DIRS.INFO The most relevant business & tech news

☆ Bank of England downgrades UK economic forecasts, holds interest rates
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-02 | by ( Hanna Ziady | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

London CNN —The Bank of England downgraded its forecasts for UK economic growth Thursday and kept interest rates unchanged, even as it warned that the Israel-Hamas war could push up energy prices and inflation won’t return to target for another two years. “There are increasing signs that higher interest rates are weighing on economic activity and we see that in weaker activity data and in a range of business surveys,” Governor Andrew Bailey told reporters. Inflation is still too high,” Bailey said, also pointing to the risk that the Israel-Hamas war could lift energy prices. “We will keep interest rates high enough for long enough to make sure we get inflation all the way back to the 2% target,” he added. Inflation still a concernThe Bank of England expects inflation to continue easing, but warned of risks to that outlook.

Persons: Andrew Bailey, ” Bailey, “, Rishi Sunak, Bailey, ”, Martin Beck Organizations: London CNN —, Bank of England, The, Federal Reserve, European Central Bank, of England, Office, National Statistics, The Bank of England, UK Locations: Israel, United Kingdom

Ballot summaries are used on Missouri ballots to help voters understand sometimes lengthy and complex constitutional amendments and policy changes. “We stand by our language and believe it fairly and accurately reflects the scope and magnitude of each petition,” Ashcroft said in a statement. A measure to ensure abortion access is on the November ballot in Ohio after withstanding legal challenges from opponents. Voters in every state with an abortion-related ballot measure since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022, effectively making abortion access a state-by-state question, have favored the side supported by abortion rights supporters. ——-Associated Press writer Heather Hollingsworth in Mission, Kansas and Geoff Mulvihill in Cherry Hill, New Jersey, contributed to this report.

Persons: ”, State Jay Ashcroft, ” Ashcroft, Andrew Bailey’s, Emily Wales, “, Roe, Wade, Heather Hollingsworth, Geoff Mulvihill Organizations: COLUMBIA, —, Republican, Western, Appeals, State, “, Voters, Supreme, Associated Press, NORC, for Public Affairs Research Locations: Mo, Missouri, Plains, ” Missouri, Ohio, Maryland, New York, Arizona , Florida , Nevada, South Dakota, Iowa , Nebraska, Pennsylvania, Colorado, U.S, Mission , Kansas, Cherry Hill , New Jersey

HIGH INFLATION FALLS SLOWLYConsumer price inflation hit 11.1% in October 2022, which was higher than in comparable economies, and it has fallen more slowly too. But service price inflation, which the BoE watches closely, rose. Economists expect a big fall in headline inflation in October as last year's energy price surge fades from the comparison. However, the BoE issued a forecast in August saying inflation would return to 2% only in the second quarter of 2025. Financial markets do not see a more than 50% chance of the BoE cutting Bank Rate until August 2024.

Persons: BoE, Andrew Bailey, Reuters Graphics Reuters Graphics BOE, Huw Pill, William Schomberg, Sumanta Sen, Hugh Lawson Organizations: Bank of England, Reuters Graphics, HIT, Reuters Graphics Reuters Graphics, Financial, European Central Bank, Graphics, Thomson Locations: Britain, U.S

☆ BoE likely to keep high rates on hold even as signs of slowdown mount
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-25 | by ( William Schomberg | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

The last Monetary Policy Committee meeting in September resulted in five members voting to pause, just outnumbering the four who sought another increase. So far, investors are not challenging the BoE's message that interest rates will stay high for a considerable period. BOE Chief Economist Huw Pill likened the outlook for monetary policy to the lofty, flat and long profile of Table Mountain during a visit to South Africa in late August. But economists expected little change in the BoE's previous forecasts that inflation will fall to 2% in two years' time. "Recent geopolitical events will probably induce a modicum of monetary policy caution, reinforcing the likelihood of unaltered policy settings," analysts at NatWest Markets said.

