SBP leaves policy rate unchanged at 10 percent

Despite the fact that most economic indicators show an improvement the State Bank of Pakistan decided not to change its policy rate (10 percent) because of a mild up-tick in the inflation rate, weak growth in deposits and the real interest rate being negative. The Central Board of Directors met in Karachi, on Saturday, with Governor Ashraf M. Wathra in the chair.
The Directors found very little connectivity between SBP''s policy rate and the worsening governance issues, weakening security issues and increasingly troubling energy issues. It was noted that exports are stagnant and it could take a year for the country to take advantage of GSP-Plus and that new product lines would need to be developed within the textile sector. Further, the real cause of haemorrhaging of the budget remains the public sector enterprises (SOEs). It was noted that the improved foreign exchange position would provide stability and could kick-start the economy. But rising political uncertainty and potential repercussion of the ongoing North Waziristan operation could have negative repercussions. Therefore, SBP Directors felt that it was necessary to take a cautious approach and maintain the policy rate at 10 percent for the next two months at least.
A press release issued by SBP on Governor Wathra''s Press Conference says: "The State Bank of Pakistan has decided to keep the policy rate unchanged at 10.0 percent. This was announced by the Governor SBP, Ashraf Mahmood Wathra, while unveiling the Monetary Policy Statement (MPS) for the next two months at a press conference held at SBP head office, Karachi. The decision was taken during a meeting of the Central Board of Directors of SBP held under his chairmanship in Karachi on Saturday. Henceforth, the Board has also decided to publish the summary of minutes of monetary policy proceedings of the Board meeting in four weeks.
According to Wathra, economic conditions are certainly better at the beginning of FY15 than a year ago but a detailed assessment of the economy indicates that challenges and vulnerabilities remain. Continuation of prudent policies and reforms are needed to build on positive developments and to achieve a protracted stability.
Governor SBP stated that SBP is effectively managing market sentiments by supplementing the monetary policy stance with calibrated liquidity operations in the interbank market, adding that "this has contributed in achieving stability in the foreign exchange market and in building foreign exchange reserves." This has also facilitated the shift in banks'' investment from T-bills to PIBs, improving domestic debt maturity profile of the government.
Wathra said that despite significant injections by SBP, appetite for liquidity remained sufficiently high in the market. It resulted in higher short-term interest rates, making rupee liquidity more expensive. "This reduced pressure on exchange rate as it discouraged speculative holdings of foreign exchange and made trade financing through foreign currency deposits held by banks more attractive, " said Wathra.
He said a significant reduction in government borrowings from the banking system is contributing towards low inflationary expectations and has provided necessary space to the private sector to borrow from the banking system. However, persistent energy shortages and deteriorating security conditions hint at some risks to credit demand.
He maintained that sustainability of lower government borrowings from the banking system, including SBP, is contingent upon further reduction in the fiscal deficit and continuation of external financing, adding that government needs to watch the fiscal position of FY15 ie the revenue side cautiously.
Wathra said that the growth in domestic debt during FY14 had decelerated to 14.5 percent, which was significantly lower than the average growth of around 27 percent during the last three years. "This bodes well from the point of view of country''s risk perception and could help in attracting investment in the economy."
He reminded that the increase in external borrowings since February 2014 had provided a much needed respite and a short-term stability to the balance of payments (BoP) position. These foreign inflows resulted in a capital and financial account surplus of $6.1 billion which comfortably financed the current account deficit of $2.6 billion and led to a significant increase in SBP''s foreign exchange reserves. By 4th July, SBP''s foreign exchange reserves had increased to $9.6 billion.
He said the increase in SBP''s foreign exchange reserves brought about a shift in sentiments in the foreign exchange market and stabilised the exchange rate. "The Moody''s Investors Service has revised the outlook on Pakistan''s foreign currency government bond rating to stable from negative."
According to the Governor SBP, the impetus of positive sentiments together with continuation of an IMF programme and government''s privatisation plan is expected to result in further strengthening of the external position in FY15. However, sustaining this trend in the medium term, especially in the post-IMF programme years, would require additional efforts and reforms.
He said that despite challenging security conditions and energy shortages, the real GDP grew by 4.1 percent in FY14. However, investment expenditures as a percentage of GDP have declined, which indicates erosion in economy''s future productive capacity, he added.
Wathra said the average CPI inflation in FY14, 8.6 percent, was in a single digit for the second consecutive year. For FY15, the SBP expects average CPI inflation to remain in the range of 7.5 percent to 8.5 percent. "However, international oil price uncertainty and unanticipated price shocks pose risks to the inflation outlook," he concluded.