BBC Radio 4's Money Box Saturday 23 December at 1204 GMT on Radio 4 and Online Programme transcript

More building societies could merge in 2007 triggering financial windfalls for their customers, a new report has said.

International business advisory firm Deloitte predicts at least five building society names will disappear from the high street next year. But which ones?

Money Box heard from Stephen Williams of Deloitte and Adrian Coles, director general of the Building Societies Association.

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Farepak

Christmas savings club Farepak went into administration in October

When the Farepak Christmas club collapsed two months ago it looked like ruining Christmas for more than 150,000 people.

Since then an inquiry has been set up to look at how to prevent a similar collapse happening again.

And some help has been provided via a charity set up to ease the plight of the people who lost out.

But what else have they done and now that Christmas has arrived how are they coping? Bob Howard reported.

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Private equity

Debenhams is one company that has attracted private equity

Private equity has been dominating business headlines throughout 2006.

Household names like Debenhams or Pizza Express being taken private, subjected to makeovers and then floated back on the stock exchange have made huge returns for the investment companies behind the deals.

But are the gains just for private equity companies and their corporate backers, or can small investors get a slice of the action by putting in money too?

We spoke to Peter Linthwaite of the British Venture Capital Association and Alan Warner from financial advisers Duncan Lawrie.

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Classic cars

Classic cars such as this can be bought at auctions

Classic, specialist and historic cars are big in the auction world but are they a good investment or simply for motoring enthusiasts?

Paul Lewis was taken on on a test drive and visited an auction to find out why people want to buy them and what returns you might get.

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Other News: Pension Term Assurance

Good news for up to 100,000 people who bought life assurance before 6 December.

The chancellor's pre-Budget speech suggested tax relief on Pension Term Assurance would be scrapped from next spring.

But the Revenue has confirmed that people who submitted applications before 6 December will still qualify for the tax break.

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BBC Radio 4's Money Box was broadcast on Saturday, 23 December at 1204 GMT.

Presenter: Paul Lewis
Producer: Chris A'Court
Reporter: Bob Howard