RBA Officials to Speak Ahead of Crucial Cash Rate Meeting

As anticipation builds towards another interest rate hike later this month, senior Reserve Bank of Australia officials will soon take centre stage. On Monday, RBA chief economist Sarah Hunter will participate in a fireside chat at a Regional Australia Institute summit in Canberra.

The following day, RBA governor Michele Bullock will appear before a parliamentary committee. Both events will be closely monitored for any hints on the central bank's future interest rate decisions.

Recent comments from senior RBA officials have reinforced expectations of further interest rate hikes. Dr Hunter and RBA deputy governor Andrew Hauser sent bond markets into a spin with their hawkish speaking appearances last week, leaving markets pricing in about a four-in-five chance of another 25 basis point increase on September 29.

Westpac's economics team has dropped its call for no more rate hikes following Mr. Hauser's appearance on ABC's 730 program. However, Westpac chief economist Luci Ellis still believes the RBA is more likely to hike in November than September.