The Bank of Russia unexpectedly maintained its key interest rate at a record-high 21% , defying analysts’ expectations of another significant hike as inflation remains stubbornly elevated. The decision marks a shift toward a more measured approach in balancing economic growth and price stability. Key Details Inflation Concerns: Annual inflation climbed to 8.9% in November, well above the central bank’s 4% target , with inflation expectations reaching 13.9% in December. Policy Rationale: The central bank cited the significant tightening of monetary conditions after October’s 200-basis point hike as sufficient to resume disinflationary processes. Governor Elvira Nabiullina emphasized avoiding both economic overheating and severe slowdowns. Economic Overheating: Elevated government spending on the war in Ukraine and social programs, coupled with labor shortages and rising wages, have fueled strong domestic demand, exacerbating price pressures...
KUALA LUMPUR (Dec 9): The FBM KLCI closed 0.37% or 5.73 points lower at 1,562.71 today, weighed down by Top Glove Corp Bhd and Tenaga Nasional Bhd (TNB), while banking constituents declined.
In particular, AMMB Holdings Bhd, Public Bank Bhd, RHB Bank Bhd, Hong Leong Bank Bhd and CIMB Group Holdings Bhd retreated. But plantation stocks climbed, noted Areca Capital Sdn Bhd chief executive officer Danny Wong Teck Meng.
Some 2.62 billion shares worth RM1.62 billion crossed on the local bourse today, with the most actively traded counters being Tiger Synergy Bhd, Sanichi Technology Bhd and TDM Bhd.
Top gainers were Nestle Malaysia Bhd, Kuala Lumpur Kepong Bhd and Batu Kawan Bhd, while the biggest losers of the day were Sungei Bagan Rubber (Malaya) Bhd, Heineken Malaysia Bhd and TNB.
A total of 389 counters saw gains, while 421 counters recorded declines, and 417 counters were unchanged.
Reuters reported today that most Southeast Asian markets were subdued following weak Chinese export data, signalling weakness from the regional Asian economy, which has offset the positive Wall Street performance on the back of solid US jobs numbers.
Chinese exports, it noted, shrank for the fourth consecutive month, implying that the Sino-US trade war is taking a toll on the middle kingdom.
While some Asian markets did get some uplift from US equity indices, as investors reacted positively to a 10-month high in US job growth in November, uncertainty over the US-China trade war lingers as US President Donald Trump has yet to decide on whether to implement a new set of tariffs against Chinese goods entering the US that is set to come into force on Sunday (Dec 15), the news wire wrote.
The Shanghai Composite closed 0.09% or 2.46 points higher at 2,914.48 points, while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng saw a 0.01% decline to 26,494.73 points. Meanwhile, South Korea's Kospi gained 0.33% or 6.8 points to end at 2,088.65 points, while Japan’s Nikkei 225 rose 0.33% or 76.3 points to 23,340.7 points.
Source: The Edge
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