Business
Boost to homeowners as four major lenders lower mortgage rates
Homeowners looking to renew their mortgage before the end of the year have received a boost, with four major lenders reducing the interest rates on some deals.
Despite the Bank of England maintaining the base rate at 4 per cent, and not being expected to alter it before December at the earliest, there remains movement in the wider market around both savings and mortgages.
Last week, Zopa bank brought out an inflation-beating 4.75 per cent easy-access savings account, and now some households have another positive to consider, with lowered rates on mortgage deals.
Barclays announced five five-year products with newly lowered rates, ranging from 60 per cent to 95 per cent loan-to-value, with the lowest interest rate among these products coming in at 3.91 per cent.
HSBC did not announce exact cuts, but reduced a raft of residential mortgage products, with Santander then following suit, lowering fixed rates by as much as 0.36 per cent in some three-year fixes. On Monday, NatWest also cut rates, including lowering a two-year fixed deal to 3.77 per cent.
More than 400,000 homeowners will be coming to the end of a fixed-term deal before 31 December, mortgage and finance expert Jo Hodgson told The Independent, with the vast majority likely to need to renew their agreement.
Those who took out two-year deals initially will find interest rates are lower this time round – but those coming to the end of post-Covid purchases on five-year fixes will be preparing for a rise in payments.
This month’s lower-than-expected inflation reading has potentially paved the way for the Bank of England to lower interest rates further in the coming months, but few expect there to be more than one cut in the next three months, meaning that swap rates – which mortgage deals are based on – have already priced in most potential movements.
“There are early positive signs for mortgage rates after the rate of inflation for September held steady, undershooting expectation,” David Hollingworth from L&C Mortgages said.
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“Hopes that inflation may have peaked at a lower level than expected have opened the door to a reduction in the Bank of England base rate before the end of the year. As market forecasting has improved, swap rates have fallen further, which should give lenders the chance to improve their fixed rates.
“We know that once there are moves from some of the big players, it will inevitably lead to others following suit. If the more positive outlook in the markets holds firm, we could see another series of repricing moves that will cut fixed-rate pricing.
“However, with the Budget to come, it’s hard to predict where sentiment could head from here. That’s already brought some borrower anxiety into play, and so there’s still a strong case for taking a rate now and keeping a close eye on market movement from here. That will give security, but still allow a jump to a lower rate before completion if we see further improvements.”
Business
Gold, Silver Prices Jump Sharply This Week; Yellow Metal Surges By Rs 4,000
New Delhi: Gold and silver prices witnessed a sharp surge in the domestic market this week, tracking strong gains in global bullion markets. Gold prices rose by around Rs 4,000 per 10 grams, while silver prices jumped by nearly Rs 17,000 per kilogram. According to data from the India Bullion and Jewellers Association (IBJA), the price of 24-karat gold increased by Rs 4,188 to Rs 1,32,710 per 10 grams, compared to Rs 1,28,592 a week ago.
The price of 22-karat gold climbed to Rs 1,21,562 per 10 grams from Rs 1,17,777, while 18-karat gold rose to Rs 99,533 per 10 grams from Rs 96,444. Silver prices outperformed gold, registering a sharper weekly rise. The price of silver surged by Rs 16,970 to Rs 1,95,180 per kilogram, up from Rs 1,78,210 per kilogram a week earlier.
Earlier on Friday, Silver touched the Rs 2 lakh mark to hit an all-time high of Rs 2,013,88 per kilogram on the Multi-Commodity Exchange (MCX) during the intraday trade. The price of the future contract expiring on March 5, 2026, rose over Rs 2,400 during the day before settling at Rs 2,00462, up Rs 1,520 against the previous session’s closing of Rs 1,98,942.
“Gold and silver ETFs have been quiet heroes of the year, delivering standout returns even as equity markets saw bouts of volatility. Silver, especially, stole the spotlight — a rare combination of booming industrial demand from solar, EVs and electronics, alongside tightening global supply, pushed prices sharply higher,” said Nikunj Saraf, CEO, Choice Wealth.
Gold too held its ground and climbed steadily, supported by persistent central-bank buying and investors seeking safety amid geopolitical and inflation worries, he added. The gold future contract expiring on February 5 surged 1.87 per cent to close at Rs 1,34,948 per 10 grams on MCX on Friday. In the retail market, the 24-carat gold price settled at Rs 132,710 per 10 grams, up over Rs 4,600 from the previous day’s closing of Rs 1,28,596 per 10 grams, according to the IBJA.
The rally in domestic bullion prices is largely driven by continued strength in international markets, with both precious metals hovering close to their all-time highs. On the COMEX, gold was trading at $4,328 per ounce, while silver stood at $62 per ounce.
