Bank of England rate decision: Traders brace for a 3.75% hold as UK inflation stays above target
The Bank of England is expected to keep its Bank Rate at 3.75% on Thursday, with inflation still at 3.4% and signs of stronger demand emerging. Sterling hit a five-month high against the euro, while the FTSE 100 reached a record 10,402.34 points. January’s UK services PMI rose to 54.0, but hiring fell as firms faced higher payroll costs. Markets now expect about 35 basis points of BoE rate cuts by year-end.