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Key takeaways from the BOE policy statement today

Where does the pound go from here?

The most significant change in the statement is the forward guidance. Let’s take a look at the changes as per below.

December policy statement:

“Monetary policy could respond in either direction to changes in the economic outlook in order to ensure a sustainable return of inflation to the 2% target. The Committee will, among other factors, continue to monitor closely the responses of companies and households to Brexit developments as well as the prospects for a recovery in global growth. If global growth fails to stabilise or if Brexit uncertainties remain entrenched, monetary policy may need to reinforce the expected recovery in UK GDP growth and inflation. Further ahead, provided these risks do not materialise and the economy recovers broadly in line with the MPC’s latest projections, some modest tightening of policy, at a gradual pace and to a limited extent, may be needed to maintain inflation sustainably at the target.”

January policy statement:

Monetary policy will be set to ensure a sustainable return of inflation to the 2% target. Policy may need to reinforce the expected recovery in UK GDP growth should the more positive signals from recent indicators of global and domestic activity not be sustained or should indicators of domestic prices remain relatively weak. Further ahead, if the economy recovers broadly in line with the MPC’s latest projections, some modest tightening of policy may be needed to maintain inflation sustainably at the target.”

I’ve marked in bold the key changes. So, what are they saying?

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Big week coming up for the pound

The near-term sentiment in the pound continues to be driven by odds of a BOE rate cut ahead of the 30 January policy meeting

  • 21 January – UK November average weekly earnings, unemployment rate
  • 21 January – UK December jobless claims change, claimant count rate
  • 24 January – UK January flash manufacturing, services, composite PMI
It is all about data, data, data for the pound this week. With the hot topic being a possible rate cut by the BOE, all eyes will turn towards the labour market report tomorrow and post-election PMI data later on Friday (⬆️).
Currently, odds of a 25 bps rate cut by the BOE on 30 January sit at ~70% – a key threshold that has historically seen the central bank take action when it comes to rate decisions.
GBP

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