OPR down to 1.75 pct
KUCHING: At its meeting yesterday, the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM)decided to reduce the Overnight Policy Rate (OPR) by 25 basis points to 1.75 per cent.
The ceiling and floor rates of the corridor of the OPR are correspondingly reduced to 2.00 per cent and 1.50 per cent, respectively.
“The impact of Covid-19 on the global economy is severe. Global economic conditions remain weak with global growth projected to be negative for the year,” the central bank said in a statement.
“The reduction in the OPR provides additional policy stimulus to accelerate the pace of economic recovery. The MPC will continue to assess evolving conditions and their implications on the overall outlook for inflation and domestic growth.
“The Bank will continue to utilise its policy levers as appropriate to create enabling conditions for a sustainable economic recovery.”
Although a trough is expected in the second quarter, BNM warned that broad-based weakness in labour markets and precautionary behaviour by households and businesses could affect recovery going forward.
This comes as several major economies have begun relaxing measures to contain the Covid-19 pandemic, leading to the gradual resumption of economic activity.
“Financial conditions have improved, although risk aversion remains elevated. Downside risks to the global outlook remain, especially if a resurgence of the pandemic necessitates the reintroduction of containment measures,” it continued.
“For Malaysia, economic activity contracted sharply in the second quarter of the year, due to measures introduced to contain the pandemic globally
The Bank will continue to utilise its policy levers as appropriate to create enabling conditions for a sustainable economic recovery. BNM
and domestically.
“Following the gradual and progressive re-opening of the economy since early May, economic activities have begun to recover from the trough in the second quarter. The fiscal stimulus packages, alongside monetary and financial measures, will continue to underpin the improving economic outlook.
“The projected improvement in the domestic economy is expected to be further supported by a gradual recovery in global growth conditions. The pace and strength of the recovery, however, remain subject to downside risks emanating from both domestic and external factors.
“These include the prospect of further outbreaks of the pandemic leading to reimpositions of containment measures, more persistent weakness in labour market conditions, and a weaker-thanexpected recovery in global growth.”
BNM also said that inflationary pressures are expected to be muted in 2020. Average headline inflation is likely to be negative this year, primarily reflecting the substantially lower global oil prices.
“The risks of a broad-based and persistent decline in prices are assessed to be limited as economic activity resumes and demand conditions improve. Nevertheless, the outlook remains significantly affected by global oil and commodity prices. Underlying inflation is expected to be subdued and within expectations.”