The currency war salvos just keep on coming.
Following the
surprise rate cut by Thailand earlier today, the "surprise" South Korean
rate cut means there are now 24 easing policy actions by central banks
in 2015 alone.
Here is the full list of the 24 central bank rate cuts so far in 2015:
1. Jan. 1 UZBEKISTAN
Uzbekistan's central bank cuts its refinancing rate to 9 percent from 10 percent.
2. Jan. 7/Feb. 4 ROMANIA
Romania's
central bank cuts its key interest rate by a total of 50 basis points,
taking it to a new record low of 2.25 percent. Most analysts polled by
Reuters had expected the latest cut.
3. Jan. 15 SWITZERLAND
The
Swiss National Bank stuns markets by scrapping the franc's
three-year-old exchange rate cap to the euro, leading to an
unprecedented surge in the currency. This de facto tightening, however,
is in part offset by a cut in the interest rate on certain sight deposit
account balances by 0.5 percentage points to -0.75 percent.
4. Jan. 15 EGYPT
Egypt's
central bank makes a surprise 50 basis point cut in its main interest
rates, reducing the overnight deposit and lending rates to 8.75 and 9.75
percent, respectively.
5. Jan. 16 PERU
Peru's
central bank surprises the market with a cut in its benchmark interest
rate to 3.25 percent from 3.5 percent after the country posts its worst
monthly economic expansion since 2009.
Continue Reading