Persons: Hollie Adams, BoE, Andrew Bailey, James Smith, Smith, BOE, Huw Pill, Pill, Bailey, Rishi Sunak, Price, William Schomberg, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: Bank of England, City of, REUTERS, Reuters, ING, Investors, U.S . Federal, Monetary Fund, NatWest Markets, Thomson Locations: City, City of London, Britain, South Africa

☆ Bank of England rate has peaked, to stay at 5.25% through Q2
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-24 | by ( Jonathan Cable | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

LONDON, Oct 24 (Reuters) - The Bank of England is likely done with policy tightening and will leave Bank Rate at 5.25% on Nov. 2, according to the vast majority of economists polled by Reuters who did however caution the chance of another increase this year was high. Only 12 economists forecast a quarter point rise to 5.50% at the November Monetary Policy Committee meeting. Inflation was expected to gradually decline across the forecast horizon but it won't reach target until Q2 2025, the poll showed. Around one-third of economists expected the Bank to act earlier. The BoE was forecast to reduce Bank Rate by 50 basis points in the fourth quarter, putting it at 4.50% by year-end.

Persons: James Smith, Elizabeth Martins, BoE Governor Andrew Bailey, BoE, ING's Smith, Jonathan Cable, Prerana Bhat, Sujith Pai, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: Bank of England, Reuters, Bank, ING, MPC, HSBC, United States Federal Reserve, European, Thomson

☆ BoE's Bailey says he's puzzled by stubborn pay growth in UK
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-14 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

People walk outside the Bank of England in the City of London financial district in London, Britain May 11, 2023. REUTERS/Henry Nicholls/File photo Acquire Licensing RightsMARRAKECH, Morocco, Oct 14 (Reuters) - Bank of England Governor Andrew Bailey said on Saturday he was puzzled by the continued strength of pay growth in Britain which, unlike other areas of the economy, has not yet responded to the BoE's run of 14 back-to-back interest rate hikes. The increases in borrowing costs were having an impact on employment numbers and in the housing market, Bailey told a panel discussion on the sidelines of International Monetary Fund meetings in Morocco. "I should say what is more puzzling and in a sense we wait to see is the situation on pay and earnings where... the usual transmission mechanism is not yet being demonstrated," he said during the event organised by the Group of 30 consultative body. Reporting by Balazs Koranyi Writing by William SchombergOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Henry Nicholls, Andrew Bailey, Bailey, Balazs Koranyi, William Schomberg Organizations: Bank of England, REUTERS, Rights, International Monetary Fund, Group, Thomson Locations: City, London, Britain, Rights MARRAKECH, Morocco

☆ BoE's Bailey says future rate decisions will be 'tight'
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-13 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Governor of the Bank of England Andrew Bailey attends a press conference for the Monetary Policy Report August 2023, at the Bank of England in London, Britain, August 3, 2023. Bailey echoed recent comments from other BoE officials who have stressed they are keeping their options open for future rate decisions after the Monetary Policy Committee voted 5-4 to halt its run of back-to-back rate hikes in September. Only a quarter of economists polled by Reuters late last month thought the MPC would vote to raise Bank Rate again on Nov. 2. "The last mile really does lean heavily on... restrictive policy," Bailey said, adding the economic outlook appeared "very subdued". Britain's potential growth rate - the pace at which the economy can grow without generating excess inflation - was "substantially less" than in the past, something that would continue to weigh on monetary policy, Bailey said.

Persons: Bank of England Andrew Bailey, Alastair Grant, Andrew Bailey, Bailey, BoE, Huw Pill, Ben Broadbent, Balazs Koranyi, Andy Bruce, William Schomberg Organizations: Bank of England, Monetary, Rights, Reuters, Institute of International Finance, International Monetary Fund, Thomson Locations: London, Britain, Rights MARRAKECH, Morocco, Marrakech

☆ UK stocks fall after Bailey's hawkish tone on interest rates
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-13 | by ( Khushi Singh | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The commodity-focussed FTSE 100 (.FTSE) was down 0.1%, while the mid-cap index FTSE 250 (.FTMC) lost 0.5%. The yield on the UK benchmark bond edged higher after Bailey's comments but remained lower for the day at 4.402%. "Although higher dollar and yields would typically weaken gold, the geopolitical concerns are pushing gold higher," said Giles Coghlan, chief market analyst at GCFX. Industrial metal miners (.FTNMX551020) also advanced 0.6% following a rise in copper prices. UK wealth manager St James's Place (SJP.L) was pushed by regulators to overhaul fees, with the stock tumbling 13.5% to the bottom of the FTSE 100.

