Bank of England rate decision: Traders brace for a 3.75% hold as UK inflation stays above target
The Bank of England is set to hold its benchmark Bank Rate steady at 3.75% on Thursday. The policy announcement is scheduled for 1200 GMT, followed by a press conference 30 minutes later. The previous rate cut in December passed by a slim 5-4 margin. Investors have now pushed bets on the next move into the second quarter, even though Governor Andrew Bailey has suggested inflation could return to the 2% target as soon as April or May. “Despite sluggish growth and a weakening labour market, the BoE will want further evidence that inflation is falling towards its 2% target,” said James Mashiter, a fixed-income portfolio manager at SEI.
