[Bank of England Holds Monetary Policy Meeting This Week, Expected to Keep Benchmark Interest Rate Unchanged] Against the backdrop of escalating geopolitical conflicts, the Bank of England (BoE) is set to convene a critical monetary policy meeting. The market widely anticipates that the BoE will maintain the benchmark interest rate unchanged on April 30, while assessing the potential economic impact of the ongoing Middle East situation on the UK. Investors will closely monitor the meeting outcome and subsequent press conference to determine whether the BoE signals a gradual tightening of monetary policy. It is highly likely that the benchmark interest rate will remain unchanged. Market surveys predict that members of the BoE's Monetary Policy Committee will likely vote 8 to 1 in favor of maintaining the current benchmark interest rate at 3.75%. In the BoE's March meeting, the vote was unanimous at 9 to 0 to keep the rate unchanged. It is widely believed that, given the high geopolitical uncertainty stemming from the Middle East situation, the central bank's decision to "hold steady" this week is a prudent strategy. However, investors expect the BoE to raise interest rates later this year. As of April 24, the market has largely priced in a 25-basis-point rate hike in July and anticipates another hike in September, with a smaller probability of a third hike before the end of the year. Despite this, BoE Governor Andrew Bailey has cautioned that such rate hikes may be premature. (CCTV News)