RBI annual policy review to be presented today
Monday, April 20, 2009 (11:23:57)
Mumbai: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) will present the annual review of its monetary policy here on Tuesday, even as stakeholders saw the central bank leaving key rates untouched and an overall status quo on the measures.
RBI Governor D. Subbarao will undertake the review with chief executives of commercial banks that come against the backdrop of a sharp fall in India's economic growth, due mainly to lacklustre performance by industry in the wake of the global meltdown.
"We think the RBI is unlikely to cut the reverse repo rate, which is currently the effective short-term policy rate," said Goldman Sachs in a report, ahead of the policy review. "However, the RBI may cap the amount that banks can put in the reverse repo window, currently running at historic highs, to encourage more lending."
Giving the reasons, the consultancy said not only was there excess liquidity in the system, but commercial banks were also yet to pass on the real benefits of the previous rate cuts to industry or consumers.(IANS)
