🍎 🍕 Less apples, more pizza 🤔 Have you seen Buffett’s portfolio recently?Explore for Free

Norway keeps interest rate at 16-year high, says restrictive policy needed

Published 11/07/2024, 04:12 AM
Updated 11/07/2024, 05:56 AM
© Reuters. FILE PHOTO: A view shows the building of Norway’s central bank (Norges Bank) in Oslo, Norway, June 23, 2022.  REUTERS/Victoria Klesty/File Photo
EUR/NOK
-

By Terje Solsvik and Gwladys Fouche

OSLO (Reuters) -Norway's central bank held its policy interest rate unchanged at a 16-year high of 4.50% on Thursday, as unanimously expected by analysts in a Reuters poll and reiterated that it will stay on hold until the end of the year.

"The committee judges that a restrictive monetary policy is still needed to bring inflation down to target within a reasonable time horizon," the central bank said in a statement.

The Norwegian monetary policy contrasts with that of other Western central banks, most of which have begun cutting rates this year.

The Swedish central bank earlier on Thursday cut rates by 50 basis points, as expected, and said that, if the economic and inflation outlooks remain the same, it may also cut the rate in December and in the first half of 2025.

The Federal Reserve, the Bank of England and the Czech National Bank are also expected to announce rate cuts later on Thursday.

Norges Bank, meanwhile, said the outlook for the Norwegian economy did not appear to have changed materially since September, when it forecast that rates would start to decline in the first quarter of 2025.

"If the economy evolves as currently envisaged, the policy rate will be held at today's level to the end of the year," Norges Bank Governor Ida Wolden Bache told a press conference.

"The committee will have received more information about developments ahead of its next monetary policy meeting in December, when new forecasts will be presented," Norges Bank said in a statement.

The Norwegian crown strengthened to 11.79 against the euro at 1040 GMT, from 11.81 just before the announcement.

While Norges Bank remains likely to cut rates in March of 2025, this is by no means a certainty, Handelsbanken Markets said.

"Recent market developments suggest there is a risk that even March could be too early," the brokerage said in a note to clients.

Inflation has been slightly lower than expected since September but the Norwegian currency has also been weaker, causing potential upward pressure on consumer prices while market interest rates have risen, economists have said.

© Reuters. FILE PHOTO: A view shows the building of Norway’s central bank (Norges Bank) in Oslo, Norway, June 23, 2022.  REUTERS/Victoria Klesty/File Photo

A weaker crown currency makes imports more expensive while a stronger one can help dampen inflation.

The Nordic country's core inflation eased in September to 3.1% year-on-year, continuing a decline from a peak of 7.0% in June 2023 but still above the central bank's official 2.0% target.

Latest comments

Risk Disclosure: Trading in financial instruments and/or cryptocurrencies involves high risks including the risk of losing some, or all, of your investment amount, and may not be suitable for all investors. Prices of cryptocurrencies are extremely volatile and may be affected by external factors such as financial, regulatory or political events. Trading on margin increases the financial risks.
Before deciding to trade in financial instrument or cryptocurrencies you should be fully informed of the risks and costs associated with trading the financial markets, carefully consider your investment objectives, level of experience, and risk appetite, and seek professional advice where needed.
Fusion Media would like to remind you that the data contained in this website is not necessarily real-time nor accurate. The data and prices on the website are not necessarily provided by any market or exchange, but may be provided by market makers, and so prices may not be accurate and may differ from the actual price at any given market, meaning prices are indicative and not appropriate for trading purposes. Fusion Media and any provider of the data contained in this website will not accept liability for any loss or damage as a result of your trading, or your reliance on the information contained within this website.
It is prohibited to use, store, reproduce, display, modify, transmit or distribute the data contained in this website without the explicit prior written permission of Fusion Media and/or the data provider. All intellectual property rights are reserved by the providers and/or the exchange providing the data contained in this website.
Fusion Media may be compensated by the advertisers that appear on the website, based on your interaction with the advertisements or advertisers.
© 2007-2024 - Fusion Media Limited. All Rights Reserved.