Australia's central bank keeps rates on hold, stays hawkish

Pedestrians walk past the Reserve Bank of Australia building in central Sydney. — Reuters

SYDNEY: Australia's central bank on Tuesday held interest rates steady as expected and reiterated that policy needed to stay tight, sticking to its guns a week after the Federal Reserve started its easing campaign with a bang.

The hawkish stance sent the Australian dollar 0.4% higher to $0.6864, the highest this year, and markets pared the chance of a December rate cut to 59% from 64% before the decision.