The Wednesday Lunchtime Forum - 16th of April 2025
Our theme on the 16th of April is 'UK Energy Prices and UK Interest Rates'.
(This Lunchtime Forum is on Zoom and the peak arrival time is 1 pm.)
50 years ago the 'Bank Rate' (the Bank of England's base rate) was around 10%*
*Some 'AI' searches come up with a figure of 12.5% for May 1975, a level that was only reached, by being surpassed, in September 1976, according to the Bank of England.
Fast forward to 2025:
UK Local Elections are taking place on the 1st of May and on the 8th of May we will learn whether the Bank Rate will be reduced from its current level of 4.5%.
At the moment, that 4.5% interest rate is high relative to many other countries with whom the UK competes, and it would not be unrealistic to assume that Sterling would weaken if an interest rate cut is announced on the 8th of May.
The Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) is made up of nine members, 8 of whom voted for no change in the Bank Rate at their last meeting on the 19th of March.
Energy Prices in Sterling terms:
The UK needs to charter a route to better times, but self-imposed net-zero requirements in the energy sector, and beyond, are inflating costs, which reduces the UK's competitiveness on the World Stage.
- The MPC is reluctant to lower interest rates, because they are mandated to seek a 2% inflation target.
- The Government could lower the pressure on imminent inflationary concerns. resulting from a weakening of Sterling relative to the US Dollar, if they scrapped the net zero requirements without scrapping clean energy objectives while increasing energy generation in the UK.
We will be considering all of the above at lunchtime on the 16th of April.
We expect to have a wide range of views expressed on the day.
We have a Wednesday Lunchtime Forum every week, accept on the last Wednesday of the month when we have 'Investing for Tomorrow' at 3 pm from January to November each year.
Our Events
We specialise in micro events and we choose suitable locations accordingly.
At lunchtime when on Zoom only, we encourage folks to have a bite to eat with a glass of something while with us.
Please feel free to agree or disagree with anything that we cover, as we welcome all points of view.
At our in-person Lunchtime Forum events, the minimum stay is one hour from 12:45 pm to 1:45 pm, which is the duration of the Presentation Hour. When attending in person, our dress code is typically smart casual, with a jacket and tie being normal attire for gentlemen when in the City.
At lunchtime, special guests and those who join us regularly are free to arrive when we start, with first arrivals from 12:20 pm for 12.30 pm, when we start. Guests can stay with us until we finish, at 2:30 pm.
Our next 'Investing for Tomorrow' Wednesday Forum will be held in London at 3 pm on Wednesday the 30th of April.
Invitations for our 'Introduction to 'Investing for Tomorrow' on the 28th of May are available for those with a Membership Code through the following link: https://www.20-80.online/investing-for-tomorrow-1