It was probably the world's fastest-growing big advanced economy in 2016, confounding forecasts from the BoE and almost everyone else of a swift Brexit hit. RATE HIKE OR RATE CUT? Some economists say a creeping Brexit effect on the economy will prompt the BoE to cut rates over the next year. "But I think the Bank will be unwilling to move in either direction for the next six months or this year." All of which suggests that the Bank next week will stick closely to the neutral stance it adopted in November.

Source: The Edge Markets January 27, 2017 17:33 UTC