The Reserve Bank of India has cut its key interest rate for the first time in nearly five years, as cooling inflation has offered room to stimulate the slowing economy. The central bank forecast real GDP growth for next fiscal year at 6.

Indian state-run companies are set to borrow nearly $2 billion via the bond market early next week after the central bank cut interest rates for the first time in nearly five years.

The Reserve Bank of India has cut its key interest rate for the first time in nearly five years, as cooling inflation has offered room to stimulate the slowing economy. The Monetary Policy Committee decided to trim the repo rate by 25 basis points to 6.