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.
Interest Rates
‘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.
And now the good news: rates set to fall
INTEREST rates are tipped to fall to record lows tomorrow, as the effects of the global downturn threaten to hit our economy hard.
Interest rates won’t hit zero – RBA
THE Reserve Bank will continue to lower interest rates, but is unlikely to cut to zero per cent because monetary policy is already working to stimulate the economy, economists say.
Economists mixed on March rate cut
THE Reserve Bank is likely to cut interest rates again in March because the Federal Government’s $42 billion fiscal stimulus will take time to work, economists say.
Big Four match RBA’s rate cut in full
THE big four banks will pass on the full central bank interest rate cut but warn it will be harder to do so in future.
NAB, CBA, St George move on rates
THE big four banks have all passed on yesterday’s official interest rate cut in full after NAB and Commonwealth Bank announced cuts to mortgage rates this morning.
Stevens set to slash rates – McCrann
RBA governor Glenn Stevens is going to continue on Tuesday where he left off last year, with another big rate cut of either 75 or 100 points.
RBA won’t meet again until February
BORROWERS will have to wait until February for more mortgage relief with the central bank unlikely to interrupt their summer break and cut the cash rate on Tuesday, economists say.
Swan wants credit card rates cut
FEDERAL Treasurer Wayne Swans wants bank chiefs to tell him why they are not passing on interest rate cuts to credit card users.
Two major banks hold off on rate cuts
ALTHOUGH most home buyers will enjoy the benefit of the RBA’s aggressive interest rate cut – two major banks are playing Scrooge.
RBA’s Christmas gift a hefty rate cut
INTEREST rates are set to be slashed before Christmas, as the worst global financial crisis in decades stirs recession fears.
Flat retail sales signal more rate cuts
FLAT retail sales in the September quarter signal more interest rate cuts are on the way, economists say.
Mortgage relief with rates to be halved
INTEREST rates are tipped to fall to 3.75 per cent rate by March so that the Government can steer the country away from recession.
It’ll be bad, but not that bad, RBA says
CONSUMER prices will rise faster than expected, and some jobs will probably go, but Australia is likely to avoid a crushing recession, according…
Aussie drops rates again
AUSSIE Home Loans has dropped its standard variable mortgage rate by a further 40bp.
Rudd ‘tough as marshmallow’ on banks
PRIME Minister Kevin Rudd is about as “tough as marshmallow” in demanding that retail banks pass on the latest official interest rate cut in full,…
St George cuts interest rates
ST GEORGE has cut its standard variable rate by 62bp, making it the last of the big banks to move after the RBA’s cut on Tuesday.
AMP passes on full rate cut
MORE banks cut their interest rates yesterday, but only one has passed on the full 0.75 per cent cut made by the RBA.
Banks slow to react to rate cut
THE big banks have been slow to react after the Reserve Bank cut interest rates by a larger-than-expected 75bp yesterday.
Interest rates likely to keep falling
THE Reserve Bank is likely to keep slashing interest rate, economists say, after cutting its key rate by 75 basis points today.
CBA first bank to cut mortgage rates
CBA was the first major bank to cut its variable home loan interest rates, after the central bank eased official rates.
Rate cut the hot tip on Cup day
IF economists are right, the safest bet you can make on Cup Day is that the Reserve Bank will cut interest rates when it meets.
Inflation limits rate cut scope – RBA
AHEAD of next week’s interest rate announcement a top RBA policymaker says high inflation will limit the scope for rate cuts.
Westpac, St George cut home loan rates
WESTPAC are the latest bank to cut rates, slicing 0.2 percentage points off standard variabe home loans.
Rates tipped to drop under 5pc
AUSTRALIAN interest rates are tipped to fall to the lowest level since the aftermath of the September 11, 2001, terror attacks as the central bank worries about a recession.
NAB, Westpac cut fixed interest rates
NAB has joined Westpac in cutting fixed interest rates on home loans.
Bendigo Bank cuts home loan rates
BENDIGO Bank has followed Australia’s major lenders in passing on an 80 basis points cut to its variable home loan rate.
BankWest cuts rates by 80bp
BankWest has cut its standard variable rate by 80 basis points from 9.25 per cent p.a to 8.45 per cent per annum.
Economists predict global wave of rate cuts
AUSTRALIAN economists are now betting central banks worldwide will slash cash rates in a unified assault on the global financial crisis.
Bold rates move for a soft landing
AUSTRALIA is still heading for a sharp economic slowdown — or even recession — despite yesterday’s drastic rate cut.
Westpac cuts rates, big banks follow
WESTPAC was the first bank to lower home loan rates today, after the RBA cut the official rate by a huge 1 percentage point.
Original URL: https://www.news.com.au/finance/economy/interest-rates/page/70