The Central Bank has confirmed the widespread perception of economic slowdown, with growth forecast for this year falling from 3.4% to 2.8%.
The president of the organization confirmed that an excess of dollars in the foreign exchange market explains the behavior of the exchange rate, which has remained relatively low and stable in recent months.
From a statement issued by the Central Bank of Costa Rica:
Considering the main internal and external variables stable, the Bank of Guatemala is keeping the leading policy rate, a major reference for interest rates in the country, unchanged.
From a statement issued by the Bank of Guatemala:
The Monetary Board, based on a comprehensive analysis of the external and internal situation, after having been made aware of the Balance Inflation Risks, has decided to keep the rate of the main monetary policy interest at 4.50% .
The Central Bank has cut its growth forecast for GDP for the year to 4% - 4.5% and expects inflation to be between 6.55% and 7.5%, higher than initially expected.
From the executive summary of the report "State of the Economy and Prospects, First Semester 2014":
At the end of the first half of the year, the Nicaraguan economy is maintaining positive growth rate, mainly driven by external demand and improved terms of trade.
The Bank of Guatemala has lowered the leading policy rate, the reference for interest rates in the domestic financial system, from 5% to 4.75%.
The Monetary Board decided to lower the leading policy rate by 0.25 percentage points based on the external and internal economy, seeing a recovery in global economic activity.
From a press release issued by the Bank of Guatemala:
The Monetary Board of the Bank of Guatemala, at its meeting on September 25, decided to keep the Leader rate at 5.25%.
From a press release issued by the Bank of Guatemala (Banguat):
The Monetary Board, at its meeting today, decided to maintain at 5.25% the monetary policy leader interest rate, based on a comprehensive analysis of the external and internal situation, after being made aware of the Inflation Risk Balance .
The Monetary Board, at its meeting on July 31, decided to keep the level of the monetary policy leading interest rate at 5.25%.
From a press release by the Bank of Guatemala:
The Monetary Board in its meeting today decided to keep the level of the monetary policy leading interest rate at 5.25%, based on comprehensive analysis of the external and internal situation, after finding out about the Balance Inflation Risks.
After having increased in April by 0.25%, the Monetary Board of the Bank of Guatemala decided to keep the leading rate at 5.25%, with an eye on inflation control.
From a press release by the Bank of Guatemala (Banguat):
The Monetary Board in its meeting today, decided to keep the level of 5.25% for the monetary policy leading interest rate, based on comprehensive analysis of the external and internal situation, after being made aware of the Balance of Inflation Risks.
Taking into account inflation expectations, the Monetary Board has increased the leading interest rate by 0.25% , going from 5% to 5.25%.
From a press release issued by the Bank of Guatemala (Banguat):
The Monetary Board in its meeting today, after learning the balance of inflation risks, based on comprehensive analysis of the external and internal situation, has decided to raise the level of the monetary policy leading interest rate by 25 base points, going from 5.00% to 5.25%.
The business sector is calling on Congress to pass the bill which charges a 30% tax on interest gained by speculative capital.
From a press release issued by the Costa Rican Union of Chambers and Associations in the Private Business Sector (UCCAEP):
The Costa Rican Union of Chambers and Associations of Private Business Sector (UCCAEP) is urging MPs to approve, as soon as possible, the bill which levies a 30% tax on interest earned on speculative capital, which was ruled on in February by the Committee on Financial Affairs.
The purchase of dollars by the central bank in order to prevent appreciation of the local currency is considered a form of subsidy for exporters.
From an interview in Nacion.com made by Patricia Leitón with the President of Banco Central Rodrigo Bolaños:
"I think it's very important that we continue with the gradual process of removing excess colones, we have already made a significant achievement, but of course these latest purchases of dollars have slightly increased the surplus".
For the third consecutive week the Central Bank of Costa Rica’s basic borrowing rate has fallen, now standing at 9.05%.
This indicator is a weighted average of the interest rates of gross deposits in colones, negotiated by resident financial intermediaries, and the interest rates of deposit instruments of the Central Bank and Ministry of Finance, negotiated both in the primary and secondary markets, each corresponding to periods of between 150 and 210 days.
Since late December last year, the Central Bank of Costa Rica has applied a new methodology for calculating the passive base rate.
From the website of the Central Bank of Costa Rica (BCCR):
Passive Base Rate
A. Definition
The base rate is a weighted average of the interest rates in colones on gross collections by financial intermediaries negotiated by domestic residents and the interest rates for deposit instruments of the Central Bank and Ministry of Finance negotiated both in the primary and secondary market, each corresponding to periods of between 150 and 210 days.
The BCR has imposed the highest rate since 2009, making the measure effective from Thursday 19th April.
The basic passive rate (BPR) has remained at 9.25%, for 7 consecutive weeks, which is the longest period without changes in the last four years.
"As usual, the change occurred because of the momentum of public commercial banks, whose average rates rose from 9.29% to 9.56% and took with them the BRR which carries the most weight in the calculation," reported Elfinancierocr.com.
The basic interest rate has been raised to 5% in order to minimize the external pressure on prices.
At a time when prices of raw materials is on the rise internationally, the Central Bank of Honduras has increase by 5% the monetary policy rate (MPR), an instrument which aims to influence interest rates on the market.
The MPR has not recorded variations since August 2009 when it stood at 4.5%.