Bank of England keeps rates at nearly zero and says could expand asset purchases if necessary

The Bank of England voted unanimously to keep interest rates at 0.1% and maintain its £200 billion program of buying UK government bond and sterling non-financial investment-grade corporate bond purchases. "Regarding the impact of asset purchases, gilt yields fell significantly following the previous week's special MPC meeting and the commencement of additional gilt purchase operations from 20 March. If needed, the MPC can expand asset purchases further," the central bank said.