MARKET MOVER - BNP PARIBAS - Investment Services India
MARKET MOVER - BNP PARIBAS - Investment Services India
MARKET MOVER - BNP PARIBAS - Investment Services India
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closer to a more normal level” to guard against the<br />
risk of future financial imbalances, the statement did<br />
not give any hint that this is to be done soon. In its indepth<br />
assessment, where the Norges Bank laid out<br />
its arguments for why interest rates should be kept<br />
low, it said that expectations that interest rates in<br />
other countries will “remain low for a prolonged<br />
period” also “point in this direction”.<br />
Recent economic releases suggest growth will<br />
accelerate in the quarters ahead. Positive<br />
developments on the consumer side suggest a pickup<br />
in consumer spending in the coming quarters.<br />
Consumer confidence has continued to build and the<br />
downward trend in retail sales seems to have turned<br />
(Chart 3).<br />
On the production side, manufacturing output has<br />
strengthened. Still-loose financial and monetary<br />
conditions are supportive for investment and<br />
therefore production. Although a weak start to the<br />
year suggests contraction in overall investment in<br />
2010, we expect it to gradually increase in the<br />
second half of the year.<br />
Given the key policy rate is still low compared to<br />
what a ‘neutral’ rate should be in Norway, we expect<br />
further rate hikes. But, despite a more positive<br />
domestic outlook, the expected slowdown in the<br />
global economy will limit any acceleration in growth.<br />
We previously expected the next hike to be<br />
delivered, at the earliest, at the end of this year. Back<br />
in June, the Norges Bank’s quarterly policy rate<br />
projections suggested the next rate hike would come<br />
in December, with a 50% probability.<br />
Chart 3: Private Consumption & Retail Sales<br />
Source: Reuters EcoWin Pro<br />
Chart 4: Manufacturing Confidence & Mainland<br />
<strong>Investment</strong> (% y/y)<br />
Source: Reuters EcoWin Pro<br />
Overall, the September statement was slightly more<br />
dovish than we had expected. Given moderate<br />
growth in Norway, our expectation of a slowdown in<br />
its main trading partners and policy rates likely<br />
remaining low for an extended period in the US,<br />
eurozone and UK, we believe the chances of a rate<br />
hike in December have fallen. We expect the next<br />
increase to come in Q1 2011.<br />
Gizem Kara 23 September 2010<br />
Market Mover<br />
15<br />
www.GlobalMarkets.bnpparibas.com