Persons: Toby Melville, Ashmore, Andrew Bailey, BoE Governor Andrew Bailey, Giles Coghlan, Coghlan, St James's, Khushi Singh, Sonia Cheema, Sohini Organizations: London Stock Exchange, REUTERS, Bank of England, Mining, Shell, BP, St, Thomson Locations: Canary Wharf, London, Britain, James's, Iran, Israel, China, Bengaluru

☆ Morning Bid: Inflation test looms for Fed doves
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-12 | by ( Kevin Buckland | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

For now, the consistent and - for equity investors - very welcome refrain from Fed officials that caution is warranted before further rate rises has drowned out any concerns about data. But just how quickly markets turned at the start of the week shows how quickly they could turn again. Despite the dovish trimmings, the core Fed message remains that rates will rise as far as they have to in order to rein in inflation. Fed regional bank heads Lorie Logan, Susan Collins and Raphael Bostic have the chance to air their views in remarks at separate events today. It's a big day for British data as well, with GDP and industrial production due first thing.

Persons: Kevin Buckland, Lorie Logan, Susan Collins, Raphael Bostic, Huw Pill, Andrew Bailey, BoE, Sam Holmes Organizations: Japan's Nikkei, Hong, Reuters, Bank of England, IMF, Bank, U.S . CPI, Thomson Locations: Asia, Washington, Marrakesh

☆ Global watchdog reveals tensions at heart of Credit Suisse debacle
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-10 | by ( Huw Jones | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Logos of Swiss banks Credit Suisse and UBS are seen before a news conference in Zurich Switzerland, August 30, 2023. The report, however, exposed tensions and conflicts at the heart of a process that ultimately required Switzerland to initially back the emergency rescue of Credit Suisse by rival UBS (UBSG.S) with public money to avert panic. The officials summed up that the "resolution" rules for shutting a collapsing bank without panicking markets could have worked for Credit Suisse, though public money would still likely have been needed. The FSB report sheds new light on events that led to Credit Suisse's downfall. The FSB said Switzerland's action preserved financial stability, even if it raised questions as to why the resolution was not chosen.

Persons: Denis Balibouse, Karin Keller, Sutter, Switzerland's Keller, FINMA, Andrew Bailey, Arturo Bris, Mayra Rodriguez Valladares, Arthur Wilmarth, it’s, Tatiana Bautzer, Elisa Martinuzzi, Stefania Spezzati, Pete Schroeder, Mark Potter, Nick Zieminski Organizations: Credit Suisse, UBS, REUTERS, UBS Group, Swiss, U.S, Bank of England, IMD, Bank, MRV Associates, Banco, George Washington University Law School, Thomson Locations: Zurich Switzerland, Switzerland, Swiss, U.S

☆ The Queen’s question returns with a vengeance
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-06 | by ( Felix Martin | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +7 min

The world’s leading central banks had spent the previous two decades focusing on low inflation, neglecting risks to financial stability. Central bankers counter correctly that predictive accuracy is not the same as explanatory power. Yet it is far from clear how today’s independent central banks should respond to these overtly political struggles. In 2021, when the Phillips Curve was asleep at the wheel, the growth in the money supply was flashing red. The unfortunate truth is that there are many answers to the Queen’s question this time round – but no single magic solution.

Persons: Elizabeth, Prince Andrew , Duke, York, Prince Philip , Duke of Edinburgh, Tom Nicholson, Queen Elizabeth, Ben Bernanke, don’t, Phillips, Isabella Weber, Guido Lorenzoni, Andrew Bailey, monetarism, Milton Friedman, Anna Schwartz, Winston Churchill, Bernanke, Peter Thal Larsen, Oliver Taslic, Thomas Shum 私, 「 Organizations: Westminster Abbey, REUTERS, Reuters, Bank of England, U.S . Federal, Phillips, University of Massachusetts Amherst, University of Chicago, MIT, United, 「 Reuters Locations: Westminster, London, Britain, British, Central, Ukraine, Paris, United States

☆ Central banks across Europe pause for breath after mammoth rate hike run, but face 'triple dilemma'
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-25 | by ( Jenni Reid | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

U.K. pauseThe Bank of England opted to pause interest rate moves after 14 straight hikes, keeping its main policy rate at 5.25%. The decline came despite interest rate hikes generally boosting the value of a currency. Scandinavian inflationIn northern Europe, Norway and Sweden opted for rate hikes on Thursday and suggested that further tightening could be ahead. Norway's headline inflation rate was 4.8% in August, with core inflation at 6.3%. The Norges Bank forecast now indicates a policy rate of 4.5% through 2024, up from the current 4.25%.