Business
Nifty 50, Nifty Midcap 150 Emerge As Top Indices In November: Report
New Delhi: Nifty 50 and Nifty Midcap 150 emerged as best-performing indices in November, with a growth of 1.87 per cent and 1.59 per cent, respectively, a report said on Saturday. Meanwhile, Nifty 50 outperformed with a return of 7.27 per cent, 5.87 per cent, and 8.59 per cent over the last 3 months, 6 months, and 1-year period, respectively.
At the same time, the Nifty Midcap 150 continued to show steady traction with gains of 7.93 per cent, 6.01 per cent, and 7.12 per cent across the same 3-month, 6-month, and 1-year periods, Motilal Oswal Mutual Fund said in its report.
The broader market also delivered healthy gains, with the Nifty 500 gaining 0.94 per cent in the previous month, with large and midcap stocks up about 1-2 per cent and smallcaps corrected by around 1-3 per cent. Over the last 3 months, 6 months, and 1 year, the index has consecutively given positive returns of 6.55 per cent, 4.96 per cent and 5.94 per cent, the report noted.
The Nifty Smallcap 250 Index showed mixed momentum, declining 3.36 per cent during the month, while recording a moderate 1.37 per cent gain over the past 3 months. However, returns remained subdued over longer periods, with the index slipping 0.60 per cent over 6 months and 5.55 per cent over the 1-year horizon.
The Nifty Microcap 250 Index also reflected volatility, registering a 2.83 per cent decline in November. According to the report, the Nifty Next 50 Index ended the month with a marginal decline of 0.98 per cent but maintained positive momentum over the medium term with gains of 5.16 over 3 months and 3.56 per cent over 6 months, while delivering −2.25 per cent over the 1 year.
Sector performance remained mixed with IT delivering an increase of 4.74 per cent, Auto 3.60 per cent, Banks 3.42 per cent and Healthcare 2.30 per cent in November. The Defence sector delivered the strongest annual performance with an impressive 19.43 per cent return, emerging as the best-performing segment over the year.
The Auto sector followed closely at 18.85 per cent, the Banking sector also posted a healthy 14.79 per cent gain, and Metals also recorded a strong 13.94 per cent. Healthcare generated 6.40 per cent, indicating steady but moderate expansion.
Realty, on the other hand, slipped further by 4.69 per cent in November and 11.47 per cent in the past year. The broader trend shows a 1–4 per cent decline across these segments during November, reflecting sector-specific pressures and profit-taking after earlier rallies, the report highlighted.
Business
Maruti Suzuki To Launch 4 New Cars In 2026, Including 2 EVs And Brezza Facelift; Check Details
Maruti Suzuki is preparing to expand its product lineup in India in 2026 with the launch of four new models. After introducing only one new car in 2025—the Victoris—the automobile company plans to add two electric vehicles, a flex-fuel model, and a refreshed version of the Brezza compact SUV next year.
In 2026, Maruti Suzuki will strengthen its portfolio by entering new segments and updating existing models. The planned launches include the e Vitara electric SUV, a flex-fuel version of the Fronx, an all-electric MPV codenamed YMC, and a facelifted Brezza.
Maruti Suzuki e Vitara
The Maruti Suzuki e Vitara is expected to be launched in January 2026. The e Vitara is expected to be offered with two battery options—49kWh and 61kWh—both paired with a front-mounted electric motor. Maruti Suzuki has claimed a driving range of up to 543 km. The electric SUV has also received a 5-star safety rating under the Bharat NCAP crash test programme.
This electric midsize SUV will compete with models such as the Mahindra BE 6, Hyundai Creta Electric, MG ZS EV, VinFast VF6, and Tata Curvv EV.
Fronx Flex Fuel
Maruti Suzuki will introduce its first flex-fuel engine in the second half of 2026. This engine will debut in the Fronx compact SUV. The flex-fuel powertrain is expected to support ethanol-petrol blends of up to E85, which consists of 85 per cent ethanol and 15 per cent petrol.
Apart from the new engine, the Fronx Flex Fuel is expected to remain unchanged in terms of design and features when compared to the current petrol version.
Electric MPV Codenamed ‘YMC’
The company’s second electric vehicle for 2026 will be an all-electric MPV, codenamed YMC. It is scheduled to be launched towards the end of the year. The YMC will be based on the same platform as the e Vitara but will feature an MPV body style.
The YMC is likely to use the same 49kWh and 61kWh battery packs as the e Vitara, with an expected range of around 500–550 km.
Brezza Facelift
Maruti Suzuki is also preparing a facelift for the Brezza compact SUV, which is expected to arrive around mid-2026. Spy images suggest minor design updates, along with possible interior changes and additional features. The Brezza facelift is expected to come with the 1.5-litre petrol engine producing 103hp, along with manual, automatic, and CNG options.
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