[Reserve Bank of Australia Maintains Interest Rates as Expected, Market Predicts Easing Cycle May Have Ended] Reported by Golden Finance, the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) did not deliver an early Christmas 'gift' to mortgage holders, opting to keep interest rates unchanged during its final meeting of the year. In Tuesday's widely anticipated and unanimously approved decision, the Monetary Policy Committee held the cash rate steady at 3.6%. Inflation is expected to rebound in the second half of 2025, shattering hopes for further rate cuts. Since February this year, the RBA has cumulatively cut rates by 75 basis points. The interest rate market and most economists now believe the RBA's easing cycle has concluded. Some analysts have pointed out that if inflationary pressures continue to rise, the central bank may be forced to hike rates as early as February next year. Domain's Chief Economist Nicola Powell stated that the reversal in rate expectations could help alleviate the pressure from the rapid housing market price increases seen over the past year. (Jin10)