‘Shocking’ sales slide may halt rates
LARGE slump in shopping and building numbers could mean interest rates on hold in April.
Interest Rates
RBA ‘never doubted strength of banks’
RESERVE Bank governor Glenn Stevens’ “heart was in his mouth” as he slashed rates during crisis.
Property market may be overheated – RBA
THE nation’s top central banker says property is not a “riskless” path to riches, and warns against borrowing too much.
Higher rates ‘dampening’ housing finance
HOUSEHOLDS have benefited from improved economic conditions, but higher rates are hurting, RBA says.
Westpac looks to big rate rises – report
WESTPAC is under pressure to raise its rates but fears a political backlash, chief executive Gail Kelly has reportedly said.
Lender defies the big banks on rates
CASHED-UP AMP will cut its variable home loan rate by nearly 0.5 per cent tomorrow.
Watch on rate rises as building picks up
RISING rates may slow a recovery in the home building sector, which posted a big jump yesterday.
RBA to hold steady in April – economists
RATES likely to stay at 4pc in April due to uncertainty over housing lending, economists say.
More on struggle street as rates rise
THE average size of a home loan has risen by 40pc since 2005, leaving many Australians struggling to meet their repayments.
Westpac matches Reserve Bank rate hike
WESTPAC is the latest bank to lift rates by 25 basis points, matching the RBA rate rise.
Rate hike ‘bad news for first home buyers’
INDUSTRY groups say first home buyers will struggle with the latest interest rate hike.
Reserve Bank raises interest rates
HOME loans to cost more as RBA hikes cash rate to 4 per cent.
Exit fee warning as homeowners switch
HOMEOWNERS should watch out for a rising number of exit fees if they try to refinance their mortgages.
Households shunning fixed home loans
A RECORD number of households are choosing variable-rate home loans over fixed-rate loans.
RBA happy to sit back and watch
RBA left rates steady to assess impact of earlier rate hikes from the big banks on the economy.
Big four under microscope on rates
BANKS under scrutiny for “telegraphing” interest rate plans before the RBA decision.
Interest rate rise will bring on pain
ECONOMISTS expect the Reserve Bank board to order its fourth consecutive rate rise today.
Experts tip a rate rise as RBA meets
THE central bank will almost certainly raise the official interest rate this week as it tries to keep inflationary pressures in check.
Mortgage respite in sight for homeowners
BANKS will not pass on the full Reserve Bank increases in interest rates this year, experts predict.
Fourth interest rate hike looming
THE outcome of inflation data could be a formality for the Reserve Bank with experts tipping a fourth consecutive interest rate hike soon.
Rate rise jitters lead to borrowing slump
RISING interest rates are making consumers more worried about big financial commitments, with new borrowing falling.
‘Rate rise more likely on rise in lending’
THE RBA is likely to lift interest rates for the fourth consecutive month in February, following a boost in borrowing.
‘Drop in home loans won’t stop rates’
A DROP in new home loans as first home buyers dwindle will not stop the RBA from lifting interest rates next month, economists say.
Keep lid on rates, business urges RBA
A BUSINESS lobby group says interest rates must stay on hold because the economy is still “fundamentally quite weak”.
Property sales hit by interest rate rises
THREE rate rises and the winding down of the first-home buyers’ grant “a cold bath” for home sales.
Rates prompt borrowers to refinance
RISING interest rates in 2010 are likely to force some borrowers to refinance, non-bank lender Resi Mortgage Corporation says.
Rates to mix up housing market
HOUSE prices are heading for a mixed year, with some capital cities set for healthy growth while others will struggle to see any rise at all.
Rates may stay on hold in February – CBA
A MOVE by the major banks to lift their interest rates higher than the central bank’s rises may mean a pause to official rate hikes.
Soaring rates a boon for savers
RATES jumped on almost 200 home loan products in the first week of December, with the average variable rate hitting 6pc.
Market heat on interest rates eases
THE market odds have moved firmly against an interest rate rise by the Reserve Bank in February.
Low rates wouldn’t be fair – Westpac
WESTPAC tries to justify its recent increase to home loan rates, saying it would do no-one favours to offer rates that were unsustainable.
‘Rates were too low’, says RBA
THE RBA raised interest rates for a third time in a row this month because of an ‘expanding’ economy, board minutes show.
Lenders get clingy to keep customers
MORTGAGE lenders have a few sneaky tricks up their sleeve to keep you as a customer.
Homeowners face big bill to leave bank
WESTPAC customers take their mortgages elsewhere to take advantage of lower interest rates could be slugged $1750 in fees.
No one will lose their house – Westpac
WESTPAC is unapologetic about its monster rate hike and says it is not a low-cost “Jetstar” bank.
Retail spending may hold off rates
INTEREST rates could stay unchanged before Christmas after shoppers tightened their purse strings in September and retail spending dipped.
NAB rate hike sparks mortgage price war
NAB hikes rates and takes aim at Westpac, making a direct pitch at its rival’s customers.
Greedy Westpac ‘spoils’ Christmas
OUTRAGED home buyers branded Westpac “disgusting” after the bank almost doubled the RBA’s rate rise.
Shock rate rise justified, says Westpac
WESTPAC has defended its 45-basis-point hike in variable mortage rates, saying it’s feeling the pressure from funding costs.
Third rate rise on the way next week
RBA official says Australians can afford to service their mortgages at higher interest rates as experts tip another rate hike next week.
Leaders beg RBA to show restraint
A CHORUS of business leaders, led by Aussie chairman John Symond, has pleaded with the Reserve Bank to take baby steps in its push to raise interest rates away from “emergency levels”.
