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Kenya’s 91-day T-bill rate dips marginally to 8.205 pct

BY David Indeje · July 14, 2017 08:07 am

The 91-day Treasury bill dipped on Thursday’s auction to move marginally to 8.205 percent compared to last week’s 8.221 percent.

However, the yields on the 182-day and 364-day T-bills rose at 10.323 percent versus 10.312 percent and 10.893 percent versus 10.889 respectively.

The total subscriptions went down to Ksh 8Bn against an offered amount of Ksh 40Bn (–KES 4.0Bn 91-day, KES 10.0Bn 182-day & KES 10.0Bn 364-day).

CBK sold Ksh2.24 billion worth of 91-day T-bills, Ksh 4.07 billion worth of 182-day and Ks 1.53 billion worth of 364-day T-bills.

“This is in line with our expectations on the current upward pressure on short term rates due to money market liquidity constraints. We expect this to be a short-term reaction creating a good time to take positions on the short end of the yield curve which we expect to come off once the treasury begins spending,” according to Genghis Analysts.

“The drop in the 91-day T-bill yield is attributed to the low interest rate environment,” according to Cytonn investments.

“he significant decline in subscription rates across the board can be attributed to reduced liquidity in the market, which came in at a net liquidity reduction of Kshs 1.1 bn, and the possibility of investors shifting their focus to the Kshs 30.0 bn, 10-year bond (FXD 1/2017/10), which is currently on offer.”

Last week, Investors showed preference for the shorter-dated 91 and 182-day papers due to uncertainty in the interest rate environment.

Genghis in their weekly brief stated that the week’s secondary market turnover was expected to thin out as focus shifted on the Ksh 30Bn July primary issue.

“The implied yield on the tenor – 10-year – is currently at 13.0771 percent which will offer investors a starting point to the market determined coupon. As the week comes to a dusk, we shall be approaching the end of the current CRR cycle which will slow down secondary market activity.”

The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) is set to meet on Monday, 17th July 2017 to review the prevailing macro-economic conditions and give direction on the Central Bank Rate (CBR).

In their previous meeting held in May 2017, the MPC maintained the CBR at 10.0 percent on account of the foreign exchange market, which remained relatively stable, supported by a narrower current account deficit and high forex reserves, and the banking sector remaining resilient, with the average commercial banks liquidity ratio and capital adequacy ratio at 44.4 percent and 18.8 percent, respectively, while the gross NPL ratio for the sector declined slightly to 9.6 percent in April from 9.7 percent recorded in February.

Cytonn Investments Analyst note that the liquidity environment is expected to remain high given heavy maturities of government securities and following the capping of interest rates.

Read: 

Cap on Bank Rates has Complicated the Conduct of the MPC – CBK Governor

Capping of Interest Rate done more bad than good on the economy – Analysts

And going forward, “The Money supply growth is high, at 22.1 percent as at March, and the trend could be inflationary and there are heavy maturities of government securities leading to more liquidity in the market.”

“MPC should adopt a tightening monetary policy decision,” the say. “However, looking at the trend in private sector credit growth, which is now at an 8-year low, and the slowdown in GDP growth, we expect that the MPC will hold the CBR at 10.0 percent, in order to support economic growth.”

David Indeje is a writer and editor, with interests on how technology is changing journalism, government, Health, and Gender Development stories are his passion. Follow on Twitter @David_Indeje David can be reached on: (020) 528 0222 / Email: info@sokodirectory.com

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