Is a UK interest rate rise certain? Good question

Analysis: contradictory data has split experts over whether the Bank of England will raise rates or not

It is a sign of the confusion surrounding the Bank of England's interest rate decision on Thursday that investors are unusually divided over which direction the central bank will go.

Financial markets show that more than six in 10 investors are anticipating a hike in the cost of borrowing while a majority of City economists take the opposite view, telling a Reuters survey they expect rates will remain at historic lows, at least for the time being.