Persons: Bank of England Andrew Bailey, BoE, Alastair Grant, ALASTAIR GRANT, Carsten Brzeski, BOE, Andrew Bailey, Paul Dales, Simon French, Panmure Gordon, Thomas Jordan, Jordan, Ida Wolden Bache, Bache Organizations: Bank of England, The Bank of England, Getty, Afp, ING, CNBC, of England, Capital Economics, U.S . Federal, HSBC, Panmure, Swiss National Bank, European Central Bank, ECB, U.S, Norway's Norges Bank, Norges Bank Locations: London, U.K, Paul, Switzerland, Swiss, Europe, Norway, Sweden, Norway's

Missouri officials struck back at one of the clinics that unsuccessfully challenged new state restrictions on gender affirming care, accusing the clinic in a lawsuit of failing to provide proper care for transgender minors even before the new law took effect. Every major medical organization, including the American Medical Association, has opposed bans on gender-affirming care for minors and supported their access to medical care when treatments are administered appropriately. Doctors who treat transgender patients say those decades of use are proof the treatments are not experimental. Critics of providing gender-affirming care to minors have raised concerns about children changing their minds. Yet the evidence suggests detransitioning is not as common as opponents of transgender medical treatment for youth contend, though few studies exist and they have their weaknesses.

Persons: Andrew Bailey, didn't, Bailey, Louis Children’s, detransitioning Organizations: Republican, St, Southampton Community Healthcare, Southampton, Washington University Transgender, Louis Children’s Hospital, University of Missouri Health Care, American Medical Association, Drug Administration, FDA Locations: Missouri, Louis, Columbia

☆ Euro zone economy likely contracted this quarter
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-22 | by ( Jonathan Cable | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

LONDON, Sept 22 (Reuters) - The euro zone economy is likely contract this quarter and won't return to growth anytime soon, a survey showed, as the dampening effect of central banks' long campaign of interest rates rises becomes clearer. HCOB's flash euro zone Composite Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI), compiled by S&P Global and seen as a good gauge of overall economic health, rose to 47.1 in September from August's 33-month low of 46.7. "The increase in the ECB key interest rate by 450 basis points in the meantime is slowing down the economy in all euro countries." OUT OF ORDERSeptember's fall in overall activity in the euro zone came despite firms barely increasing their charges. The services PMI rose to 48.4 from 47.9 but spent its second month below the breakeven mark this year.

Persons: Christoph Weil, France's, Andrew Bailey, Sarah Meyssonnier, Bert Colijn, Jonathan Cable, Toby Chopra Organizations: P Global, August's, Hamburg Commercial Bank, ECB, PMI, European Union, Bank of England, Carrefour, REUTERS, European Central Bank, ING, Thomson Locations: Hamburg, Germany, Commerzbank, Europe's, Britain, Montesson, Paris, France, Spain

☆ Asia stocks find footing, yen slides as BOJ holds the line
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-22 | by ( Tom Westbrook | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

A man is reflected on an electric stock quotation board outside a brokerage in Tokyo, Japan April 18, 2023. The BOJ, as expected, maintained super-low interest rates, left its yield control policy unchanged, signalling it was in no rush to phase out its massive monetary stimulus. A surge in oil prices has also been unnerving investors, since it is likely to prolong the inflation pulse. Brent crude futures steadied at $93.51 a barrel on Friday and are up nearly 8% for September so far. Elsewhere in foreign exchange markets the expectation of sticky U.S. interest rates has supported the dollar, which reached a six-month peak on the euro overnight at $1.0671 .

