The Bank of England held its base rate at 5% at noon yesterday as Governor Andrew Bailey insisted it must be 'careful not to cut too fast or by too much'.

Sterling rose against a weakening dollar after the Federal Reserve cut interest rates by 50 basis points, with investors awaiting the outcome of the Bank of England policy meeting on Thursday expected to keep borrowing costs on hold.

The pound was at to its highest level in two-and-a-half years after the Bank of England left its key interest rate unchanged, taking a more cautious approach than the Federal Reserve. The pound climbed 0.