RBI steps in to calm financial markets over coronavirus

In a bid to calm the Indian financial markets the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Tuesday said that it is ready to take “appropriate actions” to ensure the orderly functioning of financial markets.

Central banks across the world − most notably the Federal Reserve − have indicated that they will take policy actions to counter the detrimental impact of the coronavirus outbreak on businesses and global trade.

In a statement the RBI said: “The Reserve Bank of India is monitoring global and domestic developments closely and continuously and stands ready to take appropriate actions to ensure the orderly functioning of financial markets, maintain market RBI confidence and preserve financial stability.” Globally, financial markets have been experiencing considerable volatility, with the spread of the coronavirus triggering risk-off sentiments and flights to safe haven. Spillovers to financial markets in India have largely been contained, RBI said.

Earlier European Central Bank had said that it is ready to take etargeted’ action to address the economic impact of the outbreak while the US Federal Reserve last week said that it would use its tools and “act as appropriate to support the economy”.

Global central banks have stepped in to calm financial markets after the last trading week ending Friday proved to be one of the worst since the 2008 global financial crises.

The US main index Dow Jones had fallen over 1,000 points a number of times while benchmark Sensex lost over 3,000 points in the last seven days. The World Health Organization (WHO) has said that the coronavirus outbreak has reached a “decisive point” and has “pandemic potential” as the toll in China increased to above 2,900.

Indo-Asian News Serivce