BENGALURU : Thailand's central bank is expected to raise interest rates by 25 basis points on Wednesday to curb elevated inflation and further hikes are likely even as China's reopening brightens the economic outlook, a Reuters poll found.
"Given inflation is still high and you have upcoming demand-side pressures coming from the recovery of tourism...the BOT would like to continue normalizing rates in a gradual and measured manner," said Aris Dacanay, economist at HSBC. Over 60 per cent of respondents, 14 of 22, expected another hike of 25 bps to 1.75 per cent by end-March. Seven forecast 1.50 per cent and one said it would still be at 1.25 per cent.