MNI BRIEF:Rate Cut Still Option For Some Riksbank Policymakers

A rate cut pushing the benchmark Repo Rate back into negative territory remains an option for some Riksbank policy makers, despite the economy performing better previously expected, the minutes of the February meeting showed.

Deputy Governor Anna Breman said that "a rate cut may be an effective tool to contribute to a broad-based demand stimulus" while her colleague Martin Floden said a cut may be appropriate if there were any developments endangering the recovery. Per Jansson said that previous experience showed the harmful side-effects of negative rates were relatively minor.

Committee members varied over how much quantitative easing would have been optimal but with asset purchase programme rolling out through 2021 there seemed to be no real appetite to change it and Governor Stefan Ingves said that the risks of leaving stimulus in place for too long were less than prematurely removing it.