UK Government Borrowing Costs Reach Year-High After Budget Announcement
Budget prompts rise in bond yields, signaling increased borrowing risk
UK borrowing costs soared to their highest level in over a year following the recent Budget announcement, reaching a yield of 4.53% on 10-year government bonds before settling at 4.46%.
The increase reflects market reactions to Chancellor Rachel Reeves' announcement of nearly £70 billion in additional annual spending, funded by business tax hikes and increased borrowing.
Analysts, including Kathleen Brooks from XTB, suggest that the market has not favorably received this fiscal strategy, viewing it as a riskier proposition for investors.
Susannah Streeter from Hargreaves Lansdown noted that expectations for interest rate cuts have been tempered, predicting rates will stay above 4% until at least 2026.
The rise in borrowing costs aligns with a global trend led by the US, and while not as drastic as the fallout from Liz Truss's previous mini-Budget, it indicates some market unease with the UK's economic direction.
Chancellor Reeves maintains that the government's priority is economic stability, a sentiment echoed by international bodies like the IMF, which have shown support for the government's fiscal approach.