UK Economy Need Help As Trade War & Brexit Risks Grow: Mark Carney, BoE

Bank of England Governor Mark Carney said a global trade war and a no-deal Brexit were growing risks to Britain`s economy which might need more help to cope with a downturn, prompting investors to increase their bets on a BoE interest rate cut. "The latest actions raise the possibility that trade tensions could be far more pervasive, persistent and damaging than previously expected. The rationales for action are broadening," he said in a speech.

Carney said low inflation in many advanced economies might mean the so-called equilibrium interest rate - which keeps inflation on target and the economy operating at full capacity - is lower than central banks believe. But he also suggested that government spending increases or tax cuts would be needed to offset a shock, given how low borrowing costs already are in many parts of the world. "Monetary policy space could be more limited in some jurisdictions, increasing the desirability that fiscal policy supplement it if a downturn materialises," he said.

Both of the candidates to become Britain`s next prime minister have promised higher spending and tax cuts to help the economy after Brexit. Sterling fell on Carney`s comments, hitting a two-week low against the U.S. dollar and pushing the 10-year gilt yield below the BoE`s Bank Rate - currently 0.75% - for the first time in a decade, according to data from Tradeweb. Investors put a 57% probability of a rate cut by the BoE by the end of the year, up from 41% earlier in the day. "I don`t think he is telling us that a rate cut is imminent but at the very least the balance of risks has changed," said Ross Walker, an economist with NatWest Markets.

Despite dovish signals from the U.S. Federal Reserve and the European Central Bank, the BoE has stuck to its message that rates will need to rise in a gradual and limited way if Britain manages to exit the European Union with a transition deal to absorb the economic shock.

NO-DEAL BREXIT?

Carney acknowledged the widening differences between that position and the more pessimistic view of investors, especially after Boris Johnson and Jeremy Hunt - the candidates to replace Theresa May as prime minister - said they were prepared to leave the EU without a deal if necessary. Carney said the central bank was working on the assumption that both candidates would achieve their stated aim of reaching a deal with the EU. If that happened, the outlook for Britain`s economy could improve quickly, which is why the BoE has not changed its main message about the outlook for rates.