IN BRIEF

National Savings & Investments will increase rates on three of its savings products on October 1 – but not by much. Its Direct Saver will go from 0.95% to 1%, Income Bonds from 1% to 1.15% and its Investment Account from 0.7% to 0.8%. The increases are all less than the Bank of England’s 0.25% base rate rise.

The number of homes for sale has risen for the third month in a row, to 41 for the average estate agent. But the number of house hunters fell for the second month running, said the National Association of Estate Agents.

Recruitment giant Hays is rewarding shareholders with a special dividend after a 17% jump in annual profits. Business here was dented by Brexit fears, but hiring levels abroad held up well.