Hamood Sangour Al Zadjali, Executive President of the Central Bank of Oman, told Times of Oman in an exclusive interview that no decision has yet been taken on whether to raise interest rates after the recent US hike. Oman is studying whether to raise the country’s key interest rates, after the Federal Reserve lifted their rates, the country’s central bank chief told. “So far, the interest rates in the local market are relatively higher than rates prevailing in international markets,” noted the central bank chief, refuting the argument that a disparity in interest rates will lead to capital outflows. Al Zadjali said that there is no plan to increase the upper interest ceiling of 6 per cent on personal loans provided by commercial banks.