'Carney might regret not raising rates': Industry reacts as rates held at 0.25%

5-3 majority

The Bank of England has held interest rates at 0.25%, although the number of members voting for an increase has risen from one to three, minutes revealed.

During yesterday's Monetary Policy Committee meeting, the MPC said five members voted for rates to be held but three hawks voted for a hike to 0.5%, namely Kristin Forbes, Ian McCafferty and Michael Saunders. In last month's meeting only Forbes voted for a hike. Rates have now been held at 0.25% since last August, when they were reduced by 25bps amid market volatility after the Brexit vote. Quantitative easing was also unanimously kept unchanged at £435bn and corporate bond purchases remained at £10bn. Bank of England governor Mark Carney (pictured) said: "Five members thought the ...