Vietnam’s central bank to ease lending rates

The State Bank of Vietnam (SBV) buying net 4 billion USD in January may be the way to lower Vietnamese dong lending rates.
vietnams central bank to ease lending rates

Illustrative image (Photo: VNA)

To achieve such a result, the central bank in late November 2018 sold greenback futures that would be delivered in late January 2019 to raise the market supply of dollars, vneconomy.vn reported.

Then on the first working day of 2019 (January 2), the central bank for the first time in a year raised its purchasing rate by 500 VND to 23,200 VND for a dollar from the last-day rate of 2018.

As of December 31, 2018, the purchasing rate for a US dollar set by the SBV was 22,700 VND. The rate was cut by 10 VND on February 8, 2018.

In addition to the two technical measures, the central bank also increased the gap between Vietnamese dong and dollar interest rates on the interbank market, making Vietnamese dong more attractive for savings and thus balance the foreign exchange rate with the dollar.

After a month, the central bank was able to lure a huge amount of US dollars for its reserves, proving the supply of foreign currency in Vietnam had been great and consolidating and helping transform a part of foreign currency held in the economy in recent years.

But the SBV may not stop buying dollars from the market, not only to increase its foreign reserves but also to lower the dong lending rates.

Buying 4 billion USD means the SBV had to inject a huge amount of Vietnamese dong into the market, which would help balance the market demand-supply during the Tet period – the peak season for making payments – and create additional supply of cash for lenders – who accepted mortgages from borrowers.

Local commercial banks have recently cut their dong-based lending rates. For example, the Joint Stock Commercial Bank for Foreign Trade of Vietnam (Vietcombank) on January 9 cut its lending rate for short-term loans by 0.5 percent to 6 percent.

Vietnamese dong-based interest rates have been kept more attractive than the dollar-based ones, raising expectations that cash would flow back into commercial banks after the festival was over, and thus, easing the lending rates among commercial banks.

Between late 2018 and late January 2019, dong-based interbank offered rates kept increasing to 5.19 percent per year, twice the dollar-based offered rate on the same market.

Between commercial banks and inpidual and institutional clients, dong-based offered interest rates showed signs of increasing to 8.5-8.7 percent per annum for long-term savings.

In 2018, many central banks had to increase interest rates and depreciate domestic currencies to deal with the stronger dollar and the outflow of foreign capital.

During last year, the global markets became used to the Federal Reserve’s rate increase plan as it reflected the “hawkish view” of Fed officials, strengthened the dollar against other currencies and resulted in the outflow of foreign capital from emerging markets.

On January 30, the Fed signalled it may stop raising rates and global analysts saw that could be the end of the rate hike plan. And it may even mean the Fed would cut rates if needed.

Source: VNA

Related News

Stipulate implementation of centralized bilateral payments of the State Treasury at banks

Stipulate implementation of centralized bilateral payments of the State Treasury at banks

VCN - The Ministry of Finance (MOF) gathers feedback on the draft Circular regulating the management and use of accounts of the State Treasury opened at the State Bank of Vietnam (SBV) and commercial banks.
How does the Fed

How does the Fed's interest rate cut affect Vietnam?

VCN - In the latest meeting of the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC), the Fed decided to cut interest rates by 50 basis points to a range of 4.75%-5%. Analysts have given different perspectives on this decision.
Bank profits improve but there are no expectations

Bank profits improve but there are no expectations

VCN - According to assessments of credit institutions, the overall business situation and pre-tax profit of the banking system in the second quarter of 2024 has improved but is not really clear in the first quarter. and did not meet expectations.
Another six months for debt restructuring but need to manage bad debt risks

Another six months for debt restructuring but need to manage bad debt risks

VCN - The decision to continue extending the debt restructuring period, keeping the debt group unchanged for another six months, is expected to continue to contribute to solving difficulties for businesses, reduce debt repayment pressure, and add resources for production and business recovery.

Latest News

Continue to handle cross-ownership in banks

Continue to handle cross-ownership in banks

VCN - The situation of excess share ownership, cross-ownership between credit institutions (CIs), CIs and enterprises, although has decreased significantly compared to previous periods, is still complicated and requires continued inspection and control.
Striving for average CPI not to exceed 4%

Striving for average CPI not to exceed 4%

VCN - According to the report of the Ministry of Finance, there are still some factors that put pressure on price levels in the remaining months of 2024, so the Ministry has updated 2 scenarios of average inflation in 2024 increasing in the range of 3.7-3.92%.
Delegating the power to the government to waive, lower, or manage late tax penalties is suitable

Delegating the power to the government to waive, lower, or manage late tax penalties is suitable

VCN - Discussing in groups about the project "1 law amending 7 laws" in the financial sector according to the program of the 8th Session on October 29, 2024, National Assembly delegates proposed that the Government should be assigned to make specific regulations on decentralization, granting the right to exempt and reduce taxes, and handling penalties for late payment of taxes...
Removing difficulties in public investment disbursement

Removing difficulties in public investment disbursement

VCN - According to the report of the Investment Department (Ministry of Finance), the estimated disbursement from the beginning of the year to October 31, 2024 is VND 355,616.1 billion, reaching 47.43% of the 2024 plan, reaching 52.29% of the plan assigned by the Prime Minister.

