India Cuts Interest Rates
India's central bank has reduced its benchmark interest rate to 7.75% from 8%, effective immediately.
#economics
India's central bank has reduced its benchmark interest rate to 7.75% from 8%, effective immediately.
The Reserve Bank of India has charged the higher rate on overnight lending for the past 12 months. Economists expected a reduction eventually but were surprised by the timing. The bank says the reduction is in part a response to a sharper-than-expected dip in the price of crude oil, commodities and fruit and vegetables.
There were other factors. BBC News notes that India's wholesale price index for December rose only 0.1%, one-sixth the expected increase. The consumer price index grew 5% compared with the 6% rate targeted by the bank.
Analysts predict several more rate reductions to help spur India's economy. They anticipate the lending rate will fall to 7% sometime this year.
RELATED CONTENT
-
Enterprise Edges into Self-Driving Car Market
U.S. rental car giant Enterprise Holdings Inc. is the latest company to venture into the world of self-driving vehicles.
-
On Quantum Navigation, EVs, Auto Industry Sales and more
Sandia’s quantum navi, three things about EVs, transporting iron ore in an EV during the winter, going underwater in an EV (OK, it is a sub), state of the UK auto industry (sad), why the Big Three likes Big Vehicles, and the future of logistics.
-
Porsche Doubles EV Target for 2025
Porsche AG says about half the vehicles it sells by 2025 will be equipped with hybrid or all-electric powertrains, twice the ratio it forecast four weeks ago.