Australia: Shares close at seven-week high as RBA sticks with slower hikes

AUSTRALIAN shares jumped on Tuesday (Nov 1) to their highest close in seven weeks, as the country’s central bank stuck with a slower pace of rate hikes even as it raised its inflation outlook and indicated more tightening ahead.

The S&P/ASX 200 index rose 1.7 per cent to 6,976.9, with miners and financials leading the gains in broad-based buying.

The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) lifted its cash rate by an expected 25 basis points to a nine-year peak of 2.85 per cent and said it now expected inflation to peak around 8 per cent later this year, up from a previous forecast of 7.75 per cent.

The market had already priced in a 25-basis-point hike, hence there was minimal impact after the decision, said Azeem Sheriff, a market analyst at CMC Markets.

“The RBA’s updated forecasts have inflation above the top of its target band for more than three full years... This must pose some risks to medium-term inflation expectations, and the possibility that they become unanchored,” ANZ analysts said in a note.

Rates have already risen by 275 basis points since May and the RBA had wanted to slow down and see how the drastic tightening was affecting consumer spending.

However, consumer spending has remained strong, the job market stayed tight and inflation raced to a 32-year high last quarter.

Heavyweight mining stocks rose 2.8 per cent as iron ore and copper prices strengthened.

Financial stocks rose 1.3 per cent, with the “Big Four” banks adding between 0.9 and 1.6 per cent.

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Australia: Shares edge higher ahead of central bank decision

Rising oil prices helped energy stocks gain 2.1 per cent, while gold and healthcare stocks advanced 1.4 per cent and 1.1 per cent, respectively.

New Zealand’s benchmark S&P/NZX 50 index fell 0.2 per cent to 11,316.64. REUTERS