THOUSANDS of hard-pressed families are being fleeced by licensed money lenders because they cannot afford to pay for basic items such as food and utility bills.

M&T Bank saw its fourth-quarter earnings rise by 34%, beating analysts’s estimates, as the company’s bad debts fell.

LICENSED moneylenders charging exploitative rates of interest and preying on vulnerable people are not properly regulated by the State, it has been claimed.

KATE is tired of the threatening letters coming through the door.

The London market was making little headway today as top-flight stocks sought a record-equalling eleventh winning session in a row.

London's blue chip share index staged a late session rally today as optimism on Wall Street added to investor cheer over a potential takeover of Friends Provident.

Low income household lender Provident Financial today brushed aside concerns over the impact of the debt market crisis as it posted a 19% rise in interim profits.

Doorstep UK lender Provident Financial today reported a 20% slump in pre-tax profits after it invested heavily in start-ups in Mexico and Romania and its credit card business.

Interest rate worries showed signs of easing today after the FTSE 100 Index jumped 70 points and investors prepared for a strong start on Wall Street.

The UK government’s verdict on the battle for supermarket chain Safeway failed to halt a slide in London’s leading shares today.