RBNZ expected to keep rates on hold but may signal rate hike by late 2018

RBNZ expected to keep rates on hold but may signal rate hike by late 2018
Rebecca Howard
By Rebecca Howard May 8 (BusinessDesk) - The Reserve Bank is widely expected to keep interest rates on hold on Thursday but growing signs of inflationary pressure and a weaker New Zealand dollar mean it may signal rate hikes by late 2018 rather than 2019.  The central bank has kept the official cash rate on hold at 1.75 percent since last November and has consistently said monetary policy will remain "accommodative for a considerable period". Its latest forecast - in the February monetary policy statement - signals rate hikes by September...