[Bitunix Analyst: Energy Inflation Forces Bank of England to Raise Rates, AI Sell-Off Weakens US Tightening Expectations] BlockBeats reports that on November 6th, global markets showed divergent trends in monetary policy and asset prices. The Bank of England raised interest rates by 25 basis points to 4% with an 8-to-1 vote, its first rate hike in over three years. Continued increases in energy prices pushed the UK's September CPI to 3.5%, and the central bank forecasts inflation could rise to 4.9% by the second quarter of 2027. However, this rate hike does not signify the start of a new tightening cycle. Policymakers are still observing whether energy costs will be passed on to wages and corporate pricing, and are guarding against weakening demand putting additional pressure on the economy. What the Bank of England is truly concerned about is the second wave of inflation. The Middle East conflict has pushed up Brent crude and natural gas prices. Companies can currently absorb some of the impact through long-term contracts, cost hedging, and profit compression, but these buffers may not be sustainable. If energy prices remain high for an extended period, the costs may ultimately be passed on to consumers, forcing central banks to further tighten monetary policy. Conversely, if household purchasing power deteriorates first, interest rate hikes could exacerbate the economic slowdown. The US market is facing a different kind of pressure. Concerns over AI capital expenditure returns, data center regulations, and liquidation of highly leveraged trades have compounded the decline, causing tech stocks and the semiconductor sector to plummet, with all S&P 500 sectors closing lower. Funds have shifted to short-term US Treasury bonds and money market funds, with the latter reaching $8.016 trillion, indicating that investors are increasing liquidity and defensive allocations. It is worth noting that the decline in tech stocks has also reduced market bets on a December rate hike by the Federal Reserve, reflecting that the tightening effect of financial markets themselves may weaken the need for further rate hikes. The key going forward is not just whether inflation will continue, but whether energy costs will translate into overall price pressures, and whether the cooling of AI investment will further impact corporate financing and employment. Global central banks are no longer just facing the challenge of controlling inflation, but also preventing tightening and slowing growth from reinforcing each other.