RBNZ’s loan restrictions to stay Wheeler’s hand in next week’s rate review

RBNZ’s loan restrictions to stay Wheeler’s hand in next week’s rate review
By Paul McBeth Sept. 6 (BusinessDesk) - The Reserve Bank’s looming restrictions on low-equity home lending will give governor Graeme Wheeler time to pause and reflect at next week’s monetary policy review. Wheeler will keep the official cash rate at 2.5 percent when he releases the monetary policy statement on Sept. 12, according to a Reuters poll of 15 economists. The key rate hasn’t budged since March 2011 when it was cut in response to the earthquakes which levelled Christchurch, although economists are picking a hike to 2.75 percent next...