Persons: Issei Kato, Kazuo Ueda, Ray Attrill, Andrew Bailey, Craig Ebert, Tom Westbrook, Edmund Klamann, Kim Coghill Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Bank of Japan, FX, National Australia Bank, Japan's Nikkei, Seng, Federal Reserve, Bank of, Swiss National Bank, Brent, JPMorgan, Thomson Locations: Tokyo, Japan, Rights SINGAPORE, Singapore, Asia, Pacific, Hong Kong, China, Bank of England, Central, Sweden, Norway, BNZ, Wellington

☆ Global central banks unite in "higher for longer" credo
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-21 | by ( Mark John | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

The so-called "higher for longer" mantra is now the official stance of the U.S. Federal Reserve, European Central Bank and the Bank of England, as well as being echoed by monetary policy-makers from Oslo to Tapei. U.S. Federal Reserve policymakers had a similar message on Wednesday. Turkey's central bank confirmed its hawkish turn while in Asia, Taiwan's central bank flagged continued tight policy. Reuters Graphics"TIPPING POINT"Belgian central bank chief and ECB board member Pierre Wunsch - an early voice urging tougher central bank action to counter inflation from end-2021 - said on Thursday that monetary policy was now at the right level. That said, the prospect that global interest rates are pretty close to peak will be of huge relief to emerging economies suffering from heavy debt servicing loads.

Persons: Jerome Powell, Christine Lagarde, Kazuo Ueda, Ann, BoE, Andrew Bailey, Pierre Wunsch, Wunsch, COVID lockdowns, Jerome, Powell, Krishna Guha, Howard Schneider, Balazs Koranyi, Catherine Evans Organizations: European Central Bank, Bank of Japan, Kansas City Federal, REUTERS, U.S . Federal Reserve, Bank of England, U.S . Federal, Swiss National Bank, South African Reserve Bank, People's Bank of, Reuters, ECB, Reuters Global Markets, Economics, Sterling, Swiss, United, Thomson Locations: Jackson Hole , Wyoming, U.S, Central, Oslo, Tapei, Europe, Norway, Sweden, Asia, People's Bank of China, Belgian, United States, Ukraine, Washington, Frankfurt, London, Stockholm, Zurich, Ankara

☆ Bank of England halts run of interest rate hikes as economy slows
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

A general view of the Bank of England (BoE) building, the BoE confirmed to raise interest rates to 1.75%, in London, Britain, August 4, 2022. A day after a surprise slowing in Britain's fast pace of price growth, the BoE's Monetary Policy Committee voted by a narrow margin of 5-4 to keep Bank Rate at 5.25%. "There are increasing signs of some impact of tighter monetary policy on the labour market and on momentum in the real economy more generally," the MPC said in a statement. The BoE's decision to pause its rate hikes came a day after the U.S. Federal Reserve also opted to keep borrowing costs on hold. Last week, the European Central Bank raised rates but suggested it might be the last for now.

Persons: BoE, Maja Smiejkowska, William Schomberg, Andy Bruce, Suban Abdulla, Jon Cunliffe, Megan Greene, Jonathan Haskel, Catherine Mann, Andrew Bailey, Bailey, BRITAIN BOE Organizations: Bank of England, REUTERS, MPC, U.S . Federal Reserve, European Central Bank, Thomson Locations: London, Britain

A day after Britain's fast pace of price growth unexpectedly slowed, the BoE's Monetary Policy Committee voted by the narrowest margin of 5-4 to keep Bank Rate at 5.25%. But rate futures suggested they still saw a 50% chance of Bank Rate rising to 5.5% by the end of this year. Britain's economy, hit hard by Brexit, the COVID-19 pandemic and the surge in gas prices triggered by Russia's invasion of Ukraine, has been struggling with the highest inflation rate in the Group of Seven. But growth remains fragile, heightening the risk that the BoE's 14 back-to-back rate hikes will push the economy into a recession. Last week, the European Central Bank raised rates but suggested its move might be the last for now.

