BoE keeps rates steady, but members split on decision

BANK OF ENGLAND policymakers voted 6-3 to keep interest rates on hold on Thursday, a bigger split than economists had predicted as officials disagreed over how to respond to a slowing economy that remains beset by inflation pressures.

- DAVID MILLIKEN & SUBAN ABDULLA

Deputy Governor Dave Ramsden and the newest Monetary Policy Committee member Alan Taylor unexpectedly joined long-time dove Swati Dhingra in voting to cut rates by a quarter point to 4.5%.

Sterling fell and British government bonds recouped some of their losses caused by Wednesday's US Federal Reserve meeting, as investors judged the BoE might cut rates marginally faster than previously thought.