This Month
Trump’s ‘one big beautiful bill’ is a danger to Australia
The budget is yet another tool to beat trade partners into submission. It threatens our companies, superannuation industry and sovereignty.
May
Beware the rising ‘moron premium’ on US bonds
In one way, Donald Trump is like Republican predecessors – he believes in tax cuts. What is novel is the foreboding he creates about faith in America’s credit.
The US AAA downgrade means nothing, short term. Long term, it’s huge
We already know America has a debt problem. But there are signs bond markets will force more prudence on its government, sparking a potentially seismic shift.
White House chides Moody’s downgrade to US credit rating
The White House has assailed a decision by Moody’s to lower the US credit rating, casting it as a political decision.
Australia’s credit rating comes back into focus
Our major banks are among the biggest financial institution borrowers in the world, tapping global markets for about $30 billion to $40 billion every year.
April
Mocking S&P’s credit warning risks Australia’s prosperity
The nation’s AAA rating is not an ornament. It was hard-won through decades of careful fiscal management by successive governments.
Albanese scoffs at credit rating agency over AAA warning
The prime minister took aim at an S&P Global report that warned the highest government spending since World War II was risking the nation’s prized credit rating.
March
Financial planning giant abruptly tells advisers to sell Metrics funds
Count Financial said it would also launch a wide-ranging review of private credit to assess whether the returns were still work the risk after recent turmoil.
Ellison loses billionaire status after MinRes shares collapse
The New Zealander’s net worth is estimated to have fallen below $1 billion after shares in the miner he founded fell 40 per cent over the past month following a stream of setbacks.
February
ACT risks Victoria-style downgrade as deficit blows out to $1b
S&P has told the ACT it must turn its finances around within a year or two, or else it will join Victoria as the lowest-rated Australian government.
December 2024
Singapore’s CapitaLand nails $200m Wingate deal
CapitaLand confirmed its intended acquisition of Wingate for $200 million as the Asian real estate manager expands into private credit.
November 2024
Moody’s downgrades MinRes as big investors demand board overhaul
The credit ratings agency has cut the lithium and iron ore miner to negative, citing the “negative implications” of its governance issues.
October 2024
My son is off to uni. Should I give him a credit card for emergencies?
Set clear guidelines around what constitutes an emergency. Does a late-night taxi ride home from the pub qualify?
Credit score agencies combine, creating Australia’s newest duopoly
Experian has completed its $820 million acquisition of Illion, which Experian’s CEO says will help banks assess credit risk more dynamically.
August 2024
Can I get a mortgage without a credit score?
Credit scores are a shortcut used by credit providers to assess your history in repaying debt. But what happens if you don’t have one?
June 2024
Afterpay says Treasury has overreached on BNPL regulation
Consumer groups, banks and even the corporate regulator say they also have concerns about Labor’s proposed laws to regulate buy now, pay later as credit.
May 2024
Four listed fintechs say they’ll be smashed by credit report rules
Plenti, MoneyMe, Harmoney and Wisr allege major banks are conspiring against them by restricting access to crucial credit file data they use to price loans.
April 2024
ACCC reviewing credit data deal as Experian pounces on illion
A $820m deal that would see consumer credit data controlled by a duopoly of foreign companies is being examined by the competition regulator.
January 2024
The lone Aussie riding US credit monopoly sensation FICO
US credit growth has hit the brakes as higher interest rates bite, but the American credit rating agency’s share price has jumped 87 per cent this year.
December 2023
Government spending splurge is blunting RBA rate rises: S&P
Federal and state governments are spending $50 billion a year more than pre-pandemic, making the inflation fight harder, a leading credit rating agency says.