Bank of England keeps interest rates at record low

LONDON: The Bank of England left interest rates at a record low of 0.5 percent yesterday and announced no change in its 200 billion pounds ($320 billion) monetary stimulus program as it looks for clearer signs on the health of the economy.

Analysts had widely expected the Bank's Monetary Policy Committee to remain in "wait-and-see" mode and stand pat at least until next month.

Recent signs that Britain emerged from recession in the fourth quarter have yet to be confirmed by official data, and reports have shown that consumers are continuing to pay off debt rather than borrowing to keep spending.