There were 49% fewer house purchase loans in January than in December, but only 15% fewer remortgage loans, according to data released today by the Council of Mortgage Lenders.

This emphatically demonstrates the effect on the mortgage market of the end of the temporary stamp duty holiday in December, the CML says.

The Financial Services Authority says it is going to be more proactive in future, and not confine itself to responding to consumers’ complaints about the way they are treated.

That is the message today from FSA chief executive Hector Sants, who appears to be keen to introduce better protection for buyers of mortgages, pensions and investment products before he steps down in the summer – and before an incoming Conservative government gets around to ditching the FSA altogether.

A firm of solicitors that worked almost exclusively for Cartel Client Review, a company specialising in attempting to challenge the enforceability of debts, has been closed down by the Solicitors' Regulation Authority (SRA).

The SRA has closed the Manchester office of Consumer Credit Litigation Solicitors, saying that it was acting to protect clients of CCLS because of “suspected dishonesty”.

Mortgage rates have been falling since last November, but in order to fund the cuts savings rates have been falling too, according to the latest research from Moneyfacts.

The largest rate reductions have been on fixed-rate bonds. One year bonds have seen their average rate drop by 0.65% in the last four months, while four and five year bonds have dropped by 0.60% and 0.55% respectively.

Perplexed by pensions? Confused by CGT? Stumped by self assessment? Billions of pounds of hard earned cash is wasted every year through unnecessary tax payments or failure to use tax breaks. But how do you ensure you are not paying more than you should? Help is at hand with IFA and tax experts Philip Pearson, P&P Invest, and Ian Hudson, Hudson Green & Associates, who will be joining us to answer all your tax questions. Submit your questions now and join us when we go live on 11 March.

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The Barclays Golden ISA issue 2  is a variable rate savings account, paying 3.10% AER, including a 1% bonus for the first 12 months. It allows instant penalty-free access, but does not permit transfers in - so those looking for a better deal on their existing ISA balances will be disappointed to have been frozen out.

An even better rate is available on the Santander, which pays 3.5% on the same terms.