AIRLINK 191.00 Decreased By ▼ -5.65 (-2.87%)
BOP 10.15 Increased By ▲ 0.01 (0.1%)
CNERGY 6.75 Increased By ▲ 0.06 (0.9%)
FCCL 34.35 Increased By ▲ 1.33 (4.03%)
FFL 17.42 Increased By ▲ 0.77 (4.62%)
FLYNG 23.80 Increased By ▲ 1.35 (6.01%)
HUBC 126.30 Decreased By ▼ -0.99 (-0.78%)
HUMNL 13.80 Decreased By ▼ -0.10 (-0.72%)
KEL 4.75 Decreased By ▼ -0.01 (-0.21%)
KOSM 6.55 Increased By ▲ 0.18 (2.83%)
MLCF 43.35 Increased By ▲ 1.13 (2.68%)
OGDC 226.45 Increased By ▲ 13.42 (6.3%)
PACE 7.35 Increased By ▲ 0.34 (4.85%)
PAEL 41.96 Increased By ▲ 1.09 (2.67%)
PIAHCLA 17.24 Increased By ▲ 0.42 (2.5%)
PIBTL 8.45 Increased By ▲ 0.16 (1.93%)
POWER 9.05 Increased By ▲ 0.23 (2.61%)
PPL 194.30 Increased By ▲ 10.73 (5.85%)
PRL 37.50 Decreased By ▼ -0.77 (-2.01%)
PTC 24.05 Decreased By ▼ -0.02 (-0.08%)
SEARL 94.97 Decreased By ▼ -0.14 (-0.15%)
SILK 1.00 No Change ▼ 0.00 (0%)
SSGC 40.00 Decreased By ▼ -0.31 (-0.77%)
SYM 17.80 Decreased By ▼ -0.41 (-2.25%)
TELE 8.72 Decreased By ▼ -0.01 (-0.11%)
TPLP 12.46 Increased By ▲ 0.25 (2.05%)
TRG 62.74 Decreased By ▼ -1.62 (-2.52%)
WAVESAPP 10.35 Decreased By ▼ -0.09 (-0.86%)
WTL 1.73 Decreased By ▼ -0.06 (-3.35%)
YOUW 4.02 Increased By ▲ 0.02 (0.5%)
BR100 11,814 Increased By 90.4 (0.77%)
BR30 36,234 Increased By 874.6 (2.47%)
KSE100 113,247 Increased By 609 (0.54%)
KSE30 35,712 Increased By 253.6 (0.72%)

imageWELLINGTON: New Zealand's central bank lifted interest rates for the third time this year on Thursday, saying the hike was needed to contain inflation.

The Reserve Bank of New Zealand raised the official cash rate (OCR) 0.25 points to 3.25 percent in a move that was widely expected in financial markets.

In March, New Zealand became the first advanced economy to tighten monetary policy since 2012, ending a three-year freeze.

Reserve Bank governor Graeme Wheeler said inflationary pressures were set to increase and further OCR rises may be needed to keep price rises close to the bank's target of 2.0 percent.

"In this environment, it is important that inflation expectations remain contained and that interest rates return to a more neutral level," he said.

"The speed and extent to which the OCR will need to rise will depend on future economic and financial data, and its implications for inflationary pressures."

The bank kept rates low for three years to cushion the impact of the devastating Christchurch 2011 earthquake, which claimed 185 lives and flattened much of the South Island city.

But with a NZ$40 billion ($34.5 billion) rebuilding programme stimulating the construction sector and farm exports to China booming, Wheeler has repeatedly spoken of the need to move rates to a "neutral" setting.

Comments

Comments are closed.