Brazil central bank chief vows to slash inflation by end-2016

RIO DE JANEIRO (Reuters) - Brazil's central bank chief on Friday renewed his commitment to slash inflation to the center of a government target by the end of 2016, signaling more interest rate hikes in Latin America's largest economy.

Speaking at a central bank event in Rio de Janeiro, Alexandre Tombini stressed that policymakers would remain "vigilant" to ensure the inflationary impact of sharp rises in government-managed prices this year does not spread out into 2016 and beyond.

He said the central bank was focused on bringing consumer inflation, currently running at an 11-year high of 8.2 percent, back to the midpoint of a government target that ranges from 2.5 percent to 6.5 percent.

"This is our commitment, and we'll do whatever is necessary to meet it," Tombini told reporters after delivering his speech.

Economists said his comments suggest the central bank will continue to raise the benchmark Selic rate, currently at 13.25 percent, despite a looming recession.

"Tombini's tone remains very hawkish," Santander Securities strategist Sandro Sobral wrote in a note to clients. Investors in the interest-rate futures market have already priced in a Selic at 14 percent by the end of the year, Sobral added.

Tombini said the current monetary tightening cycle has already caused inflation expectations to ease modestly.

"This progress (in inflation expectations) is welcome, but it is not enough for us to meet the 4.5 percent target by 2016," he said.

Tombini added that a consistent fiscal policy would help the central bank bring inflation back to the target while allowing the economy to grow at a sustainable pace in the future.

Brazil is expected to unveil on Friday a major spending freeze to restore investors' confidence in President Dilma Rousseff's fiscal policy.

Tombini also said a weaker exchange rate would help Brazil reduce its current account deficit, a comment some analysts interpreted as a sign that the central bank may further reduce its support for the currency.

(Editing by W Simon and Lisa Von Ahn)