Persons: Andrew Bailey, Jon Cunliffe, Megan Greene, Jonathan Haskel, Catherine Mann, BoE, Reuters Graphics Sterling, Bailey, Rishi Sunak, Peter Nicholls, Frances Haque, Reuters Graphics Bailey, Yael Selfin, Hugh Gimber, William Schomberg, Catherine Evans Organizations: Bank of England, Reuters Graphics, U.S ., MPC, REUTERS, Santander UK, IF, U.S . Federal Reserve, European Central Bank, KPMG, Investors, Bank of, Morgan Asset Management, Thomson Locations: Ukraine, London, Britain

☆ Central bank interest rates: Is the global fight to tame inflation nearly over?
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-21 | by ( Anna Cooban | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

London CNN —Central bankers have had to climb a metaphoric mountain over the past two years in the battle to control runaway inflation. The announcement came just hours after Switzerland’s central bank kept rates unchanged and a day after the US Federal Reserve did the same, holding its key lending rate in the range of 5.25% to 5.5%. “Central banks think they have raised interest rates enough to bring inflation down to their 2% targets in a couple of years’ time,” Paul Dales, chief UK economist at Capital Economics, told CNN. Key interest rates are now at levels that, if “maintained for a sufficiently long duration, will make a substantial contribution” to reducing inflation to its 2% target, the central bank said. “By this time next year, we anticipate that 21 out of the world’s 30 major central banks will be cutting interest rates.”

Persons: ” Paul Dales, “, Jerome Powell, Sarah Silbiger, Brent, Andrew Bailey, ” Seema Shah, ”, J.P, Morgan, Jennifer McKeown Organizations: London CNN —, Bank of England, US Federal Reserve, Capital Economics, CNN, European Central Bank, ECB, Federal, Washington DC, Bloomberg, Getty, European Union, EU, European Commission, Asset Management, “ Locations: United Kingdom, United States, Germany, Saudi Arabia, Russia

☆ Bank of England ends run of 14 straight interest rate hikes after cooler-than-expected inflation
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-21 | by ( Elliot Smith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

A passageway near the Bank of England (BOE) in the City of London, U.K., on Thursday, March 18, 2021. LONDON — The Bank of England on Thursday ended a run of 14 straight interest rate hikes after new data showed inflation is now running below expectations. Investors on Wednesday ramped up bets that the Bank would pause its interest rate hiking cycle after U.K. inflation came in significantly below expectations for August. Thomas Verbraken, executive director of risk management research at MSCI, said the burning question is whether the Bank of England's Thursday decision signals the peak of the interest rate cycle. Forward looking indicators suggest the U.K. economy is already flirting with recession, a backdrop consistent with cooling wage growth and a policy pivot," Mehdi said.

Persons: BOE, Andrew Bailey, We'll, Marcus Brookes, BoE, Brookes, Thomas Verbraken, Hussain Mehdi, Mehdi Organizations: Bank of England, City of, LONDON, Bank, U.S, Monetary, MPC, Quilter Investors, U.S . Federal Reserve, Bank of England's, HSBC Asset Management, Bank of, Fed, European Central Bank Locations: City, City of London, Bank of England's

☆ Bank of England on brink of rate hike pause after inflation surprise
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-20 | by ( William Schomberg | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Investors piled into bets on the BoE keeping Bank Rate at 5.25% on Wednesday as soon as official data showed a surprise fall in the pace of price growth. Other analysts said they still thought a final BoE rate hike was the most likely outcome after a recent jump in global oil prices, but they stressed it could go either way. "We stick with our call for a hike, but now see this as a coin toss," JP Morgan economist Allan Monks said. British inflation is almost double the rate in the United States, where the Federal Reserve on Wednesday kept borrowing costs on hold. Last week, the European Central Bank raised rates to a record high but signalled that it was likely to pause.

Persons: BoE, Goldman Sachs, JP Morgan, Allan Monks, BoE Governor Andrew Bailey, Rishi Sunak, Bailey, Dominic Bunning, William Schomberg, Alex Richardson Organizations: Bank of England, Monetary, British, ECB, FX Research, HSBC, Federal Reserve, European Central Bank, Thomson Locations: United States

☆ UK disinflationary shock sharpens Bailey’s dilemma
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Governor of the Bank of England Andrew Bailey speaks as he attends a press conference for the Monetary Policy Report August 2023, at the Bank of England in London, Britain, August 3, 2023. Alastair Grant/Pool via REUTERS Acquire Licensing RightsLONDON, Sept 20 (Reuters Breakingviews) - Bank of England Governor Andrew Bailey finally got some good news on Wednesday. UK annual inflation fell to 6.7% in August, from 6.8% in July, confounding market expectations of a rise to 7%. Domestic disinflationary forces offset a nearly 30% rise in oil prices to bring headline inflation to the lowest level since February 2022. Higher petrol prices did add around 0.3 percentage points to the consumer price index, according to Capital Economics.

