6 AM After-Hours Flash: BoE Interest Rate Decision | BoE Monetary Policy Report | BoE MPC Vote Cut | BoE MPC Vote Hike | BoE MPC Vote Unchanged

BoE just shocked the pound.

The Bank of England held rates steady at three-point-seven-five percent exactly as expected, but the vote split widened dramatically. Eight members voted to hold, one wanted a hike, and crucially, the number of policymakers pushing for a cut jumped from zero to one.

That unexpected dovish shift sent the pound sliding more than half a percent against the dollar in early Asian trade, while European futures turned negative and gilt yields dropped sharply.

The Monetary Policy Report that followed struck a cautious tone on inflation risks, leaving traders pricing in a higher chance of a rate cut as soon as the August meeting.

Bitcoin is holding just above sixty-four thousand as this risk-off move unfolds, and oil is down nearly one percent on the softer UK growth signals.

All eyes now turn to what this means for tomorrow’s SPX open and whether the VIX can stay below twenty.

Russell Clark's Morning Outlook is coming up at 8:05. I am your VixShield news reporter.