Councils in Scotland will have the power to double council tax on second homes after new regulations were agreed in Holyrood. The measures, which the Government says aim to “prioritise housing for living in” will bring second homes in line with council tax policy on long-term empty homes. The authority to implement charge increases will take effect from April 1, […]
Read moreExpress tests out baking soda hack to clean grout between tiles Tiles are an appealing and durable option for walls and flooring, particularly in bathrooms and kitchens. Thanks to their timeless style and easy-clean surface, tiles are a popular choice in all kinds of homes, but unfortunately, the grout that lies between them can become dirty and discoloured over time. […]
Read moreVirgin Money has announced another wave of “significant” cuts to mortgage rates in a boon for homeowners. The lender has slashed interest rates across its range of remortgage, buy-to-let and residential mortgage products. This comes as other banks and building societies are cutting mortgage rates in a bid to better support customers. Households have been forced to contend with soaring […]
Read moreThe U.S. Department of Commerce has announced a funding of $35 million in federal incentives under the CHIPS and Science Act to support the modernization of BAE Systems’ Microelectronics Center, and to quadruple its production capacity for chips that are essential to the Unite States’ national security, including for use in F-35 fighter jets. The Department of Commerce and BAE […]
Read moreFollowing the lackluster performance seen in the previous session, stocks may move to the upside in early trading on Wednesday. The major index futures are currently pointing to a higher open for the markets, with the S&P 500 futures up by 0.3 percent. Early buying interest may be generated in reaction to a report from payroll processor ADP showing private […]
Read moreEven if no statistical jugglery is afoot, only to warn that the ‘noise’ in the numbers should be eliminated in order to hear the underlying music, without distortion, warns T N Ninan. India’s latest GDP (gross domestic product) numbers flatter, though they don’t deceive — because the underlying story is a good one. The flow of quarterly GDP numbers should […]
Read moreThe Office of National Statistics (ONS) will announce the UK’s latest GDP estimation today, but Britain remains on tenterhooks following the third quarter’s flatline. Gross domestic product (GDP) measures the value of goods and services produced in the UK. The results are used to estimate the size and growth of the economy. The UK’s economy experienced slight growth in Q1 […]
Read moreHomeowners are being warned that 900,000 households will see their mortgage payments rise by around £240 a month. This is despite signs that lenders are apparently reducing mortgage rates after a period of constant hikes. Interest rates have been high over the last two years as central banks have attempted to deal with inflation. Recently, Uswitch.com analysed the various interest […]
Read moreCrude oil prices fell to a six-month low on Tuesday amid lingering concerns about the outlook for fuel demand and worries about possible oversupply in the market. Also, data showing persisting inflationary pressures reinforced the view that the Federal Reserve is unlikely to cut interest rates anytime soon. West Texas Intermediate Crude oil futures for January ended down $2.71 or […]
Read moreTreasuries gave back ground after an initial jump but moved back to the upside in the latter part of the trading session on Tuesday. Bond prices spent much of the session lingering near the unchanged line but climbed back into positive territory in afternoon trading. Subsequently, the yield on the benchmark ten-year note, which moves opposite of its price, fell […]
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