The UK's benchmark stock indexes ended higher on Thursday, after the Bank of England kept rates on hold, as widely expected, and extended its bond reduction plan for another year. The blue-chip FTSE 100 was up 0.

The Bank of England (BoE) has decided to hold interest rates at 5% this month, having lowered them for the first time in four years in August.

British stock indexes dropped on Wednesday as investors reined in bets on interest rate cuts by the Bank of England, while global risk sentiment was fragile ahead of a policy decision from the U.S. Federal Reserve later in the day.

(Reuters) -UK shares slipped from session highs on Thursday, after the Bank of England kept rates on hold as widely expected and extended its bond reduction plan for another year. The blue-chip FTSE 100 was up 1%,