The Bank of England (BOE) will reduce the cash buffer it holds against losses as it scales back its quantitative easing (QE) bond-buying program. Officials said this move aims to deliver better "value for money" for taxpayers.
BOE Governor Andrew Bailey and Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves agreed on the adjustments, which follow a reduction in the Asset Purchase Facility (APF) from £895 billion to £655 billion since early 2022. This reduction potentially offered Reeves additional budgetary flexibility for the recent budget plan on October 30.
Background: The BOE initially implemented QE to support economic growth after the 2008 financial crisis and 2020 pandemic, acquiring bonds that have now resulted in projected lifetime losses between £50 billion and £100 billion. Although QE generated a £123 billion profit when interest rates were near zero, it started to incur losses once rates surpassed 2% in 2022.
Reeves confirmed that the cash management framework for the APF will be continuously reviewed to meet government objectives efficiently. Bailey added that the new arrangement adjusts the buffer to match expected outflows without altering the program's lifetime financial position.
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