Bank of England expected to hold interest rates
Investors await November cut
The Bank of England is widely expected to hold interest rates at its meeting on Thursday, despite growing pressure to cut them in the face of Brexit uncertainty and a slowing global economy.
The decision will be closely watched by investors, who are hoping for a signal that the Bank is preparing to ease monetary policy further in the coming months.
Economic outlook
The Bank's decision will be based on its latest assessment of the economic outlook.
The UK economy has slowed in recent months, with GDP growth falling to 0.2% in the third quarter of 2019.
The slowdown has been driven by a number of factors, including the global trade war, Brexit uncertainty, and a fall in business investment.
Brexit uncertainty
The UK is due to leave the European Union on October 31, but there is still no agreement on the terms of the withdrawal.
The uncertainty surrounding Brexit is weighing on the UK economy, as businesses delay investment decisions and consumers hold back on spending.
A no-deal Brexit would be particularly damaging to the UK economy, and could lead to a sharp fall in GDP.
Global economy
The global economy is also slowing, with growth expected to fall to 3.0% in 2019, down from 3.6% in 2018.
The slowdown is being driven by a number of factors, including the trade war between the US and China, and weaker growth in emerging markets.
The global slowdown is having a negative impact on the UK economy, as exports fall and investment slows.
Interest rate decision
The Bank of England is likely to take all of these factors into account when it makes its decision on interest rates on Thursday.
The Bank is likely to hold rates at 0.75%, but it is possible that it could cut rates by 0.25% to 0.50%.
A rate cut would be a signal that the Bank is concerned about the economic outlook and is prepared to take action to support growth.
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