Scotsman: After months of rising, lenders begin to cut fixed-rate mortgage rates
EXPERTS have forecast a fall in fixed-rate mortgage prices after several leading lenders announced cuts. Abbey, Nationwide and Halifax are all cutting rates on some deals and more reductions could be due, according to Ray Boulger, senior technical manager at broker John Charcol.
Guardian: Banks pledge £220m to Bradford & Bingley
Six high street banks have agreed to guarantee up to £220m of the £400m Bradford & Bingley fundraising that was thrown into disarray on Thursday night when private equity house TPG pulled its investment in the buy-to-let lender.
(Not a glowing piece of news - but another bank against the wall would have been bad news indeed - hopefully more than just a stay of execution)
bbc.co.uk: Iran optimism steadies oil price
The price of oil fell back on Friday, on hopes Iran would react positively to proposals to resolve a dispute over its nuclear development programme.