Bulgarian National Bank Reduces Base Rate 3bps to 0.15%

The Bulgarian National Bank announced on the 29th of February that its base interest rate would be reduced by 3 basis points to 0.15% as of 1 March 2012, compared to the previous rate of 0.18% set for February, and 0.22%, set in December for January.  The March rate of 0.15% compares to 0.18% in March 2011, 0.18% in March 2010, and 3.49% in March 2009.  Bulgaria reported inflation of 2.8% in December last year.  The Bulgarian economy was unchanged in 3Q11 (0.3% in 2Q11), placing annual GDP growth at 1.3% (2.0% in 2Q11).  Bulgaria's currency, the Bulgarian Lev (BGN), is pegged at 1.95 against the Euro; the USDBGN exchange rate last traded around 1.49.

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