The Reserve Bank of New Zealand reduced its benchmark rate by a quarter-point, as expected on Wednesday, and hinted at further easing as recent increases in trade tariffs pose downside risks to economic outlook.
The Monetary Policy Committee, led by acting governor Christian Hawkesby, decided to cut the Official Cash Rate by 25 basis points to 3.50 percent, which was the lowest since October 2022. The committee observed that a 25 basis-point reduction would be consistent with the mandate of maintaining low and stable inflation.
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April 17, 2026 15:29 ET The ongoing conflict in the Middle East continues to raise concerns for policymakers who worry about the impact of the supply shock and high energy prices on the real economy. Producer price data and various survey results on the housing market were the main news from the U.S. this week. In Europe, industrial production data for the euro area gained attention. GDP figures out of China and the policy move by the Singapore central bank were in focus in Asia.