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SNB Holds Rates Steady After 5 Hikes But Warns More Tightening May Come as Swiss Inflation Remains Subdued

  • Swiss National Bank holds interest rates unchanged at 1.75%, ending 5 consecutive hikes
  • Inflation in Switzerland remains low at 1.6%, well below 2% target
  • Swiss franc is best performing currency in 2022; economy stagnated in Q2
  • SNB says inflation war not over, further tightening possible in December
  • Cites global growth outlook as main risk for Swiss economy amid high inflation
cnbc.com
Relevant topic timeline:
Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia President Patrick Harker does not believe that the U.S. central bank will need to increase interest rates again and suggests holding steady to see how the economy responds, stating that the current restrictive stance should bring inflation down.
Christine Lagarde, President of the European Central Bank, stated that interest rates in the European Union will need to remain high for as long as necessary to combat persistent inflation, despite progress made, at an annual conference of central bankers in Jackson Hole, Wyoming.
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 Federal Reserve's monetary tightening policy has led to a surge in mortgage rates, potentially damaging both the demand and supply in the housing market, according to Mohamed El-Erian, chief economic advisor at Allianz.
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.
The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) kept interest rates steady at 4.10% for a third consecutive month, suggesting that the tightening cycle may be over as policymakers gain control over inflation.
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 Bank of England is expected to raise interest rates to 5.5%, potentially marking the end of its tightening cycle, as concerns about a cooling economy grow among policymakers.
Federal Reserve officials are expected to keep interest rates unchanged at their policy meeting this week but will leave the door open for another rate hike, as they remain cautious about inflation and aim to keep financial conditions tight.
The Federal Reserve is expected to keep interest rates steady and signal that it is done raising rates for this economic cycle, as the bond market indicates that inflation trends are moving in the right direction.
China maintains benchmark lending rates unchanged as signs of economic stabilization and a weakening yuan lessen the need for immediate monetary easing.
The Federal Reserve's decision to leave interest rates unchanged means that savers and individuals with surplus cash have the opportunity to earn a higher return on their money than in recent years, with online banks offering high-yield savings accounts that can provide a return above inflation.
U.S. stocks are expected to open lower and the dollar is soaring after the Federal Reserve indicated that interest rates will remain higher for a longer period, while the Bank of England faces a tough rate decision and the Swiss National Bank has paused its rate-hiking cycle.
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 Bank of Japan has decided to maintain its ultra-loose policy and keep interest rates unchanged due to uncertainties in domestic and global economic growth.
Federal Reserve policymakers Governor Michelle Bowman and Boston Fed President Susan Collins expressed the need to keep interest rates elevated to combat inflation, with Bowman suggesting further rate hikes will likely be needed to bring inflation down to the Fed's 2% target and Collins stating that further tightening is not off the table as progress in battling inflation has been slow.
The Bank of England's decision to keep its key interest rate on hold is expected to lead to a decrease in mortgage rates, providing relief to borrowers facing increasing monthly repayments; brokers anticipate more competition among lenders in the coming weeks but warn that changes will be gradual.
The Bank of England's decision to hold interest rates is beneficial for borrowers but negatively impacts savers, who are losing out on higher returns from fixed-rate savings bonds. However, analysts predict that rates may not increase further, making it a good time for savers to secure a fixed-rate bond with high returns.
The head of the European Central Bank, Christine Lagarde, stated that interest rates will remain high to combat inflation, despite acknowledging the impact it has on homeowners with variable interest rate mortgages, as upward pressure on prices persists in the eurozone.
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is expected to keep the benchmark interest rate unchanged at 6.5% in its upcoming monetary policy review due to elevated inflation and global economic factors.
The Federal Reserve remains committed to raising interest rates despite the rise in U.S. bond yields, as the U.S. economy shows signs of re-accelerating in the third quarter and inflation worries ease.
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.
The Reserve Bank of New Zealand (RBNZ) kept interest rates steady at 5.5% and expressed confidence that past rate hikes were effective in reducing inflation, leading to a decline in the New Zealand dollar and a decrease in expectations of further tightening.
The Federal Reserve is facing a tough decision on interest rates as some officials believe further rate increases are necessary to combat inflation, while others argue that the current rate tightening will continue to ease rising prices; however, the recent sell-off in government bonds could have a cooling effect on the economy, which may influence the Fed's decision.
Austrian central bank Governor Robert Holzmann stated that the European Central Bank may need to implement one or two more interest rate increases if there are additional shocks to the economy, but the hiking cycle could end if things go well, as uncertainty remains surrounding the duration needed to achieve inflation targets.
The Federal Reserve officials were uncertain about the future of the economy and decided to proceed with caution in their interest-rate policy, weighing the risks of overtightening versus insufficient tightening. They were divided on the frequency of rate hikes, with a majority supporting one more increase, but some feeling that the policy rate was nearing its peak. The recent spike in long-term bond rates has led to speculation that the Fed may not raise rates again this cycle.
The U.S. Federal Reserve is expected to keep its key interest rate unchanged on November 1 and may delay rate cuts until the second half of next year, according to a Reuters poll of economists.
China has kept its benchmark lending rates unchanged, as economic data suggests stabilization and a weaker yuan limits further monetary easing.
Federal Reserve policy makers should establish a longer-term vision for interest-rate policy instead of reacting aggressively to each data point, according to Mohamed El-Erian, chief economic adviser at Allianz SE. He warns that over-tightening monetary policy to reach the inflation target of 2% too quickly could cause damage to the economy. El-Erian hopes that the Fed keeps its benchmark interest rate unchanged for the rest of the year for the sake of economic stability.