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Re:澳元又加息了，25个基点
Interest rates rise by 0.25%<br>
December 3, 2003 - 9:37AM， the Age<br>
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Homebuyers will have to fork out an average $30 extra a month on their mortgages before Christmas after the Reserve Bank today announced interest rates would rise by another 0.25 percentage points. <br>
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The rise, the second in two months, will take the official cash rate to 5.25 per cent, its highest level in more than two-and-a-half years. <br>
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If passed on in full by lenders, standard mortgage rates will rise to just over seven per cent, adding $30 to monthly repayments on the average $189,100 home loan. <br>
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Buying a home is already harder than even during the late 1980s and early 1990s, when interest rates were more than twice as high, and the rise means loan repayments will suck up record amounts of household income. <br>
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The rise came ahead of the release of official economic growth figures later this morning which are expected to show the economy picked up speed in the September quarter, expanding by about 1.5 per cent. <br>
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The move will put more more pressure on the Australian dollar, which pushed through the 73 US cents mark in offshore trade overnight, a fresh six-year high. <br>
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In a statement, the bank said economic conditions around the world had continued to improve and the international climate was better than it had been for some time. <br>
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In Australia, although there were signs of a cooling in the housing market, other indicators showed the economy was steaming ahead. <br>
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"The pace of consumer spending has accelerated sharply, business confidence is high, and the labour market has firmed over recent months," the bank said. <br>
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"While the exchange rate has appreciated, the stronger international climate, rising commodity prices and more favourable conditions in the farm sector indicate improving export prospects. <br>
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"Hence, notwithstanding some early signs of a change in sentiment in the housing market, the overall prospects are for strong growth of the Australian economy."<br>
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The Reserve Bank said the inflation rate was close to the middle of the two to three per cent target range but was being held down by the higher Australian dollar, which makes imported goods cheaper. <br>
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"In the short term, these exchange rate effects are likely to reduce the inflation rate further," the bank said. <br>
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"Once these effects start to fade, however, CPI inflation is expected to be on a rising trajectory given the strength of domestic demand, firming labour market conditions and continuing strong price pressures in the non-tradeables sector of the economy." <br>
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The bank said interest rates were still below the neutral level - estimated at 5.5 to six per cent - and were continuing to drive a rapid increase in debt. <br>
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"The growth of credit remains rapid and indeed has picked up further in the past few months," the bank said. <br>
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"In these circumstances the Board took the view that a further increase in the cash rate was warranted in order to reduce the degree of stimulus to the economy from monetary policy."<br>
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发表于 3-12-2003 07:08:39
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