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by Reuters and Algemeiner Staff
An Israeli flag flutters outside the Bank of Israel building in Jerusalem, Aug. 7, 2013. Photo: Reuters / Ronen Zvulun / File.
Bank of Israel Governor Amir Yaron said risks to the economy were rising due to a resurgence in COVID-19 cases, but the central bank opted to focus on calming financial markets and ensuring the low cost of credit instead of lowering interest rates.
The central bank on Monday as expected held its benchmark interest rate at 0.1 percent and forecast an economic contraction of 6 percent in 2020, compared with its previous view that the economy would shrink 4.5 percent this year.
“It appears that the health situation is becoming more severe,” Yaron told a news conference. “The rise in morbidity data in Israel increases the uncertainty and is expected to delay the return to routine economic activity.”
Still, with rates already near zero and the central bank’s long-time reluctance to move to negative rates, Yaron said policymakers turned to other monetary tools. It plans to buy 15 billion shekels ($4.4 billion) of high-rated corporate bonds in the secondary market, and it renewed three-year low interest loans to banks to allow credit to flow to companies.
The move sent stock and bond prices higher.
He noted that the bank continues to buy government bonds and intervene in the foreign exchange market.
Thirteen of 15 economists polled by Reuters believed the monetary policy committee would hold the line on rates after holding pat in May following a reduction from 0.25 percent on April 6. Two analysts expected a 10 basis point cut to 0 percent.
Central bank economists forecast a recovery next year with growth of 7.5 percent, above its estimate in late May for 6.8 percent growth in 2021, although the jobless rate looks to reach 9 percent this year.
“The economy is not expected to return to full activity until the end of 2021,” Yaron said, adding that consumer demand was falling.
The bank’s staff reiterated an estimate that it expected the key rate to be in a 0-0.1 percent range in a year’s time.
After reopening the economy in May, Israel has seen a surge in coronavirus infections, prompting the government on Monday to reimpose some restrictions.
