VIETNAM WILL BE ‘CAUTIOUS’ ON FURTHER INTEREST CUTS

HANOI - Vietnam’s central bank will be “very cautious” with regard to additional interest rate cuts because it may increase inflation and currency instability, the bank;s Governor, Nguyen Van Binh, has told the National Assembly. He said the bank expects inflation to be at a level of 6-7% by year-end. He added that the central bank is waiting for the Prime Minister to approve measures to increase bank scrutiny that would limit non-performing loans (ATI).