Australia’s central bank governor plays down housing risks

By Swati Pandey and Wayne Cole

SYDNEY (Reuters) – Australia’s top central banker played down recent increases in mortgage rates by domestic lenders but highlighted global risks to growth including a possible escalation of trade disputes and economic strains in emerging markets.

The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) was also watching out for a material lift in U.S. inflation which could force the Federal Reserve to tighten policy at a faster pace, Governor Philip Lowe said in a speech in Perth.

Lowe was speaking at the RBA Board dinner in Perth after earlier announcing the benchmark cash rate was on hold at an all-time low 1.50 percent at its September board meeting.

He emphasized the need for policy to remain accommodative as the central bank awaits a revival in wage growth and inflation, which has undershot its 2-3 percent target for more than two years. Wage growth, on the other hand, is crawling near its slowest pace on record despite a strong jobs market.

“Many business people that I speak to recognize that a pick-up in overall wages growth would be a positive development from a macro perspective, although not from the perspective of their individual business,” Lowe said.

“So there is a tension there,” he added.

“Our expectation is that wages growth will pick up from here, but the pick-up is likely to be only gradual.”

Lowe has remained patient on policy since taking over the reins at the RBA in September 2016. The central bank last cut rates in August of that year and has since stayed on the sidelines.

He signaled the next move was going to be an increase, albeit not for some time.

The RBA has one eye on the country’s housing markets as tighter credit conditions take the heat off the once-booming sector, Lowe said without sounding alarmed about the trend.

He noted the recent increase in mortgage rates by banks in response to higher funding costs, but again played down its effects on the market.

Last week, Australia’s No.2 lender Westpac raised mortgage rates, a move considered by many as a defacto tightening in the market.

But Lowe disagreed.

“A much less remarked upon fact is that the average mortgage rate paid in Australia has fallen since August last year, as lenders have increased their discounts,” he said

“I encourage anyone with a mortgage to shop around: there are some very good offerings out there.”

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