Being smarter about interest rate rises
AUSTRALIAN borrowers are becoming more savvy about dealing with interest rates, write David and Libby Koch.
Rivals angry at ANZ’s rate promise
AUSTRALIA’S biggest home lender has been rankled by ANZ’s pledge to keep rate increases on mortgage rates in line with RBA movements.
Ask for a pay rise, risk a rate hike: RBA
AUSTRALIANS could be slapped with another interest rate rise if they push wage demands too far, the RBA has warned.
Jobs drop likely to ease pressure on rates
A SURPRISE fall in Australian job numbers last month on the back of weak retail sales and high petrol prices means official interest rates will remain on hold in 2008, economists say.
High rates scare off borrowers
THE HOUSING market is likely to remain depressed for the rest of the year, an economist warns as high rates scare off borrowers.
RBA keeps interest rates steady at 7.25pc
AUSTRALIA’S central bank has today decided to keep interest rates on hold at 7.25 per cent, which will keep standard variable mortgage rates at…
Rates steady now, but upward risk
THE inflation outlook for the second quarter has deteriorated, fresh data shows, increasing fears of another rise in interest rates later this year.
Cutting back on basics as rates bite
HOMEOWNERS are cutting back on necessities as well as luxury items as they struggle to cope with rising interest rates.
Double digit interest rates ‘within months’
HOME loan rates are set to hit double digits and push 10 year highs if bearish predictions by ANZ come true.
Reserve fuels rate rise fears
BUSINESS and mortgage holders face further interest rate rises, with the Reserve Bank harbouring doubts that it has done enough to douse inflationary expectations and cap wage and price rises.
RBA leaves door open for rate rise
HIGH inflation had the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) agonising over whether to raise interest rates this month, board minutes reveal.
Unofficial rate rises could end – NAB
NAB’S chief executive John Stewart says more unpopular mortgage hikes independent of RBA moves are ‘unlikely’.
Wage demands could push up rates – RBA
THE RBA has warned that workers who demand more pay to meet their rising living costs could spark further rate rises.
RBA keeps official interest rate on hold
HOMEOWNERS could face further home loan pain, despite the Reserve Bank today keeping the official interest rate on hold at 7.25 per cent.
Prices go up, interest rates may follow
INFLATION has 4.2 per cent, the highest since 1991 when you could get a beer for $1.50 and a litre of petrol for 70 cents. NEWS.com.au compares the cost of living then and now.
Rates in doubt as producer costs jump
RISING costs and soaring oil prices have stoked fears rates will stay higher for longer
Rate rises paying off – RBA
THE local financial system is in good shape with lending to businesses and individuals coming off the boil, RBA data shows.
Why Glenn Stevens made us all gloomy
BITTER pills administered by the Reserve Bank means Australians are slowing getting more reluctant to splurge at the shops.
Rates on hold – for now
THE Reserve Bank of Australia is expected to leave the door open to a further rate rise by midyear as it wages war on inflation, analysts say.
Predictions banks will up rates further
ALL eyes are on Australia’s banks, with predictions they will lift home loan rates by more than yesterday’s official increase. The big banks are…
Rate rise to squeeze home owners
HOME loan interest rates look set to hit an 11-year high after the RBA lifted the official cash rate by 25 basis points to 7.25 per cent.
Double interest rate rise looms
CONSUMERS have been warned there will be no escaping an interest rate hike next month – and it could be a double whammy.
Inflation concern led to RBA rate rise
THE Reserve Bank decided to lift interest rates in October due to worries about inflation and to prevent any build up of “imbalances” in the economy, the latest board minutes reveal.
Jitters as rates rise hits home
ONE quarter of 1 per cent may not sound like much, but for Sonja and Arjen van den Bosch it represents $167 a month extra that they will have to find…
No change in rates just yet – economists
THE RBA is tipped to leave the official cash rate on hold next week, as economists consider when rises will kick in.
‘Borrowers better off with variable rate’
BORROWERS have likely missed their chance to lock in low fixed home loan rates, a broker says.
Homeowners ‘should brace for rate rise’
HOMEOWNERS should brace for a jump in mortgage repayments of up to $5000 a year, mortgage broker warns.
Mixed message on interest rates
MIXED messages on the economy could save borrowers from an interest rate rise next month.
Another rate cut? Don’t hold your breath
ECONOMISTS at Australia’s major banks are less confident that another rate cut is on the cards.
Punter wins big as rates held
A GAMBLER has bet $45,000 that rates will be kept on hold today and economists support his call.
ING shed $1.5bn as savers panicked
ING Direct suffered a $1.5bn withdrawal of deposits last year as customers fled to the safety of the four major banks
Rates on hold in June: economists
SIGNS of stabilisation in the global economy should convince the RBA to leave official interest rates unchanged.
Rates decision could boost dollar
THE dollar could get a mild boost if the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) dishes out a no-change decision on interest rates this afternoon.
Rates to stay at 3pc – for now
THE Reserve Bank is unlikely to change interest rates when the board meets tomorrow, economists say.
Banks won’t budge on rate cut
THE big banks are refusing to bow to pressure from angry home buyers and politicians to pass on the latest official interest rate cut.
Rates: What it means for you
TODAY the Reserve Bank decides on whether to move the official interest rate. News.com.au explores how you’re affected by the central bank’s monthly decision.
Rate cuts must be passed on, says Swan
TREASURER Wayne Swan says he wants to see any further rate cuts by the Reserve Bank of Australia passed on as soon as possible.
NAB gets wrong message and ups rates
NATIONAL Australia Bank is increasing its fixed home loans despite pleas from the Government to lower rates.
RBA faces tough rates decision
THE unfolding economic nightmare will weigh heavily into the RBA’s reasoning today on whether to slash rates.
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