The past week in monetary policy saw 2 central banks cutting interest rates (Israel -25bps to 2.50%, and Thailand -25bps to 3.00%), and 1 bank cutting its reserve ratio (India cut CRR 50bps to 5.50%). Meanwhile 7 central banks held rates unchanged (Japan 0.10%, India 8.50%, Hungary 7.00%, Turkey 5.75%, New Zealand 2.50%, USA 0-0.25%, and Hong Kong 0.50%). The week also featured the US Federal Reserve announcing an inflation target of 2 percent and releasing its inaugural economic forecasts as part of its efforts to improve transparency.
Following are some of the key quotes and comments from the banks that met, often these comments give an insight into how the central bankers are thinking and how their economies are faring.
- US Federal Reserve (Held rate at 0-0.25%): "To support a stronger economic recovery and to help ensure that inflation, over time, is at levels consistent with the dual mandate, the Committee expects to maintain a highly accommodative stance for monetary policy. In particular, the Committee decided today to keep the target range for the federal funds rate at 0 to 1/4 percent and currently anticipates that economic conditions--including low rates of resource utilization and a subdued outlook for inflation over the medium run--are likely to warrant exceptionally low levels for the federal funds rate at least through late 2014."
- Reserve Bank of India (Held rate at 8.50%): "In reducing the CRR, the Reserve Bank has attempted to address the structural pressures on liquidity in a way that is not inconsistent with the prevailing monetary stance. In the two previous guidances, it was indicated that the cycle of rate increases had peaked and further actions were likely to reverse the cycle.
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