Bank Negara sees challenging environment as Q4 slows

Kuala Lumpur

MALAYSIA'S central bank warned on Thursday that the economy faces "a challenging operating environment in the immediate future", following a moderation in growth to 4.5 per cent in the fourth quarter of last year from 4.7 per cent in the preceding quarter.

The weakest quarter of 2015, it confirmed the trend of slowing growth. Should GDP expansion in the first quarter come in below 4 per cent, further measures might be needed to stimulate the economy, opined independent interest rate and foreign exchange strategist Suresh Ramanathan.

The full policy effect of a 50 basis points cut to the banking sector statutory reserve requirement ratio (effective Feb 1) and 3 per cent reduction in employee contribution to the pension fund (from March 1) would be seen only in the second quarter, he said. He noted tha…