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March 5th, 2013 
David Schulberg the 3rd Updated: 17:22, Tuesday March 5, 2013
The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) kept the cash rate unchanged at three per cent at its March board meeting, citing a better local and overseas economic outlook.
In 2012 the central bank cut the cash rate four times, which RBA governor Glenn Stevens said was starting to have a positive effect on the economy. In a statement accompanying the decision, RBA governor Glenn Stevens said most indicators suggest that economic growth in Australia is close to trend, helped mainly by an increase in investment in the resources sector.
‘Looking ahead, the peak in resource investment is approaching, as it does, there will be more scope for some other areas of demand to strengthen,’ Mr Stevens said on Tuesday.
‘Dwelling investment appears to be slowly increasing, with higher dwelling prices and rental yields.’
Mr Stevens said conditions that were hurting global economic growth have eased in recent months.
‘The United States is experiencing a moderate expansion and financial strains in Europe are considerably reduced compared with the situation through much of last year.
‘Around Asia generally, growth was dampened by the earlier slowing in China and the weakness in Europe, but again there are signs of stabilisation,’ Mr Stevens said.
JP Morgan economist Tom Kennedy said the RBA’s statement
indicated the central bank’s view of the economy hadn’t changed
since its February meeting.
‘All in all, this statement basically says that the economy is a
little bit soft but it is doing okay.
‘I don’t think there is a great deal of new information in
there.’
Mr Kennedy said the RBA made it clear it was willing to cut the
cash rate if needed.
‘I think that really is the key.
‘If we do see a notable deterioration in the (economic) data, I
think the RBA would be willing to step in and provide a more
accommodative stance of policy,’ he said.
Source Article from http://rss.skynews.com.au/c/34485/f/628636/s/293486b7/l/0L0Sskynews0N0Bau0Ctopstories0Carticle0Baspx0Did0F8516460GvId0F/story01.htm
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