"… there are now question marks over whether we will see a bounce back [in the economy] in the near future. This could produce a further bias towards monetary loosening later in the year"
- Lee Hopley, Chief Economist at EEF
The Bank of England left its key rate unchanged at a record low of 0.5 per cent and put asset purchases on hold at 375 billion pounds on Thursday.
"With the MPC upping their asset purchases at the last meeting, another move wasn't likely to be on the cards this month," said Ms Lee Hopley, Chief Economist at EEF, the manufacturers' organisation.
"However, concerns about the economy haven't eased up over the past months and there are now question marks over whether we will see a bounce back in the near future. This could produce a further bias towards monetary loosening later in the year."
The FTSE 100 Index lost 0.88 per cent, or 50.52 points to 5,662.30. The broader FTSE All-Share Index erased 0.88 per cent.
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