MNI BRIEF: BOE Saunders: Could End Current QE Round Early

Bank of England Monetary Policy Committee member Michael Saunders said Thursday "a modestly tighter (policy) stance" could be in order to ensure that inflation risks were balanced two-to-three years ahead rather than skewed to the upside. Saunders, like fellow MPC member Deputy Governor Dave Ramsden, said that the idea of ending the current GBP150 billion round of asset purchases early is a real possibility, with the round currently set to be completed by end year.

"The question of whether to curtail our current asset purchase program early will be under consideration at our forthcoming meetings," he said, with his speech at the BOE marking another hawkish turn by a voting official following Ramsden's speech Wednesday.