Sean Connery backs bank merger challenge

Actor Sean Connery is backing a legal challenge to the Lloyds TSB and HBoS bank merger.

The Competition Appeal Tribunal will today consider whether the government was right to bypass competition concerns in allowing HBOS to be rescued.

A group of businessman, investors and customers make up the Merger Action Group (MAG) is fighting the merger.

HBOS is confident the ruling, due on Tuesday, will approve the deal.

“It is time that people stopped using HBOS as a plaything,” said HBOS spokesman Shane O’Riordain. “We’re confident the appeal will be unsuccessful and we would then ask this self-appointed group to withdraw.”

MAG feels allowing Lloyds TSB to buy HBOS is bad for Scotland’s economy. Their stand has won support from Sean Connery, who has sent them a personal message agreeing he does not believe the merger is in the best interest of HBoS or the Scottish economy.

MAG says Business Secretary Lord Mandelson’s decision to allow the deal to go ahead was based on legislation that was not in place at the time the merger was announced.

The legal process has been fast-tracked to ensure there will be a ruling before the HBOS shareholders vote on the deal on December 12.

“We have been greatly encouraged by the backing we have received from such a cross-section of the Scottish public from employees and customers of HBOS, to leading businessmen and politicians,” said MAG spokesman Malcolm Fraser.

HSBC plans to increase cash available for UK mortgages by 20% to £15 billion in 2009. The bank hopes the move will increase its share of the UK mortgage market from 4% to 5%, an HSBC spokesman said.

HSBC will pass on the full 1% cut to borrowers.

Other mortgage lenders have announced their plans to pass on last week’s 1% rate cut by the Bank of England.

Lloyds TSB, Cheltenham & Gloucester, will bring their mortgage rate by 1%

Halifax will reduce main rates by just 0.25% but has announced tracker customers will benefit from a full 1% reduction.

Nationwide building society’s main rate will go down by 0.69% to 4% from January 1.

Abbey is reviewing rates, which currently stand at 5.44%. Tracker customers will have their rates cut by 1% from the start of January.

Royal Bank of Scotland and NatWest will reduce their main mortgage rate by 0.75% to 4.44. RBS said borrowers with a tracker or One Account mortgage would benefit from the full 1% cut.

Barclays will cut rates at the Woolwich lending arm by 1.15%. Tracker mortgage customers will benefit from the full 1% cut.

Bradford & Bingley will reduce rates by 0.75% to 4.84%.

The FTSE finished 239 points down on the week – starting at 4288 and closing on Friday at 4049.

The DOW dropped 192 points in the week – opening on Monday at 8827 and closing Friday at 8635.

The Pound also weakened against the US dollar and the Euro over the week – moving from $1.54 against the dollar to $1.47 and 1.21 Euros to 1.15 Euros.

---

For More information on specific Banks use these links

• Alliance & Leicester
• Barclays
• Capital One
• Child Trust Fund
• First Direct
• HSBC
• Post Office
• Tesco Savings

Related Websites

• Save Money For Your Family With These 9 Steps If we really sit down and think objectively, many of...
• Consumers Need to Exercise Caution as Credit Card Rates Climb Many consumers are finding that even though they have had...
• Introduction to Mortgages pt 5 of 5 This is part five in a five part series on...

Tags: Bank Merger, HBos, HSBC, LloydsTSB, Lord Mandelson, Merger Action Group, Scottish Economy, Sean Connery