0305 GMT - The unexpected rate hike by Taiwan's central bank is likely a one-time measure to curb inflation expectations, DBS senior economist Ma Tieying says. The central bank said it aimed to contain inflation views, which have been rising due to the government's planned electricity-price hike, she writes in a note. Though the hike will boost annual CPI inflation, it should stay stable in 2Q-3Q and ease in 4Q, the economist says. "We also interpret this rate hike as a delayed move of normalization."During the bank's 1H 2022-1H 2023 tightening cycle, DBS had anticipated that rates would be raised to 2.00% in 2Q last year, which didn't happen until now. DBS expects the central bank to stand pat for the rest of 2024 and into 2025. (fabiana.negrinochoa@wsj.com)
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
March 21, 2024 23:05 ET (03:05 GMT)
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