CIMB Research: Local interest rates likely to go up about 25 basis points

DOMESTIC interest rates are likely to go up by an estimated 25 basis points (bps) in the second half of next year, CIMB Research said. 

“Given that there is still ample domestic liquidity and subdued inflation numbers, Bank Negara is expected to maintain low interest rates for the rest of this year. We also expect Bank Negara’s overnight policy rates (OPR) to stay at 2.7%,” economist Lee Heng Gui said in the research house’s latest report on rising US interest rates and their impact on the domestic economy.