Persons: Bank of England Andrew Bailey, Alastair Grant, Andrew Bailey, disinflation, Francesco Guerrera, Bernie Sanders’s, Neil Unmack, Streisand Neto Organizations: Bank of England, Monetary, REUTERS Acquire, Reuters, Capital Economics, CPI, Thomson Locations: London, Britain

☆ Bank of England readies what may be its final rate hike
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-17 | by ( Andy Bruce | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

A general view of the Bank of England (BoE) building, the BoE confirmed to raise interest rates to 1.75%, in London, Britain, August 4, 2022. All but one of 65 economists polled by Reuters in recent days predicted the BoE will raise Bank Rate to 5.5% on Thursday from 5.25%, which would mark its highest level since 2007. If Bank Rate does peak at 5.5% - from a starting point of 0.1% - it would rank fourth on the list of Britain's biggest tightening cycles of the last century, behind surges that took place in the late 1980s and in the early- and late-1970s. The European Central Bank also cited a weak economic outlook when it hiked rates last week and signalled that would be its last such move in the current cycle. Inflation figures for August due on Wednesday are likely to buck the falling trend thanks to rising petrol prices.

Persons: BoE, Maja Smiejkowska, Andrew Bailey's, Bailey, Benjamin Nabarro, Catherine Mann, Catherine Evans Organizations: Bank of England, REUTERS, Reuters, Monetary, European Central Bank, Barclays, Data, MPC, Citi, Thomson Locations: London, Britain

☆ Bank of England to raise Bank Rate to 5.50% in September, significant minority expect further hike: Reuters poll
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-14 | by ( Shaloo Shrivastava | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Nearly all 65 economists in the Sept. 11-13 Reuters poll expected the BoE to hike its Bank Rate by 25 basis points to 5.50% this month, in line with interest rate futures pricing. Survey medians showed the Bank Rate was expected to peak at 5.50%, matching rate futures pricing, and stay there until mid-2024. While 28 economists expected the Bank Rate to peak at 5.75%, two said 6.00%. Nine of 16 gilt-edged Market Makers (GEMMs) that participated in the poll predicted a 5.50% peak rate and seven said 5.75%. A separate Reuters poll showed average house prices in Britain were predicted to fall 4% this year and flatline in 2024 before rising in 2025.

Persons: BoE, Maja Smiejkowska, Ellie Henderson, BoE Governor Andrew Bailey, Catherine Mann, Shaloo Shrivastava, Anitta Sunil, Purujit Arun, Maneesh Kumar, Pranoy, Ross Finley, Hari Kishan, Mark Potter Organizations: Bank of England, REUTERS, Rights, Reuters, HSBC, MPC, Royal Institution, Chartered Surveyors, Thomson Locations: London, Britain, Investec

(AP) — A Missouri judge has upheld the constitutionality of the state's Senate districts in a case that provided the first legal test of revised redistricting criteria approved by voters. Cole County Circuit Judge Jon Beetem rejected claims that the Senate map unlawfully divided certain local governments into multiple Senate districts, but an attorney said Wednesday that his clients are considering an appeal. In Missouri, two separate bipartisan citizen commissions are supposed to redraw state House and Senate districts after each census to account for population changes. Hatfield said he doesn't believe the constitutional criteria make it OK to split a county into multiple districts when it could be kept whole. The Senate districts were defended in court by Attorney General Andrew Bailey's office.

Persons: Jon Beetem, “, Chuck Hatfield, Beetem, Hatfield, doesn't, Andrew Bailey's, Bailey, Madeline Sieren, ” Organizations: JEFFERSON CITY, —, Cole, Republican, Judicial Locations: Mo, Missouri, state's, ” Missouri, Louis, Hazelwood, Buchanan County, St

Search resuls for: "Andrew Bailey"

25 mentions found