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Australia's Central Bank Pauses Tightening Cycle, Leaves Door Open for Further Rate Hikes

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Australia's Central Bank Pauses Tightening Cycle, Leaves Door Open for Further Rate Hikes

Australia's central bank has paused its policy-tightening cycle amid a slowdown in consumer spending and continued uncertainty surrounding the economy, but warned that further rate hikes remain on the cards given persistently high inflation.

Policymakers at the Reserve Bank of Australia on Tuesday unanimously voted to hold the cash rate target at 4.35%, following three consecutive rate hikes this year that triggered a tightening of financial conditions.

The decision came as no surprise, with the investment arms of Bank of America and HSBC forecasting a pause based on recent economic indicators that showed both housing momentum and the labor market softening.

Australia's unemployment rate was higher than expected in April, and housing prices have declined in some capital cities, the central bank said in a statement reporting the decision. It added that while a resolution to the Middle East conflict appears within grasp, oil supply disruptions will take time to settle, and inflation is likely to stay elevated for a while longer.

The pause in the cycle follows the Australian economy growing by a seasonally adjusted 0.3% in the March quarter, decelerating from growth of 0.9% in the previous three-month period. The country's unemployment rate rose to 4.5% in April from 4.3% in March, adding to deliberations on borrowing costs.

The central bank said it will continue to assess the response to previous interest rate hikes, and will do whatever is needed to keep a lid on inflation, "including increasing the cash rate target further if required."

At a press conference after the decision, central bank Governor Michele Bullock said the domestic economy is expected to slow further in the current quarter, which should help rein in inflation. She added that the bank did not consider a hike at this meeting, but reiterated that the pause does not rule out further tightening.

Commenting on the Australian Fair Work Commission's decision to increase the national minimum wage by 6% and minimum award wages by 4.75%, Bullock said the outcome was higher than what the central bank had factored into its forecast.

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