Bank Of England bolsters plan to calm market turmoil

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By Suraj Bediya


In order to ensure a “orderly finish” to its emergency bond-buying program, which it instituted when some pension funds were in danger of failing, the Bank of England has announced new measures.

The Bank announced that it will now purchase up to £10 billion worth of government bonds on Monday, double the prior cap of $5 billion.

Under the £65bn initiative, the Bank has only purchased bonds worth about £5 billion so far.

After the government’s mini-budget caused havoc on the financial markets, the plan was established.

The Bank reiterated that the scheme would cease on October 14 at the end of this week.

Concerns have been raised that once the Bank’s emergency bond-buying programme expires, the chaos that has been experienced in the financial markets may resurface.

However, in an effort to allay fears, Russ Mould, investment director at AJ Bell, claimed that the Bank was “talking loudly and carrying a hefty stick.”

Additionally, he stated that the Bank’s set of initiatives aimed to demonstrate to the pension funds that “we’ve got your back.”

The mini-budget, which was unveiled on September 23, promised £45 billion in tax cuts as part of a strategy to spur economic expansion, but the amount of borrowing needed by the government alarmed investors who questioned the viability of the public finances.

Following the announcement, the pound fell to a record low and investors wanted a considerably larger return on government bond investments, causing some of them to see a dramatic decline in value.

Fears of a new market slump were sparked when some pension fund types, which invest in bonds, were compelled to sell.

Financial Stability Fear

When the Bank intervened last month, it said that “a serious risk to UK financial stability” was what motivated its choice to purchase government bonds.

The government borrows money to finance its spending objectives by offering bonds, or “gilts,” to buyers on global markets like pension funds and major banks.(Source: BBC)

However, a drop in the price of such bonds following the mini-budget forced some funds to rush to sell bonds, driving the price further less.

There was a chance that those pension funds might have reached a point where they were unable to pay their debts if the process had continued.

In its most recent announcement, the Bank noted that “significant progress” had been made in solving the financial issues these funds were encountering, which may have resulted in being obliged to sell £50 billion worth of bonds.

The Bank will make available all the unused capacity this week since it has not purchased as many government bonds as it had anticipated under the £65 billion scheme.

To help pension funds strengthen their financial condition, it has also provided additional aid.

Before the mini-budget, the 30-year yield on government borrowing was at 3.7%. In essence, the yield is the interest rate.

Following the mini-budget, it increased to 5.1% before being driven back down by the Bank’s action. Recently, though, it has gradually climbed back up to 4.4%.