Premium attraction

Savers poured a record £1.1bn into Premium Bonds during May, nearly double the previous highest total, according to National Savings & Investments. More than 240,000 people invested in the bonds during the month, dwarfing the previous record set in January of £580m. The group, which is backed by the Treasury, put the surge down to a decision to increase the maximum amount individuals could invest in Premium Bonds by £10,000 to £30,000 due to customer demand.

CAR DEAL: Budget airline Ryanair has extended its contract with car rental firm Hertz. Ryanair, which is based at Newcastle and Teesside airports, said the deal would mean reduced rates and increased availability of cars for its passengers. Anyone hiring a Hertz car this summer through Ryanair's website - www.ryanair.com - will be entered into a prize draw to win a Ford Fiesta.

REDUNDANCY cost: Software manufacturer Misys faces a £7m redundancy bill after cutting jobs. The Evesham company racked up the charge after making an undisclosed number of people redundant during the middle of the financial year. The job cuts, in its banking and securities division, were made in response to reduced IT spending by banks, particularly in professional services.