High stakes

These rushing wives needed to be clairvoyants

For wives rooting for a quick settlement, a rushed house sale in the next few months could result in the loss of tens of thousands of pounds

When the credit crunch first took hold it was reported that a wave of unhappy wives of highly paid men went gushing into divorce. This was apparently with a view to minimising the negative effects of slashed bonuses, falling stock market prices and widescale redundancies and maximising the chance of obtaining a lucrative divorce settlement (27 May 2008, www.sky.com).
Now that the economy has slumped further into decline it is rumoured that wealthy wives en masse are making the hard-headed business decision to remain with their husbands under sufferance until their flagging stocks and shares start to recover. Reports like this are a depressing indictment of the unfortunate way in which modern relationships can work.

Safe as houses?
While at first blush such deliberate financial planning may sound like good business