HBOS

Another half a million UK properties tipped over the IHT threshold in the first half of 2004 as house price inflation continued to outstrip the slight increase in the threshold announced by the government in the Budget, warns HBOS.

Shares in HBOS, the group formed by the merger of Bank of Scotland and Halifax, have dropped 2% today after the company announced it would miss profitability targets as it cuts back on mortgage lending.

HUNDREDS of pensioners within the Equitable Life Trapped Annuitants action group who face impoverished retirements, following the near-collapse of Equitable Life, now have plans troubled insurer over their losses, says the Times .