MILLIONS of credit card customers battling to pay off debt are being slugged with higher interest fees, despite historic low official rates.
More than half of cards issued by banks, credit unions and building societies have higher rates now than two years ago, an investigation has found, The Advertiser reports.
Consumer group Choice says that while scores [...]
The Ultimate Money News Around The World
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Credit card rates rise as interest falls - AU
July 1st, 2009 by Financial Writer Tags: australians, credit card debt, credit card rates, official rates increased
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Car sales down 37 per cent
July 1st, 2009 by Financial Writer A senior member of U.S. President Barack Obama’s auto task force testified Wednesday that the U.S. government will not continue to fund General Motors Corp.’s operations if the automaker doesn’t get approval to sell its assets to a new company within the next 10 days.
“We have no intention to further fund this company if the [...]Tags: automarket, car sales down, General Motors Corp
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The UK economy shrank by the most in more than half a century
June 30th, 2009 by Financial Writer The UK economy shrank by the most in more than half a century in the first three months of the year, according to revised figures which were much weaker than originally estimated.
The 2.4 per cent decline in gross domestic product was sharper than the 1.9 per cent initially calculated, the Office for National Statistics reported, [...]Tags: Capital economics, uk economy, UK national accounts
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Asian stocks rose, the last day of a torrid quarter
June 30th, 2009 by Financial Writer Asian stocks rose on Tuesday, the last day of a torrid quarter, as investors added to trades based on a rebound in economic activity, while funds slashed bets against a fall in oil prices to keep crude on track for its biggest quarterly gain in 19 years.
Major European stock indexes followed Asia’s example by opening [...]Tags: Asian stocks, economic activity, torrid quarter, US Treasuries
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How the health care debate could affect Americans tax bill
June 30th, 2009 by Financial Writer Americans who want to follow how the health care debate could affect their tax bill should focus on one man in the next week: Max Baucus.
The Democratic senator from Montana is leading the charge on brokering agreements and has promised to deliver a draft of a bill on Wednesday.
As chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, [...]Tags: americans tax bill, health benefits, health care, tax-free, us
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The British taxpayer was exposed to enormous risks
June 26th, 2009 by Financial Writer UK Treasury Criticized over Northern Rock Failure
The British taxpayer was exposed to enormous risks when mortgage lender Northern Rock foundered because the Treasury had not prepared for a bank failure, a parliamentary committee said on Thursday.The problem was evident from 2004, but had not been tackled three years later when the authorities stepped in with [...]
Tags: British taxpayer, financial system, UK Treasury Criticized
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Hariri gathers backing for PM vote
June 26th, 2009 by Financial Writer Saad Hariri, the leader of Lebanon’s parliamentary majority, looks set to be the country’s next prime minister after gathering the support of many of the members of the 128-seat body, sources say.
Hariri, who led the March 14 coalition to victory in elections earlier this month, met Hassan Nasrallah, the opposition Hezbollah leader, on Friday to discuss the shape of a [...]Tags: PM vote, prime minister, Saudi Arabia, Unity government
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The year 2009 “is a crucial year” for India and the European Union (EU)
June 26th, 2009 by Financial Writer The year 2009 “is a crucial year” for India and the European Union (EU) to find ways to address common challenges posed by climate
change, energy and terrorism, a top official of the 27-member grouping said here Friday.
India and the EU are “two natural partners” and they need to find ways to fight all those challenges [...]Tags: energy, european union, india, terrorism
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US Economy shrinks at 5.5% rate
June 25th, 2009 by Financial Writer Despite narrower revision, the broadest measure of the nation’s economic activity posts second steepest decline in 27 years.
The U.S. economy shrank at an annual pace of 5.5% in the first quarter, the government said Thursday, a slower pace of decline than previously reported but still the second largest quarterly drop in 27 years.
Economists had expected [...]Tags: economy activity, rate, us economy
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Wall Street stages an advance, with consumer, commodity and tech shares leading the charge
June 25th, 2009 by Financial Writer Stocks rallied Thursday, finding momentum after a week of choppy trading, as investors scooped up a variety of shares hit in the recent selloff — including commodity, consumer, homebuilding and tech issues.
The Dow Jones industrial average (INDU) gained 172 points, or 2.1%. The Dow rose as much as 190 points earlier in the afternoon.
The S&P [...]Tags: cosumers, investor market, stock bounce, USA, wall street








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