	lloyds bank matches base rate cut to pct lloyds bank plc lloy l said it is cutting its base lending rate to pct from pct effective tomorrow the reduction follows similar moves from the three other british clearing banks national westminster bank plc nwbl l led the way this morning after the bank of england lowered its dealing rates in a signal that it would tolerate a half percentage point reduction the central bank s surprise signal followed its strenuous efforts last week to prevent market forces from bringing down base rates before the u k budget on march reuter 
