x     The Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) voted by a narrow 5-4 margin to keep interest rates on hold at 3,75%. In its first meeting of 2026, four members voted to reduce the benchmark interest rate by 25 basis points. Markets reacted positively with sterling at US$ 1,36.  The BOE’s policymakers last voted narrowly to cut interest rates in December, but analysts had expected the central bank to hold rates steady in February, given better-than-expected monthly growth figures