Bank of Thailand Governor Sethaput Suthiwartnarueput said it’s crucial for central banks to have independence in setting monetary policy, capping a week that saw the government resume calls for rate cuts and currency intervention.

Officials in some countries started cutting rates last year, but others, including those in Europe and the United States, have taken a more cautious approach.

Taiwan’s central bank held rates steady with a watchful eye on inflation, declining to join the Federal Reserve and a growing number of its Asian counterparts in starting to ease monetary policy.

The Federal Reserve lowered its key interest rate by a hefty half percentage point Wednesday, moving ahead with its first rate cut in four years.

The Fed’s rate cut will touch every corner of our financial lives, from the cost of borrowing money to buy a home or car to how much cash earns in the bank. How quickly the effects reach your wallet w