Investment banks expect Bank Negara to raise OPR by at least 25bps

KUALA LUMPUR: Local investment banks expect Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) to raise the overnight policy rate (OPR) by at least 25 basis points (bps) by year-end, tracking the United States (US) Federal Reserve's 75 bps rate hike on Wednesday.

In a note today, Kenanga Investment Bank Bhd (Kenanga) said it expects BNM to maintain its hawkish tone and raise the OPR by at least 25 bps during each of its remaining two Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meetings this year, slated for Sept 7-8 and Nov 2-3.