This article reviews developments in sterling financial markets, including the Bank’s official operations, between the 2011 Q1 Quarterly Bulletin and 20 May 2011. The article also summarises market intelligence on selected topical issues relating to market functioning.

Household arrears on payment obligations are one of the most direct measures of household sector financial stress. In this paper a time series approach is used to model two of the key components of aggregate UK household arrears: those on mortgages and credit cards. Mortgages are the main...

In this paper a quantitative framework for analysis of the UK commercial property sector is developed, and the possible implications explored for the financial stability of this sector, and for the corporate sector as a whole. There is little previous empirical literature. But where there is,...

Incentive structures affect people's decisions. But what are the implications of the resulting choices that people make for the level of risk within the economy? This paper reviews the literature in this area and attempts to draw out practical work that can be taken forward in assessing...