The saver’s dilemma: open an account now, or hope for even higher rates?

With the best-buy tables changing almost by the hour, what's the best strategy for maximising returns and not missing out?

Rising interest rates mean savers are being offered the best returns in years, with some of the latest deals at more than 6%. After a flurry of activity last week, Anna Bowes, co-founder of website Savings Champion, says fixed-rate deals are more competitive than ever before.

There's a group of providers that keep leapfrogging each other in the best-buy tables - it's only by small amounts, but it's pushing up rates every time," she says. One account that launched and looked great was pushed out of the top five an hour later."