Polish central bank kept its 1.5 percent main interest rate on hold, as widely expected. The central bank chose not to follow the monetary easing by the ECB but slashed 2016 inflation forecast from 1.1% (as of Q4) right to -0.35%. The 2017 forecast was cut from 1.45% to 1.25%.
The Polish bank's governor Marek Belka said stable interest rates were the most likely scenario even though the bank was cutting its consumer price forecasts, projecting negative inflation for the next quarters. Investors largely shrugged off Belka not ruling out a rate cut, and the Zolty infact firmed against the Euro.
Such a warning could have hit Polish assets, but the ECB's rate cut and its expanded asset buying scheme, along with robust economic growth in the European Union's eastern wing make the region's assets more attractive.
The zloty firmed against the euro, while Warsaw's bluechip equities index and Budapest main stock index hit a 3-month and an 8-year high, respectively. EUP/PLN remains weak on the day, currently trading at 4.2804 after hitting fresh 3-month lows of 4.2725 on Monday. Rate cuts are unlikely to weaken the zloty from current levels, EUR/PLN likely to return to 4.25 in the medium-term.


RBA Raises Interest Rates by 25 Basis Points as Inflation Pressures Persist
Bank of Japan Likely to Delay Rate Hike Until July as Economists Eye 1% by September
Markets React as Tensions Rise Between White House and Federal Reserve Over Interest Rate Pressure
Bank of Canada Holds Interest Rate at 2.25% Amid Trade and Global Uncertainty
MAS Holds Monetary Policy Steady as Strong Growth Raises Inflation Risks
China Holds Loan Prime Rates Steady in January as Market Expectations Align
Fed Confirms Rate Meeting Schedule Despite Severe Winter Storm in Washington D.C.
RBA Expected to Raise Interest Rates by 25 Basis Points in February, ANZ Forecast Says
FxWirePro: Daily Commodity Tracker - 21st March, 2022 



