Bank of England

Predicted economic shock

The Treasury select committee is to investigate how low interest rates and quantitative easing have impacted the economy since 2008.

Respondents in this week's Pensions Buzz see the BHS saga as a touchstone for fundamental issues at play in the pensions sector.

Further quantitative easing (QE) and cutting interest rates to 0.25% have not hurt businesses with defined benefit (DB) schemes, according to the Bank of England (BoE).

Plastic manufacturer Carclo has warned it might not be able to pay its last dividend of the year due to a rising pension deficit since Brexit.

Sterling's weak performance in the wake of June's Brexit vote could allow the UK to re-balance its economy, according to Mervyn King, as he described forecasts of a materially weaker UK as a result of Brexit as "highly speculative".

The Bank of England (BoE) has purchased more than £3bn worth of long-dated gilts as part of its latest stimulus package, after failing to meet targets last week.

Inflation measured on the Consumer Prices Index (CPI) increased to 0.6% in the year to July 2016 according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

Sponsor contribution levels for the FTSE 100 defined benefit (DB) schemes are the highest since 2009 according to an LCP survey.

Structural imbalances in the gilts market have worsened since the central bank's QE programme faced major setbacks. Supply is squeezed and prices are distorted, pushing down yields yet again. Stephanie Baxter asks if we should be worried.