More News

State-owned commercial banking sector performs optimistic growth, but more capital in need

State-owned commercial banking sector performs optimistic growth, but more capital in need

VCN - According to the report sent to the National Assembly before the 8th Session of the Government on investment, management and use of state capital in enterprises nationwide in 2023, the business performance of the state-owned commercial banking sector achieved positive growth.
Rush to finalize draft decree on public asset restructuring

Rush to finalize draft decree on public asset restructuring

VCN - According to the Ministry of Finance, the draft Decree regulating the rearrangement and handling of public assets is being urgently completed by the Ministry of Finance to submit to the Government for promulgation.
Inspection report on gold trading activities being complied: SBV

Inspection report on gold trading activities being complied: SBV

The State Bank of Vietnam (SBV) has announced that inspections on compliance with legal policies in gold trading activities of credit institutions and gold trading businesses have been completed and an inspection report is being compiled.
Budget revenue in 2024 is estimated to exceed the estimate by 10.1%

Budget revenue in 2024 is estimated to exceed the estimate by 10.1%

VCN -The Government estimates that state budget revenue in 2024 will exceed VND 172.3 trillion, up 10.1% over the estimate, of which tax and fee revenue will reach 13.1% of GDP.
Ensure timely and effective management and use of public asset

Ensure timely and effective management and use of public asset

VCN – In order to promptly and effectively implement public asset management and use, ensuring compliance with legal regulations, the Ministry of Finance has just issued an official dispatch requesting ministries, branches and localities to comply with regulations in the Government’s Decree No. 114/2024/ND-CP dated September 15, 2024.
Accelerating decentralization in public asset management

Accelerating decentralization in public asset management

VCN - Amending the Law on Management and Use of Public Assets aims to improve regulations on accelerating decentralization and improving efficiency in management and use of public assets, and promoting financial resources, ensuring that the unified application the Law on Management and Use of Public Assets and other legal documents.
Difficulty in finding banks eligible to receive compulsory transfers

Difficulty in finding banks eligible to receive compulsory transfers

VCN - Reporting to the National Assembly, the State Bank of Vietnam (SBV) said that one of the difficulties in restructuring the credit institution system is the long process of finding and negotiating banks eligible to receive compulsory transfers.
Businesses can choose a suitable electronic invoice model generated from the cash register

Businesses can choose a suitable electronic invoice model generated from the cash register

VCN - The Ministry of Finance said that individual business households can choose a suitable model to apply electronic invoice solutions from cash registers, depending on the number of invoices used in the year, in the month and the current status of software solutions and technical infrastructure.
State budget revenue estimate 2025 assessed as positive level despite potential challenges

State budget revenue estimate 2025 assessed as positive level despite potential challenges

VCN – Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Ho Duc Phoc said that the state budget revenue for 2025 is estimated at VND 1,966.8 trillion, an increase of 15.6% compared to the estimate for 2024.
Read More

Your care

Latest Most read
Continue to handle cross-ownership in banks

Continue to handle cross-ownership in banks

VCN - The situation of excess share ownership, cross-ownership between credit institutions (CIs), CIs and enterprises, although has decreased significantly compared to previous periods, is still complicated and requires continued inspection and control.
Striving for average CPI not to exceed 4%

Striving for average CPI not to exceed 4%

VCN - According to the report of the Ministry of Finance, there are still some factors that put pressure on price levels in the remaining months of 2024, so the Ministry has updated 2 scenarios of average inflation in 2024 increasing in the range of 3.7-3
Delegating the power to the government to waive, lower, or manage late tax penalties is suitable

Delegating the power to the government to waive, lower, or manage late tax penalties is suitable

National Assembly delegates proposed that the Government should be assigned to make specific regulations on decentralization, granting the right to exempt and reduce taxes, and handling penalties for late payment of taxes...
Removing difficulties in public investment disbursement

Removing difficulties in public investment disbursement

VCN - According to the report of the Investment Department (Ministry of Finance), the estimated disbursement from the beginning of the year to October 31, 2024 is VND 355,616.1 billion, reaching 47.43% of the 2024 plan, reaching 52.29% of the plan assigne
State-owned commercial banking sector performs optimistic growth, but more capital in need

State-owned commercial banking sector performs optimistic growth, but more capital in need

According to the report of the Government on investment, management and use of state capital in enterprises nationwide in 2023, the business performance of the state-owned commercial banking sector achieved positive growth.
Mobile Version