Interest Rate Decisions - 2010
The Reserve Bank sets the target 'cash rate', which is the market interest rate on overnight funds. It uses this as the instrument for monetary policy, and influences the cash rate through its financial market operations. Decisions to vary this interest rate are made by the Reserve Bank Board, and are explained in a media release which announces the decision at 2.30 pm after each Board meeting. (Prior to November 2007, media releases were issued only when the cash rate target was changed.)