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Bank of Thailand keeps interest unchanged at 1.25%

BANGKOK, March 10 (TNA) –  The Bank of Thailand (BoT) on Wednesday decided to maintain its policy interest rate at 1.25 per cent per annum and will consider adjusting it to normal levels during the next meeting on April 21 if no incident likely to severely affect the economy occurs.

The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) decision was based on the current economy, risk factors, and balance, said Paiboon Kittisrikangwan, the central bank’s assistant governor.

It is difficult to assess the political situation due to the current high uncertainty, he said.

The MPC saw improving economy in exports, tourism and private consumption from indicators in January. Lower downside risks to growth have significantly lessened the need for an exceptionally accommodative monetary policy stance at presence, the bank said in a statement.

However, uncertainties in the global economic recovery such as high unemployment and sovereign debt problems in some countries as well as domestic risk factors including political instability and suspension of Map Ta Phut industrial projects worth billions of dollars may have an impact on consumers and investors, it said.

Inflation during the past three months has quickened its pace, with the latest headline inflation in February at 3.7 per cent owing to energy and fresh food components, while core inflation remains low. The MPC expected core inflation to rise during the coming periods in line with economic expansion, the BoT said in its statement. (TNA)

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