The Bank of England will probably expand its so-called quantitative easing program next week as the debt crisis in Europe impedes the U.K.’s return to growth. The nine-member Monetary Policy Committee, led by Governor Mervyn King, will raise its target for bond purchases by 50 billion pounds ($78 billion) to 375 billion pounds, according to 30 of 41 economists in a Bloomberg news survey. Eight predict an increase to 400 billion pounds, and the rest see a smaller increase or no change. King told reporters yesterday that Europe’s debt turmoil has stoked uncertainty and tightened credit availability, creating headwinds ... (full story)