S&P 500 — US Large Cap Index
FTSE 100 — UK Blue Chips
Euro Stoxx 50 — Eurozone Leaders
DAX 40 — German Equities
CAC 40 — French Market Index
Nikkei 225 — Japan Benchmark
Hang Seng — Hong Kong Index
Shanghai Composite — China Mainland
ASX 200 — Australian Market
TSX Composite — Canada Index
Nifty 50 — India Large Cap
STI Index — Singapore Market
KOSPI — South Korea Index
Bovespa — Brazil Equities
JSE Top 40 — South Africa Index
IPC Index — Mexico MarketBoE Seen Holding Rates at 3.75% as Inflation Risks Rise
The BoE is expected to keep interest rates unchanged at 3.75%, as policymakers assess rising inflation risks linked to the Middle East conflict. The sharp increase in oil and gas prices has complicated the outlook, pushing inflation expectations higher and prompting markets to abandon earlier bets on a near-term rate cut. Prior to the escalation in geopolitical tensions, a reduction to 3.50% had been seen as highly likely, but that conviction has faded as energy prices climbed above $100 per barrel and uncertainty over the duration of the conflict persists. The Monetary Policy Committee is therefore expected to adopt a cautious tone, potentially adjusting its forward guidance to emphasise data dependency rather than signalling imminent easing. Investors will closely scrutinise policymakers’ comments for clues on how persistent they expect inflationary pressures to be. While most economists still expect rate cuts later in the year, the timing and extent remain highly uncertain.
