Bank of England voices concerns over sterling appreciation

clock

The Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) voted unanimously to keep rates on hold and maintain QE at £375bn in August but expressed fears over sterling's continued appreciation.

During the meeting held on 1 and 2 August all MPC members agreed the bank rate should be maintained at 0.5% and the Bank of England's QE programme should be unchanged.  However, for some members, the latter decision was "finely balanced" and some felt there was a case for more QE before ultimately voting against such a move. With euro weakness continuing over the summer, the MPC said a continued rise in the value of sterling may hit growth later this year. "In trade-weighted terms, sterling had risen by almost 1% since the Committee's July meeting and was 3.5% higher than at the st...

To continue reading this article...

Join Professional Adviser for free

  • Unlimited access to real-time news, industry insights and market intelligence
  • Stay ahead of the curve with spotlights on emerging trends and technologies
  • Receive breaking news stories straight to your inbox in the daily newsletters
  • Make smart business decisions with the latest developments in regulation, investing retirement and protection
  • Members-only access to the editor’s weekly Friday commentary
  • Be the first to hear about our events and awards programmes

Join

 

Already a Professional Adviser member?

Login

More on Economics / Markets

Five years on from Covid: What's next for markets?

Five years on from Covid: What's next for markets?

It is now five years since the start of the UK’s Covid lockdown. Since then, we have seen considerable market and geopolitical-related change. Here, William Marshall looks back over the past five years and also explores what we might expect from markets...

William Marshall
clock 06 May 2025 • 4 min read
Gilt yields fall after Donald Trump backs down in 'tariff war'

Gilt yields fall after Donald Trump backs down in 'tariff war'

US president pauses most additional tariffs

Jonathan Stapleton
clock 10 April 2025 • 2 min read
Reeves defends yearly Budget to avoid 'constant chopping and changing'

Reeves defends yearly Budget to avoid 'constant chopping and changing'

Treasury Committee scrutinises chancellor on Spring Statement

Isabel Baxter
clock 02 April 2025 • 3 min read