and transparent way to get more value for their money.”

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VocaLink Scales Charity Heights

VocaLink, the specialist provider of transaction services to banks, has launched a scheme to help raise money for Bonita Norris in her attempt to become the youngest British female to reach the summit of Mount Everest, in order to raise money for Global Angels.

VocaLink Scales Charity Heights

VocaLink, as the official sponsor of the challenge, is trying to raise funds for Bonita and the Global Angels charity through its network of almost 50,000 Mobile Phone Top-Up (MPTU) ATMs across the UK.

To raise the money, VocaLink has managed to get together some of the major UK banks* who have agreed to donate 5p to Global Angels every time someone tops-up a mobile phone** during March and April using a VocaLink ATM.

Bonita will be climbing Mount Everest to raise money for Global Angels, an international foundation which champions the causes of children around the world to help provide sustainable solutions. Every pound received from public donations goes directly to projects working at grass-roots level to empower children and their communities.

Bonita will be looking to climb Mount Everest’s towering 8,848 meters during May 2010 when conditions are at their best. To complete her climb, Bonita will be putting herself at risk from the dangers of frostbite, hypothermia, snow-blindness, alongside the many other perils associated with extreme altitude climbing.

The MPTU service is available through ATMs bearing the green top-up logo which include Barclays, Bank Machine, Cardpoint, Cashzone, Clydesdale Bank, Cooperative Bank, Coventry Building Society, First Trust Bank, Halifax, Hanco, HSBC, Infocash, Lloyds TSB, Nationwide Building Society, Nat West, Note Machine, Royal Bank of Scotland, Sainsbury’s Finance and Yorkshire Bank.

In addition to the Mobile Phone Top-Up service, Bonita is also auctioning 3 flags which will feature the highest bidders name or personal message. Bonita will take the flags up Mount Everest on her record breaking journey. The first flag auction will run from the 8th to the 14th March, the second flag 15th-21st and the third flag 22nd -28th.

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Ditch The Cigarettes On No Smoking Day To Save A Bundle On Your Life Insurance Premium

On Wednesday the 10th of March 2010, hundreds of thousands of people up and down the UK will stub out their final cigarette as they kick the habit and give up smoking for good. Smoking currently claims around 106,000 lives in the UK each year due to a plethora of smoking related diseases such as cancer, heart disease and emphysema.

Ditch The Cigarettes On No Smoking Day To Save A Bundle On Your Life Insurance Premium

Treatment for illnesses caused or aggravated by smoking costs the NHS £5 billion annually.

Life insurance comparison website – Quoteboffin.co.uk – are calling for smokers to embrace No Smoking Day as the perfect time to ditch their addiction.

A QuoteBoffin spokesperson said, “For years smoking has been recognised as something that’s bad for us although it would appear it takes more than just health risks to encourage some people to stop.

Last year No Smoking Day was the catalyst for 1 in 10 people kicking the habit; that’s the equivalent of 900,000 people who will now enjoy improved health and increased life expectancy through one simple lifestyle change.”

Aside from the health benefits, quitting smoking could also save individuals a bundle on their life and health insurance premium.

On average, life insurance premiums for smokers can be more than three times higher than non-smoker premiums; boasting a saving of thousands of pounds for those who are
willing to quit.

QuoteBoffin.co.uk point out the kind of extra expenditures smokers unwittingly make: “The cost of smoking doesn’t just stop at the cigarettes. Smokers depreciate the value of their cars and homes with the smell of cigarette smoke and damage caused by falling ash. Home owners can also expect to pay more for their home insurance since cigarettes cause house fires.

Life insurance provider Aviva recently conducted some research into insurance premiums for smokers. They found that a 25-year-old male smoker will pay £1,800 more over the course of 30 years for £125,000 of cover than his non-smoking counterpart. With smoking causing a massive strain on an individual’s physical and financial well being, the real test comes down to will power; something the No Smoking Day charity are there to help with.”

More information and support for smokers looking to quit can be found at:
http://www.nosmokingday.org.uk/index.htm

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Barclaycard Rollercoaster Glides To Top Spot

Barclaycard’s rollercoaster campaign has topped the AdWatch list of current advertising campaigns, with 60% of adults questioned by Marketing Magazine recalling the advert.

