RBA OFFICIALY LEAVES INTEREST RATES ON HOLD

Australia's borrowers have been given a reprieve, with the Reserve Bank surprising everyone by leaving interest rates on hold - for now at least.

The RBA left its key cash rate unchanged at 3.75 per cent after its monthly board meeting. The outcome snaps a run of three consecutive monthly increases that began in October, and added as much as $185 to a typical $300,000 home loan.