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OPR hike will not lead to bankruptcy

KUCHING: The Overnight Policy Rate (OPR) hike will not lead to bankruptcy for businesses and individuals with a sound financial position and a manageable debt level.Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas) economist Jerome Kueh said the recent OPR hike from 2.75 per cent to 3.00 per cent will have some effect on the economy, but the impact […]

RHB stays overweight on property sector

KUALA LUMPUR: RHB Investment Bank Bhd (RHBIB) has maintained an ‘Overweight’ rating on the real estate sector, despite the recent equity market volatility brought about by the banking sector in the United States (US). RHBIB said its investment thesis remained unchanged as the interest rate upcycle is nearing the end and China’s reopening from COVID-19 […]

M’sians feeling the pinch over another OPR hike

KUCHING: The latest hike in overnight policy rate (OPR) is hurting everyone, says Sarawak DAP. Its chairman Chong Chieng Jen said the decision by Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) to increase the OPR by 25 basis points to 2.5 per cent will in turn cause more harm to local economy than do good. “This is the […]

Pros and cons of rate increase

KUCHING: Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) has recently announced that it has raised the Overnight Policy Rate (OPR) by 25 basis points, raising it to 2.25 per cent as experts believe there are pros and cons to it. ‘’Overnight Policy Rate (OPR) increase is a sign of rising borrowing costs brought on by higher loan interest […]

Rate increase will hit loan takers hard

By Neville Timothy Sanders & Fasiha Khusiri KUCHING: Bank Negara Malaysia’s (BNM) announcement of an increase in the Overnight Policy Rate (OPR) to 2.25 percent this month has evoked mostly negative reaction from the public. Those who have taken out bank loans are unhappy as they believe the rate increase will also lead to higher […]

BNM set to raise policy rate again

KUALA LUMPUR: Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) is expected to lift its Overnight Policy Rate (OPR) by 25 basis points (bps) to 2.25 per cent at its fourth Monetary Policy Meeting (MPC) of the year scheduled for this week, according to Moody’s Analytics. In its report today, the research firm also noted that the country’s central […]

Bank Negara maintains OPR to sustain economic recovery efforts

KUALA LUMPUR: The decision by Bank Negara Malaysia to maintain the Overnight Policy Rate (OPR) at 1.75 per cent last week was both appropriate and accommodating in supporting economic recovery efforts amid the debilitating global pandemic. Continuing with the low-interest rate regime would also help large borrowing companies to mitigate any sudden spike in instalments, […]

BNM likely to cut OPR by 25 BPS at March meeting

KUALA LUMPUR: Bank Islam Malaysia Bhd expects Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) to cut its overnight policy rate (OPR) by 25 basis points (bps) at the upcoming Monetary Policy Meeting scheduled for March 4. Chief economist Dr Mohd Afzanizam Abdul Rashid said the reduction projection was due to the visibility of economic uncertainties following the reintroduction […]

BNM maintains OPR at 1.75 pct

KUALA LUMPUR: Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) maintained the Overnight Policy Rate (OPR) at 1.75 per cent at its first Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting today. In a statement today, the central bank’s MPC considered the stance of monetary policy to be appropriate and accommodative, while remaining committed to utilise its policy levers as appropriate to […]

Analysts mixed on further OPR reduction

KUALA LUMPUR: Analysts are mixed in their views on Bank Negara Malaysia’s (BNM) stance on the overnight policy rate (OPR) in the upcoming Monetary Policy Meeting on Wednesday. Bank Islam Malaysia Bhd chief economist Dr Afzanizam Mohd Rashid said the central bank would likely reduce the OPR by 25 basis points during the meeting. “We […]