British house prices rose in January at their fastest annual rate since November 2018, adding to signs of a modest pick up in the housing market and broader economic confidence since December's election, industry figures showed on Wednesday.

The rate of decline in prices on the British high street slowed in January, an industry survey showed on Wednesday.

Investors in British money manager Neil Woodford's frozen multi-billion pound equity income fund will get their first cash payout this week, its administrator said on Tuesday.

Britain's banks have two weeks to explain changes to their overdraft pricing that will leave about 8 million consumers worse off, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) said, warning that those causing harm will face regulatory action.

British banks approved the highest number of mortgages in more than four years in December, industry group UK Finance said on Monday, adding to signs of a turnaround in the country's housing market since last month's election.