Mortgage competition hots up as interest rates decision looms

7 hours agoBy Kevin Peachey, Cost of living correspondentGetty ImagesCompetition between mortgage lenders has intensified ahead of a key decision on interest rates by the Bank of England.A host of lenders have made reductions to the cost of new fixed-rate mortgages in recent days.Brokers expect further cuts to come, but mortgage rates remain much higher than homeowners became accustomed to for a decade.Lenders'…