Markets expect Reserve Bank of India to raise rates this week
Summary
Investors are increasingly betting that the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) will raise interest rates this week in response to rising inflation pressures, with nearly 60% of economists predicting a 25-basis-point hike. If implemented, this would mark the RBI's first rate increase in nearly four years, raising the benchmark repo rate from 5.25% where it has remained for the past ten months. Inflation in India has been running above the RBI's target for the third consecutive month, with consumer inflation recorded at 4.82% in August, prompting concerns that the central bank risks falling behind as global peers have adopted more hawkish stances. Market pricing reflects this sentiment, incorporating expectations of significant policy tightening over the next year.