Yeah they stopped in the UK but I think a few places have stopped over there because they can't handle the business volumes as people try and get the good deals before it gets more expensive to borrow. I think I read somewhere that Bank Of Ireland even stopped taking new business or had to raise rates over there.
Wow!!
That sure is one intepretation.
The other one is that banks in the UK are desparately trying to consolidate their balance sheets, particularly as they watch the security (house prices) fall, their cost of funding rise dramaticaly and their sources of funding dry up.
There is that as well of course. You won't get them to publically admit it though!!
It is common knowledge in financial markets in London.
Its common knowledge to the man on the street
But not you, because you said some banks are being swapmed by demand in a booming property market.
Do you have pom-poms???