SBI not to hike rates for now

State Bank of India is not planning to raise lending or deposit rates before the end of the current quarter, said Mr. O.P.Bhatt,its Chairman. The Bank raised deposit rates by 25-50 basis points and its benchmark prime lending rate by 50 basis points last week. But it is not looking to raise its Base Rate for now, Mr. Bhatt said.He further said although liquidity is not as much as it used to be,funds are avilable. But after September,there could be pressure on liquidity due to advance tax payments.(BL 26082010)