EM Central Banks: Who's Hiking, Who's Not?

• Today, CNB raised its policy rate by 25bps as expected to 0.75%, gradually continuing its tightening cycle to curb the inflationary pressures.
• This week was also marked by the sharp 100bps hike in the Selic rate by the BCB (as expected, but largest increase since 2003), and policymakers confirmed that they stand ready to raise the policy rate beyond the 'neutral' rate to ensure inflation is converging back toward the central bank's target in 2022. With a 325bps hike since the start of the year, the BCB has been the most 'hawkish' central bank among the EM world.
• The CBR has also raised its policy rate significantly this year by 225bps to 6.5%; the central bank also opted for an aggressive 100bps on July 23 to rein in inflation, which came in at 6.5% in June far above the CBR 4% target.
• Last week, its was the NBH that raised its benchmark rate by 30bps (slightly higher than market expectations of 20bps) for a second time following the positive surprise in inflation (July CPI came in at 5.3% in Hungary, far above the NBH 4% upper tolerance band).
• The CBRT has remained on hold since March, keeping its benchmark rate steady at 19%, but the recent positive surprise in inflation could once again 'push' the central bank to increase interest rates, especially if the TRY keeps depreciating.
• In Asia and SE Asia, officials have adopted a more 'dovish' tone as uncertainty over the Delta variant has increased significantly in recent weeks:
  • In China, officials agreed to cut the RRR (for big banks) by 50bps to 12% in order to ease financial conditions following the sharp consolidating in risky assets since February and stimulate the economic activity which has been decelerating in recent months.
  • In Thailand, we saw that the board decision to maintain interest rate on hold was split (4 against 2), with 2 policymakers aiming to cut rates as growth expectations have been revised to the downside due to rising Covid cases.
• It will be interesting to see if the divergence in monetary policy between 'East and West' will be reflected in the FX crosses in the near to medium term (THB is down nearly 7% against USD since June, and could continue to depreciate against major crosses if BoT considers cutting rates to stimulate economic activity in following meetings).

Source: Bloomberg/MNI