Base rate warning could cause fixed rates to soar
Mortgage advisers expect fixed rates to increase by an average of 0.25 per cent over the coming weeks after the Bank of England’s base rate warning caused swap rates to soar.
Delivering his annual Mansion House speech on Thursday, Bank of England governor Mark Carney hinted base rate could rise “sooner than markets currently expect”.
Before his speech, market expectations were that the first increase would come in the first or second quarter of 2015 at the earliest.
But following Carney’s speech, swap rates – which lenders use to hedge potential interest rate increases and are closely linked to mortgage pricing – jumped to levels not seen in up to three years.
On Thursday, two-year swap rates stood at 1.2 per cent. But the next day they went up 15 basis points to 1.35 per cent and continued climbing yesterday to hit 1.38 per cent, the highest level they have been since May 2012.
Over the same time period, five-year swaps increased 11bps to 2.25 per cent, a level not seen since July 2011.
Mortgage advisers say swaps are likely to continue to rise now Carney has warned an increase in base rate is likely in the near future and that fixed rates could increase by up to 0.25 per cent, on average, over the next couple of weeks.
Online shoppers now have longer to cancel orders while complaints calls should be cheaper, under laws that take effect on Friday.
The cooling-off period for an online order has been extended to 14 calendar days from seven working days for online shopping clients.
Shoppers can claim a full refund during this period without having to give a reason for the cancellation for certain online shopping goods.
Companies are also prevented from charging more than a local rate for a customer inquiry or complaint call.
The rules see the final stage of implementation of the EU Consumer Rights Directive.
Charged for complaining
The regulations cover a number of areas of consumer rights, including the introduction of a cooling-off period for digital music, films and books for the first time.
Retailers must not supply the content within the 14-day cancellation period unless the consumer has given their express consent to this happening, and the consumer must also acknowledge that once the download starts they will lose their right to cancel.
Any extra charges for those buying with a debit or credit card must be clear from the start, the rules state.
The rules should bring an end to calls that can cost up to 41p a minute, for those trying to make a complaint.
Companies will still be able to charge the higher rates when customers are purchasing goods or services, but not when they call afterwards to raise questions or complaints about them.
UK interest rates have been held at the record low of 0.5% for another month by the Bank of England.
The size of the Bank’s bond-buying economic stimulus programme was also kept unchanged at £375bn.
The decision was widely expected, despite continued signs of strength in the UK economy.
Last month, the Bank of England reiterated it was in no rush to raise rates, with governor Mark Carney saying they may remain low “for some time”.
However, Mr Carney added the economy had “edged closer” to the point where interest rates would need to rise.
Commenting on the bank’s announcement, David Kern, chief economist at the British Chambers of Commerce said: “The decision to keep interest rates and quantitative easing on hold was the right one”.
And he added: “With annual CPI inflation below target, the MPC can afford to wait before tightening their policy. The strong rise in sterling over the past year, making UK exports more expensive, is an important reason for not raising interest rates prematurely”.
Strong growth
Latest official figures show that the UK economy grew by 0.8% in the first three months of 2014.
Recent business surveys have also indicated that the economy is continuing to enjoy strong growth, and the unemployment rate has fallen to a five-year low of 6.8%.
Despite Mr Carney’s recent comments, minutes from last month’s meeting of the Bank’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) suggested some members were softening their stance on raising interest rates.
While all nine MPC members voted to keep rates unchanged, the minutes said the views of some members on raising rates were becoming “more balanced”.
Most analysts do not expect UK rates to rise until the first half of next year
Archives
- March 2019
- September 2018
- August 2018
- April 2018
- November 2017
- September 2017
- July 2017
- June 2017
- May 2017
- February 2017
- January 2017
- November 2016
- September 2016
- August 2016
- July 2016
- June 2016
- April 2016
- March 2016
- February 2016
- December 2015
- November 2015
- October 2015
- September 2015
- August 2015
- July 2015
- June 2015
- May 2015
- April 2015
- March 2015
- February 2015
- January 2015
- December 2014
- November 2014
- October 2014
- September 2014
- August 2014
- July 2014
- June 2014
- May 2014
- April 2014
- March 2014
- February 2014
- January 2014
- December 2013
- November 2013
- October 2013
- September 2013
- August 2013
- July 2013
- June 2013
- May 2013
- April 2013
- March 2013
- February 2013
- January 2013
- December 2012
- November 2012
- October 2012
- September 2012
- August 2012
- July 2012
- June 2012
- May 2012
- April 2012
- March 2012
- February 2012
- January 2012
- December 2011
- November 2011
- October 2011
- September 2011
- August 2011
- July 2011
- June 2011
- May 2011
- March 2011
- October 2010