BANGKOK, Nov 18 (Reuters) - Following is Wednesday's statement from Thailand's central bank after it left the benchmark one-day repurchase rate unchanged at a record low of 0.50%, as expected, as the economy had improved but a recovery was fragile.
All 15 economists in a Reuters poll had expected the central bank to remain on hold after it has already cut rates by 75 basis points so far this year.
TEXT: Titanun Mallikamas, assistant governor and secretary of the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC), announced the outcome of the Nov. 18 meeting as follows:
The Committee voted unanimously to maintain the policy rate at 0.50% to support economic recovery while placing emphasis on more targeted measures.
The Committee assessed that despite the recent better-than-expected outturn, the Thai economy would recover slowly and need support from the continued low policy rate.
Nonetheless, the economic recovery would remain fragile and highly uncertain.
The Committee thus voted to maintain the policy rate at this meeting and to preserve the limited policy space in order to act at the appropriate and most effective timing.
The Thai economy in the third quarter of 2020 improved more than expected. However, the recovery would remain slow and vary significantly among economic sectors.
Overall economic activities were projected to take approximately two years before returning to the pre-pandemic level. Consequently, the labour market would remain fragile, especially as labour incomes remained low.
This would in turn weigh on private consumption, particularly among low-income households, following a phase-out of temporary supporting factors. Public expenditure was expected to be lower than previously assessed.
The financial system remained sound, despite increasing vulnerabilities given the economic outlook and risks to the financial positions of businesses and households.
Meanwhile, headline inflation would be less negative in line with increasing energy prices and would stay close to the lower bound of the target range in 2021. Medium-term inflation expectations remained anchored within the target.
Despite ample liquidity in the financial system and low financing costs, some businesses, especially SMEs, and households in need of liquidity have not gained access to credits.
The baht appreciated rapidly against the U.S. dollar owing to risk-on sentiment following the presidential election outcome and the progress of COVID-19 vaccine development.
The Committee expressed concerns over the rapid appreciation of the baht as this affected the fragile economic recovery.
Therefore, the Committee would closely monitor developments in foreign exchange markets and capital flows as well as consider the necessity of implementing additional appropriate measures.
The Committee viewed that policy coordination among government agencies would be critical to support the economic recovery going forward. Monetary policy must remain accommodative.
Financial and credit measures should expedite liquidity distribution to the affected groups in a targeted and timely manner, and financial institutions should accelerate debt restructuring to have a broader impact.
Fiscal measures continued to play an important role in shoring up the economy. The government should, thus, accelerate budget disbursement and assist the vulnerable target groups.
In addition, implementation of supply-side policies should be accelerated to support business restructuring and upskilling of labour, which would help support sustainable economic recovery in the long term.
Under the monetary policy framework with objectives of maintaining price stability, supporting sustainable and full-potential economic growth, and preserving financial stability, the Committee continued to put emphasis on supporting economic recovery.
The Committee would monitor the adequacy of the government measures and various risks, including domestic political uncertainties, progress of protocols for admitting foreign tourists, and financial position of businesses and households, in deliberating monetary policy going forward.
The Committee would stand ready to use additional appropriate monetary policy tools if necessary.
Click here for the full statement https://www.bot.or.th/Thai/MonetaryPolicy/Documents/PressMPC_72020.pdf. (Reporting by Orathai Sriring; Editing by Rashmi Aich)
