INterest rates to rise 25 points, page-2

Australia's RBA raises interest rates to 4.50 pct
09:32, Wednesday, 8 May 2002

SYDNEY, May 8 (Reuters) - Australia's central bank raised the
official cash rate to 4.50 percent from 4.25 percent on Wednesday
after Tuesday's monthly board meeting, heralding the start of a
new tightening cycle.

This was the Reserve Bank of Australia's first tightening
since August 2000 and follows 200 basis points worth of easings
during 2001, which took the cash rate to a near 30-year low.

Economists had given a 70 percent risk of a rate rise this
month.
((Colin Brinsden 61-2 9373-1800, Sydney Newsroom,

[email protected]))