I’ve been watching the unrest in the UK’s bond market for some months now and it is showing no sign of settling down:
Britain’s government bond market has seen its heaviest sell-off since last autumn’s “mini-budget” crisis, lifting two-year borrowing costs to their highest since July 2008 - but investors say there’s far less reason for panic than last year, and maybe even a bargain.
On June 22nd it is likely that the Chancellor will put interest rates up to 4.75% or possibly 5% to settle the markets. This will, however, put a massive strain on the property market where rates are shooting up on a daily basis:
It comes as average rates on two-year fixed deals soared further above 6 per cent today. This means a typical borrower will have to pay around £300 a month more for repayments than they would have done if looking for a similar mortgage a year ago.
Until last year I was in business as a Chartered Accountant and Chartered Tax Adviser. I use to warn countless people about the dangers of large mortgages and the possibility of interest rate rises. I don’t believe one person took any notice of me, all they saw was that large new house. No one under about forty years of age has ever seen anything but falling interest rates and there was a general attitude that ‘they would never dare put rates up’. Others just used their house an an ATM machine to be raided when a holiday or car was to be paid for.
The situation is getting so bad that people are suggesting that the government help people with mortgages out - unlikely, but that’s what people expect post- covid. Endless bailouts.
Times are changing!