Financial news

• World leaders and tech bosses focus on innovation at Paris AI summit – video highlights

  11-02-2025 21:48 via theguardian.com
  Collaboration and opportunity were at the centre of the talks, as JD Vance urged his ‘European friends’ to view the technology with ‘optimism rather than trepidation’. The US and the UK refused to sign a declaration on ‘inclusive and sustainable’ artificial intelligence at the summit. Campaign groups criticised the UK’s decision and said it risked damaging its reputation in this areaUS and UK refuse to sign Paris summit declaration on ‘inclusive&rs
  
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• Boost for UK borrowers as Santander ‘fires starting gun’ on mortgage price war

  11-02-2025 20:28 via theguardian.com
  
  Bank to offer first two-year deal under 4% with rivals likely to follow suitThe first sub-4% mortgages for months are going on sale, handing a much-needed boost to first-time buyers and those worried about refinancing their home loan.Santander on Thursday will start offering fixed rate deals at 3.99% lasting for two and five years. However, eligible borrowers need a 40% deposit, or a sizeable amount of equity to access the deals. Continue reading...
  
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• ‘It’s a constant weight’: Americans struggle with record credit card debt

  11-02-2025 13:00 via theguardian.com
  
  As credit card debt reaches $1.17tn, people across the US are struggling to save and living check to checkUS credit card debt reached a record $1.17tn in the third quarter of 2024, growing from $770bn in the first quarter of 2021 and the share of active credit card holders making just minimum payments rose to 10.75%, the highest percentage ever in data going back to 2012.The Guardian spoke with individuals around the US about their experiences and issues with credit card and other personal debt.
  
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• Who wants to look a million dollars, these days? | Zoe Williams

  11-02-2025 12:00 via theguardian.com
  
  There was a time when being a millionaire represented fantastical, unimaginable wealth – but our language needs an updateTwo friends and I were walking through our various rationales for some recent stupid act or thought. I didn’t pay my tax on time, because I didn’t want to cash in my premium bonds before the end of the month, because maybe I’d win a million pounds. H reckons if she applied herself seriously to writing erotic fanfic, she would definitely make a million p
  
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• Jan De Witte joins GHO Capital as Operating Partner

  11-02-2025 10:30 via globenewswire.com
  
  Jan De Witte joins GHO Capital as Operating PartnerFormer CEO of Integra LifeSciences with significant strategic and operational experience to support GHO Capital’s portfolioLondon, UK – 11 February 2025: Global Healthcare Opportunities, or GHO Capital Partners LLP (“GHO”), the European specialist investor in global healthcare, is pleased to announce the appointment of Jan De Witte as Operating Partner.Jan is an accomplished senior executive with extensive experience lead
  
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• ‘I was charged £1,406 after my key snapped in my door’: how to protect against locksmith fraud

  11-02-2025 09:30 via theguardian.com
  
  One young woman had to find £1,406 when a key broke in the lock and two men refused to leave until she paidA key snapped in the lock as my son and his young babysitter tried to open my front door. The babysitter searched online and called a locksmith quoting a £49 call-out charge.The locksmith claimed the key could not be extracted and insisted the entire locking mechanism had failed and would need to be repaired at his workshop, at a cost of around £400. Continue reading...
  
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• EV drivers spend extra £85m on VAT when using public chargers

  11-02-2025 08:00 via theguardian.com
  
  Industry says ‘pavement tax’ due to disparity in VAT rates is holding back transition away from fossil fuelsElectric vehicle drivers will spend an extra £85m on UK tax when using public car chargers this year because of a disparity in VAT rates that the industry has said is holding back the transition away from fossil fuels.Home users of electricity pay just 5% VAT compared with the 20% rate that applies to businesses – including electric car charger operators. That means
  
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• UK family tell of nightmare of bloodstained, sex toy-filled holiday rental

  11-02-2025 07:00 via theguardian.com
  
  The family, which included four small children, were initially told by Vrbo that the property’s issues were ‘minor’A family who arrived at their rented holiday house to find bloodstained furniture and a room full of sex toys were told the problem was “minor” by the booking platform Vrbo.Paul Norris [not his real name] and his wife had booked the five-bedroom, £300-a-night house in Northern Ireland for a week’s holiday for their extended family, including
  
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• UK shoppers inspired by health food trends on social media ‘lift retail sales’

  11-02-2025 01:01 via theguardian.com
  
  Year-on-year credit and debit card spending in January the highest upsurge since March 2024, says BarclaysShoppers inspired by health food trends on social media helped lift retail sales in January, easing pressure on high-street stores after a gloomy festive period.Barclays said credit and debit card spending grew 1.9% year on year in January – the highest upsurge since March 2024. Continue reading...
  
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