Page 83 - RusRPTJul20

On the fiscal side, the CBR is extending a helping hand to the Finance Ministry, as it would allow borrowing on the OFZ federal bond market to finance the budget deficit without increasing the cost of debt.
Even though the Ministry of Economic Development saw encouraging signs in Russia's early coronavirus (COVID-19) recovery and improved its recession forecast for 2020, the CBR has maintained a conservative guidance of 4-6% GDP decline in 2020.
Previously the analysts surveyed by RBC business portal believed that moderate inflation​, a stable ruble and recovering economic activity all provided space for a 100bp interest rate cut. Domestic demand is still expected to take over a year to recover, which would help mitigate inflationary risks.
Inflation now risks trending too low​ The latest inflation data suggests that price growth remains in check and well below the CBR's target of 4%, but the CBR now sees the risk that “in 2021 inflation might significantly deviate downwards from the 4% target".
The CBR did not provide a new inflation guidance, but noted the "considerable" downside inflation risks, which could mean it aims at 3.3-3.8% inflation by the end of 2020 instead of 3.8-4.8% previously.
Nordea Bank's Grigory Zhirnov noted that the fact that the CBR is now concerned with disinflationary risks (inflation being below the target of 4%) indicates that the regulator is worried about the magnitude of the drop in demand.
Outlook on future cuts​ “If the situation develops in line with the baseline forecast, the CBR will consider the necessity of [a] further key rate reduction at its upcoming meetings,” the press release accompanying the rate cut read, clearly guiding for possible rate cuts beyond 4.5% already in 2020.
But Natalia Orlova of Alfa Bank told Reuters that CBR's formulation of a further cut guidance "sounds [as if] the regulator is uncertain [about] the necessity of further cuts at [subsequent] meetings".
The economist reminded about COVID-19 second wave risks, arguing that the CBR realises that reanimating the credit activity in such adverse conditions is challenging, and more inflationary risks could possibly erupt.
Chief economist of BCS Global Markets Vladimir Tikhomirov warns that the CBR is making a strong bet on stable downward inflation trend in the short term. The BCS GM analyst previously argued that certain factors such as oil market volatility and results of the harvest in autumn could still reverse inflation upwards.
Nabiullina previously pledged not to allow negative real currency rates, which would mean that a sudden spike in inflation would leave the regulator with little space for policy action, Tikhomirov argues.
83​ RUSSIA Country Report​ July 2020 ​ ​www.intellinews.com