India’s central bank on Thursday unexpectedly lowered interest rates and, as anticipated, shifted its stance to “neutral” from “calibrated tightening” to boost a slowing economy after a sharp fall in the inflation rate.
The monetary policy committee (MPC) of the Reserve Bank of India cut the repo rate by 25 basis points to 6.25 per cent, as predicted by only 21 of 65 analysts polled by Reuters.
Most polled respondents expected the central bank to only change the stance to neutral.
Four of six members of the MPC voted to cut the rates, while all six voted for a change in the stance.
“Investment activity is recovering but supported mainly by public spending on infrastructure. The need is to strengthen private investment activity and buttress private consumption,” the MPC said in a statement.
Indian shares pared gains while 10-year bond yields slid 5 basis points after the surprise rate cut.
The Indian rupee weakened…
Source: News Agency of Nigeria
