Kazakh Central Bank Head Says Can’t Exclude Rate Hike This Year

Kazakhstan’s central bank could consider raising interest rates further to curb inflation that’s running at almost double the target, Governor Timur Suleimenov said.

Suleimenov pointed to “a pile of inflationary factors” that could require action from monetary authorities this year, notably imported price pressures from Russia, and signs of an overheating domestic economy. The main restricting factor for inflation “must be central bank monetary policy,” he said in an interview, adding he doesn’t exclude a rate hike by year end.

Timur Suleimenov

Photographer: Maritial Trezzini/AFP/Getty Images

Most analysts expect the bank to hold policy steady on Thursday for the second straight month, after a ...