ADVERTISEMENT
RBI Keeps Key Lending Rate Unchanged, Meets Economists' Expectations: 10 Points
Inflation projection lowered to 2.7-3.2% for second half of 2018-19 RBI rules out reduction in repo rate going forward Central bank has raised repo rate twice so far this year
05 Dec 2018, 04:09 PM IST 
RBI retained GDP growth projection at 7.4 per cent for financial year 2018-19
- The RBI also maintained its stance at "calibrated tightening", ruling out the possibility of any reduction in the key lending rate for now.
- "Given the assessment that growth will likely remain healthy for the rest of the year, the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) retained its stance at calibrated tightening so as to buy time to pause, reflect and undertake future policy action with more robust inflation signals," said Governor Urjit Patel said, in a press conference held after the release of the policy statement. (Also read: GDP growth rate lowest in 3 quarters)
- While all six members of the MPC voted to keep the rates on hold, one member, Ravindra H Dholakia, voted to change the stance to “neutral”, according to the statement.
- The stock markets weakened further after release of the RBI policy statement amid cautious trade. The Sensex ended 249 points - or 0.69 per cent - lower at 35,884 while the Nifty settled at 10,784, down 84 points from the previous close.
- Economists said RBI's status quo on rates was along the expected lines. "We believe that the RBI is likely to change stance to 'neutral' in early 2019. We perceive that India is slowly entering into a low inflation, slowing growth quadrant… Our base case remains of a prolonged pause on repo rate,” said Aurodeep Nandi, India economist, Nomura Financial Advisory & Securities (India). (What economists say)
- The RBI lowered its consumer inflation projection to 2.7-3.2 per cent for the second half of the current fiscal year, citing normal monsoon and moderate food prices.
- Consumer inflation cooled off to a 13-month low of 3.31 per cent in October, comfortably within the RBI's medium-term target of 4 per cent. The RBI primarily tracks consumer inflation data while formulating the monetary policy.
- The RBI said it would begin to lower banks' mandatory bond holding ratios by 25 basis points every quarter from Q4 until they reach 18 per cent of deposits. The move is likely to push banks to lend more rather than park their cash in safe-haven government securities. The statutory liquidity ratio (SLR) currently stands at 19.5 per cent. SLR is the share of a bank's total deposit that it needs to maintain itself as liquid assets. (Also read: RBI to inject Rs 40,000-crore liquidity in December)
- Wednesday marked the first statement from RBI since it sparked off a debate with the government over its autonomy. The government has called for a change in the central bank's governance structure and setting up of panels to oversee its functioning.
- After a marathon board meeting with the government, the RBI last month decided to examine the Economic Capital Framework - the amount of surplus reserve a bank holds to tide over risks.
(With agency inputs)
