China's central bank has cut a key interest rate in an attempt to counter the post-Covid growth slowdown, as activity has been dragged down by uncertainty in the labor market, global economic sluggishness, weakening demand for Chinese goods, and financial troubles in the real estate sector.
The Bank of Korea (BOK) has maintained its key interest rate at 3.5 percent for the fifth consecutive time, as it considers the slowdown in growth and moderating inflation, while predicting that inflation may rise above its target level later this year.
Turkey's central bank raises interest rates to 25% in an effort to combat inflation, surpassing economist expectations and leading to a rally of the Turkish lira.
The European Central Bank (ECB) will maintain high interest rates for as long as necessary to combat persistent inflation, according to ECB President Christine Lagarde, amid efforts to manage a stagnating economy; however, the ECB is also considering longer-term economic changes that may contribute to sustained inflation pressures.
The Bank of Canada is expected to keep its key interest rate steady at 5.00% and maintain that level until at least the end of March 2024, despite rising inflation and a revival in the housing market, according to economists in a Reuters poll.
The Reserve Bank of Australia is expected to keep its key interest rate unchanged at 4.10% as inflation slows, but economists anticipate a final hike in the next quarter.
The Bank of Israel is expected to maintain its interest rate at 4.75% due to decreasing inflation and indications of modest economic growth, despite concerns about the slowdown in the hi-tech industry and reduced demand for workers; meanwhile, interest rates in Israel are influenced by expectations of lower rates in the United States and the recent drop in the shekel's value.
Central banks across major developed and emerging economies took a breather in August with lower interest rate hikes amid diverging growth outlooks and inflation risks, while some countries like Brazil and China cut rates, and others including Turkey and Russia raised rates to combat currency weakness and high inflation.
Poland's central bank unexpectedly cuts its main interest rate by 75 basis points to 6.00% ahead of October elections, causing the zloty currency to plummet and raising concerns about inflationary risks.
West Africa's Central Bank, BCEAO, will raise its main lending rate by 25 basis points to 3.25% as it anticipates and seeks to contain the impact of a military coup and regional uncertainty on the macroeconomic outlook.
The European Central Bank is expected to maintain interest rates on September 14, although nearly half of economists anticipate one more increase this year in an effort to reduce inflation.
The Federal Reserve is expected to cut interest rates by about one percentage point next year as economic growth slows and unemployment rises, according to chief economists at major North American banks.
The European Central Bank has raised key interest rates by 0.25 percentage points to help bring down inflation, although the economy is expected to remain weak for a while before slowly recovering in the coming years.
The European Central Bank has raised its main interest rate for the 10th consecutive time to tackle inflation, but indicated that further hikes may be paused for now, causing the euro to fall and European stocks to rally.
The Russian central bank has raised its key interest rate to 13% in response to inflationary pressures and a weak rouble, and warns that rates will remain high for a considerable period of time, with further rate increases possible in the future.
The top 10 African countries with the highest interest rates in September, according to Trading Economics, are Zimbabwe, Ghana, Sudan, Congo, Malawi, Liberia, Egypt, Sierra Leone, Nigeria, and Mozambique.
The Federal Reserve is expected to hold off on raising interest rates, but consumers are still feeling the impact of previous hikes, with credit card rates topping 20%, mortgage rates above 7%, and auto loan rates exceeding 7%.
The Federal Reserve is expected to keep interest rates unchanged as it faces economic and political risks while trying to combat inflation.
The US Federal Reserve holds interest rates steady at 5.25% to 5.50%, projects higher rates for next year, and expects stronger economic growth, causing a slight drop in Bitcoin's price.
The U.S. Federal Reserve kept interest rates steady but left room for potential rate hikes, as they see progress in fighting inflation and aim to bring it down to the target level of 2 percent; however, officials projected a higher growth rate of 2.1 percent for this year and suggested that core inflation will hit 3.7 percent this year before falling in 2024 and reaching the target range by 2026.
Turkey's central bank raises interest rates to 30% as it seeks to combat high inflation and stabilize the weakening lira.
Central banks, including the US Federal Reserve, European Central Bank, and Bank of England, have pledged to maintain higher interest rates for an extended period to combat inflation and achieve global economic stability, despite concerns about the strength of the Chinese economy and geopolitical tensions.
The Federal Reserve has kept interest rates steady, but economists are skeptical that a soft landing for the economy is guaranteed due to high inflation and continued economic growth.
The Bank of Ghana is expected to conclude its tightening cycle as falling inflation signals a stable economy, according to a Reuters poll, with interest rates likely to be cut in the coming months.
Indonesia's central bank, Bank Indonesia, is expected to maintain stability in currency and bond markets by holding interest rates steady at its upcoming policy meeting as it aims to bolster confidence in the country's economy and prevent further market turmoil.
Ghana is facing an unprecedented financial crisis as protestors demand the resignation of the governor of the Bank of Ghana over the loss of $5.2 billion, causing depreciation of the currency and crippling inflation. The government's mismanagement and failure to repay loans have led to a surge in debt, forcing them to approach the IMF for assistance. The crisis undermines confidence in the financial system and the central bank's authority.
Around 5% of global banks are at risk if central bank interest rates remain high, while 30% would be vulnerable to low growth and high inflation, according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF)'s Global Financial Stability Report. The IMF emphasized the need for stronger bank supervision and increased capital levels to enhance resilience.
World Bank President Ajay Banga predicts that interest rates will remain high for a longer period, impacting investments globally and creating challenges for central banks dealing with ongoing wars and trade flow disruptions.
Argentina's central bank raised the country's benchmark interest rate to 133% from 118% due to worse-than-expected inflation data, exacerbating the economic crisis ahead of the upcoming presidential elections.
Argentina's central bank has raised the benchmark interest rate to 133% as inflation data shows a higher-than-expected increase, exacerbating the country's economic crisis ahead of the upcoming presidential elections.
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