Mortgage approvals hit their highest level since March 2008, according to the latest statistics from the British Bankers Association (BBA).

Five of the country's leading housing and economic experts are banding together to form a task force with the aim of breaking the boom-bust cycle in the UK property market.

The Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) noted improving market conditions before unanimously voting to hold interest rates at 0.5%, the minutes of the July meeting have revealed.

Mortgage intermediaries performed 23% more mortgage sources in June compared to May, according to mortgage sourcing provider TrigoldCrystal.

The negative reputation of equity release remains the top concern for advisers recommending the products, according to the Hodge Lifetime IFA Confidence Report.

Gross mortgage lending rose 17% in June due to seasonal factors, according to new figures from the Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML).

The average shelf-life of a mortgage product fell to 14 days in June, almost half the amount of time they were available in the previous month, according to the latest monthly Moneyfacts Treasury Report on UK Mortgage Trends.

Despite the increased focus by some lenders on direct distribution, intermediaries continue to dominate mortgage lending, according to IMLA.

More than half of mortgage brokers want the FSA to regulate the buy-to-let (BTL) market.

Lloyds Banking Group is to cut a further 1,200 jobs with the company's insurance and IT arms expected to bear the brunt.