<div id="readability-page-1">  <p><time datetime="2026-04-30T06:30:00+01:00">    Thursday 30 April 2026 6:30 am  </time>      <span> | </span><span> Updated: </span>   <time datetime="2026-04-30T06:28:47+01:00">    Thursday 30 April 2026 6:28 am  </time></p>         <div>                                                                                                                 Add as a preferred        source on Google                        </div>    <figure>    <div>       </div> <img width="742" height="451" src="https://imageproxy.pbkrs.com/https://www.cityam.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/01KMHWSZTXWS8R7Q3DBSRCBPB7.jpeg/query-dz03NDI?x-oss-process=image/auto-orient,1/interlace,1/resize,w_1440,h_1440/quality,q_95/format,jpg" original-src="https://imageproxy.pbkrs.com/https://www.cityam.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/01KMHWSZTXWS8R7Q3DBSRCBPB7.jpeg/query-dz03NDI"/>  <figcaption>The Bank of England will make its next interest rate decision today.</figcaption> </figure> <p>Good morning and welcome back to the <strong><em>City AM </em></strong>liveblog.</p><p>The Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee will today meet for its latest interest rate decision.</p><p>Whilst the writing appears to be on the wall for a hawkish display, questions remain on how far the Bank will go.</p><p>Markets are expecting a hold, though not without some dissent. </p><p>In last month’s decision, the Bank held rates at 3.75 per cent in a unanimous decision. Afterwards, short-term gilt yields, which reflect government borrowing costs, sharply rose as traders priced in up to three interest rate hikes in the next couple of years. </p><p>Though governor Andrew Bailey was quick to warn some investors were “getting ahead of themselves”.</p><p>City analysts have warned that the multitude of impacts from the war in the Middle East, which has dragged on due to failed US-Iran peace talks, could pose an array of dilemmas for MPC members.</p><p>Inflation surged to 3.3 per cent in the latest release from the Office for National Statistics – that was a jump from three per cent in February.</p><p>All rate-setters will provide justifications for their own votes in the minutes to the decision. The Bank will also publish a revised set of forecasts – the first monetary policy report since the war began – as well as guidance on scenarios that could denote the Bank’s thinking on the risk of inflation spiralling in the coming months. </p><p>We’ll be bringing you the latest in the lead up to the decision at 12pm and more from the City market.</p><h3 id="h-here-s-a-few-of-our-top-headlines-for-you-this-morning">Here’s a few of our top headlines for you this morning:</h3><ul> <li>Schroders backs Wayve and Elevenlabs with UK’s first venture capital fund for pensions</li>    <li>Grant Thornton snaps up Australian sister firm as part of global push</li>    <li>Astrazeneca ploughs £300m into UK in surprise U-turn</li>    <li>Labour hands police ‘long-overdue’ violent shoplifting powers</li>    <li>General counsel ‘evolving from traditional legal gatekeepers’, says KPMG’s legal arm</li> </ul> </div>

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<p>The Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee is set to announce its interest rate decision today, with expectations leaning towards a hold at 3.75%. Analysts warn that geopolitical tensions and rising inflation, now at 3.3%, could complicate the decision-making process. The meeting will also include revised forecasts and justifications from rate-setters. Market reactions are anticipated, especially following last month's unanimous decision and subsequent rise in short-term gilt yields. Updates will be provided leading up to the announcement at 12pm.</p>

FTSE 100 Live: Stocks to dip ahead of interest rate decision