The market share taken by remortgages (including product transfers) increased for the third month running, according to the latest John Charcol Index.

The index covering the first two months of 2010 indicates that the dramatic fall in the take up of fixed rates since the middle of last year has come to an end.

Ray Boulger of John Charcol said: “Purchases took only 47.3% of mortgages sold by John Charcol in February