THE Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) could stay ahead of the US Federal Reserve — seen as finally easing policy next week — by ordering cuts totaling 75 basis points (bps) this year, an analyst said.

'Given the precarious timing of FOMC (Federal Open Market Committee) and BSP policy meetings, we could see [BSP] Governor [Eli] Remolona facing the option to cut rates ahead of the Fed again or to alternatively 'hug the Fed' by reacting to what [Fed Chairman Jerome] Powell would do,' Metrobank Research Nicholas Antonio Mapa said.