Today
IMF puts Chalmers on notice over rates, super tax and spending
In its annual health check of Australia’s economy, the International Monetary Fund said more unexpected expenditure rises will force the RBA to keep rates high.
- Michael Read
Why rents and vacancy rates are both falling
Tight rental vacancies typically fuel strong rental increases, but not in the current market.
- Nila Sweeney
Yesterday
- Opinion
- Chanticleer
Why investment legend Chris Mackay says ‘it’s a dangerous time’
The MFF Capital Investments boss and Magellan co-founder says the “everything rally” is likely to reverse, but calm, long-term investors can fight through the noise.
- James Thomson
- Opinion
- RBA
RBA should spell out rules on private meetings with market movers
The holding of confidential meetings can backfire when some people think that others are getting advantaged access to the central bank’s thinking.
- John Kehoe
- Exclusive
- RBA
RBA barred Westpac in third case of briefing leak
A suspected leak of an off-record briefing from Michele Bullock led to the bank being black-listed for 12 months.
- Mark Di Stefano, John Kehoe and Cecile Lefort
This Month
The suburbs where house prices slumped by up to $288k in three months
The pressures of high interest rates and poor affordability triggered a decline in median house values in some of the country’s most expensive markets.
- Nila Sweeney
- Updated
- Home loans
CBA’s Comyn backs APRA’s mortgage buffer rules amid intense criticism
The chief executive of the country’s biggest lender said critics – who say the regulations make loans unattainable – were looking for an easy but ineffective fix.
- Updated
- Michael Read and Lucas Baird
Why Fed-obsessed US traders are ignoring China’s soaring sharemarket
The Asian giant’s stunning equity market surge has registered with US traders, underlining China’s limited role as an engine for America’s economy.
- Lu Wang and Yiqin Shen
Debt hits seven-year low before decade of deficits
Federal government net debt has fallen to its lowest level since 2017, but economists say the coming decade of deficits will send borrowing levels higher.
- Michael Read
- Opinion
- Monetary policy
Don’t turn the RBA’s private talks into a fishbowl
Not allowing the central bank to test its thinking with people in financial markets will leave us with much less well-informed monetary policy decision-makers and, thus, worse monetary policy decisions.
- John Simon
Canada’s housing affordability crisis to linger ‘for a decade’
Interest rates are just one factor keeping Canadians out of housing and cheaper money alone won’t shift the dial, experts say.
- Promit Mukherjee
- Exclusive
- RBA
RBA gives RBC Capital Markets private briefing, bars bank after leak
The incident is the second off-the-record discussion between the central bank and traders that has been made public. It was held after a February rate decision.
- Mark Di Stefano and John Kehoe
Sydney’s home values on course to fall in the coming months
The sharp rise in listings along with high interest rates and worsening housing affordability has slowed price growth across the board.
- Nila Sweeney
September
- Opinion
- Sharemarket
Markets are on their best behaviour as the bulls take charge
The Fed is cutting interest rates and China’s policymakers are pumping its economy with money. Is there anything standing in the way of global sharemarkets?
- Jonathan Shapiro
Lending laws locking out home buyers: Bendigo bank
Treasurer Jim Chalmers has rebuffed calls to ease mortgage lending laws after Coalition MPs and ANZ warned prospective home buyers were struggling to get finance.
- Michael Read and Lucas Baird
- Opinion
- Chanticleer
Why the strong housing market is still a problem for the RBA
Booming credit demand from wealthier borrowers is more proof that housing is still humming along. That could crimp the RBA’s ability to cut.
- James Thomson
Riskiest real estate bonds are beating Nvidia’s returns
It’s a turnaround few could have predicted when landlords around the world were creaking under the weight of higher interest rates and changing work habits.
- Tasos Vossos
- Opinion
- Chanticleer
The ‘everything bubble’ is back. Here are five dangers to watch
Thanks to the Fed and China, markets are back at the levels reached during the 2021 frenzy. But it might not take much for investors to let a little air out.
- James Thomson
There’s a ‘very real’ chance of two rate cuts by Christmas
Momentum is critical and right now, Australia’s economy is at genuine risk of stalling. It’s no surprise then that the bond market has already priced in rate cuts.
- Angus Coote
Fed’s favoured inflation gauge, consumer spending edge higher
The so-called core personal consumption expenditures price index, which excludes volatile food and energy items, increased 0.1 per cent from July.
- Matthew Boesler