Australia's central bank holds rates as it frets over trade war risk

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

SYDNEY: Australia's central bank on Tuesday left its cash rate steady as widely expected but took a small step towards further easing in a policy meeting dominated by risks of a global trade war.

Wrapping up its April policy meeting, the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) held interest rates steady at 4.1%, having just cut them by a quarter point in February for the first time in over four years.