Business
Mortgage rates creep back up as lenders show caution
Average mortgage rates have risen for the first time month-on-month since February as lenders approach the winter with caution.
Following a series of drops in mortgage interest rates, the picture worsened slightly for new and renewing borrowers over the last month, according to financial information service Moneyfacts.
The average rate for a two, or five, year fixed rate stands at about 5%, much lower than the peak of recent years, but still a stretch for many homeowners.
Analysts suggest imminent, further base rate cuts by the Bank of England appear unlikely, and uncertainty always foreshadows a Budget.
Moneyfacts data shows that mortgage rates only climbed very slightly over the month, by 0.02 percentage points.
That took the rate on an average two-year deal to 4.98%, and to 5.02% for the average five-year mortgage.
More than eight in 10 mortgage customers have fixed-rate deals. The interest rate on this kind of mortgage does not change until the deal expires, usually after two or five years, and a new one is chosen to replace it.
Hundreds of thousands of potential first-time buyers also hope to get a place of their own with their first mortgage. All would welcome low mortgage rates.
Rachel Springall, from Moneyfacts, said that the latest situation might well “disappoint” borrowers.
“Volatile swap rates and a cautionary approach among lenders have led to an abrupt halt in consecutive monthly average rate falls,” she said.
Swap rates reflect the market’s view of which direction the Bank of England’s interest rates will go, so lenders use them to set their own rates.
“Lenders have responded cautiously, with some edging rates higher and the overall average ticking up slightly,” said Simon Gammon, managing partner at mortgage advisers Knight Frank Finance.
“This is unlikely to mark the start of a sustained rise in borrowing costs, but rather a prolonged plateau while the outlook becomes clearer.”
The rates during this October are much lower than this month two years ago, when the average rate for a two-year deal was 6.67%.
Some homeowners would have become accustomed to much lower rates during the 2010s, so will now be budgeting for bigger monthly repayments, alongside other financial pressures such as the rising cost of food.
The government has said it will support people with the cost of living. The Budget will be delivered by Chancellor Rachel Reeves in November.
Ms Springall, from Moneyfacts, said that borrowers should consider their own circumstances and seek guidance when required.
“It remains essential borrowers seek independent advice to navigate the mortgage maze and not feel pressured to secure a deal because of the Budget rumour mill,” she said.
On Monday, the Institute for Fiscal Studies, an independent economic think-tank, said that the chancellor should avoid “directionless tinkering and half-baked fixes” when trying to boost the government’s tax take in the Budget.
Business
Stock market today: Which are the top losers and gainers on March 6- check list – The Times of India
Benchmark equity indices Sensex and Nifty fell sharply on Friday, retreating by more than 1 per cent after a brief recovery in the previous session as escalating tensions in West Asia and surging crude oil prices weighed on investor sentiment.The 30-share BSE Sensex declined 1,097 points, or 1.37 per cent, to close at 78,918.90. During the session, it had plunged 1,203.72 points, or 1.50 per cent, to 78,812.18. The NSE Nifty dropped 315.45 points, or 1.27 per cent, to settle at 24,450.45.
