Bank Negara seen holding key rate as infections slow, Covid-19 vaccination starts

On monetary policy, Jha said Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) was expected to cut the Overnight Policy Rate (OPR) by 25 basis points (bps) to 1.5 per cent in Q1 2021.

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia's central bank is expected to leave its key interest rate steady on Thursday, according to a Reuters poll, as a slowdown in new coronavirus infections and a recently launched vaccination drive boost confidence in the economic recovery.

Eleven out of 15 economists saw Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) keeping its overnight policy rate at a record low of 1.75%, a Reuters poll showed on Tuesday, with four forecasting a 25 basis point cut. BNM cut rates by a total of 125 basis points in 2020.