RBA Raises Interest Rates by 25 Basis Points as Inflation Pressures Persist 
China Holds Loan Prime Rates Steady in January as Market Expectations Align 
U.S. Urges Japan on Monetary Policy as Yen Volatility Raises Market Concerns 
Japan Declines Comment on BOJ’s Absence From Global Support Statement for Fed Chair Powell. Source: Asturio Cantabrio, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons 
Bank of Korea Expected to Hold Interest Rates as Weak Won Limits Policy Easing 
Bank of Canada Holds Interest Rate at 2.25% Amid Trade and Global Uncertainty 
The pound has moved higher in the past few weeks, riding on speculation that higher inflation would force the Bank of England (BoE) to increase interest rates and a materially weak dollar. According to latest reports, Inflation in August reached 2.9 percent, while core inflation reached 2.7 percent. On the other hand, the economy is still suffering from political uncertainties of a minority government, which is leading Brexit negotiation, one of the most complex in history. Amid these uncertainties, BoE is scheduled to announce interest rate decision at 11:00 GMT.
- Monetary policy is one of the two major directional and volatility risk for the pound the other being Brexit.
BOE policy and expectation –
- After the referendum last year, the Bank of England (BoE) has reduced rates by 25 basis points, introduced additional asset purchases of £60 billion, introduced £10 billion worth of corporate securities purchase, and £100 billion worth of targeted lending scheme, all to be funded via balance sheet expansion.
- With the UK economy performing much better than expected, the Bank of England (BoE) governor Mark Carney is likely to keep the ammunition dry for future firing. In addition to that, the central bank has indicated that the next move in monetary policy could be on the either side of the spectrum given the recent sharp rise in domestic inflation.
- In the last monetary policy, two members of the MPC committee voted in favor of rate hikes.
Impact –
- With speculation rising over higher interest rates, today’s decision would add major volatility in the pound based pairs. If the rate is hiked, the pound is likely to shoot higher, if not, the market would lead a temporary drop in the pound with focus on numbers of hawks at MPC. If the number increase, it would prove positive for the pound.
- Moreover, the focus for the pound is on the upcoming Brexit negotiations as well as on the uncertainties surrounding the current operating structure of the government, so, without any major change, it is likely to turn out as a non-event.
The pound is currently trading at 1.321 against the dollar.
