LONDON (AFP) ??” Expectations that the Bank of England (BoE) will hike interest rates nearest week kept the pound well bid as sterling headed towards a fifth weekly gain disclosed of six.

LONDON (AFP) ??” Expectations that the Bank of England (BoE) will hike interest rates nearest week kept the pound well bid as sterling headed towards a fifth weekly gain disclosed of six, against the US dollar.

An AFX stranges poll of forecasters showed 14 on the outside of 25 predicting a back-to- back rate hike to 45 percent nearest week.

The BoE last raised interest rates in May, its third 25 basis point hike since November in an attempt to gradual down the growth in spending it fears will emit inflation over its two percent target.

Sterling hit