MANILA, March 16 (Reuters) - The Philippine central bank
hinted it may cut interest rates by more than 25 basis points
when it meets on Thursday to shield the economy from the impact
of the coronavirus outbreak.
"The 25 basis points is almost a certainty, and can
certainly go higher because of the seriousness of the
situation," Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Benjamin Diokno
said on Monday.
Diokno said the U.S. Federal Reserve decision to cut
interest rates to near zero and the Reserve Bank of New Zealand
unexpected move to reduce the official cash rate by 75 basis
points will be considered at its policy meeting on March 19.