Bank of England leaves UK interest rates on hold in 6-3 split, knocking pound – as it happened

Final UK interest rate decision of the year, as Spain's Navantia agrees a deal to purchase Harland & Wolff's four shipyards

• Full story: Bank of England keeps UK interest rates on hold amid jitters over rising inflation
• Analysis:

Thames Water has been fined 18.2m for paying unjustified" dividends to shareholders.

Ofwat has ruled that Thames breached its licence obligations by paying 37.5m of interim dividend payments in October 2023, and a further 158.3m in March 2024.

Ofwat's 18 million penalty and clawing back the value of 131 million in unjustified dividend payments is a clear warning to the whole sector: We will take action against companies who take money out of these businesses, where performance does not merit it."