Finance

Sterling rises even as BoE cuts rates, Britain poised for US trade deal

Published by Global Banking & Finance Review

Posted on May 8, 2025

1 min read

· Last updated: January 24, 2026

Add as preferred source on Google
Sterling rises even as BoE cuts rates, Britain poised for US trade deal
Global Banking & Finance Awards 2026 — Call for Entries

LONDON (Reuters) -The pound rose on Thursday, after the Bank of England delivered a widely expected cut to interest rates, just as Britain was poised to strike a deal with the United States on trade.

Sterling Gains Amid BoE Rate Cut and US Trade Deal Prospects

LONDON (Reuters) -The pound rose on Thursday, after the Bank of England delivered a widely expected cut to interest rates, just as Britain was poised to strike a deal with the United States on trade.

The BoE cut its main rate by a quarter point to 4.25%, despite an unexpected three-way split among policymakers as U.S. President Donald Trump's tariffs weigh on global economic growth.

The pound was last up 0.2% on the day at $1.3311, having rallied from a session low of $1.3242 right before the BoE decision.

UK stocks pared some of the day's gains, but still showed a gain, with midcap stocks up 1%, outpacing the blue-chip index, which rose 0.2%.

UK government bonds came under pressure, sending 10-year yields up 3.5 bps on the day to 4.491%, from 4.446% right before the BoE decision.

(Reporting by Amanda Cooper; Editing by Alun John)

Key Takeaways

  • The pound rose after a BoE rate cut.
  • UK is close to a trade deal with the US.
  • BoE cut its main rate by a quarter point.
  • UK stocks showed gains, midcaps outperformed.
  • UK bond yields increased post-BoE decision.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the main topic?
The article discusses the rise of the pound following a BoE rate cut and the UK's potential trade deal with the US.
How did UK stocks react?
UK stocks showed gains, with midcap stocks outperforming the blue-chip index.
What was the BoE's rate decision?
The Bank of England cut its main interest rate by a quarter point to 4.25%.

Related Articles

More from Finance

Explore more articles in the Finance category