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Reserve Bank Leaves Cash Rate At 1.50% At Monthly Meeting

The Reserve Bank left the cash rate at 1.50%, at its monthly meeting today.

The bank’s board set the rate at the historic low of 1.50%.

The bank’s Governor, Glenn Stevens, said inflation is “quite low” and is expected to remain that way “for some time”.

Stevens said: “In Australia, recent data suggest that overall growth is continuing, despite a very large decline in business investment, helped by growth in other areas of domestic demand and exports. Labour market indicators continue to be somewhat mixed, but suggest continued expansion in employment in the near term.” [Read more…]


Historic Low For Interest Rates As Reserve Bank Lowers Cash Rate To 1.50%

The Reserve Bank today lowered the cash rate 25 basis points to 1.50%, a historic low point for interest rates in Australia.

In the second cut this year, the Bank lowered the cash rate from 1.75%, citing “difficult conditions” in “a number of emerging market economies”. Australia’s terms of trade “remain much lower than they had been in recent years”.

A statement from the Reserve Bank Governor, Glenn Stevens says “low interest rates have been supporting domestic demand and the lower exchange rate since 2013 is helping the traded sector”.

In what could be construed as a plea to the banks, the statement says: “Financial institutions are in a position to lend for worthwhile purposes.”

Text of media release from Glenn Stevens, Governor of the Reserve Bank of Australia.

Monetary Policy Decision

At its meeting today, the Board decided to lower the cash rate by 25 basis points to 1.50 per cent, effective 3 August 2016. [Read more…]


Reserve Bank Cuts Interest Rates By 0.25%; First Reduction In A Year

The Reserve Bank of Australia has cut the cash rate by 0.25% to a historic low of 1.75%.

The decision was announced at 2.30pm today. The Governor of the Bank, Glenn Stevens, said: “At its meeting today, the Board decided to lower the cash rate by 25 basis points to 1.75 per cent, effective 4 May 2016. This follows information showing inflationary pressures are lower than expected.”

The cash rate has been 2.0% since May last year.

Statement from Glenn Stevens, Governor of the Reserve Bank of Australia.

Statement by Glenn Stevens, Governor

Monetary Policy Decision

At its meeting today, the Board decided to lower the cash rate by 25 basis points to 1.75 per cent, effective 4 May 2016. This follows information showing inflationary pressures are lower than expected.

The global economy is continuing to grow, though at a slightly lower pace than earlier expected, with forecasts having been revised down a little further recently. While several advanced economies have recorded improved conditions over the past year, conditions have become more difficult for a number of emerging market economies. China’s growth rate moderated further in the first part of the year, though recent actions by Chinese policymakers are supporting the near-term outlook. [Read more…]


Still No Movement On Interest Rates

The Reserve Bank has again made no change to its cash rate, following today’s Board meeeting.

The cash rate remains at 2.0 per cent, where it has been since May last year.

The Board’s statement says current “low interest rates are supporting demand” and there are “reasonable prospects for continued growth in the economy, with inflation close to target”. [Read more…]