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Bank of England announcement at 12pm

• Posted by Shyam Gokani in Uncategorised
• July 14, 2016
• No Comments

Sterling strengthened amid a more upbeat mood across global markets today, as investors focused on a Bank of England policy meeting that looks set to yield the first cut in British interest rates in seven years.

Governor Mark Carney clearly flagged two weeks ago that stimulus was on its way, signalling the economy was in safe hands following the shock decision by voters to pull Britain out of the European Union.

The central bank is expected to halve its benchmark interest rate to a record low of 0.25 percent in its monthly policy statement at 1200 GMT.

After weeks of uncertainty following the June 23 referendum, which drove sterling to a 31-year low of $1.2798, Theresa May became Britain’s new prime minister on Wednesday, appointing leading “Brexit” supporters including former London mayor Boris Johnson to key positions in her new government.

Having already climbed almost 3 percent against the dollar since hitting its lows last week, sterling was another half a percent higher today at $1.3210.

Against the euro, the pound climbed half a percent to 84 pence, and topped 140 yen for the first time since the ‘Leave’ vote.

Money markets have all but fully priced in a quarter point cut on Thursday in the BoE’s main rates, held at a record low of 0.5 percent since March 2009.

A poll of economists showed the BoE is also likely to revive its quantitative easing programme of bond purchases at its next meeting in three weeks’ time.

Data released early on today showed interest among buyers in Britain’s housing market tumbled to its lowest since mid-2008, adding to signs of impact on the economy from the Brexit vote.