 "Dovish RBI could ease rates if inflation cools: analysts")
Reserve Bank of India Governor Raghuram Rajan kept key policy repo rate unchanged at 8% on Tuesday, as widely expected. The central bank though cut the statutory liquidity ratio by 50 basis points to 22.5 percent of deposits, starting in mid-June.
SHUBHADA RAO, CHIEF ECONOMIST, YES BANK, MUMBAI
"The hawkish tone has remained absent in this policy while the risks have been acknowledged in terms of uncertain monsoon having impact on food, but a larger emphasis has been laid on the government's ability to address management of both supply shocks on food and improving governance, therefore creating a better supply side environment.
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"With an anticipated fiscal consolidation in store, I think we have probably seen for the first time, a statement which says that if disinflationary trend appears, it could also provide headroom for easing in policy stance. So I think this is the first time and all this essentially emanates from a strong government's capability of comprehensively addressing the supply side constraints as the year progresses. I would think a large part of the statement has been more towards co-ordination between the fiscal and monetary policy."
R SIVAKUMAR, HEAD OF FIXED INCOME, AXIS ASSET MANAGEMENT, MUMBAI
They definitely appear slightly more dovish compared to the last policy. They have brought back the language (in the policy statement) that if inflation remains below the indicated trajectory adjusted for base effect it will open up room for easing. This is a statement which is different from April and is indicative of a slight softening of stance.
The banking system is already sitting on an statutory liquidity ratio that is well above the statutory minimum. As long as credit growth continues to remain on the weaker side banks would have a higher amount of SLR as compared to the statuary minimum. This will come in to play when the cycle recovers and the credit growth picks up, at which stage banks will have higher amount of lendable reserves.
What's encouraging is that the process of unwinding some of the extraordinary steps taken in last July-August is continuing, so more and more of liberalisation is back on their agenda.
PREMAL MADHAVJI, HEAD OF INDIA EQUITIES, ESPIRITO SANTO SECURITIES, MUMBAI
The SLR cut is somewhat a surprise, rest has come along expected lines. It looks like both the government and RBI are on the same page ahead of monsoon. The government needs to work on supply-side issues and huge non-performing loans at public sector banks.
I expect the central bank governor to work closely with the government and may be even guide it on supply-side issues. Also, measures on rupee are positive signal for foreign investors.
KUNAL SHAH, FUND MANAGER – FIXED INCOME INVESTMENTS, KOTAK MAHINDRA OLD MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE, MUMBAI
The governor is concerned about India's growth slowdown. He is fine with current inflation trajectory. Cutting SLR shows he is worried about credit offtake, which is not picking up. Only negative is SLR cut has come amid rising government bond yield. This shows we are somewhere at the end of the tightening cycle.
If government along with RBI reduces supply pressure by handling subsidies, and taking short-term measures by releasing food grains in godowns, then RBI will be happy. The governor on his part would now look at easing liquidity crunch by keeping on reducing SLR to 20% in the long term.
Bond yields may stabilise around 8.50% if there is a good monsoon.
RADHIKA RAO, ECONOMIST, DBS, SINGAPORE
The central bank's tone has become more conciliatory on inflation risks and maintaining the growth-inflation balance. That said, premature rate cuts are not in the picture as yet, as much depends on how the inflation outlook evolves. Against the backdrop of risks from weather conditions and a growth rebound that will narrow the output gap, the central bank will be keen to remain in a prolonged wait-and-watch mode.
In the meantime, inflation might be increasingly seen as a dual mandate of the government and the central bank. Once supply-side constraints are ironed out, the inflation trajectory will be more responsive to monetary policy changes. The common agenda might persuade the government to adhere to fiscal consolidation goals along with administrative measures to minimize the backlash from a potentially weak monsoon. On its part, the RBI might defer further rate hikes if the impact of the El Nino shock proves to be milder than feared. As a base case, we look for the repo rate to plateau at 8% this year.
RUPA REGE NITSURE, CHIEF ECONOMIST, BANK OF BARODA, MUMBAI
The policy is very consistent with what Raghuram Rajan has been saying right from the day he took over as governor. First, the linkage between CPI-based inflation and the repo rate is clearly and transparently maintained. Second is the SLR reduction, which also he had mentioned on his first day when he took over as RBI governor, in the spirit of long-term reforms.
Third is, removing the thrust on sector-specific measures like export credit refinance, and making money available from a broader window to improve transmission.
I would regard this policy as consistent with the underlying philosophy of the new governor, and also I think he has made the whole exercise more predictable and credible by today's action.
By reducing SLR, he has indirectly shown his trust that the government will go ahead with fiscal consolidation.
ABHEEK BARUA, CHIEF ECONOMIST, HDFC BANK, NEW DELHI
I would see it as a somewhat pro-growth policy...the SLR cut creates elbow room for banks to lend more freely, for broad investment demand to pick up. And that is clearly an expectation that there will be speedier execution of projects. I think it is sort of a pre-emptive move towards preventing any kind of tightness to build up in the credit cycle.
SHAKTI SATAPATHY, SENIOR FIXED INCOME STRATEGIST, AK CAPITAL, MUMBAI
The tone is quite accommodative with a room for conditional policy easing based upon the disinflationary trend and the government's effort in keeping the supply and fiscal on track. The cut in SLR and opening up of special term repo facility is an indication of ensuring liquidity driven growth intact. However, the impact of SLR cut on Indian government bonds seems restricted with historical higher holding in G-Sec by the market participants.
Going forward the government's action plan would weigh the magnitude of disinflationary path thus in turn prompting the RBI in rate easing towards the second half of the fiscal.
YOGESH AGARWAL, MANAGING DIRECTOR, BALLARPUR INDUSTRIES
The decision to keep rates on hold was on expected lines but we would have been happier with a cut in the repo rate.
A rate cut at a time when there is all round optimism including from foreign investors would have lifted sentiment further and complimented the supply side and administrative measures that we expect from the central government.
While there are upside risks to inflation and the RBI must be on guard, yet the need of the hour is to provide the required boost to the sluggish economy by getting manufacturing capex and big ticket infrastructure projects going.
MIGUEL CHANCO, INDIA ECONOMIST, CAPITAL ECONOMICS
The RBI left the repo rate unchanged, illustrating its commitment to curbing inflation despite the ailing economy.
Last week's GDP data underlined how badly the economy needs a kick-start. However, the new government will get little help from the central bank, despite the RBI's assertion today that it is prepared to cut rates if inflation falls more sharply than it expects.
Overall, we see no reason to change our view that rates will not be cut until Q4, and only then if the RBI is confident of meeting its near-term inflation target. Even when rate cuts start to come into the picture, any easing is unlikely to be aggressive, given the central bank's desire to see inflation fall to around 4% over the long run.
NIRAKAR PRADHAN -CHIEF INVESTMENT OFFICER, FUTURE GENERALI INDIA LIFE INSURANCE, MUMBAI
The direction as per RBI policy means the central bank would now gradually develop term money market. It has provided special term repo facility of 0.25% of banks' deposits to compensate for lower export credit refinance. This means term repo facility now stands at 1% of net demand and time liabilities or roughly Rs 80,000 crore, which will be available to banks through auction route. India will see its term money curve developing.
SLR cut signifies that RBI thinks banks' money should be free to be deployed and credit cycle will pick up.
Government is also determined to address supply side issues via project clearance, support to manufacturing sector, potential release of food grains.
We may see lower inflation and lower rates in third and fourth quarter of current year.