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.

Get a free fractional share worth up to £100.
Capital at risk.

Terms and conditions apply.

Go to website

ADVERTISEMENT

Get a free fractional share worth up to £100.
Capital at risk.

Terms and conditions apply.

Go to website

ADVERTISEMENT

“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.”

The State Bank of Pakistan’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) on Monday kept the policy rate unchanged at 11%, extending a pause in monetary easing for a fourth consecutive meeting.

The central bank had earlier reduced the policy rate by 1 percentage point to 11% on May 5, 2025.

Outlook improves but risks linger

The MPC noted that headline inflation rose to 5.6% in September from 3.0% in August, while core inflation remained at 7.3%. The Committee assessed that flood damage to the broader economy has been smaller than previously feared, with crop losses likely contained, minimal supply disruptions, and high-frequency indicators showing firmer momentum.

With the earlier reduction still transmitting through the economy, the MPC judged the real policy rate “adequately positive” to guide inflation toward the 5–7% medium-term target, even as risks persist from volatile global commodities, evolving tariff dynamics that could challenge exports, and potential domestic food-supply frictions.

Since the last meeting, several developments have shaped the outlook. The Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) revised the Fiscal Year 2025 (FY25) gross domestic product (GDP) growth to 3.0% from 2.7%. Initial estimates for major Kharif crops remained close to last year’s production despite floods. Notably, the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) foreign exchange (FX) reserves continued to increase even after repayment of a $500 million Eurobond.

Pakistan reached a staff-level agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on reviews of the Extended Fund Facility (EFF) and the Resilience and Sustainability Facility (RSF).

Meanwhile, inflation expectations of consumers and businesses softened in the latest State Bank of Pakistan–Institute of Business Administration (SBP–IBA) sentiment surveys, while global commodity prices showed mixed trends and heightened oil volatility.

Reserves build as growth momentum forms

Recent high-frequency indicators point to sustained growth momentum, the statement noted. Major Kharif estimates turned out better than expected, corroborated by satellite imagery showing healthier vegetation. Improved input conditions and an expected post-flood yield uptick support better prospects for Rabi crops.

In industry, Large-Scale Manufacturing (LSM) expanded 4.4% year-on-year in July–August Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26), versus a marginal contraction a year earlier.

Stronger sales of automobiles, cement, fertilisers and petroleum, oil and lubricants (POL) products, alongside firmer private-sector credit and improved business sentiment, have lifted the industrial outlook, with spillovers expected into services. On current trends, real GDP growth is now assessed to be in the upper half of the previously projected 3.25%–4.25% range.

The current account (CA) recorded a $110 million surplus in September 2025, limiting the first quarter (Q1) of FY26 deficit to $594 million, broadly in line with expectations. Exports continued to grow moderately, while faster-rising imports widened the trade gap; workers’ remittances remained resilient.

Together with net financial inflows, this lifted SBP FX reserves to $14.5 billion as of October 17. Looking ahead, imports are likely to gain traction with activity, though flood-related import needs seem lower than earlier assumed, and the outlook for remittances has improved.

Overall, the current account deficit (CAD) is projected at 0–1% of GDP in FY26, with FX reserves expected to reach $15.5 billion by December 2025 and around $17.8 billion by June 2026, assuming planned official inflows.

In Q1-FY26, tax collection grew 12.5% year-on-year to Rs2.9 trillion, Rs198 billion below target. Higher SBP profit transfers and Petroleum Development Levy (PDL) receipts should bolster non-tax revenue, according to the statement.

Both the overall balance and the primary balance are likely to post surpluses for the quarter. The MPC expects post-flood rehabilitation to be financed within budgeted resources and reiterated the need for continued fiscal discipline to meet balance targets and secure long-term sustainability.

Broad money (M2) growth decelerated to 12.3% as of October 10, driven by a decline in the banking system’s net domestic assets, mainly due to sharply slower bank credit to non-bank financial institutions (NBFIs).

Net budgetary borrowing remained contained, creating space for the private sector: private-sector credit (PSC) growth rose to 17%, broad-based across working capital, fixed investment and consumer loans, with notable demand from textiles, telecommunications, chemicals, and wholesale/retail trade.

On the liability side, currency in circulation rose year-on-year while deposit growth decelerated, lifting the currency-to-deposit ratio (CDR) to 37.6% and keeping reserve money growth elevated.

The rise in headline inflation to 5.6% in September reflected flood-related food price increases, an uptick in energy prices, and sticky core inflation. Unlike past flood episodes, the food-price surge appears milder than feared, with the Sensitive Price Indicator (SPI) showing slower increases in wheat and allied products, sugar, and perishables.

The MPC nevertheless expects inflation to exceed the 5–7% band for a few months in the second half (H2) of FY26 before reverting to the target range in FY27. Key risks cited by the MPC include global commodity volatility, the timing and magnitude of future energy-price adjustments, and uncertainty around prices of wheat and perishable food items.

Oil and gas services firm Petrofac has filed for administration, putting around 2,000 Scottish jobs at risk.

The company is tumbling into insolvency after recent restructuring plans collapsed in the wake of a failed renewables contract in the Netherlands.

On Monday, Petrofac told investors that it has applied to the High Court to appoint administrators.

The firm employs more than 7,000 workers globally.

This includes around 2,000 employees from its UK base in Aberdeen, with around 1,200 of these offshore and a further 800 onshore in training and operational roles.

Petrofac said it will now enter insolvency after Dutch electricity grid TenneT terminated a major contract to build windfarms.

The company stressed that the administration will affect the group’s main holding company.

It will continue to trade and assess options for an alternative restructuring, with different merger and acquisition options also being explored with its key creditors.

Advisers at corporate finance firm Teneo are expected to advise over the administration.

“When appointed, administrators will work alongside executive management to preserve value, operational capability and ongoing delivery across the group’s operating and trading entities,” the company said.

Petrofac’s UK business is based in Aberdeen and is involved in the operation of North Sea oil platforms for firms including BP and Shell.

It also has smaller offices in London, Woking and Great Yarmouth.

The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) has stressed the Government will work with Petrofac after the oil and gas services group filed for administration.

A DESNZ spokeswoman said: “The UK arm of Petrofac has not entered administration and is continuing to operate as normal, as an in-demand business with a highly-skilled workforce and many successful contracts.

“Petrofac’s administration is a product of longstanding issues in their global business.

“The Government will continue to work with the UK company as it focuses on its long-term future.

“Ministers are working across all parts of government led by DESNZ in support of this.”

The company was worth around £6 billion at its peak in 2012 but has slumped in recent years.

It was worth around £20 million when its shares were suspended in May after being severely impacted by an investigation by the Serious Fraud Office and volatile energy prices.