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StanChart cuts growth forecast to 7.1% for FY13

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Press Trust of India Mumbai
Last Updated : Jan 20 2013 | 3:11 AM IST

Standard Chartered Bank today revised downwards India's economic growth forecast to 7.1% from earlier estimate of 7.4% for the next financial year.

Similarly, inflation forecast has been revised to 7.2% for 2012-13 from 6.5% projected earlier, a research report by the bank said.

"We revise down our growth forecast to 7.1% for FY13 on relatively restrictive monetary policy and higher inflation," the report said.

The government has pegged 2012-13 growth at 7.6% and a fiscal deficit of 5.1%.

On inflation, the report said lack of supply-side reforms along with higher crude oil prices will drive average inflation rate for the next financial year to 7.2%.

"We now expect WPI inflation to average 7.2% in FY13," it said.

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The report also said the recent hike in the excise duty by 2% to 12% would also add to the inflationary pressure.

"The recent hike in the excise duty by 2% to 12% should also add to inflationary pressure, especially in manufactured product prices.

"This along with 20% increase in railway freight rates announced just before the Budget, should push prices higher," the report said, adding, this will constrain the Reserve Bank for substantial reduction in policy rates.

"Against this backdrop, we now think RBI will be able to cut rates by only 75 bps (0.75%) in FY13, compared with our earlier forecast of 150 bps (1.5%).

The repo rate stands at 8.50%, and we expect it to be at 7.75% by the end of FY13," the report said. Referring to current account deficit, the report said current account deficit is likely to be at 3.3% of GDP against 3.1% projected earlier.

The research report also revised down its balance of payment (BoP) forecast to $5.5 billion from $10.5 billion estimated earlier.

About possible impact of higher inflation and government borrowing on G-Sec yields, the report said yields would be higher with significant lower duration gains.

"The announcement of the government's FY13 market borrowing and our revisions to inflation and policy rate forecasts, have implications for our G-Sec yield forecasts.

"We revise up our G-Sec yield forecasts and now expect significantly lower duration gains from G-Secs," it said.

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First Published: Mar 20 2012 | 8:08 PM IST

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