Symbolic imageBank of England and RBA expected to hike as ECB and BOJ signal tightening
The Bank of England is expected to raise its rate to 4% on Thursday, and Australia's central bank to hike for a fifth time on Tuesday. Reuters reports the ECB and Bank of Japan also point toward tightening.
The Bank of England's nine-member committee is widely expected on Thursday, 5 November, to lift the base rate from 3.75% to 4% after UK inflation rose to 3.5% in September, the Guardian reports. The Financial Times also expects 4%. Markets price up to four quarter-point rises over 12 months. The Bank has held off since the Iran war began, while the Fed, BOJ and ECB already raised rates this year.
Australia faces fifth hike
Markets expect the RBA to lift its cash rate to 4.85% on Tuesday, the highest in 18 years, with Brent above $110 against about $72 in early July. CBA cut its growth forecast to 1% by mid-2027, and NAB sees unemployment rising from 4.7% to as high as 5.4%. NSW premier Chris Minns warned that shops would close and not reopen.
UK mortgage pressure
According to UK Finance, 2.3m households leave fixed-rate deals in 2027 and face higher payments.
ECB and BOJ lean hawkish
Reuters headlines report that the BOJ has locked in a December hike and that ECB policymaker Kazimir says the ECB must raise rates again, with the extent uncertain.