Barclaycard Rollercoaster Glides To Top Spot

Launched on 22 January 2010, the advert tells the story of an adventurous and innovative commute to work – on a rollercoaster. Filmed in New York and Hollywood using the ‘Spidercam’, the process involved a real rollercoaster cart, 40ft of working track, and complex CGI to create a complete, realistic vision of a rollercoaster weaving in and out of the city’s skyscrapers.

This new advert follows on closely from the success of Barclaycard’s previous waterslide advert, which also used the Spidercam, which had not been used since Sam Raimi employed it to film sections of the Spiderman movies, in order to highlight the flexibility and ease of use which contactless payments provide for cardholders and retailers.

The TV advert, created by BBH and directed by Nicolai Fuglsig, is part of a wider campaign that will include online adverts and a social media campaign set to reach more than 10 million people using Facebook. Barclaycard also plans to launch a Rollercoaster download game later this year.

The contactless payment technology at the centre of the advert was pioneered by Barclaycard in the UK in 2007; now, over six million contactless enabled cards are in circulation in the UK, and over 20,000 retailers across the country now accept contactless payments.

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Millions Of Brits Head Abroad In 2010 Bucking The Staycation Trend

  • 35.6 million Brits are heading abroad for their main vacation this year, suggesting a shift from 2009’s ‘staycation’ trend
  • 1/3 of holidaymakers blamed the UK’s recent cold weather as their main reason for travelling abroad to sunnier climes
  • 1 in 3 Brits still plan to travel in the UK for shorter breaks
  • 1/3 of Brits have already booked their main holiday for 2010, thought nearly 60 per cent admit they have not organised travel insurance
  • 8.5 million travellers admit they have required medical attention on a previous overseas trip

Millions Of Brits Head Abroad In 2010 Bucking The Staycation Trend

A survey of more than 2,000 UK residents has found that almost 60 per cent of Brits plan to take their main holiday abroad this year, bucking last year’s ‘staycation’ trend.

According to new research from Lloyds TSB Added Value Accounts, a third of holidaymakers blamed the recent icy snap as their main reason for wanting to go abroad this year, in search of warmth. But holidaying in the UK still remains popular, with one in three Brits intending to stay in the UK for short excursions.

Although a foreign holiday is more likely to be on the cards, holidaymakers are not going too far afield, with over 60 per cent of Brits visiting Europe for a holiday this year, making it the number one continent to visit for 2010, followed by America (12 per cent), Africa (5 per cent) and Asia (4 per cent). Sun and beach are also the number one priority for travellers this summer (45 per cent), with city breaks also proving to be a popular choice (23 per cent). Only 5 per cent are planning a cruise and only 3 per cent have opted for a safari or wildlife trip.

A third of those surveyed have already booked their main holiday for the year, whilst a further 24 per cent are planning to book in the next few weeks. Almost 40 per cent of holidaymakers intend to pay for their holiday abroad on their debit card, with one in three planning to use their credit card, surprisingly nearly a quarter of travellers will pay in cash and only 2 per cent will pay by cheque.

Worryingly, nearly 60 per cent of those holidaymakers who have already booked their vacation this year have not organised travel insurance, with almost half (42 per cent) claiming it was just something they had yet to organise. An additional five per cent said it was too costly and two per cent have not booked travel insurance in order to save money on their holiday.

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VocaLink Take Home Pay Index Slumps To Lowest Level On Record

The VocaLink Take Home Pay Index for February has continued January’s downward spiral to hit an all-time low of 1.0%. The combination of the two recent consecutive falls has nearly halved the index during that period, taking it from 1.9% in December to 1.0% in February, signifying the Index’s lowest level since its inception in September 2004.

A slower than expected recovery in manufacturing production has contributed to the significant decrease in the VocaLink manufacturing index which also fell to its lowest level on record by tumbling from 1.1% in January to 0.4% in February. Services sector pay growth followed the downward trend with the index recording a drop of 0.3 percentage points to reach 1.3% in February. Though the reduction is relatively modest, a fall of this size is still significant given the index’s current low level.

