International Business News - Rates http://www.ibtimes.com All articles are copyrighted by IBTimes.com 400 100 http://www.ibtimes.com/ http://www.ibtimes.com/images/top_logo_ibt2_3.gif Rates on 30-year mortgages plunged this week to the lowest level since January after the government launched a sweeping new effort to aid the U.S. housing market. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20081204/mortgage-rates-drop-to-lowest-level-since-january.htm Thu, 04 Dec 2008 16:27:44 EST Europe's central banks slashed borrowing costs aggressively Thursday to try and ward off a long recession triggered by the financial crisis. Their rate cuts tried to counter a slowdown that looks longer and deeper than initially feared--but they are getting close to the limit on how low they can go. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20081204/boe-cuts-interest-rates-ecb-decision-due-shortly.htm Thu, 04 Dec 2008 12:51:50 EST The Bank of England cut its base interest rate a full percentage point to 2 percent on Thursday, a month after chopping it by 1.5 points, to cushion the impact of a domestic recession. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20081204/bank-of-england-expected-to-deliver-big-rate-cut.htm Thu, 04 Dec 2008 07:26:02 EST Sweden's central bank on Thursday cut its key interest rate by a record 1.75 percentage points to 2 percent to soften the fall in the economy triggered by the global financial crisis. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20081204/swedish-riksbank-cuts-interest-rate-by-1-75-points.htm Thu, 04 Dec 2008 06:02:19 EST Europe's two main central banks are under mounting pressure to cut interest rates aggressively Thursday after a run of dismal economic data this week indicated the economic slump will be deeper and more prolonged than previously expected. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20081203/europes-central-banks-set-to-cut-rates-sharply.htm Wed, 03 Dec 2008 23:05:33 EST Thailand's central bank slashed interest rates by the largest amount in eight years, attempting to stave off recession as the economy reels from the global downturn and a weeklong shutdown of Bangkok's airports by anti-government protesters. http://www.ibtimes.com/data/articleimgs/187851-thailand-political-unrest.jpg http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20081203/thai-central-bank-slashes-interest-rate.htm http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20081203/thai-central-bank-slashes-interest-rate.htm Wed, 03 Dec 2008 08:16:44 EST Florida Power & Light Co. customers will see a small decrease in their bills after state regulators approved a fuel rate adjustment Tuesday. The total monthly bill for 1,000 kilowatt hours, a bit less than average for residential use, will drop by $1.57 starting in January. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20081202/fla-regulators-approve-modest-utility-rate-cut.htm Tue, 02 Dec 2008 17:29:46 EST Customers of Tulsa-based Public Service Co. of Oklahoma should expect lower electric bills after the utility announced plans to lower its fuel charges. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20081201/oklahoma-utility-plans-to-lower-fuel-charge.htm Mon, 01 Dec 2008 15:46:27 EST The European Central Bank and the Bank of England are under mounting pressure to cut interest rates aggressively this week amid signs that the economic slump will be deeper and more prolonged than previously expected. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20081201/european-central-banks-under-pressure-to-cut-rates.htm Mon, 01 Dec 2008 12:28:17 EST The average annual interest rates charged on popular types of credit cards fell slightly this week, resuming a multiweek decline after wavering last week, according to Bankrate.com Monday. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20081201/credit-card-interest-rates-resume-narrow-decline.htm Mon, 01 Dec 2008 12:28:48 EST The Russian Central Bank allowed the ruble to weaken about 1 percent against the dollar and the euro while also hiking interest rates by a full percentage point on Friday. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20081128/russian-ruble-weakens-despite-interest-rate-hike.htm Fri, 28 Nov 2008 08:27:25 EST Mortgage rates fell for the second day in a row Wednesday, and could be heading toward levels home buyers and owners haven't seen this year. That drop is what the Federal Reserve was aiming for when it announced a plan Tuesday to buy $600 billion in mortgage-related securities in an effort to slow falling home prices and rising foreclosures, while kick starting demand among fearful homebuyers. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20081126/mortgage-rates-fall-for-2nd-day-wont-help-all.htm Wed, 26 Nov 2008 18:08:26 EST Rates on 30-year mortgages sank for a fourth straight week, falling below 6 percent for the first time since early October, and are heading lower due to the government's massive new effort to aid the U.S. housing market. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20081126/mortgage-rates-dip-for-fourth-straight-week.htm Wed, 26 Nov 2008 17:31:34 EST Poland's central bank lowered its benchmark interest rate by a quarter point to 5.75 percent on Wednesday amid signs that the booming economy may slow down under the weight of the global financial crisis. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20081126/poland-cuts-interest-rate-to-5-75-percent.htm Wed, 26 Nov 2008 08:55:54 EST The rate of new cancer cases finally may be inching down--cautiously optimistic news but a gain that specialists worry could be derailed by economic turmoil. Death rates from cancer have been dropping slowly for years, thanks to earlier detection and better treatments. But preventing cancer is the ultimate goal, and Tuesday's annual "Report to the Nation" on cancer also shows a small but encouraging change: The rate of new diagnoses among men dropped 1.8 percent a year between 2001 and 2005. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20081126/encouraging-dip-in-rate-of-new-cancers-deaths.htm Wed, 26 Nov 2008 07:43:58 EST The rate of new cancer cases finally may be inching down--cautiously optimistic news but a gain that specialists worry could be derailed by economic turmoil. Death rates from cancer have been dropping slowly for years, thanks to earlier detection and better treatments. But preventing cancer is the ultimate goal, and Tuesday's annual "Report to the Nation" on cancer also shows a small but encouraging change: The rate of new diagnoses among men dropped 1.8 percent a year between 2001 and 2005. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20081125/encouraging-dip-in-rate-of-new-cancers-deaths.htm Tue, 25 Nov 2008 16:05:16 EST The average annual interest rates charged on popular types of credit cards wavered this week, after dropping for the last four weeks, according to Bankrate.com Tuesday. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20081125/credit-card-interest-rates-waver-in-past-week.htm Tue, 25 Nov 2008 14:58:30 EST Malaysia's second-largest financial group, CIMB, announced plans Tuesday to cut its lending rates after the central bank reduced a key policy rate the previous evening to spur economic growth. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20081125/malaysias-cimb-banking-group-cuts-lending-rates.htm Tue, 25 Nov 2008 08:31:08 EST Avis Budget Group Inc. said Monday it will raise some of its car rental rates as it grapples with rising business costs. Shares rose sharply in morning trading, surging 14 cents, or 37 percent, to 52 cents. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20081124/avis-to-raise-car-rental-rates-amid-rising-costs.htm Mon, 24 Nov 2008 11:01:26 EST The National Bank of Hungary decided Monday to cut its key interest rate by half a percentage point to an annual rate of 11 percent to support the economy amid the global financial crisis. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/20081124/hungary-cuts-key-interest-rate-as-inflation-falls.htm Mon, 24 Nov 2008 09:39:39 EST