Metro Manila, January 22 ------ Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Eli Remolona said banks and financial institutions' (FI) reserve requirement ratio (RRR) could be cut this year, while policy rates may also be eased. "Within the year, very possible. It depends on the data as usual," Remolona told reporters in a forum.
The BSP last sliced the ratio – which determines the portion banks and FIs with banking functions must retain and not lend out – by 250 basis points, down to 9.5% in June 2023. Remolona said this was not low enough at the time as it put the Philippines among the countries with the highest rates in Asia. Meanwhile, the media asked if the central bank was considering easing policy rates in the first semester of 2024. Remolona said: "I don't know. It depends on the data as we always say, but it's looking good. We like the trend so far. I would say it's possible but maybe not likely."
In its last meeting for 2023, the BSP Monetary Board kept the policy rate unchanged at 6.5%. It also retained rates on overnight deposit and lending facilities at 6% and 7%, respectively. He added that the BSP was studying what other central banks around the world were doing with their policy rates. Remolona, who just returned from the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland pointed out that growth in the US is on the upside at around 3%, meaning brighter prospects for a soft monetary policy landing and a strong economy. He noted that China was in a growth recession – even though it was positive at around 5%, it is slower than what the eastern power and the world are used to. He also said Europe's growth was nearly zero.
Source: cnnphilippines.com
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