BOK Likely to Hold Rate as Inflation Tame, Growth Steady

South Korea’s central bank is widely expected to keep its benchmark interest rate unchanged this week as tame inflation and steady chip exports give authorities room to monitor financial stability risks tied to a property market rally.

In a Bloomberg survey, all 22 economists forecast the Bank of Korea will hold the seven-day repurchase rate at 2.5% on Thursday. At its January meeting, policymakers voted unanimously to stand pat and removed language that had pointed to the possibility of further rate cuts, signaling a shift to a neutral stance.