The bleak news reflects the fragile state of the labour market which is showing few signs of recovery.

The latest official labour market statistics show that unemployment rose in January offsetting the falls seen in November and December. Specifically, the claimant count measure of unemployment increased by 23,500 in January from December which represents its biggest monthly increase since July 2009. The current doubts around economic recovery are exacerbated by the uncertainty caused by the impending general election with employers waiting to see what fiscal policies are put in place by the new government before making significant decisions regarding employment and compensation.

Marion King, chief executive officer at VocaLink, said: “The fact that the VocaLink Take Home Pay Index Report has reached the lowest level in its history reflects the gravity of the current economic situation. The Index has now fallen below the previous low of 1.1% reached in May of last year when we were still in the depths of the recession. This continued fall in wage growth rates combined with rising inflation means that household finances are still under great pressure. Either the recovery will have to strengthen significantly or it will take a long period of slow growth before upward pressure on wages begins to build and the spending power of households begins to recover.”

VocaLink processes more than 90% of UK salaries and the VocaLink Take Home Pay Index, established in 2004, provides the most timely and accurate disposable income data available in the UK. It is based on salary payments made to employees on a three-month moving average compared with the same continuation measure a year earlier. It is affected by changes in tax rates, National Insurance and other employer payments or deductions.

About VocaLink
VocaLink’s switching platform connects over 60,000 ATMs, the world’s busiest network, while the euro payments platform processes more than 500 million payments per month.

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Pioneer Services’ Receives National ‘Workplace Innovation’ Award For CSR Efforts

Giving back to the communities it serves is an integral part of Pioneer Services’ workplace culture, and those efforts were recognized when the company received the “CSR Award for Workplace Innovation” from PR News during an event at the National Press Club in Washington D.C., Feb. 24. Pioneer Services received first place, while finalists included Pepsi Co., Butterball, and Deloitte.

Pioneer Services provides full-time associates with 16 hours of paid volunteer time off (VTO) each year, with part-time associates receiving 8 hours. In 2009, the company created the internal “Be the Difference” campaign to increase usage of the benefit. The campaign included a Volunteer Fair at the company’s Kansas City headquarters, a website, t-shirts, poster, and a Volunteer Committee that helps associates find volunteer opportunities.

These efforts led to a 400 percent increase in VTO usage over the previous year, a special award from the Department of Veterans Affairs, as well as several community recognitions for individual associates. The company’s VTO program and commitment to community service have been showcased on several news broadcasts and received other national recognitions.

“Being honored as the best in nation for our corporate creativity and innovation in regard to CSR is exciting, especially given the caliber of other award finalists,” said Chief Operating Officer Joe Freeman. “Our entire organization, including the associate-driven Volunteer Committee, exhibited incredible commitment to this effort, and showed that, for us, Compassion is more than just one of our corporate values—it’s simply who we are as a company.”

Pioneer Services, the military banking division of MidCountry Bank, provides financial services and award-winning education to members of the Armed Forces. F or more than 20 years , Pioneer Services has been a leader in military lending, offering military loans and award-winning financial education programs through a network of offices and on the Internet. Pioneer Services is proud to support military families and communities through a variety of partnerships, programs, and sponsorships.

For more information, visit PioneerServices.com. For loan information, visit PioneerMilitaryLoans.com.

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Print Your Bank Check at $0 Cost in House

Halfpricesoft.com, a leading provider of easy-to-use payroll software and check printing software for accountants, small to medium size businesses and families, give buyers a new way to get free products by partnering with TrialPay, the leader in alternative online payments. Buyers can now get full version check printing software and Laser Blank Computer Check Paper for Free when they try or buy an offer from one of TrialPay’s 2,000 blue-chip advertisers.

ezCheckPersonal is a personal check designing and check printing software for personal use. With ezCheckPersonal, users can have the flexibility to print quality bank checks immediately in a secure environment. Users will never run out of checks and users are never left with stacks of unused preprinted checks when the bank changes names or you move to a new address. It saves users time and money in a variety of ways

ezCheckpersonal check writing and printing software Highlights:

1. Support Unlimited Bank Accounts
2. Print your own checks on blank computer check
3. Print image signature on checks
4. Edit check layout and create customized personal checks;
5. Easy to use reports
6. Easy export data
7. Print Blank Personal Check
8. Support multiple personal blank check format (3 or 4 checks per page)

This software is available for free download with no cost and no obligation at:http://www.halfpricesoft.com/check-printing-software.asp

Other FREE special offers available through TrialPay include: FREE Blank check paper, w2/w3 red form package, 1099/1096 red form package, business check writing software and printing software.

