首尔：韩国央行在周四（10月22日）维持了其基准利率不变，但通过上调经济增长预期并保持对韩国出口形势的乐观态度，继续表现出强硬的货币政策立场。
SEOUL: The Bank of Korea kept its benchmark interest rate unchanged on Thursday (Oct 22) but maintained a hawkish stance by upgrading its economic growth forecasts and remaining upbeat about the country's export momentum.
韩国央行的七人货币政策委员会投票决定将7天回购利率维持在3%的水平，这一结果与路透社调查的34位分析师的预测一致。
The seven-member monetary policy board at the BOK voted to keep the seven-day repurchase rate at 3 per cent, a decision that was forecast by all 34 analysts surveyed by Reuters.
央行表示，未来仍有可能进一步收紧货币政策，并表示“将在评估通胀情况、金融稳定状况以及国内经济趋势的基础上，决定未来加息的时机和节奏”。
The central bank said that further tightening remains on the table, stating it "will decide the timing and pace of future increases" while assessing inflation, financial stability and domestic economic trends.
韩国央行在声明中表示：“预计今年和明年的经济增长率将显著高于8月份预测的3.3%和2.9%；因此决定在周四暂停加息，以便评估外部风险以及7月和8月连续加息所带来的滞后影响。”
"The growth rates for this year and next year are expected to be considerably higher than the August forecasts of 3.3 per cent and 2.9 per cent, respectively," the BOK said in a statement, adding a pause on Thursday was needed to evaluate external risks and the lagging effects of its back-to-back hikes in July and August.
央行还指出，明年整体的通胀率（包括核心通胀率）都将超过之前的预测。
It also said that both headline inflation and core inflation for next year will exceed its previous forecasts.
Capital Economics的分析师Gareth Leather在会议后表示：“韩国央行在今天的会议上维持了3%的基准利率，但我们认为这并不意味着紧缩周期的结束；我们预计韩国央行将在今年11月的最后一次会议上再次加息。”
"The Bank of Korea left its policy rate unchanged at 3 per cent at today’s meeting, but we doubt this marks the end of the tightening cycle, and have pencilled in one hike for the BOK’s final meeting of the year in November," Gareth Leather, an analyst at Capital Economics said in a note after the decision.
7月和8月的两次加息是韩国央行三年多来的首次连续加息；此后，行长申铉松表示央行更倾向于采取渐进式的紧缩措施。
The July and August increases were the central bank's first consecutive hikes in more than three years, after which Governor Shin Hyun Song said a gradual pace of tightening was preferred.
不过，申铉松在10月13日的一次国际货币基金组织活动中重申，除非通胀率降至目标水平，否则货币政策仍将保持紧缩态势。
Shin, however, reiterated at an International Monetary Fund event on Oct 13 that policy would remain restrictive until inflation converges to its target.
9月份的整体消费者通胀率从8月份的3.1%降至2.9%，但仍高于央行设定的2%的目标水平。
Headline consumer inflation slowed to 2.9 per cent in September from 3.1 per cent in August, remaining above the bank's 2 per cent target.
受全球人工智能支出推动，出口正强劲增长。1月至9月的出货额首次突破8000亿美元。
Exports are powering ahead thanks to global spending on artificial intelligence. Shipments from January to September topped US$800 billion for the first time ever.
由于增长预计将保持稳健、通胀高于目标，调查中的预测中值显示，韩国央行将在11月会议上将基准利率上调至3.25%，这与韩国央行的点阵图预测一致。
With growth expected to remain firm and inflation above target, median forecasts in the survey showed the BOK raising its base rate to 3.25 per cent at its November meeting, in line with the BOK's dot plot projection.
申铉松将于格林尼治时间0210（新加坡时间上午10时10分）举行新闻发布会。
Shin will hold a news conference at 0210 GMT (10.10am Singapore time).