Twist or stick: two sides of the vital interest rate decision facing UK

After a decade of ultra-low rates, many predict a rise this week. Vital for controlling inflation and saving Bank chief Mark Carney's face, say the hawks. A terrible idea in a weak economy, argue doves

Markets have a tendency to panic when central banks threaten to raise interest rates. In 2014, the US Federal Reserve and its then boss, Ben Bernanke, sent traders across the world into a spin when he merely hinted that the era of almost zero rates might be ending.

It's been a decade since the Bank of England last increased the cost of borrowing, so it is no surprise that this week's vote by the monetary policy committee, which Threadneedle Street has sketched out as a good moment for a rise, is being closely watched.

Keeping the economy expanding has won out over the imperative to maintain inflation steady at 2%

'Inflows of new business in September were at their lowest for 13 months, suggesting that demand has "waned again"'