RBI hikes repo rate: The central bank retained its 6.7% inflation forecast for the current fiscal year, which ends in March while stating that the fight against inflation is far from over. The central bank reduced its growth forecast to 6.8% from 7% previously. Prior to today’s hike, the RBI had raised rates by a total of 190 basis points since its first unscheduled mid-meeting hike in May, and at least two more rate hikes are expected in the current cycle, including today’s.
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The Reserve Bank of India’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) raised the key policy rate, the repo rate, or the rate at which the RBI lends funds to banks, by 35 basis points to 6.25 percent on Wednesday (December 7), signalling a further rise in lending and deposit rates.
Consequent to increase of repo rate to 6.25%, Standing Deposit Facility Rate stands adjusted to 6.00% and the Marginal Standing Facility Rate and the Bank Rate to 6.50%
– #RBI Governor, #MonetaryPolicy https://t.co/QLOktEPbVR
— PIB in Maharashtra 🇮🇳 (@PIBMumbai) December 7, 2022
The MPC also reduced its growth forecast for the current fiscal year to 6.8 percent from 7% due to concerns about the “bleak” global economic outlook, while maintaining its retail inflation forecast at 6.7%.
RBI repo rate hike:
The increase in the repo rate, the fifth since May 2022, was approved by a majority vote of the six-member MPC, led by RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das, with five members recommending it. The MPC also decided, by a vote of 4 out of 6 members, to keep the focus on accommodation withdrawal.
Bank lending rates are expected to rise as the cost of funds continues to rise. Vehicle, home, and personal loan EMIs will also rise. Banks’ external benchmark linked lending rate (EBLR) will rise by 35 basis points (bps) — one basis point equals one hundredth of a percentage point — because such loans are linked to the Repo rate. The Repo rate is now linked to as much as 43.6 percent of total loans.
RBI MPC meet: Central Bank raises repo rate by 35 bps to 6.25 %#MPC2022 | #RBIPolicy
Full Report | https://t.co/jlfWXgBZLs pic.twitter.com/MD7axO5hjk
— Economic Times (@EconomicTimes) December 7, 2022
Following the increase in repo rates, banks are likely to raise interest rates on various loans. Borrowers are the most affected by these rate increases. Borrowing costs rise, and banks pass the cost on to borrowers. Having said that, EMIs are likely to rise in the near future.
After the Reserve Bank of India raised lending rates by 35 basis points and sounded a hawkish note about the inflation outlook, Indian government bond yields rose, with the benchmark 10-year yield reaching 7.30%.
The 10-year benchmark bond yield was last at 7.29 percent, four basis points higher than the previous close. Bond prices and yields move in opposite directions. Bond traders said the initial weakness was due to Das’s repeated concerns about persistent and sticky core inflation.
The rupee was last trading at 82.62 per US dollar, unchanged from the previous close.
