OREANDA-NEWS. Swedish Central Bank Governor Stefan Ingves repeated on Friday that the Riksbank stood ready to do more to make monetary policy more expansionary if needed to bring inflation back toward up to its target.

"We could cut the repo rate more and defer repo rate increases until a later date, purchase more government bonds or issue loans to companies via the banks. Neither would we wish to rule out foreign exchange interventions," he said in a statement released ahead of participating in an economic seminar.

"We can and will do more if necessary," he added.

At it last meeting in February, the central bank shocked markets by cutting its key repo rate into negative territory, launching bond purchases and saying it could take further steps to battle falling prices.