To prop up rupee, RBI may raise repo rate: Poll
Live MintBengaluru: The Reserve Bank of India is likely to raise interest rates in early October, despite relatively tame inflation, to prop up a retreating rupee, according to a Reuters poll of economists who also trimmed their near-term growth forecasts. In an abrupt change from the last survey conducted two months ago, which predicted rates would stay on hold until this quarter next year, two-thirds of 61 economists polled September 19-25 said the RBI would lift the repo rate at least once by year-end. Slightly over half said RBI Governor Urjit Patel and the Monetary Policy Committee would deliver a 25-basis-point rise to 6.75% at the October 4 policy meeting, with one economist calling for a 50-basis-point rise. But even if the RBI raises rates on October 4, it will still struggle to keep up with the Fed, which is expected to keep tighten policy well into next year.