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Government urges lenders to act Government urges lenders to act
(20 minutes later)
Prime Minister Gordon Brown says the government has met lenders to urge them to pass on the cut in interest rates.Prime Minister Gordon Brown says the government has met lenders to urge them to pass on the cut in interest rates.
He said the Treasury and the Bank of England had acted to help lenders and now banks should take the lead.He said the Treasury and the Bank of England had acted to help lenders and now banks should take the lead.
Chancellor Alistair Darling held a breakfast meeting with bank bosses this morning to press the government's case.Chancellor Alistair Darling held a breakfast meeting with bank bosses this morning to press the government's case.
The Bank of England's official rate was cut from 4.5% to 3% on Thursday. The Libor rate at which banks lend to each other has fallen since the cut.The Bank of England's official rate was cut from 4.5% to 3% on Thursday. The Libor rate at which banks lend to each other has fallen since the cut.
So far, only Lloyds TSB and Abbey have said they will pass the cut on in full.So far, only Lloyds TSB and Abbey have said they will pass the cut on in full.
See how the major lenders have reactedSee how the major lenders have reacted
"We are determined to get banks to resume lending," Mr Brown said. The problem banks have got is that they have limited funds and don't have enough money to give to all the customers who may want them Michael Coogan, CML class="" href="/1/hi/business/7711689.stm">UK mortgage market in graphics class="" href="/1/hi/business/7715514.stm">Bank lending rate falls sharply "We are determined to get banks to resume lending," Mr Brown said.
Chancellor's Darling met the banks at the Treasury, and the banks attending were thought to include Abbey, Barclays, HBOS, HSBC, Lloyds TSB, Nationwide, Royal Bank of Scotland and Standard Chartered.Chancellor's Darling met the banks at the Treasury, and the banks attending were thought to include Abbey, Barclays, HBOS, HSBC, Lloyds TSB, Nationwide, Royal Bank of Scotland and Standard Chartered.
'Commercial decision''Commercial decision'
The Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML) said lenders would cut their rates by between 0.5 and 1.5 percentage points in the coming weeks.The Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML) said lenders would cut their rates by between 0.5 and 1.5 percentage points in the coming weeks.
The problem banks have got is that they have limited funds and don't have enough money to give to all the customers who may want them Michael Coogan, CML UK mortgage market in graphicsBank lending rate falls sharply
However, the CML warned that the precise level of the reductions would be a commercial decision for each individual lender.However, the CML warned that the precise level of the reductions would be a commercial decision for each individual lender.
Michael Coogan, director general of the CML said: "The problem banks have got is that they have limited funds and don't have enough money to give to all the customers who may want them.Michael Coogan, director general of the CML said: "The problem banks have got is that they have limited funds and don't have enough money to give to all the customers who may want them.
Whereas it's wholly rational for any individual bank to take a much more cautious and conservative approach to lending, it's wholly irrational for all of them to do so at precisely the same time BBC Business Editor Robert Peston Read Robert Peston's blog
"I think over the next few days and weeks we will see that the banks and building societies will move by anywhere between 0.5% and 1.5% - the individual decisions will be on the basis of assessing what they want for their savers as much as what they want for their borrowers," he added."I think over the next few days and weeks we will see that the banks and building societies will move by anywhere between 0.5% and 1.5% - the individual decisions will be on the basis of assessing what they want for their savers as much as what they want for their borrowers," he added.
These cuts would be for existing customers on standard variable rate (SVR) deals, with deals for new borrowers likely to be re-priced.These cuts would be for existing customers on standard variable rate (SVR) deals, with deals for new borrowers likely to be re-priced.
Almost all tracker mortgages have been withdrawn for new borrowers as lenders consider at what rates to reintroduce them.Almost all tracker mortgages have been withdrawn for new borrowers as lenders consider at what rates to reintroduce them.
DutyDuty
Conservative Party leader David Cameron said that banks that had taken part in the government's bail-out programme should be forced to pass on Thursday's interest rate cut.Conservative Party leader David Cameron said that banks that had taken part in the government's bail-out programme should be forced to pass on Thursday's interest rate cut.
Whereas it's wholly rational for any individual bank to take a much more cautious and conservative approach to lending, it's wholly irrational for all of them to do so at precisely the same time BBC Business Editor Robert Peston Read Robert Peston's blog
Lloyds TSB, HBOS and Royal Bank of Scotland, which owns NatWest, have taken government cash to strengthen their finances.Lloyds TSB, HBOS and Royal Bank of Scotland, which owns NatWest, have taken government cash to strengthen their finances.
Mr Cameron added that other lenders should also cut rates.Mr Cameron added that other lenders should also cut rates.
The problem, lenders say, is that the key to mortgage costs is not the Bank of England's base rate but Libor - the London Interbank Offered Rate - which is the rate at which banks lend to each other.The problem, lenders say, is that the key to mortgage costs is not the Bank of England's base rate but Libor - the London Interbank Offered Rate - which is the rate at which banks lend to each other.
The three-month sterling Libor rate - which has the greatest influence on new tracker mortgages - fell from 5.56% to 4.49% on Friday, its lowest level since the end of 2005.The three-month sterling Libor rate - which has the greatest influence on new tracker mortgages - fell from 5.56% to 4.49% on Friday, its lowest level since the end of 2005.
But the rate remains almost one and a half percentage points above the Bank of England's base rate - still well above pre-credit crunch levels.But the rate remains almost one and a half percentage points above the Bank of England's base rate - still well above pre-credit crunch levels.
Meanwhile, a number of building societies have said they could take weeks to decide whether to pass on the cut. This would be to consider the effect on savers and to monitor Libor.Meanwhile, a number of building societies have said they could take weeks to decide whether to pass on the cut. This would be to consider the effect on savers and to monitor Libor.

