Chile’s central bank slashed the benchmark interest rate by 50 basis points to 2% on Tuesday, the lowest in 9 years, citing a sputtering economy hurt by global trade tensions.
The US dollar climbed to 584 Chilean Pesos at the end of trading in the Santiago money market, signaling a slow but steady increase for several months now and with prospects of continuing according to analysts. A greenback at 600 Pesos is not far away according to market analysts.
Chile's GDP grew at its weakest pace since 2009 in the second quarter as investment waned and a previously rapid expansion in consumer spending slowed, central bank data showed. The economy grew 1.9% in the second quarter compared with a year ago, or a seasonally adjusted 0.2% compared with the first quarter.
The Chilean consumer price index showed no variation in July in contrast to the surprise 0.3% drop in June, as increases in food and non-alcoholic drinks offset falls in clothing, footwear and utilities, according to the national statistics agency INE.
Chile's consumer price index remained unchanged in May, the government statistics agency INE said on Friday, slowing its pace from April as lower food and transport prices offset higher electricity costs. Prices rose 0.1% in April, the INE said last month.
Chile named this week member of the board and Harvard-educated Rodrigo Vergara Montes as the new President of the Central bank replacing outgoing Jose De Gregorio. President Sebastian Piñera still has to name the fifth member of the board.
The Central Bank of Chile (CBC) hiked interest rates by 50bps to 4.5% on Wednesday but with the near-term outlook for growth very good and inflation likely to top 5% in Q4, further policy tightening is on the way, reports Capital Economics that estimates rates to reach 6% by year-end.
The Central Bank of Chile (CBC) hiked interest rates by 25bps to 3.5% on Thursday night targeting growing economic imbalances and the threat of higher inflation, reports Capital Economics latest update.