In fact, the bank is unlikely to modify the key rate until the end of 2014, the analysts said.
“The monetary policy might be eased to 4.75% in December 2014, when the central bank could also lower its minimum reserve requirements to 12% for Romanian-leu denominated liabilities and 18.5% for foreign currency liabilities,” the Association said in a statement Friday.
The current requirements are of 15% for leu-denominated liabilities and of 20% for the hard currency ones.
Romania’s central bank has cut its main rate by 75 basis points to 5.25% in several steps last year, but a government collapse late April has prompted the bank to halt its monetary easing cycle. The decision was also influenced by a worsening external environment.
The next monetary policy meeting is scheduled for February 5.