India's central bank has cut interest rates for the first time in nearly five years to counter slowing growth in Asia's third largest economy. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) reduced its repo rate from 6.5% to 6.25%, in line with the expectations of many economists.

The Bank of England is widely expected to cut interest rates for the third time in six months later Thursday, even though inflation remains above its target. Most economists think the nine-member Monetary Policy Committee will lower the bank's main interest rate by a quarter of a percentage point to 4.