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The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
National
Antoun Issa

Afternoon Update: RBA’s rate hike surprise; higher tobacco taxes; and Serena Williams’ Met Gala reveal

Pedestrians walk past the Reserve Bank of Australia building in central Sydney
The market had largely expected the RBA to hold interest rates this month following a slight easing of inflation. Photograph: Steven Saphore/Reuters

Good afternoon. It’s a Tuesday surprise with the Reserve Bank defying the expectations of most economists and hiking the cash rate 25 basis points to 3.85%.

The market had largely expected the RBA to hold interest rates this month following a slight easing of inflation. The rate hike comes amid significant scrutiny of the central bank, with Greens senator Nick McKim warning in a column today that the federal government’s planned reforms might actually push the Reserve Bank further into the interests of corporations.

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