The Financial Express (Delhi Edition)
RBI stays put on inflation fears
Economists believe room for a 25-bps drop in repo but differ on timing
THE Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Tuesday red-flagged potential inflationary pressures in the environment while leaving the key repo rate unchanged at 6.5%, indicating money isn’t about to become cheaper just yet.
At the same time, the central bank intends to review the marginal cost-based lending rate (MCLR), aimed at helping banks drop loan rates faster, for any “rigidities” that might be hampering transmission.
Observing transmission was “work in progress”, governor Raghuram Rajan said the reason banks were in no hurry to drop rates was probably the paucity in demand for credit demand. “We’re hoping the recent build-up in deposits would prompt lenders to put the money to work,” Rajan told the media. The central bank believes transmission into lower rates is inadequate and “critical” for growth.
It has nevertheless left its projection of GVA (gross value added) unchanged at 7.6% for 2016-17, saying the risks are “evenly balanced”.
As far as the question of my continuing in this position after September 4 goes, it would be cruel of me to spoil the fun the press is having with all its speculations. RAGHURAM RAJAN RBI governor
It believes business confidence will be “restrained” to some extent due to an unfriendly global environment.
The governor reassured the markets saying the central bank’s stance remained “accommodative” and that it would cut rates if there was room to do so. He, however, cautioned inflation had been sharper than anticipated. “There are potential inflationary pressures though the monsoon could be a source of disinflationary pressures,” Rajan said.
Economists believe there’s room for a drop in the repo rate of 25 basis points though they differ on the timing.
Samiran Chakraborty, economist at Citigroup, believes the downside risks on inflation may outweigh the upside risks, opening up the scope for a residual 25 bps rate cut. “However, we expect the RBI to remain in a wait-and-watch mode in H1 on account of adverse base effects and monsoon uncertainty,” Chakraborty wrote after the policy announcement.
Pranjul Bhandari, economist at HSBC, expects a final 25 bps rate cut in August if early showers over June and July are sufficient. “Oil prices may have risen sharply, but food matters more for CPI given the higher weight in the basket — 45% food versus 15% fuel,” Bhandari pointed out.
The RBI has cut the repo rate by 150 basis points since January 2015. However, base rates — to which most loans are linked — have come off by just 70 basis points. The lowest base rate in the system today is 9.3% while the lowest MCLR is 8.9%. The governor believes benign liquidity conditions should help monetary transmission. Over April and May, the RBI has infused liquidity to the tune of `70,000 crore via open market operations purchases alone.
Speaking on the anticipated redemption of FCNR(B) deposits towards the end of the year, Rajan said there were some concerns of a dollar shortage. “We will intervene to contain extreme volatility but no one should take it for granted we will bail them out,” the governor asserted. The central bank believes the leveraged portions of those deposits will not be renewed and consequently, estimates the outflows at close to $20 billion. Rajan added that the RBI was committed to supplying rupee liquidity if needed.