Mortgage rates rise

Bank of England data reveals that the average interest rate on a tracker mortgage climbed to 3.6% in March from 3.5% in February, its highest level since July 2010.

On a 2-year discounted mortgage at 75% loan-to-value the average interest rate rose to 3.25% in March from 3.23% in the previous month, the highest level since December 2009.

The average rate on a standard variable mortgage nudged up to 4.13% from 4.12%, although this rate was lower than the 4.16% seen in January.