As the Bank’s chief economist suggested, are interest rates as likely to fall as they are to rise? March 22, 2015 Adam Memon, head of economic research at the Centre for Policy Studies, says Yes. The Bank of England has kept interest rates at 0.5 per cent for six years; far longer than anyone imagined back in 2009. This extraordinary monetary stimulus has played an important role in the UK’s recovery. Nevertheless, the fact that the [...]
Interest rates could be slashed to zero to battle deflation March 19, 2015 BRITAIN’S record-low interest rates could fall even further, Bank of England policymaker Andy Haldane said yesterday, arguing that a shock rate cut could help boost inflation and growth. Rates have been held at 0.5 per cent for the past six years, with the authorities worried that cutting it further would devastate banks by crushing returns [...]
Andrew Haldane: Bank of England must “stand ready” to cut interest rates if outlook for deflation markedly worsens March 19, 2015 The Bank of England's chief economist has said it must "stands ready" to cut record-low interest rates further, if the risk of the economy falling into a prolonged period of deflation intensifies. "In my view, that means policy needs to stand ready to move off either foot in the period ahead to meet the symmetric [...]
Bank of England interest rate decision: MPC holds at record low for sixth year March 5, 2015 The Bank's monetary policy committee (MPC) voted not to touch interest rates for what's now the 72nd month. This means interest rates have been held at a record low 0.5 per cent for six years. If you're struggling to think back this far, this time in 2009, Sacha Baron Cohen's "Bruno" was gracing cinema screens. [...]
Six years of ultra-low interest rates: Where can you find income? March 3, 2015 Consider markets buoyed by QE, and remember that cash will be a lonely place for some time. It's an anniversary many UK savers will wish they never had to mark. Six years ago this month, the Bank of England cut interest rates to a record low of 0.5 per cent, as Britain grappled with the [...]
Bank of England minutes: MPC unanimously voted to hold interest rates February 18, 2015 The Bank of England's monetary policy committee (MPC) voted unanimously to hold the interest rate at 0.5 per cent when it met last, despite hints it could be lowered in the next few months. Minutes of the MPC's meeting in early February showed the committee's hawks – Martin Weale and Ian McCafferty, who have both [...]
Bank of England holds interest rates at record low of 0.5 per cent and keeps £375bn quantitative easing programme in February February 5, 2015 There are no surprises from the Bank of England, again. The central bank held its benchmark interest rate a record low of 0.5 per cent for the 71st month in a row. It also kept its quantitative easing programme steady at £375bn at the monetary policy committee's (MPC) February meeting. While the UK economy has [...]
Haldane: Rate rises will be slow for years January 28, 2015 INTEREST rates will only rise very slowly over several years, Bank of England chief economist Andy Haldane said yesterday. “When that rise comes it is going to be very gradual,” he told the Daily Post on a visit to Wales. “It could be half a per cent a year, for several years.”
Bank of England chief economist Andrew Haldane: There’s “no rush” to raise interest rates January 28, 2015 The Bank of England is in "no rush" to raise interest rates, and eventual increases will be by small increments, according to the central bank's chief economist Andy Haldane. "We are in no rush to raise rates, the recovery is taking hold nicely," Haldane told the Daily Post. "The last thing we want to do is [...]
Low interest rates and less tax to fuel home demand January 27, 2015 The mortgage market saw a slowdown at the end of 2014 but is expected to stage a rebound this year. The number of house purchase approvals was nine per cent higher in 2014 compared to 2013, according to figures released yesterday by the British Bankers’ Association (BBA). However, the value of mortgages for house purchase [...]