Abbey

Pay settlements in the three months to 31 January have delivered the biggest average UK pay rises in nearly six years, raising fears last year's surge in energy prices will be converted into permanently higher inflation, reports the Times.

The changes to alternatively secured pensions announced in the Pre-Budget Report "smacks of legalised theft", according to AJ Bell Group.

Six months of trials have persuaded Abbey for Intermediaries to go into the buy-to-let market on a permanent basis.

Morgan Stanley has bought a minority stake in London-based hedge fund Lansdowne Partners - putting an £800m price tag on the firm, reports the Telegraph.

Abbey National has reported a 31% hike in profits, slightly ahead of growth at its Spanish parent Banco Santander, reports the Scotsman .

Rowanmoor Pensions has officially launched its first product combining a private pension with a discretionary trust.

The chairman of Misys yesterday admitted an aborted management buyout of the firm had created "substantial problems", reports the Times .

Rowanmoor Pensions, previously the small self-administered scheme business of James Hay, is planning a series of pension roadshows.

Abbey's wrap proposition is to rebrand as James Hay Wrap on 30 October, and will infuture rely on core software from InfoComp.

Abbey is to offer its remortgage customers a streamlined property survey services as of today.