Forget Fed, Rate-Hike Talk Really Heating up Here

An improving economy, a strengthening jobs market and hawkish comments from central bank officials: Sounds like the U.S. but it’s the U.K. where talk of higher interest rates is getting louder.

Martin Weale, one of the more hawkish members of the Bank of England’s (BoE) Monetary Policy Committee (MPC), said this week that the country should get ready for a rise in borrowing costs as early as August, the Financial Times reported.

A rate hike may not be imminent but the remarks are significant, economists say. That’s because they highlight a difference of opinion emerging from the nine-member Monetary Policy Committee, which was unanimous in its decision to keep rates at a record low of 0.5 percent in June.

In addition, labor market conditions are proving stronger-than-expected. Data released last week showed that workers’ pay in the U.K. grew at the fastest rate in almost four years in the three months to April.

CNBC

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Craig Erlam

Craig Erlam

Former Senior Market Analyst, UK & EMEA at OANDA
Based in London, Craig Erlam joined OANDA in 2015 as a market analyst. With many years of experience as a financial market analyst and trader, he focuses on both fundamental and technical analysis while producing macroeconomic commentary.

His views have been published in the Financial Times, Reuters, The Telegraph and the International Business Times, and he also appears as a regular guest commentator on the BBC, Bloomberg TV, FOX Business and SKY News.

Craig holds a full membership to the Society of Technical Analysts and is recognised as a Certified Financial Technician by the International Federation of Technical Analysts.