Customers can get more information at:
http://www.halfpricesoft.com/business-free-special-offer.asp.

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First Time Buyers Shouldn’t Panic Following Stamp Duty Changes, Says UK Broker

First time buyers who didn’t manage to find a new home before the government’s stamp duty concession ended shouldn’t despair, says a leading UK mortgage broker.

In an effort to tempt buyers into the market, the government removed the stamp duty levy on properties costing under £175,000 for just over a year, but the threshold was lowered back to £125,000 at the start of 2010.

Figures released this month by the Council of Mortgage Lenders show that prior to the deadline there was a spike in the number of loan completions in the final month of 2009.

A total of 10,300 first time buyers had their loan applications approved in December for properties in the £125,000 to £175,000 bracket. The figure, up 63 per cent from November, is believed to be a direct result of people rushing to complete house purchases before January 1 in order to avoid paying an extra 1 per cent stamp duty charge.

Stuart Codling, managing director of Salford-based whole of market mortgage broker, The Mortgage Point, said potential buyers shouldn’t be disheartened as some of the best mortgage deals are still out there for first time buyer, both in terms of property prices and first time buyer mortgage products.

He said: “Buying your first property is a substantial commitment and first time buyers especially have to work to a very tight budget.

“Stamp duty now has to be paid once again on properties valued in excess of £125,000 and house prices are starting to rise. However, first time buyers still have an opportunity to get their feet on the property ladder. Although activity is increasing in the market, some of the best mortgage deals are still to be had.

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Principle First To Offer Remote Financial Advice

Principle First now offers clients the ability to interact with an adviser online, as they are brought across to his screen to discuss their financial plan using a range of graphical tools, charts and graphs illustrating their proposed or current investments.

Principle First’s remote financial advice service has already been rolled out as a pilot project, and has passed the test with flying colours.

Gareth Flanagan, founder and managing director of Principle First, said: “Our clients have already given our remote advice service a very strong ‘thumbs up’.

“I think people love the idea of tending to their future and current financial planning from the comfort of their own home.”

A potential client can log onto the Principle First website to make an investments enquiry.

The Principle First remote advice service offers visual and graphical illustrations to complement discussions on mortgages, life insurance, tax planning and savings as well.

Gareth Flanagan added: “The real beauty of remote financial advice is its ability to cut through the resistance of many consumers to visit a financial adviser.

“It’s amazing to think that only 20% of consumers seek and accept free, no-obligation help with their financial plan and pensions. Many of those consult only banks and building societies who, due to their limited product range, place their funds in the worst-performing sectors.”

Principle First has found that this resistance is based on three erroneous beliefs, which undermine a customer’s self-confidence in approaching an adviser.

Consumers often believe that financial planning is only for the wealthy, and that they simply do not have enough wealth to justify the attentions of a professional financial adviser.

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Go Independent For The Best Mortgage Advice

One of the major advantages of today’s world is that we have choices in nearly everything we buy.

And considering that a mortgage is probably the biggest financial commitment we will ever make, then it’s the one decision that we should have some help with, to ensure that we get the best deal for our individual circumstances. That’s precisely why talking to an Independent Financial Adviser is a good move, according to Stuart Codling of Manchester-based mortgage broker The Mortgage Point.

“We’ve become so used to shopping around before making big purchase decisions, yet when it comes to the major issue of choosing a mortgage, so many people head straight for the bank or building society where they are already a customer,” says Stuart.

“But that’s like buying a car just because you like the colour,” he adds. “It’s a decision which ignores the most important reasons why we should choose one particular product over all the others.”

The Mortgage Point is an authorised Independent Financial Adviser (IFA), which means it can consider the whole of the mortgage market when suggesting the best mortgage deals available for every individual customer.