Nifty50 top gainers
- Bharat Electronics (1.84%)
- Reliance Industries (1.11%)
- ONGC (0.95%)
- Sun Pharma (0.84%)
- NTPC (0.68%)
- Hindalco (0.42%)
- HCL Tech (0.20%)
- Infosys (0.20%)
- Bajaj Auto (0.12%)
- Nestle India (0.12%)
Nifty50 top losers
- ICICI Bank (-3.26%)
- Eternal (-3.16%)
- Shriram Finance (-3.08%)
- Axis Bank (-2.47%)
- UltraTech Cement (-2.45%)
- Kwality Wall’s (-2.42%)
- InterGlobe Aviation (-2.41%)
- Adani Enterprises (-2.36%)
- HDFC Bank (-2.36%)
- HDFC Life (-2.31%)
BSE Sensex top gainers
- Bharat Electronics (1.84%)
- Reliance Industries (1.11%)
- Sun Pharma (0.84%)
- NTPC (0.68%)
- HCL Tech (0.20%)
- Infosys (0.20%)
BSE Sensex top losers
- ICICI Bank (-3.26%)
- Eternal (-3.16%)
- Axis Bank (-2.47%)
- UltraTech Cem. (-2.45%)
- Kwality Wall’s (-2.42%)
- InterGlobe (-2.41%)
- HDFC Bank (-2.36%)
- SBI (-2.27%)
- Bajaj Finserv (-2.25%)
- L&T (-2.21%)
The decline came as Brent crude, the global oil benchmark, jumped 2.53 per cent to $87.57 per barrel, raising concerns about inflation and macroeconomic stability.“Indian equity markets extended their decline following the prior session’s relief rally, as escalating US-Iran tensions disrupted key Middle Eastern oil and gas supplies, driving crude prices higher. A sustained rise in oil prices could weigh on investor sentiment and adversely affect India’s twin deficits, inflation trajectory, and the RBI’s monetary stance,” said Vinod Nair, Head of Research, Geojit Investments Ltd, PTI quoted.Elsewhere in Asia, South Korea’s Kospi, Japan’s Nikkei 225, Shanghai’s SSE Composite index and Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index ended higher.European markets, however, were trading in the red, while US markets ended lower on Thursday.Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) sold equities worth Rs 3,752.52 crore on Thursday, while Domestic Institutional Investors (DIIs) purchased stocks worth Rs 5,153.37 crore, according to exchange data.On Thursday, the Sensex had rebounded 899.71 points, or 1.14 per cent, to settle at 80,015.90, snapping its four-day losing streak. The Nifty had climbed 285.40 points, or 1.17 per cent, to close at 24,765.90, ending its three-day decline.
As the US and Israel continue strikes on Iran, and with retaliatory strikes hitting nearby Middle East states, key shipping routes are being disrupted. Oil and gas production in the region is also being affected.
The BBC’s Nick Marsh examines how the war could cause a rise in living costs around the world.
Business
Stock Market Updates: Sensex Tanks 1,100 Points, Nifty Tests 24,450; India VIX Jumps Over 11%
Last Updated:
The Nifty50 and the Sensex declined at open amid weak global cues.
Sensex Today
Indian benchmark equity indices extended their losses in a volatile trading session on Friday as investors remained cautious amid escalating tensions in West Asia linked to the US-Iran conflict.
As of 3:19 PM, the Nifty50 was trading 1.21 per cent or 300 points down at 24,465, and the Sensex was trading 1,136 points or 1.42 per cent down at 78.879.
Market volatility spiked during the session, with the India VIX rising as much as 11.31% to 19.88.
Among Nifty50 constituents, InterGlobe Aviation, ICICI Bank, and Max Healthcare Institute were the top losers. On the other hand, Bharat Electronics Limited, Reliance Industries, and NTPC Limited were among the top gainers.
Broader markets also traded lower, with the Nifty Midcap 100 and Nifty Smallcap 100 declining 0.47% and 0.06%, respectively.
On the sectoral front, the Nifty IT Index was the only major gainer, rising 0.34% on the back of gains in Persistent Systems and Infosys.
Meanwhile, the Nifty Realty Index emerged as the worst-performing sector, falling nearly 2%, dragged down by losses in Godrej Properties, The Phoenix Mills, and Prestige Estates Projects.
The Nifty Private Bank Index and Nifty Financial Services Index were also among the major laggards during the session.
Global cues
Most markets across the Asia-Pacific region traded in the red as crude oil prices climbed amid rising concerns over supply disruptions linked to the escalating conflict involving the United States, Israel, and Iran.
In Asia, mainland China’s CSI 300 Index slipped around 0.1%, while South Korea’s Kospi Index declined 1.6%.
Overnight on Wall Street, the S&P 500 fell 0.57%, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 1.61%. The Nasdaq Composite ended 0.26% lower.
Market uncertainty also intensified after Letitia James and attorneys general from 23 US states reportedly filed another lawsuit seeking to block tariff measures announced by Donald Trump.
Oil and gold prices
Oil prices surged as traders remained concerned about potential supply disruptions. According to a Reuters report, Brent crude futures rose nearly 5% to $85.41 per barrel in the previous session.
During the Asian trading session, Brent Crude Oil was trading 0.15% higher at $84.16 per barrel.
Meanwhile, safe-haven demand pushed Gold Futures up 1.34% to $5,146.39, supported by ongoing geopolitical tensions.
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March 06, 2026, 09:20 IST
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