The Reserve Bank has held the official interest rate at 2.5 per cent, despite a worsening global picture in recent weeks. » Live stream The central bank has held rates steady since March last year, when it cut 50 basis points in the wake of the Canterbury earthquake. Rates have been extremely low for more than three years, with economists expecting the next move - a rise - to take place next year. The widely expected decision to hold, and not cut, rates comes just before this weekend's Greek election and just days after the big Spanish bank bailout. The riskier international scene had been expected to be a key focus ... (full story)