/VIEWS: Bank desk views ahead of today's RBA....>

RBA: /VIEWS: Bank desk views ahead of today's RBA MonPol decision

ANZ: We will be looking to see whether the RBA has become more cautious on the

outlook for housing given the recent data points. Even if this is the case we

think the Bank will remain upbeat overall.

- CBA: Comments from the Governor on the Q1 wages data, published in April, and

the housing market will be of most interest to financial market participants.

But it's clear that the policy rate is going to stay on hold for a while longer

given there is no evidence yet that wages growth and core inflation are on a

sustained upward trend.

- NAB: There seems little to deflect the RBA from its view that a return of

inflation to its target range will continue, if at a still-exp. gradual rate.

- Westpac: The case for patience has been reinforced by recent labour market

updates, which remain sluggish thereby constraining consumer spending. Moreover,

tighter lending standards have been helpful in containing the build-up of risk

in household balance sheets. We continue to expect the RBA to leave the cash

rate unchanged at 1.50% throughout 2018 and 2019.