Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) is expected to increase its Overnight Policy Rate (OPR) by 25 basis points in September this year, with a strong growth environment providing the central bank opportunity to further normalize monetary policy, according to a recent report from ANZ Research.
The country’s headline inflation decelerated to 1.4 percent y/y and zero percent m/m in February from 2.7 percent y/y previously. The deceleration was broad-based, encompassing several major components of the CPI basket.
Of notice, was the fact that prices of components that can be characterized as ‘tradables’ witnessed a sequential decline, validating BNM’s view that the strong Malaysian ringgit is helping to suppress import prices.
Further to that, the BNM also stressed that inflation this year is expected to average lower than that in 2017.
"Our full-year 2018 CPI forecast is 2.7 percent and assumes that the impact of some supporting factors such as high base effects and easing food prices will potentially correct over a period of time," the report said.
Lastly, FxWirePro has launched Absolute Return Managed Program. For more details, visit http://www.fxwirepro.com/invest


South Korean Won Leads Asian FX Losses as Dollar Rises
US Yen Intervention Unlikely to Deliver Lasting Recovery, Yardeni Says
Singapore Raises 2026 GDP Growth Forecast to 4.5%-5.5% as AI Boom Fuels Economy
BOJ Seen Holding Rates at 1% While Keeping Inflation Risk Warning
Singapore Raises 2026 GDP Growth Forecast as AI Demand Fuels Economy
Gold Prices Rise as Fed Rate Hike Bets Ease
England Drought Expands to 71% as Heatwave Deepens Water Crisis
Japan PM Sanae Takaichi Unveils Growth Plan as BOJ Independence Concerns Lift Bond Yields
BOJ Expected to Hold Rates Steady While Signaling More Hikes Ahead 



