New Zealand’s central bank is expected to leave interest rates and its quantitative easing programme unchanged this week as it assesses the economic impact of some international tourists returning and the government’s new housing market measures. In a Reuters poll, all 11 economists forecast the Reserve Bank of New Zealand (RBNZ) to stand pat on Wednesday, and predicted it will keep the official cash rate (OCR) at the historic low of 0.25% for the rest of the year. Only three expected rates to be raised after the second half of next year. Business sentiment has been waning in recent months despite a remarkable ... (full story)