In an unexpected move that diverged from the market’s anticipations, SNB held its policy rate steady at 1.75%, side-stepping the anticipated hike to 2.00%. The conditional inflation projections have undergone downward revision. While inflation could surge above 2% target in upcoming quarters, it’s projected to retract back to 1.9% in 2025 based on current interest rate, without further tightening.
Despite this, SNB did not completely distance itself from a hawkish tone, and maintained the further tightening “may become necessary”. It also reiterated the willingness to intervene in the market with focus on “selling foreign currency
Delving into the specifics of the conditional inflation projections, based on steady 1.75% policy rate, inflation is forecasted to ascend to 2.0% by the end of this year. It will scale up to its apex at 2.2% in the second quarter of 2024, before experiencing a slight dip to 1.9% at the onset of 2025, maintaining that level thereafter.
On the economic growth front, SNB’s projections lean towards the cautious side, forecasting tepid growth for the remainder of the year. The annual growth is projected to hover around a modest 1%.
