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22 September, 2024

BB has recently changed its monetary policy targeting framework and introduced some new tools in its Monetary Policy Statement (MPS) of July-December, 2023. What are the changes? Do you think the changes will have any impact on Treasury Management

 The Monetary Policy Statement (MPS) of July-December 2023 by Bangladesh Bank (BB) introduced several new policy initiatives:

 

i.                   Policy Interest Rate Corridor: This is a system where the central bank sets the floor and ceiling for short-term interest rates to guide market interest rates.

ii.                 Reference Interest Rate for Lending: This could be a benchmark interest rate that banks use to price loans.

iii.              Exchange Rate Unification: This could involve merging multiple exchange rates into a single rate.

iv.              Calculation of Gross International Reserves (GIR) as per Balance of Payments and International Investment Position Manual (BPM6): This could involve changing the method of calculating GIR to align with international standards.

As for the impact on Treasury Management, changes in monetary policy can indeed have significant effects. For instance, changes in policy interest rates influence commercial interest rates. This can affect the cost of government borrowing and the return on government investments. The introduction of a policy interest rate corridor could provide more predictability for treasury management as it sets a range for interest rate fluctuations.

Moreover, the reference interest rate for lending could impact the cost of new government debt if the government borrows domestically. Exchange rate unification could affect the local currency value of foreign currency-denominated debt payments and receipts.

However, the specific impacts would depend on the details of the changes and the broader economic context. It's also important to note that the effects of monetary policy changes can take time to materialize. Therefore, ongoing monitoring and adjustment would be necessary. Please consult with a financial advisor or professional for more specific insights.