Malaysia Central Bank Holds OPR at 3.00%

The Bank Negara Malaysia held its Overnight Policy Rate (OPR) unchanged at 3.00%, and held the floor and ceiling rates of the corridor for the OPR at 2.75 percent and 3.25 percent respectively.  The Bank said: "In the MPC's assessment, while inflation remains a concern, the increased uncertainties on the global and domestic economic growth prospects and their potential consequences could have a moderating impact on inflation."  On its own economy the Bank said: "Domestic growth prospects, however, continue to remain positive, underpinned by the expansion in private consumption and private investment.  Employment conditions remain favourable amid sustained business and consumer confidence. The public sector will also continue to support economic growth."

The Bank Negara Malaysia last increased the OPR by 25 basis points to 3.00% in May this year, it also increased the Statutory Reserve Requirement (SRR) by 100bps to 3.00% at that meeting, and increased the SRR again in July by 100bps to 4.00%.  Malaysia saw inflation of 3.4% in July, compared to 3.5% in June, 3.3% in May, 3.2% in April, and 3.0% March.  The Malaysian economy grew 2.8% in the June quarter, compared to -2.8% in the March quarter (+1.5% in Q4 2010), while growing 4% on an annual basis compared to 4.9% in the previous quarter (4.8% in Q4 2010), according to Trading Economics.

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