Interest rates likely to stay same: analystsWAIT AND SEE: The central bank needs more time to observe the situation in the Middle East and how energy prices could rise before changing rates, analysts saidStaff writer, with CNA and BloombergThe central bank is expected to leave its key interest rates unchanged for the ninth consecutive quarter due to the ongoing war in the Middle East, economists said, ahead of the bank’s upcoming policymaking meeting slated for Thursday. A person walks inside the central bank in Taipei on May 29 last year. Any sustained increase in energy prices would push up shipping costs, which in turn would result in higher product prices, he said. The central bank closely monitors the NT dollar’s nominal effective exchange rate (NEER) to ensure it does not deviate significantly from its 36-month moving average. At Thursday’s meeting, the central bank is likely to raise GDP and inflation forecasts, BNP Paribas SA economist Jeeho Yoon and strategist Franco Hsu wrote in a note.

Source: Taipei Times March 16, 2026 16:38 UTC