Australia c.bank signals more tightening ahead after lifting rates to decade-high

By Stella Qiu

SYDNEY, Feb 7 (Reuters) - Australia's central bank raised its cash rate 25 basis points to a decade-high of 3.35% on Tuesday and reiterated that further increases would be needed, a more hawkish policy tilt than many had expected.

Wrapping up its February policy meeting, the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) also dropped previous guidance that it was not on a pre-set path and forecast inflation would only return to the top of its target range of 2-3% by mid-2025.

"The Board expects that further increases in interest rates will be needed over the months ahead to ensure that inflation returns to target and that this period of high inflation is only temporary," governor Philip Lowe said in a statement.

Markets were surprised by the hawkish tone of the RBA which shattered any expectations of an imminent pause to the tightening campaign. Futures market has priced in a peak rate of 3.9%, implying at least two more rate hikes in March and April, compared with 3.75% before the decision.

The local dollar shot up to $0.6940, extending earlier gains. Three-year government bond yields jumped 15 bps to 3.254% while ten-year yields also surged 15 bps to 3.615%.

"The surprise was not in the decision, but rather the shift in tone and forward guidance in the Governor's Statement," said Gareth Aird, head of Australian economics at CBA, as he updated his call for rates to peak at 3.85% after the decision, compared with 3.35% previously.

"This change implies that the RBA Board has essentially made up their mind and intend to raise the cash rate further over coming months, if the economic data prints in line with their updated forecasts."

Markets had expected a quarter-point move, with some risk of a bigger rise given recent inflation data had surprised on the high side. This was the ninth hike since last May, lifting rates by a total of 325 basis points.

Lowe said that core inflation had been higher than expected, with the trimmed mean gauge accelerating to 6.9% last quarter from a year ago, above the central bank's previous forecast of 6.5%.

HIGH INFLATION 'VERY COSTLY'

Inflation is expected to decline to 4.75% this year and only slow to around 3% by mid-2025, according to the RBA's latest forecasts.

The RBA also expects economic growth to average around 1.5% over 2023 and 2024.

The interest rate increases so far - including Tuesday's move - will add over A$900 a month in repayments to the average A$500,000 mortgage, according to RateCity, a deadweight for a population that holds A$2 trillion ($1.3 trillion) in home loans.

Housing prices fell for the ninth straight month in January, with prices in Sydney and Melbourne down about 10% from a year ago.

There are signs that consumers are finally pulling back on spending as cost of living surges and rate increases bite. Australian retail sales recorded the biggest drop in more than two years in December.

The next big test is the December quarter wage growth report later this month, which analysts expect to be robust given the labour market is at its strongest in nearly 50 years.

"High inflation makes life difficult for people and damages the functioning of the economy. And if high inflation were to become entrenched in people's expectations, it would be very costly to reduce later," warned Lowe as he signalled the bank's intention to extend the tightening cycle.

(Reporting by Wayne Cole; Editing by Shri Navaratnam)