Shares in listed housebuilders leapt by up to 5% yesterday as the market reacted to the unexpected decision by the Bank of England not to keep interest rates at their current historic low.

The Bank of England monetary policy committee voted by 7-2 in fgavour of keeping the base rate at 0.1%, despite the governor of Bank, Andrew Bailey, having warned in October that rates might rise to counter growing inflation concerns.

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