The housing market's deadline day scramble - today's papers

IFAonline rounds up what the newspapers are saying…

Britain's property market was compared to the Premier League transfer window yesterday as homeowners scrambled to complete on deals before the top rate of stamp duty soars to 5%. MORE...

Gold prices hit a new high of $1,462.93 an ounce on Wednesday, setting a record for a second-consecutive day on inflation fears and a falling US dollar. MORE...

Japan's economy is "under strong downward pressure" due to the devastation caused by the earthquake and tsunami, the Bank of Japan (BOJ) says. MORE

Economic problems may be fuelling a rise in depression in England, it has been suggested. MORE

Europe's banks have rushed to take advantage of improving market sentiment, issuing more senior bonds so far this week than in any comparable period since January. MORE

A US appeals court has denied ex-Enron chief executive Jeffrey Skilling a new trial, upholding his conviction on 19 counts of conspiracy and other crimes. MORE...

Hardy became the latest Lloyd's of London insurer to count the cost of last month's Japanese quake, warning yesterday that the catastrophe will trigger claims of between £9m and £12m. MORE...

The boss of Marks & Spencer has added to concerns about the outlook for high street retailers by warning that higher living costs would chip away at already moribund levels of consumer confidence this year. MORE...

The merry-go-round of City executives has slowed to a crawl due to ‘confusion' over the new rules on pay and bonuses, according to one of Britain's biggest recruitment firms. MORE...