ZAGREB, Nov 7 (Hina) - The latest economic and financial movements in Croatia indicate a satisfactory level of macroeconomic stability. It has been estimated that this year's inflation rate will be lower than the previously expected
4.5%, the Croatian National Bank (HNB) Council said a session on Wednesday, at which it decided to lower the rate of compulsory bank reserves. The Council, which held the session under the chairing of HNB governor Zeljko Rohatinski, decided that the rate of compulsory reserves should be lowered from 22% to 19%, with currency reserves set aside in kuna being increased from 20% to 25%, the central bank reported. Under the decision, compulsory kuna reserves will be reduced by some 420 million kuna (USD50.60 million), while compulsory foreign currency reserves will be reduced by some 2.6 billion kuna (USD0.313 million). The decision goes into force on December 10 thus
ZAGREB, Nov 7 (Hina) - The latest economic and financial movements
in Croatia indicate a satisfactory level of macroeconomic
stability. It has been estimated that this year's inflation rate
will be lower than the previously expected 4.5%, the Croatian
National Bank (HNB) Council said a session on Wednesday, at which it
decided to lower the rate of compulsory bank reserves.
The Council, which held the session under the chairing of HNB
governor Zeljko Rohatinski, decided that the rate of compulsory
reserves should be lowered from 22% to 19%, with currency reserves
set aside in kuna being increased from 20% to 25%, the central bank
reported.
Under the decision, compulsory kuna reserves will be reduced by
some 420 million kuna (USD50.60 million), while compulsory foreign
currency reserves will be reduced by some 2.6 billion kuna
(USD0.313 million). The decision goes into force on December 10
thus continuing the process of unification of compulsory
reserves.
It has also been decided that the HNB annual interest rate on
collateral loans should be lowered from 10.5% (an increase in
September) to 10%, given that relations on the market have
stabilised. Fees charged by the bank for insufficient or poorly
maintained compulsory reserves have been decreased from 18 to 15%.
It is expected that by lowering the interest rates, the central bank
will support the current trend of falling interest rates over a
longer period of time.
These decisions have been adopted after a careful examination of
the latest economic and financial developments. According to
available indicators, the macroeconomic situation in stable. By
all accounts, this year's inflation rate will be lower than 4.5%.
It is believed the stability of the national currency and measures
taken by the central bank to maintain it have significantly
contributed to this projection.
The purchase of foreign currency from citizens has been
considerably higher than citizens' buying foreign currency from
banks. Foreign currency deposits have continued to rise, with the
HNB having purchased a total of 85 million euros in mid-October and
early November.
The nominal deficit of the consolidated state in the first nine
months amounts to 5.1 billion kuna, which is a 2.3% decrease as
against the same period last year.
The Council today also formulated the account and report on the
operation of the Payment System Bureau in this year's first half.
Four more business banks - Dresdner Bank Croatia Zagreb,
Erste&Steiermaerkische Banka Zagreb, Istarska kreditna banka
Umag, and Slatinska banka Slatina - have been granted permits for
account-keeping for legal entities.
(hina) rml