LONDON (Reuters) – Financial markets expect the Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee to raise interest rates by an unprecedented half a percentage point at its March or May meeting, and to make a quarter-point rise at the other, according to pricing on Friday. The BoE has only raised rates in quarter-point increments since it gained operational independence in 1997, but markets now price in a 98% chance of a total 75 basis points of tightening by May’s meeting. Just a few weeks ago in late January, financial markets did not expect rates to reach 1.25% until the end of 2022, and a little…