The governor of the Bank of Pakistan warns that emerging markets will face diminishing tantrums

The governor of the Bank of Pakistan warns that emerging markets will face diminishing tantrums

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The governor of the Central Bank of Pakistan warned that if advanced economies do not take early action to deal with rising global inflation, emerging markets are vulnerable to a dwindling tantrum.

The comments of Reza Baqir, a former senior official of the International Monetary Fund, indicate that policymakers in developing economies are increasingly uncomfortable that central bankers in rich countries are not doing enough to contain monetary stimulus measures during the pandemic and contain price increases.

In an interview with the British Financial Times, Baqir stated that if foreign investors eventually dump emerging market and frontier market assets due to unexpected interest rate hikes in advanced economies, this will cause disproportionate harm to developing countries.

“If there are volatility in financial markets, because the interest rate changes in advanced economies are expected to adjust suddenly, then such volatility will have a greater impact on emerging markets with high debt and moderate or low levels of reserves,” he said.

Prior to Baqir’s comments, the National Bank of Pakistan raised its benchmark interest rate by 150 basis points last week to 8.75%, as the country struggled with rising inflation, currency devaluation and expanding current account deficits.

“In Pakistan, we don’t have many foreign investors in the local currency market,” he said. “But if fund managers exit the emerging market asset class, we may have an impact on credit and sovereign bonds.”

Fearing that loose money is fueling, central banks are under pressure to cancel the stimulus plans launched during the peak of the coronavirus pandemic Persistent global inflation.

Policymakers and investors worry that inaction, followed by a sudden tightening, may trigger a recurrence of the shrinking panic in 2013, when the Fed’s signal to withdraw from the stimulus program triggered a sell-off in emerging markets.

Gita Gopinath, Chief Economist of the International Monetary Fund Already warned Low-income and middle-income countries that have been weakened by the pandemic “cannot bear” similar shocks.

On Friday, Fed Vice Chairman Richard Clarida (Richard Clarida) stated that the bank is Faster taper Due to the “upside risk” of inflation, it launched a bond purchase stimulus plan on the darkest days of the pandemic.

Baqir said: “Gradually, central banks around the world are gradually realizing that there are valid reasons to actively ease monetary stimulus measures.”

He added: “For emerging markets with high debt and lower reserve levels than expected, they do not have the time to wait like central banks that issue hard currencies.”

Compared with advanced economies, some emerging market central banks are more active on the issue of inflation.For example, Brazil raised interest rates the most last month Nearly 20 years —— The sixth time this year, because of inflation concerns.

Recently, index provider MSCI reclassified Pakistan from an “emerging” market to a “frontier” market, which is considered an underdeveloped or smaller market. Concerns about inflation prompted the central bank to convene an early monetary policy meeting.

The inflation rate rose to 9.2% in October, putting pressure on the Imran Khan government. Imports also surged, with the current account deficit increasing to US$3.4 billion in the quarter ending in September, compared with US$1.9 billion in the previous fiscal year ending in July.

Investor’s anxiety about a Deadlock with the International Monetary FundThe suspension of a multi-year US$6 billion loan agreement caused the Pakistani rupee to fall to an all-time low of approximately 175 rupees against the US dollar this month.

The International Monetary Fund announced on Monday that it has reached a “staff level” agreement with Pakistan to resume payments, and the next $1 billion is currently awaiting approval by the IMF Executive Board.

Additional reporting by Farhan Bokhari in Islamabad



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