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The Economy Observer
18 December 2013
RBI's status quo mode ushers biggest change in
RBI's policy review
policy paradigm
RBI keeps rates unchanged
Guidance mentions policy
Recognizes role of uncertainties in decision making; remains
Also keeps CRR/SLR and other key
vigilant on inflation
projections for economy unchanged
Contrary to market expectations, the RBI kept policy rates unchanged. It
also kept the reserve ratio, growth, inflation and monetary projections
unchanged.
Its inflation assessment as well as guidance, however, remained hawkish.
In its guidance, it explicitly mentioned that the direction is contingent
upon (1) significant easing in inflation on softening of vegetables prices,
and (2) decline in non-food-non-fuel inflation.
The status quo policy is in reality the most significant change in monetary
policy regime in recent times - it explicitly recognizes the role of
uncertainties in decision making. In effect, this would change the policy
paradigm from targeting a single indicator, that is, inflation, through a
single instrument, namely, policy rates, to a more nuanced approach of
multiple targets (various inflation and growth indicators) through multiple
instruments (rates, liquidity, communication and coordination).
This underlines the decision to 'wait' as opposed to 'holding' rates, pending
release of formal data, which would remove the uncertainty in interpreting
inflation data currently marred by the noise in the unseasonal spike in
vegetables prices.
We see a more nuanced and data-dependent (but not just the last print)
course of action ahead. As we expect inflation to subside from December
2013, we believe rates would remain stable and expect a more proactive
liquidity management. We also expect to wade through the tapering, as
slow domestic recovery and a more responsive monetary policy improve
India's preparedness for global events.
dependent on (i) significant easing
of headline inflation, or (ii) decline
in core inflation
Policy highlights role of uncertainty
in decision making; explicitly
mentions 'waiting' for confirmatory
data rather than 'holding' rates
Thus, RBI clearly indicates
inclination to see through noise in
data, take note of incoming
evidence ahead of official data
release and walk contrarian route, if
necessary
Expect inflation to subside from
Dec-13, paving way for stable
monetary policy course ahead
A slowly recovering domestic
economy and a more responsive
monetary policy have improved
preparedness to withstand eventual
tapering
RBI keeps policy rates and liquidity support unchanged
Policy rates unchanged:
Contrary to market expectations (MOSL/Consensus
estimate of 25bp hike), the RBI kept policy rates unchanged. Repo rate remains at
7.75%, MSF/bank rate at 8.75% and reverse repo rate at 6.75%.
Reserve ratios and liquidity support left unchanged:
Simultaneously, the CRR and
SLR too were left unchanged at 4% and 24%, respectively. The ceiling on repo and
term repo were kept unchanged at 0.5% of NDTL, each.
Growth, inflation and monetary projections left unchanged:
The RBI also kept its
5% growth estimate, and its forecasts of March 2014 inflation and FY14 monetary
indicators, unchanged.
Assessment of inflationary risks:
Various indicators highlighted to stress the still
high inflation include: (i) unrelenting rise in CPI inflation, (ii) elevated core CPI
inflation, (iii) yet to materialize benefit of decline in vegetables prices on overall
CPI, (iv) sharp increase in WPI inflation from 2Q onwards and across all categories,
and (v) signs of resumption of high rural wage growth.
Dipankar Mitra
(Dipankar.Mitra@MotilalOswal.com); +91 22 3982 5405
Investors are advised to refer through disclosures made at the end of the Research Report.
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