Indonesian c.bank holds policy rate at 6.75 pct

JAKARTA, April 12 (Reuters) - Indonesia's central bank kept
its benchmark interest rate at 6.75 percent on Tuesday,
as expected, after a surprise 25 basis point increase in
February and no change in March.

March annual inflation slowed to 6.65 percent as food prices
eased, helped by the start of the country's main rice harvest,
leading economists to forecast that interest rates would stay at
6.75 percent on this occasion.

KEY DATA:

Announcement date Rate (percent)

---------------------------------------

12-April-2011 6.75

04-March-2011 6.75

04-Feb-2011 6.75

05-Jan-2011 6.50

03-Dec-2010 6.50

04-Nov-2010 6.50

05-Oct-2010 6.50

03-Sept-2010 6.50

04-Aug-2010 6.50

05-July-2010 6.50

03-June-2010 6.50

05-May-2010 6.50

06-April-2010 6.50

04-March-2010 6.50

04-Feb-2010 6.50

06-Jan-2010 6.50

03-Dec-2009 6.50

04-Nov-2009 6.50

05-Oct-2009 6.50

03-Sept-2009 6.50

05-Aug-2009 6.50

03-July-2009 6.75

03-June-2009 7.00

05-May-2009 7.25

03-April-2009 7.50

04-March-2009 7.75

04-Feb-2009 8.25

07-Jan-2009 8.75

CONTEXT:

Indonesia's central bank had been expected to leave interest
rates unchanged at its meeting on April 12 as annual inflation
slowed to 6.65 percent in March (from 6.84 percent in February),
as the main rice harvest began. It usually runs until May and
June.

Analysts say inflation should remain in check for a while
and give the central bank room to hold rates at 6.75 percent,
after a surprise 25 basis point rise in February aimed at
calming the market, which had been worried about inflation,
although firm oil prices may have a knock-on effect.

Indonesia's statistics bureau has said inflation may ease in
April, as the government has scrapped import duties on rice,
wheat and soybeans, while the central bank has let the rupiah
strengthen to help bring down imported inflation.

Analysts forecast Bank Indonesia will raise rates to 7
percent by the end of this quarter and to 7.5 percent by the
year-end to dampen inflation in Southeast Asia's largest
economy.

Rising oil prices may force the government to implement a
plan to cut fuel subsidies for private cars, which has been
delayed, or increase the retail price of subsidised fuel
sometime in the second quarter, pushing up inflation.

Bank Indonesia has said it will adjust its benchmark rate,
used as a reference by banks to set lending rates, in stages in
a timely manner to support an economy seen growing by 6.4
percent this year.

LINKS:

- BI rate details ..........................

- Central bank website ............... www.bi.go.id

(Reporting by Aditya Suharmoko and Adriana Nina Kusuma)