August 2023
Are we there yet? When will RBA reach the end of its inflation battle
The Reserve Bank’s big interest rate juggle has reached a critical moment.
- Michael Read
July 2022
Banks jack up interest rate outlook, with cash rate set to hit 3.35pc
The second-largest home lender warned borrowers to brace for an “over tightening” by the RBA that will slow economic growth to almost a standstill and push up unemployment next year.
- John Kehoe and Georgie Moore
April 2022
Westpac tips double rate rise in June
The forecast by the bank’s chief economist, Bill Evans, would take the Reserve Bank’s official cash rate to 0.5 per cent in just seven weeks.
- Ronald Mizen
Big four lock in interest rate rises from June
Australia’s major banks are now forecasting interest rates to start rising in June after the Reserve Bank of Australia’s hawkish pivot on Tuesday.
- Ronald Mizen
December 2021
Inflation to edge higher in coming months
Inflation will move further into the Reserve Bank of Australia’s target band in coming months, as global price pressures persist longer than expected.
- Ronald Mizen
June 2021
Interest rate rise in early 2023: Westpac
Westpac chief economist Bill Evans has brought forward his interest rate rise prediction to early 2023, after the ‘game changer’ fall in the unemployment rate.
- John Kehoe
April 2021
Housing boom the wildcard as consumers cheer up
Consumers will remain highly optimistic for some time, according to Westpac’s chief economist Bill Evans. But very strong growth in house prices is a cloud on the horizon that could invite regulatory intervention.
- Sarah Turner
January 2021
ASX sinks 2.8pc in worst week since October
The sharemarket limped to a fourth month of gains despite a late slide on Friday afternoon. Volatility spiked over the week as retail traders took on Wall Street. Westpac lifted its $A forecast to US85¢ by mid-2022.
- Updated
- Robert Guy, Vesna Poljak, Sarah Turner and Tom Richardson
October 2020
RBA's rate cut to 'hurt recovery', savers
Former Reserve Bank board member Warwick McKibbin, along with fund managers and bankers, is suggesting that rate cuts and QE could undermine the economy now.
- Updated
- Matthew Cranston and Jonathan Shapiro
ASX up 5.4pc for week; Westpac raises GDP forecasts
The sharemarket notched up a fifth straight day of gains on Friday as growing US stimulus hopes and a positive reaction to the budget steered the S&P/ASX200 Index to a five-week high.
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- Robert Guy, Vesna Poljak, Sarah Turner and Tom Richardson
- Analysis
- Monetary policy
RBA rate shift hangs on just one word
A change in wording from 'measures' to 'easing' was all economists needed to pencil in another hit of monetary stimulus next month and float the prospect of more aggressive action.
- Robert Guy
September 2020
ASX falls; Westpac forecasts 15pc house price boom
The sharemarket fell 1.2 per cent on Thursday as Fortescue Metals Group paced losses among iron ore miners after a downgrade from Morgan Stanley. Mineral Resources fell 9 per cent. Property plays Scentre, Mirvac and Dexus rallied. The jobless rate fell to 6.8 per cent in August.
- Robert Guy, Vesna Poljak, Sarah Turner, William McInnes, Luke Housego and Tom Richardson
June 2020
ASX down 2.5pc for the week; $90b wiped in two day sell-off
The Australian sharemarket snaps a six week losing streak with the S&P/ASX down 1.9 per cent on Friday. Banks lead losses, with Westpac down 3.3 per cent. Afterpay rallies 10 per cent off session low.
- Robert Guy, Sarah Turner, William McInnes, Luke Housego and Tom Richardson
ASX closes higher; Fortescue hits record; $A storms above US67¢
Australian stocks started the new month with a 1.1 per cent rally on Monday. Iron ore miners shine, as banks bounce off lows. Fortescue now bigger than Woolworths.
- Robert Guy, Vesna Poljak, William McInnes, Sarah Turner and Tom Richardson
May 2020
ASX notches up fifth week of gains; Westpac's Evans makes case for negative rates
Australian stocks scored a double despite finishing weaker on Friday: a fifth consecutive week of gains and back-to-back monthly advances. Afterpay soars in May, while CSL was one of the worst in the ASX200.
- Robert Guy, Vesna Poljak, William McInnes, Luke Housego and Sarah Turner
April 2020
Westpac warns against immigration cuts
Westpac chief economist Bill Evans says it would be a mistake to cut immigration in response to rising unemployment.
- Brad Thompson
March 2020
The recession we didn't have to have
Economists are forecasting a recession driven by the coronavirus, but most say it will be quite different to the three Australia has had since the 1970s.
- Matthew Cranston
January 2020
Surplus 'price that needs to be paid' to boost economy
Westpac's Bill Evans said that the government should give the RBA more of a helping hand, even if it means undershooting the surplus target in 2021.
- Sarah Turner
Glum consumer numbers boost rate cut chances
Westpac still expects that the Reserve Bank board will decide to cut the cash rate by 0.25 percentage points to 0.5 per cent when it next meets on February 4 after the Westpac-Melbourne Institute Index of Consumer Sentiment declined 1.8 per cent in January.
- Matthew Cranston
November 2019
Market hangs on Lowe's QE assessment
RBA governor Philip Lowe is facing pressure to reveal the central bank's preferences on how QE would be enacted when he speaks on Tuesday night.
- Matthew Cranston