The Bank of England kept its benchmark interest rate steady on Thursday to support the UK economy's ongoing recovery, as figures showed house prices rose at the most rapid pace in almost 12 years during May.
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has warned the government that accelerating house prices and low productivity pose the greatest threat to the UK's economic recovery. Rising property values could leave households more vulnerable to income and interest rate shocks.
The European Central Bank is ready to take action next month to boost the Euro zone economy if updated inflation forecasts merit it, said ECB president Mario Dragui warning outsiders not to pressure the bank into action.
Interest rates have been held at the record low of 0.5% for another month by the Bank of England and so has the size of its bond-buying economic stimulus program unchanged at £375bn.The news is in line with analysts' expectations, despite recent evidence that the UK economic recovery is strengthening.
The £50 note featuring the first governor of the Bank of England, Sir John Houblon, will be withdrawn on Wednesday after 20 years in circulation. From that time, only the £50 banknote featuring Matthew Boulton and James Watt, which was introduced in 2011, will hold legal tender status.
The UK inflation rate as measured by the Consumer Prices Index (CPI) fell to 1.6% in March from 1.7% in February, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS). It is the third consecutive month inflation has been below the Bank of England's 2% target rate, and the lowest rate since October 2009.
UK interest rates have been held at their record low of 0.5% for another month by the Bank of England. On Thursday the Bank also kept the size of its bond-buying stimulus program unaltered at £375bn. No changes had been expected to either rates or the bond-buying measure, despite recent evidence that the UK economy is continuing to recover.
The Bank of England has agreed a deal with the People's Bank of China to make London a hub for Chinese currency dealing. The memorandum of understanding, to be signed next Monday, sets out settlement and clearing arrangements for the Renminbi, or Yuan, in London.
Two new deputy governors have been named at the Bank of England, as part of a radical shake-up by governor Mark Carney. Ben Broadbent will become deputy governor responsible for monetary policy, and Nemat Shafik will take charge of markets and banking.
UK interest rates have been held at 0.5% for another month, the Bank of England announced on Thursday. The decision by the Bank's Monetary Policy Committee comes five years after the record low level was first introduced.