DOES THIS MARK AN END TO THE POLICY OF QUANTITATIVE EASING?
PHILIP SHAW INVESTEC
“The schedule suggests that the operations should cease in the run up to the February MPC meeting, which means there will be some tapering off in QE. We will learn more in the MPC minutes (due 18 November), and while we are keen not to rule anything out, we suspect that this will be the last increase in the QE target.”
DAVID KERN BRITISH CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE
“ We are disappointed the MPC has not taken more specific measures aimed at stimulating bank lending to firms. Forceful policies are needed to end the recession as soon as possible. The current measures, though helpful, will have to be supplemented with additional steps, and QE will have to be increased further.”
MICHAEL SAUNDERS CITIGROUP
“The signs that the economy and financial conditions are improving appears to have persuaded the MPC that a further large amount of QE is not needed. We suspect the MPC opted for ‘one last heave’ as insurance against risks that there may still be underlying weakness in the economy”