Interest rates unchanged

Bank of England has today announced it has held its key interest rate steady at a record-low level of 0.5%, where it has stood for 17 months.

"The Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee today voted to maintain the official bank rate paid on commercial bank reserves at 0.50 percent," the BoE said in a statement issued after its latest monthly meeting.

As usual, the central bank made no statement alongside its rate decision. A voting breakdown will only be available with the publication of the MPC minutes on July 21.

The Bank made no announcement of changes to the £200bn of assets purchased under its quantitative easing scheme between March 2009 and February 2010.