Talk policy to me: Asean‘s benchmark interest rates hold steady

This week in Asean:

• Malaysia: Higher growth, inflation expected for 2024
• Thailand: Working hard to woo 8 million Chinese tourists
• Indonesia: Downstreaming policy spotlighted at election debate

Dear BT reader,

Last year was one of interest rate hikes, and whether 2024 will be a year of rate cuts remains to be seen. For now, benchmark interest rates across South-east Asia appear to be keeping steady. Malaysia’s central bank on Wednesday (Jan 24) maintained its overnight policy rate at 3 per cent for a fourth straight meeting as expected, reports our Malaysia correspondent Tan Ai Leng. Meanwhile, Bank Indonesia kept its key interest rate at 6 per cent for a third consecutive meeting on Jan 17, writes our Indonesia correspondent Elisa Valenta.