Tonight:
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Mortgage approvals at two-year high
24 Nov 2009- No movement in independence talks
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The number of mortgages approved for house purchase has risen to its highest level for nearly two years during October as buyers continued to return to the market, figures have shown.
Around 42,238 loans were approved for people buying a property during the month, nearly double the number seen in October last year and the highest level since January 2008, according to the British Bankers' Association.
Net lending, which strips out redemptions and repayments, also held firm at £3.1 billion.
But unsecured lending remained subdued as consumers instead focused on paying down their debts and building up savings.
