Federal Reserve Faces Subpoena Delay Amid Investigation Into Chair Jerome Powell 
Dollar Steady as Fed Nomination and Japanese Election Shape Currency Markets 
BOJ Rate Decision in Focus as Yen Weakness and Inflation Shape Market Outlook 
Bank of Japan Likely to Delay Rate Hike Until July as Economists Eye 1% by September 
Bank of Korea Expected to Hold Interest Rates as Weak Won Limits Policy Easing 
Japan Finance Minister Defends PM Takaichi’s Remarks on Weak Yen Benefits 
MAS Holds Monetary Policy Steady as Strong Growth Raises Inflation Risks 
Gold Prices Fall Amid Rate Jitters; Copper Steady as China Stimulus Eyed 
RBA Raises Interest Rates by 25 Basis Points as Inflation Pressures Persist 
The Bank of Thailand (BoT) is expected to maintain its policy rate at 1.50 percent throughout this year amid an environment of improving but non-inflationary growth in the country. However, a more broad-based recovery is still elusive.
As expected, the central bank has kept its policy rate steady at 1.50 percent in a unanimous decision. The BoT rate has been unchanged since April 2015. The improvement in global demand has propped up exports and tourist arrivals. Private consumption is slowly gaining traction. All seven members of the monetary policy committee (MPC) unanimously voted to maintain the policy rate steady.
Economic activity continued to pick up. In line with the recovery in external demand, exports and tourist arrivals maintained their ascent. Private consumption also rose, presumably from higher incomes in the tradeable sector and improved farm incomes. Private investment continued to contract. The decline was reflected in a slowdown in credit growth.
Maintaining a supportive monetary policy will be required until a more broad-based recovery in domestic demand is attained. In the meantime, overall economic growth is driven by the rise in global demand. The momentum in domestic growth is not yet strong enough to pose upside risks to the inflation outlook.
"Against a backdrop of improving yet non-inflationary growth, we maintain our view that the central bank will likely maintain a supportive stance and keep its policy rate unchanged through 2017," ANZ Research commented in its latest report.
