Swiss National Bank exits negative rates

Wells Fargo Research Team Wells Fargo

Summary

The Swiss National Bank (SNB) delivered a 75 bps rate hike at its September monetary policy meeting, bringing its policy rate to +0.50%.
Overall, the announcement's forward guidance was not as hawkish compared to many other global central banks' comments. Rather than signaling forceful rate hikes ahead, the SNB instead repeated that it cannot be ruled out that further increases in the SNB policy rate will be necessary to ensure price stability over the medium term. In addition, the central bank indicated it remains willing to intervene in the foreign exchange market as necessary.
Looking ahead, we believe the SNB will continue tightening monetary policy but will deliver rate hikes of smaller magnitude, consistent with our outlook for slower growth and somewhat more contained inflation next year. More specifically, we expect the SNB to hike rates by 50 bps in December and 25 bps in March, with a terminal policy rate of 1.25%.

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Author

Wells Fargo Research Team

Wells Fargo

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