Claims extracted
20
sentences that state something as happening or true
Uncertain
5%
1 of 20 hedged
("reportedly", "may", "according to")
Leaning
not political
takes no side on a contested political question
Publisher signals
65/100
Evening Standard's corrections and
hedging, across everything collected from it. Not a measure of accuracy.
Outlets on this story
10
Economy/Business
Same framing elsewhere
1
articles that frame the event the way this one does
Homebuyers are expected to show caution in the months ahead, despite the Bank of England base rate being left unchanged on Thursday.
asserted
rate → expect → Thursday
The base rate was held at 3.75%, but experts pointed to rises in fixed mortgage rates in recent weeks and a “price sensitive” housing market where buyers are being mindful of their costs.
asserted
buyers → hold → costs
House-hunters also have a wide choice of homes for sale, meaning sellers need to price realistically, experts said.
asserted
experts → have → sale
The average five-year fixed-rate homeowner mortgage on the market was at its highest level since November 2023 on Thursday, according to financial information website Moneyfacts.
uncertain
mortgage → fix → Moneyfacts
It said the average five-year fixed homeowner mortgage rate on Thursday was 5.87%, jumping from 5.81% on Wednesday.
asserted
rate → say → Wednesday
Several lenders have hiked fixed mortgage rates in recent weeks amid rises in swap rates, which are used to price mortgages.
asserted
which → hike → mortgages
Stephen Gomez, a mortgage adviser at Wesleyan, said: “A (Bank of England base rate) hold is not a pause button for mortgage costs.
“Fixed mortgage rates are influenced by what financial markets expect to happen next, so lenders can increase their prices even when the Bank of England makes no change.”
asserted
Bank → say → change
Susannah Streeter, chief investment strategist, Wealth Club said: “Fixed mortgage rates are guided by swap rates, which reflect expectations for where interest rates are heading, rather than simply where (the Bank of England base rate) stands today.
asserted
rates → say → England
“With markets still pricing in further rate hikes, swap rates have been pushed higher, and lenders have already been raising some fixed mortgage rates.”
asserted
lenders → price → rates
Read More
Simon Gammon, managing partner, Knight Frank Finance, said the base rate hold “won’t provide much comfort to mortgage borrowers”.
asserted
hold → read → borrowers
He added: “The rise in fixed rates has made trackers, which still sit close to 4%, much more attractive.
asserted
which → add → rates
“We are seeing more borrowers – particularly those with larger loans – accept some exposure to potential future increases in the base rate in exchange for lower outgoings.
asserted
borrowers → see → outgoings
“However, buyers can take confidence from the housing market’s resilience so far this year.”
asserted
buyers → take → resilience
She said: “Mortgage costs are still weighing on affordability, while buyers have a high level of choice and can afford to be selective.”
asserted
buyers → say → choice
Mark Manning, managing director of Northern Estate Agencies Group, which owns Manning Stainton, Ryder & Dutton and Mortimers, said that in terms of the stock of homes available on the housing market to buy “buyers have significantly more choice than they have been used to, and that has shifted the balance of power to them.
“This, combined with slightly higher mortgage rates, means that sellers need to price their properties realistically in order to attract potential buyers and sell quickly.”
asserted
sellers → own → buyers
Alice Haine, head of personal finance, Hargreaves Lansdown said: “Several major lenders have already nudged mortgage rates up this month, which will test affordability for both homeowners approaching the end of a fixed-rate deal and first-time buyers trying to get onto the property ladder.”
asserted
which → say → ladder
But she added: “For savers, the outlook is brighter.
asserted
outlook → add → savers
“Competitive savings rates are back, giving cash a greater opportunity to outpace inflation and work harder.
asserted
rates → give → inflation
“Those with money festering in an account paying a meagre rate risk missing out unless they shop around for a better deal.
asserted
they → fester → deal
“Few things are more frustrating for savers than watching inflation steadily erode the spending power of cash.”
asserted
inflation → watch → cash
The Aporia
