Juan José Echavarría, Governor, answer questions from analysts and journalists related to the decision reached today by the Board of Directors.
The Board of Directors of Banco de la República (BDBR), by majority, reduced the Benchmark Interest Rate by half a Percentage Point to 2.50%. In this way, it continues with the countercyclical monetary policy stance.
This decision took the following elements into consideration:
The conditions of financial markets have improved with respect to the beginning of the crisis, but there remains great uncertainty regarding the global macro-economic context.
Under these conditions, the risk balance for monetary policy suggests the appropriateness of providing an additional boost to the economy.
The decision to cut the benchmark interest rate by one quarter of a percentage point was approved by five Board Members.