RBI again cuts repo rates & CRR to inject additional liquidity of Rs 20,000 crore: Banknet India

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RBI CREDIT AND MONETARY POLICIES (1999-2009) click here

RBI again cuts repo rates & CRR to inject additional liquidity of Rs 20,000 crore

January 2, 2009: On a review of current global and domestic macroeconomic situation, the Reserve Bank has decided to take the following further measures:

Repo Rate

To reduce the repo rate under the liquidity adjustment facility (LAF) by 100 basis points from 6.5 per cent to 5.5 per cent with immediate effect.

Reverse Repo Rate

To reduce the reverse repo rate under the LAF by 100 basis points from 5.0 per cent to 4.0 per cent with immediate effect.

Cash Reserve Ratio

To reduce the cash reserve ratio (CRR) of scheduled banks by 50 basis points from 5.5 per cent to 5.0 per cent from the fortnight beginning January 17, 2009.

The reduction in the CRR will inject additional liquidity of around Rs. 20,000 crore to the financial system. It is expected that the reduction in the policy interest rates and the CRR will further enable banks to provide credit for productive purposes at appropriate interest rates. The Reserve Bank on its part would continue to maintain a comfortable liquidity position in the system.

Background to announcement of present monetary stimulus by RBI :

The global financial situation continues to be uncertain. Since the official recognition of recession in the US, the UK, the Euro area and Japan, the downside risks to the global economy have increased. Concomitantly, the policy initiatives in the advanced economies are geared towards managing the recession and defusing potentially deflationary trends. The US has reduced the Federal Funds Rate to 0 - 0.25 per cent. Several other advanced and emerging economies such as Japan, Canada, Republic of Korea, Hong Kong and China too have reduced their policy rates.

India’s financial sector has remained resilient even in the face of global financial turmoil that is so deep and pervasive. Our financial markets continue to function in an orderly manner. India’s growth trajectory has, however, been impacted both by the financial crisis and the follow-on global economic downturn. This impact has turned out to be deeper and wider than earlier anticipated. Concurrently, because of global developments coupled with supply and demand management measures at home, inflation is on the decline.

Reflecting these developments, the Reserve Bank has adjusted its policy stance from demand management to arresting the moderation in growth. In particular, the aim of these measures was to augment domestic and forex liquidity and to ensure that credit continues to flow to productive sectors of the economy. Notably, since mid-September 2008, the Reserve Bank has reduced the repo rate under the liquidity adjustment facility (LAF) from 9.0 per cent to 6.5 per cent, reduced the reverse repo rate under the LAF from 6.0 per cent to 5.0 per cent and the cash reserve ratio from 9.0 per cent to 5.5 per cent.

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FOR RBI CREDIT AND MONETARY POLICIES (1999-2008) ...Click Here