SYDNEY (Reuters) - Australia's central bank is seen as all but certain to keep its cash rate at a record low of 1.5 percent at its monthly policy meeting next week, a Reuters poll of economists found.
Out of 42 economists polled by Reuters, 41 forecast the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) would stand pat at its policy meeting on Dec. 5.
The RBA eased twice last year but has since held steady as it balances the risk of fuelling further borrowing in the country's red-hot property market against tepid inflation.
While the majority predicted the central bank would keep rates steady until the third quarter of next year, 23 of 41 respondents forecast that it would tighten at least once by December next year, against one who expects two easings.
Cash rates are seen at 2.0 percent by June 2019, according to the median of 38 economists.
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Economists were asked what the cash rate would be after the next RBA meeting in December and where rates would be at the end of each quarter until June 2019.
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(Reporting by Tom Westbrook and Swati Pandey; Editing by Jacqueline Wong)
