Foreign investors shed sterling assets
Annuity rates already at record lows
Carney hinted at monetary easing in summer
Futures markets had predicted 3% opening fall
Strongest start to the year since 2001
Appetite for UK Equity Income boosts flows
Allianz Global Investors' Mike Riddell shares his views
Can I call the end of the 30-year bond bull market now?
Foreigner investors have been selling UK gilts at a faster rate than at the peak of the financial crisis in 2009, ahead of the general election.
The yield on a 10-year UK government bond fell to a new record low below 1.4% on Thursday after comments the Bank of England is in 'no rush' to raise interest rates.