BANGKOK, Dec. 17 (Xinhua) -- Thailand's central bank lowered its key interest rate on Wednesday as policymakers seek to shore up the economy against U.S. trade pressures, sluggish growth, and a strong baht currency.
The Bank of Thailand's monetary policy committee unanimously voted to cut the one-day repurchase rate by 25 basis points to 1.25 percent during its final meeting of the year, marking the fifth reduction since last October, with rates down by a total of 125 basis points.
Given the apparent economic slowdown and heightened risks, the committee deems that monetary policy should be accommodative to support economic recovery, reduce vulnerable groups' debt burdens, and improve the effectiveness of other financial and government policies, the central bank said in a statement.
The central bank noted that it stands ready to adjust monetary policy as appropriate in line with the evolving economic and inflation outlook, while taking into account its limited policy space.
The central bank maintained its economic growth projection for this year at 2.2 percent but revised its 2026 forecast to 1.5 percent, down from 1.6 percent expected earlier. ■