U.K. Should Consider IMF's Proposals, Julius Writes in FT

While a cut in U.K. interest rates, as proposed by the International Monetary Fund, “might have a short-lived announcement effect,” it’s unlikely to make much difference to the rates banks offer to borrowers, DeAnne Julius wrote in the Financial Times.

The most effective of the IMF’s proposals is a change in the type of quantitative easing and liquidity support by the Bank of England, said Julius, who is a former member of the central bank’s Monetary Policy Committee.

The IMF’s suggestion that the bank should expand its purchases to include private-sector bonds, with default risk being borne by the Treasury, is “sensible,” she wrote.

Another big buyer in the private bond market would lower companies’ borrowing costs and encourage them to issue more bonds rather than rely so heavily on bank financing, she added.

To contact the reporter on this story: John Simpson in Toronto at jsimpson12@bloomberg.net

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Greg Chang at gchang1@bloomberg.net