As it happened: Stocks sink after Fed and Bank of England opt for hawkish hold; Oil price tumbles June 18, 2026 Welcome back to the City AM liveblog. Interest rates were left unchanged at 3.75 per cent in Bank of England’s monetary policy committee meeting today as rate-setters wait to find out whether the Iran war peace deal holds up. The Bank’s decision followed Thursday’s inflation data, which stayed below undershot expectations after coming at 2.8 [...]
Interest rates next change ‘far more likely down than up’ June 18, 2026 Interest rates are set to be held on Thursday in what some analysts believe could be a split decision as two Bank of England officials could back a 25 basis point hike. The Bank’s Monetary Policy Committee is widely expected to leave interest rates unchanged at 3.75 per cent, though some members could back a [...]
Kevin Warsh tears up forward guidance on rate moves at the Fed June 17, 2026 Kevin Warsh, the chairman of the Federal Reserve, signalled a major change to how the US central bank handles the run-up to its key interest rate decisions overnight, telling investors across global markets that “we’ve dropped forward guidance”. There was concern in the City that it could mean a decline in the level of transparency over [...]
Industry warns Iran war spike to come as food inflation falls June 17, 2026 The surprise drop in food and drink inflation seen in May is likely to be short-lived, as the impacts of the war in Iran are due to take hold, leading industry figures to warn. The rate of inflation of food and non-alcoholic drinks fell from three per cent in April to 2.2 per cent in [...]
Inflation stays below three per cent despite price warning June 17, 2026 Inflation has stayed below three per cent although economists are predicting further price increases later this year. The Office for National Statistics said inflation in the year to May was lower than economists expected with the consumer prices index (CPI) showing a reading of 2.8 per cent. Core inflation, which strips volatile energy and food [...]
As it happened: FTSE 100 see-saws after inflation undershoots; Oil at $80 as Trump threatens ‘dropping bombs’ on Iran June 17, 2026 Welcome back to the City AM liveblog. Fresh inflation data this morning showed a reading of 2.8 per cent leading the consumer price index unchanged from May. This came under the expectations of a poll of City analysts by Bloomberg that forecast inflation would come in at three per cent for May. Core inflation, which [...]
Bank of England should hold interest rates, City AM Shadow MPC says June 16, 2026 The Bank of England should hold interest rates as inflation could stay above three per cent for several months, top economists have said. City AM’s Shadow Monetary Policy Committee, a group of leading economists who have provided responses independently of their respective organisations, said interest rates should be kept at 3.75 per cent. Economists warned [...]
As it happened: Stocks rally as Trump touts Iran deal at G7 summit; Oil lowest since early-March June 16, 2026 Welcome back to the City AM liveblog. Global leaders are gathering today in France for the G7 summit as markets digest the latest developments in the US-Iran peace deal. Relief spread across global markets yesterday after the US and Iran were confirmed to have sealed a deal to stop the fighting in the Middle East [...]
Interest rates set to be held as inflation to remain ‘elevated’ despite Iran peace deal June 15, 2026 Interest rates are expected to be left unchanged as Bank of England policymakers wait to find out whether the Iran war peace deal holds up. The Bank’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) is set to keep interest rates at 3.75 per cent at a decision later this week. Its decision would suggest that the Bank is [...]
Inflation expectations at record high in interest rates signal June 12, 2026 Inflation expectations hit a record high in the second quarter of the year, which could rattle Bank of England policymakers and build the case for an interest rate hike. The Bank’s joint survey with Ipsos found that, on average, households believe inflation will rise by 3.9 per cent over the next five years. It was [...]