Bloomberg Daybreak: Europe Edition BOE Set For Rate Cut, First Female BP CEO, Private Credit's Backdoor
Dec 18, 2025
The Bank of England is expected to cut interest rates before Christmas as focus shifts to the struggling economy. BP makes headlines by appointing Meg O’Neill as the first female CEO in Big Oil. Meanwhile, OpenAI seeks a staggering valuation of $750 billion in new funding talks. In geopolitics, Germany considers troop involvement in Ukraine after a potential peace deal. Additionally, the rise of private credit is reshaping Europe's property lending landscape, but concerns about underwriting standards loom.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
BOE Poised For Pre-Christmas Cut
- The Bank of England is likely to cut rates pre-Christmas after inflation slowed to 3.2% in November.
- Markets price a 25bp cut to 3.75% and expect another cut by end-April, shifting focus to UK growth and jobs.
UK Work Inactivity Shows Improvement
- UK work inactivity has fallen to around pre-pandemic levels as cost-of-living pressures push people back into jobs.
- Declines in early retirement and caregiving partially offset long-term sickness that still affects 2.8m adults.
ECB Expected To Hold Rates
- The ECB is expected to keep rates on hold while projecting solid euro-area growth and contained inflation.
- That balance of steady growth and controlled inflation could weigh on the euro if policymakers stay cautious.