BoE: Expected to on prolonged hold – Societe Generale

FXStreet Insights Team FXStreet

Societe Generale economists report that the Bank of England's (BoE) Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) left Bank Rate at 3.75% with an 8–1 vote. Their base case is for rates to remain unchanged through 2026, though further hikes of 50–75 bps are possible if the US‑Iran conflict persists. Recent UK data show stronger borrowing as households and firms lock in rates.

MPC steady but hiking risk persists

"Last week in the UK, the MPC kept Bank Rate unchanged at 3.75% in an 8–1 vote split. Our base case remains for Bank Rate to stay on hold throughout the year, although the call is finely balanced."

"In the absence of a near‑term resolution to the US-Iran conflict, 50 to 75bp of rate hikes this year would appear appropriate."

"On the data front, the money and credit release showed a notable pickup in borrowing, possibly driven by households and firms seeking to lock in interest rates amid the risk of higher rates from the ongoing energy shock."

"In particular, remortgaging and lending to non-financial firms rose to their highest levels since 2020."

"Meanwhile, the BoE’s BEAR conference will provide MPC members with an opportunity to speak following last week’s meeting."

(This article was created with the help of an Artificial Intelligence tool and reviewed by an editor.)

Author

FXStreet Insights Team

FXStreet

The FXStreet Insights Team is a group of journalists that handpicks selected market observations published by renowned experts. The content includes notes by commercial as well as additional insights by internal and external analysts.

AUD/USD extends decline to fresh monthly lows below 0.7100

AUD/USD trades south of 0.7100 early in the Asian session on Thursday, as the US Dollar soared following the Federal Reserve's monetary policy announcement. The Fed delivered a 25 bps rate hike as expected, while policymakers expressed concerns about inflation leading to bets of additional hikes before year-end.

USD/JPY flirts with 156.00 after Fed's hawkish hike

USD/JPY trades at fresh weekly highs around 156.00 early on Thursday, as the US Dollar soared following the Federal Reserve's monetary policy announcement. The US central bank hiked the benchmark rate by 25 bps as expected, while Chair Kevin Warsh delivered quite hawkish comments in the press conference that followed the decision.

Gold dips towards $4,250 in the Fed's aftermath

Gold erased intraday gains and turned negative following the Federal Reserve's decision to hike rates by 25 bps as expected. The XAU/USD pair briefly surpassed the $4,360 level, now accelerating its slide towards the $4,250 price zone. Hawkish words from Chair Kevin Warsh fueled bets for additional hikes before year-end.

Fed raises 2026 interest rate forecast to 4.1%, lifts PCE inflation projections

The Federal Reserve's (Fed) latest dot plot projections, released by the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) on Wednesday, show policymakers now expect interest rates to stand at 4.1% by the end of 2026, up from 3.8% in June.

Fed recap: One hike down, more to come? The Fed’s new rate path says yes

The Federal Reserve (Fed) raised its Fed Fund Target Range (FFTR) range by 25 basis points to 3.75%-4.00% in a unanimous decision, saying the move would support a timelier return to its 2% inflation goal.

How Japan became the World's Banker and why that era may be ending

Japan's ultra-low interest rates helped finance trillions of dollars in global investments for more than a decade, making the Japanese Yen one of the world’s cheapest sources of funding. With the Bank of Japan expected to tighten policy again this week, that advantage may be entering a new phase. While most major economies raised interest rates, Japan remained the world's outlier.