(Bloomberg) -- Investors are no longer fully pricing two quarter-point interest-rate cuts from the Bank of England next year amid signs of sticky price pressures that make the case for only cautious monetary easing.
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Money markets are pricing just 49 basis points of rate reductions through end-2025, compared to over 70 basis points as recently as Monday. The repricing toward fewer BOE cuts started on Tuesday as UK employment data suggested wages increased more than forecast.
That fanned concerns of lingering inflationary pressures, prompting investors to reduce the implied likelihood of a third cut. While consumer prices figures Wednesday came in line with economists’ expectations, that offered little relief given services inflation — closely watched by BOE rate-setters for signs of lingering pressures — remains stubbornly high at 5%.
The BOE is expected to hold rates steady at 4.75% at its meeting on Thursday, following two quarter-point cuts this year. It has eased monetary policy less than the Federal Reserve and the European Central Bank so far, a trend traders see continuing in 2025.
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