Tunisia's central bank raised its key BCT rate by 75 basis points to 5.75 percent, its first hike since May last year, to "face up to the real risks of ongoing inflation in 2018" and lay the groundwork for sound economic growth.

Moody's Investors Service has today downgraded the long-term issuer rating of the government of Tunisia to B1 from Ba3 and maintained the negative outlook. Moody's has also downgraded the foreign currency debt rating of the Central Bank of Tunisia to B1 from Ba3 and maintained the negative outlook, in addition to downgrading the shelf/MTN rating to (P)B1 from (P)Ba3. The Government of Tunisia is legally responsible for the payments on all of the central bank's bonds. These debt instruments are issued on behalf of the government.

Tunisia's central bank raised its key interest rate by a further 25 basis points to 5.0 percent in order to limit the impact on the economy from rising inflationary pressure and a growing current account deficit.

Tunisia's central bank raised its key interest rate by 50 basis points to 4.75 percent at an extraordinary board meeting to help ease rising inflationary pressures following a sharp fall in the dinar's exchange rate and said it was closely following those pressures so it could "undertake the appropriate actions on time."