India hikes interest rates by 25 basis points

MUMBAI, June 16, 2011 (AFP) - India's central bank on Thursday raised its key short-term interest rates by 25 basis points -- its 10th hike in 16 months -- in a bid to tame high inflation stuck at "uncomfortable levels." The Reserve Bank of India raised its repo rate -- at which it lends to commercial banks -- to 7.50 percent and increased the reverse repo -- the rate it pays to banks for deposits -- to 6.

50 percent.

The repo rate is now at its highest since November 2008.

"Inflation persists at uncomfortable levels and much above our comfort zone," the RBI governor Duvvuri Subbarao said in a statement released after bank policymakers met in Mumbai.

The central bank decision came after data this week showed annual inflation accelerated to a higher-than-expected 9.
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06 percent in May, from 8.66 percent the previous month.

This is well above the RBI target of 5.0-6.0 percent.

Subbarao maintained a hawkish tone, saying a short-run slowdown in growth may be unavoidable as the bank maintains its "anti-inflationary" monetary policy stance.

Analysts had expected the increase and say further hikes are still likely in coming months.

India's Sensex opened lower before the meeting, as