That means an adviser will take into account such fundamental considerations as the benefits provided, flexibility, and level of charges for every mortgage product available, before making a recommendation based on their knowledge of the market, and each client’s own needs. Meeting with an IFA is even more crucial for those who are looking for first time buyer mortgages as the individual candidate will most likely be on a budget.

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Trading Floor Launch News Widget

Trading Floor, the website featuring commentary by Saxo Bank’s strategy team, is launching a news widget – a ‘mini web site’ – allowing the latest stories from Trading Floor to be placed on any website or blog by pasting a few lines of computer code.

Trading Floor Launch News Widget

The widget is the first of several FX Tools under development that will be launched during 2010. The tools will support Trading Floor’s aim of providing the best knowledge to online traders in Forex trading, equities, FX options and CFD trading. The code can be copied from tradingfloor.com/FX-Tools and links are provided to help on how to add the code to the two of the most widely used blogging platforms.

Trading Floor’s strategy team writes posts throughout the trading day, starting with the opening of European markets to the close of Asian.

Trading Floor offers a range of news and market analysis including the daily trading stance which highlights the important signs to watch for in economic indicators and key levels for the major currency crosses, FX options and commodities. This includes a calendar for important earnings announcements and macroeconomic events. Trading Floor also publishes a wide range of reports covering macroeconomic indicators, and trading suggestions for FX and equities which are all free to download. Trading Floor also offers two to three interviews a week covering FX, equities and commodities. Commodities are covered with Ole Hansen on Wednesday and the FX and equity update is broadcast on Friday. Extra interviews are posted for significant macroeconomic indicators or reports.

Commentary on Trading Floor is written by Chief Economist David Karsbøl, Equity Strategist Christian Tegllund Blaabjerg and Forex expert John Hardy. Futures and Fixed Income expertise is provided by Ole S. Hansen and Alan Plaugmann. Also commenting are Market Strategist Mads Koefoed and Research Analyst Robin Bagger-Sjöbäck.

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QuoteBoffin.co.uk Highlights Insurance As One Of The UK ‘s Few Remaining Essentials As Britain Climbs Out Of The Recession

It’s official, the recession that flaunted a stranglehold over the world’s economic superpowers during 2008/09 has finally loosened its grip.

QuoteBoffin.co.uk Highlights Insurance As One Of The UK 's Few Remaining Essentials As Britain Climbs Out Of The Recession

The end of the biggest recession in 70 years doesn’t mean a return to frivolous spending or reckless borrowing however as a continued slump in car sales and slow growth in house prices shows consumers have quickly come to re-evaluate what constitutes life’s ‘bare essentials’.

As the economic climate remains undeniably gloomy, it’s understandable that many consumers will continue to worry about the security of jobs, borrowings and their ability to pay off debts and other household bills.

In light of this, life insurance comparison site Quoteboffin.co.uk is calling for greater emphasis to be put on the importance of insurance with regard to peace of mind and preparing for the unforeseen especially at an already difficult time.

Quoteboffin.co.uk said it acknowledged the pressure consumers are under in light of escalating debts: “Household debt has been growing at a rate of 6.8% a year and with increased borrowing in the form of credit cards, mortgages and loans it’s understandable that many consumers are feeling considerable financial strain like never before.

From as little as £5 a month consumers can invest in affordable insurance packages like life cover and income protection from market leaders such as BUPA, Aviva and Standard Life. With the economy in a continued state of flux, a monthly premium of£5 is a small price to pay for greater peace of mind.”

On a brighter note, the recession can also harbour some positives for the consumer such as greater financial awareness, decreased impulse spending and a move towards taking out personal insurance cover rather than relying on packages that come part and parcel with employment.

QuoteBoffin.co.uk echoed this idea: “Unfortunately the reality of today’s economy means more and more job cuts are a likely to be forecast. People who have been made redundant or shifted role during a departmental reshuffle need to remember that their employment benefits may no longer include financial protection such as life or health insurance.

Consumers need to take control of their money and appreciate that during times of uncertainty increased financial protection such as insurance can easily become one of life’s most important bare essentials.”

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