RBI unlikely to cut rates; Sustained vigil on inflation expected
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The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is likely to keep its policy interest rates unchanged for the 16th month and signal a sustained vigil on inflation due to volatile food prices, while an undiminished pace of economic growth obviates the need to lower consumer borrowing costs. Given the prevailing situation where food inflation remains uncomfortably high and blistering heat waves pose risks of depleting water levels and lower crop production, the RBI's Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) may push back rate cuts further into the year than was earlier anticipated. An ET poll of 14 respondents unanimously predicted that at the end of its three-day meeting on June 7, the MPC is likely to keep the repo rate unchanged at 6.50% while maintaining its stance of withdrawal of accommodation. This would mark the eight consecutive policy review in which the RBI has maintained a status quo on the benchmark policy repo rate. The repo rate is the rate at wh...