Australian Interest rates will stay steady for at least another two months after the
Reserve Bank today kept the official rate on hold at 4.75 per cent. The decision
was widely expected after the RBA’s surprise move last month prompted the big
banks to lift mortgage rates well beyond the official 25 basis-point rise. HSBC
economist Paul Bloxham said last week that today’s decision was “almost a fait
accompli” after mortgage rates rose by about 40 basis-points in November, “which
is plenty of tightening for now”. After today’s board meeting, the RBA will not
meet again until February,
the Herald Sun reports.In a statement detailing today's rate decision,
RBA governor Glenn Stevens said there continued to be "a degree of caution" in consumer spending and borrowing, which has led to "a noticeable increase" in the household saving rate. "Following the board's decision last month to lift the cash rate, and the subsequent increases by financial institutions, lending rates in the economy are now a little above average," Mr Stevens said. "The board views this setting of monetary policy as appropriate for the economic outlook."
A 25 basis point increase to the official rate would have added about $50 a month to a $300,000, 25-year home loan, according to research company Canstar Cannex. All 15 economists surveyed earlier by AAP forecasted the central bank would leave the overnight cash rate at 4.75 per cent. The meeting followed weak economic data last week showing the Australian economy grew 0.2 per cent in the September quarter for an annual pace of 2.7 per cent and retail trade fell 1.1
per cent in October. "The 'super-sizing' by the commercial banks all but liminated the need to do much more near term," JP Morgan chief economist Stephen Walters said yesterday. Last week's data also showed tepid economic growth in the September quarter and an unexpectedly weak result for October retail sales, giving the (RBA) more flexibility on its next move. The jump in
mortgage rates, aside from the uproar from customers and politicians of all stripes, has caused a change of behaviour among borrowers.
According to
Mortgage Choice data, almost 11 per cent of all home loans approved in November were fixed rate, compared with 7.7 per cent in October, as borrowers sought certainty in their
monthly repayments. Such mortgages accounted for less than one per cent of approvals in January. Another broker, Loan Market, has also faced a flood of inquiries from people wanting to reduce their home loan by moving to a smaller house. Treasurer Wayne Swan is expected to announce a suite of measures this week to encourage more banking competition by promoting smaller banks, building societies and credit unions.
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Euros To Australian Dollars = 1.3450
Australian Dollars to US Dollars = 1.0095
Australian Dollars to New Zealand Dollars = 1.3000
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