Bank of England leaves monetary policy unchanged

LONDON, Jan. 9 (UPI) -- The Bank of England said Thursday it would maintain its monetary policies at current levels.

The central bank has kept its overnight lending rate at an historically low 0.5 percent since March 2009.

The BOE also initiated an asset purchasing program in that month, which increased to a $613 billion program in July 2012.

The BOE does not explain its policy decisions until meeting minutes are released two weeks after the meeting.