UK Central Bank Intervenes In Market, Govt. Insist On Growth Plan Despite Budget Criticism

The Bank of England took emergency action Wednesday to stabilize U.K. financial markets and head off a crisis in the broader economy after the government spooked investors with a program of unfunded tax cuts, sending the pound tumbling and the cost of government debt soaring.

Sterling came under fresh selling pressure Wednesday after UK tax plans were criticized by the IMF, Moody’s and others.

The central bank warned that crumbling confidence in the economy posed a “material risk to U.K. financial stability,” while the International Monetary Fund took the rare step to urge a member of the Group of Seven advanced economies to abandon its plan to cut taxes and increase borrowing to cover the cost.

Kwasi Kwarteng says ‘the UK Government is sticking with the growth plan’ despite budget criticism from MP’s.

The Bank of England said it would buy long-term government bonds over the next two weeks to combat a recent slide in British financial assets. The bank’s actions are focused on long-term government debt, where yields have soared in recent days, pushing up government borrowing costs.