2016.06.1607:15:00UTC+00BoE Unanimous On Rate, QE

The Bank of England decided to maintain its record-low interest rate and the size of its asset purchases unchanged in a unanimous vote ahead of the EU referendum on June 23.

The Monetary Policy Committee, led by Governor Mark Carney, voted 9-0 to hold the interest rate at 0.50 percent, the bank said in a statement on Thursday.

The rate has been at this low level for seven years. Policymakers also unanimously voted to maintain the quantitative easing at GBP 375 billion.

"The outcome of the referendum continues to be the largest immediate risk facing UK financial markets, and possibly also global financial markets," it said.

The bank cautioned that a vote to leave the EU could materially alter the outlook for output and inflation, and therefore the appropriate setting of monetary policy.

The BoE said it will take whatever action is needed, following the outcome of the referendum, to ensure that inflation expectations remain well anchored and inflation returns to the target over the appropriate horizon.