Malaysia, Thailand stay their hand on key interest rates

Kuala Lumpur

THE central banks of Malaysia and Thailand on Wednesday left key interest rates alone.

Malaysia's Bank Negara held its key interest rate steady at 3.25 per cent, saying the economy remained on a steady growth path and inflationary pressures were easing.

Bank Negara Malaysia's decision was widely expected, with analysts in a Reuters poll unanimously expecting the overnight policy rate to be kept unchanged in the wake of a weaker ringgit currency and slide in global oil prices.

The country is grappling with lower revenues from a drop in oil and commodities prices which have triggered capital flight and battered the ringgit, the worst performing currency among emerging Asian currencies …