HOW MORTGAGE LENDERS RESPONDED

HOW MORTGAGE LENDERS RESPONDED

Lender SVR before BoE decision SVR after BoE decision Rate change (percentage points) HBOS 6.50% Under review   Nationwide BS 6.19% Under review   Abbey 6.94% 5.44% -1.5 Lloyds TSB/ C&G 6.50% 5.00% -1.5 Northern Rock 7.34% Under review   Barclays 6.64% Under review   RBS 6.69% Under review   HSBC 6.25% Under review   Alliance & Leicester 6.94% Under review   Bradford & Bingley 7.09% Under review   Bristol & West 6.59% Under review   Britannia BS 6.30% Under review Yorkshire BS 6.60% Under review   GE Money 10.39% Under review   Coventry BS 6.84% Under review   Standard Life 6.59% Under review   Clydesdale & Yorkshire 6.64% Under review   Chelsea BS 7.24% Under review   Skipton 6.45% Under review   SVR: Standard Variable RateAny changes take effect from 1 DecemberLender SVR before BoE decision SVR after BoE decision Rate change (percentage points) HBOS 6.50% Under review   Nationwide BS 6.19% Under review   Abbey 6.94% 5.44% -1.5 Lloyds TSB/ C&G 6.50% 5.00% -1.5 Northern Rock 7.34% Under review   Barclays 6.64% Under review   RBS 6.69% Under review   HSBC 6.25% Under review   Alliance & Leicester 6.94% Under review   Bradford & Bingley 7.09% Under review   Bristol & West 6.59% Under review   Britannia BS 6.30% Under review Yorkshire BS 6.60% Under review   GE Money 10.39% Under review   Coventry BS 6.84% Under review   Standard Life 6.59% Under review   Clydesdale & Yorkshire 6.64% Under review   Chelsea BS 7.24% Under review   Skipton 6.45% Under review   SVR: Standard Variable RateAny changes take effect from 1 December
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