Oct 5, 2018
The Reserve Bank of India today decided to maintain the policy repo rate at 6.5% in a 5:1 vote. The MPC changed its stance from neutral to “calibrated tightening” on monetary policy and commitment to achieving a medium-term target for CPI of 4% ± 2%, while supporting growth.
Key highlights of the RBI’s Monetary Policy
Strong Developed Economies, Weak Emerging Economies
Global trade has weakened as seen in export orders and automobile production and sales. The U.S. economy sustained pace in Q3CY18 driven by strong retail sales and robust industrial activity. In the Euro area, economic activity remained subdued due to overall weak economic sentiment, weighed down mainly by political uncertainty. However, emerging economies have overall been facing headwinds from both global and country-specific factors. China IIP growth has moderated with slowing exports and the ongoing deleveraging of the financial system weighing on growth prospects. In Brazil, economic activity is recovering from the setback in Q2, supported by improving business and consumer sentiment, though weak domestic demand and the sluggish pace of recovery in manufacturing activity weigh.
Domestic Macro Indicators Remain In Focus
Led by real GDP growth surging to a 9-quarter high of 8.2% in Q1FY19 which in turn was spurred by strong GFCF, the domestic economy remains in good shape as seen in good print from IIP and eight core industries in Jul-18 and a rebound in seasonally adjusted capacity utilization to its long term average. Further, PMI as well remained in expansion zone above 50 in Aug-18 and Sep-18.
Mixed Outlook on Inflation
Retail inflation, fell from 4.9% in Jun-18 to 3.7% in Aug-18, dragged down by a decline in food inflation. Some softening of inflation in items other than food and fuel also contributed to the decline. While the Sep-18 round of the Reserve Bank’s survey of households reported a sharp uptick of 50 basis points in three-month ahead inflation expectations over the last round, one-year ahead expectations moderated by 30 basis points. Inflation expectations for both input prices and selling prices of manufacturing firms, polled by the Reserve Bank’s industrial outlook survey, firmed up in Q2FY19.
Systemic Liquidity In Focus
Liquidity in the debt market had been in focus in the recent past which arguably had an impact on equity markets as well. Investors feared underlying cash flow resilience of certain corporates (read Housing Finance companies) in the face of liquidity crunch. Systemic liquidity deficit had surged in the last month and the RBI conducted two open market purchase operations in the second half of September to inject ₹ 200 billion of durable liquidity.
Market Reaction
Outlook
The MPC guided for a softening of headline inflation (incl. HRA):
However, its trajectory is projected to rise above the Aug-18 print of 3.7% driven by upside risks stemming from MSP increases in agriculture, Crude Oil spikes and risks of fiscal slippage at the Centre and/or States.
While the RBI changed its neutral stance to “calibrated tightening”, this was also accompanied with a marginal toning down of real GDP expectations. The MPC expects:
The RBI arguably has made the prudent choice, focusing on the domestic economy and slowing in auto and credit, and stress in the financial sector and the absence of a rate hike can be interpreted that the central bank is not overly concerned about INR depreciation.
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