Central Bank of Russia Cuts Rate 25bps to 8.00%

The Central Bank of Russia dropped its benchmark refinancing rate by 25 basis points to 8.00%.  The Bank said: "The said decision was made considering the assessment of inflation risks and risks to the sustainability of economic growth, including those associated with the global economic uncertainty. Narrowing of the gap between interest rates on the Bank of Russia liquidity providing and absorbing operations is neutral in terms of monetary policy stance. It should contribute to restraining money market rates volatility and strengthening of the interest rate channel of monetary policy transmission to inflation."

The Russian central bank previously left interest rates unchanged, while it last raised the fixed overnight deposit rate by 25bps to 3.50% in May, and the benchmark refinancing rate by 25 basis points to 8.25% in April this year.  Russia reported annual inflation of 6.8% in November, 7.2% in September and October, down from 8.2% in August, 9% in July, and 9.4% in June, meanwhile Bank Chairman Sergey Ignatiev is trying to keep inflation between 6% and 7%.  

Russian economic growth was recorded at 5.2% y/y in Q3 this year, compared to 3.4% in Q2, 4.1% in Q1, and 4.5% in the December quarter of 2010; the IMF is expecting 4.5% growth for the full year.  The Russian Ruble (RUB) has weakened about 2% against the US dollar this year, while the USDRUB exchange rate last traded around 31.20

www.CentralBankNews.info