Australia's central bank hikes rates to 18-year high in a split vote

Pedestrians walk past the Reserve Bank of Australia headquarters in Sydney, Australia, on Monday, Feb. 29, 2016. Australian wage rises are the smallest on record, jobs growth has evaporated and firms plan to cut investment. Add a stronger currency and global calls for stimulus and pressure is clearly building for interest-rate cuts. Photographer: Brendon Thorne/Bloomberg

SYDNEY: Australia's central bank raised its cash rate to an 18-year high on Tuesday in its fifth hike of the year, though the vote was closer than many expected with three of the nine board members wanting to stay on hold.

Wrapping up its November policy meeting, the Reserve Bank of Australia's board lifted rates by 25 basis points to 4.85% and said it would continue to do what it considers necessary to bring inflation to target. However, it did remove a reference to increasing the cash rate further if needed.

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2016年2月29日星期一，行人走过位于澳大利亚悉尼的澳大利亚储备银行总部。澳大利亚的工资涨幅创历史新低，就业增长停滞不前，企业计划削减投资。加之澳元走强和全球范围内要求刺激经济的呼声，降息的压力显然正在不断增加。摄影：Brendon Thorne/彭博社

悉尼：澳大利亚央行周二将现金利率上调至 18 年来的最高水平，这是今年的第五次加息，但投票结果比许多人预期的要接近，九名董事会成员中有三人希望维持利率不变。

澳大利亚储备银行在11月政策会议结束时，将利率上调25个基点至4.85%，并表示将继续采取一切必要措施，以使通胀率达到目标水平。不过，会议并未提及如有必要将进一步提高现金利率。

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