Economists divided on cut timing
INTEREST rates have finally moved lower, but questions have emerged exactly how quickly the RBA will deliver further cuts.
Interest Rates
Will banks cut home loan interest rates?
THE big question today isn’t whether the RBA will lower interest rates, but if banks will follow up with cuts to home loan rates.
RBA to cut interest rates next week
A COMBINATION of a slowing economy, deteriorating business conditions and tight credit markets will lead to a rate cut next week.
RBA to wield rate knife with caution
CONTINUED strong demand from China for raw materials is likely to stop the RBA from granting home owners two consecutive rate cuts.
ANZ lowers fixed home loan rates again
ANZ is lowering its fixed rate home loans for the second time this month, as the market prepares for a cut in official rates next week.
ANZ joins NAB in interest rate cut promise
ANZ has followed NAB’s lead and promised to lower mortgage rates if the Reserve Bank cuts official rates.
Sluggish growth fuels rate cut hopes
AUSTRALIA is set to experience the slowest economic growth in seven years which would make the case for a 50 basis point interest rate cut in September, a survey shows.
Rollercoaster rates mean economic trouble
AUSTRALIA has entered the economic danger zone and the RBA is under fire from experts as it struggles to avoid a crash landing.
Rate cut almost certain, say economists
THE minutes of the Reserve Bank’s August board meeting have all but confirmed there will be an interest rate cut next month.
Swan warns banks to pass on rate cuts
WAYNE Swan has told the nation’s banks to pass on rate cuts, warning he has weapons to make the banking system more competitive.
RBA confirms rates will fall – but when?
THE central bank has given its loudest signal yet that it is about to cut interest rates, as data shows wage inflation remains under control.
RBA ‘in a position to cut rates’
THE Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) said today that it was in a position to consider cutting interest rates because reduced household spending made such a move “a lot easier”.
Rate cut ‘more likely in November’
THE Reserve Bank’s concerns about high inflation in the near-term would make an interest rate cut in November more likely than next month, economists say.
Call for RBA to slash rates next month
THE RBA may need to cut interest rates by 50bp next month to make an impression on mortgage rates, an economist says.
Mortgage relief as ANZ cuts fixed rates
ANZ has lowered its fixed rate home loans but isn’t making any promises on its variable rate loans.
Beating banks with a feather
LENDERS are expected to be told not to rig ‘de facto’ home loan rate rises, when they appear before a parliamentary committee today.
Strong jobs data won’t stop rate cut
AN unexpected surge in the number of full-time employees last month is unlikely to stand in the way of an interest rate cut, economists say. New…
House prices fall – could rates be next?
CAPITAL city house prices have fallen by the sharpest rate in more than three years, as high interest rates and rising inflation bite.
Time for RBA to start cutting rates
THE economy has changed suddenly and sharply. It points to a very different 2009.
Retail trade fall signals rate cut
THE second successive quarterly fall in Australian retail sales could bring forward an interest rate cut, economists say.
Rates tipped to stay on hold
HOUSEHOLDS look set to gain the full benefit of a new round of tax cuts which begin today as the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) is widely expected to leave its cash rate unchanged for now.
High rates cool credit demand
HIGHER interest rates have restrained demand for credit, but appear to have done little to rein in inflation pressures which are growing, data released today shows.
Reserve Bank to hold fire on rates
MORTGAGE holders are set to be spared more interest rate discomfort next week with the Reserve Bank expected to keep rates on hold.
Big banks split on rate outlook
BORROWERS beware – two of Australia’s big four banks still think an August interest rate rise is likely.
Rate rise ‘on the cards’
ONE of the country’s biggest banks still believes an August interest rate increase is on the cards, despite signs of a slowing economy and an unexpected drop in employment.
Mortgage stress worst in a decade
MORTGAGE stress among borrowers has hit its highest level in more than a decade, according to ratings agency Standard & Poor’s.
Rates future over a barrel
SKY-high oil prices might yet undermine the Reserve Bank’s attempts to keep the lid on inflation and force interest rates higher over the next few months.
Property becomes an investment turn-off
WITH mortgage interest rates sitting at a 12-year high, investors are turning away from property as credit costs mount.
Tax cuts may trigger rate pain
TAX cuts in July pay packets could lead to another interest rate rise in the September quarter, despite poor job figures released last week.
Interest rates ‘slowing economy’
RESERVE Bank governor Glenn Stevens says tighter financial conditions, due to the global credit crunch and higher domestic interest rates, has helped slow domestic demand.
RBA gets breathing space
THE Reserve Bank’s attempt to slow the economy is working, with the economy registering its first fall in employment levels in 18 months.
Petrol and rates give consumers the blues
CONSUMERS are feeling worse than at any time since the recession of 1992, thanks to soaring fuel costs and continually rising rates.
RBA warns on interest rates
DESPITE keeping mortgage rates on hold yesterday, the Reserve Bank gave a stark warning that it will lift them again soon if wages or prices race…
Don’t rule out fixing your home loan
IF you’re thinking of fixing your loan, it may be possible to lock it in and save money, with fixed rates costing less than standard variable rates.
Rates seen steady, for now
INTEREST rates are tipped to remain on hold this week thanks to signs the economy is cooling, according to analysts.
Rate hike unlikely this week
SIGNS the economy is slowing down means the Reserve Bank is likely to keep rates steady at 7.25pc when it meets next week
Rates tipped for a pause
RATES are expected to remain on hold next week after new business investment figures showed the economy is slowing down.
More rate hikes almost sure
MARKETS have almost fully priced in another interest rate rise to 7.5 per cent within five months.
Aussies reeling in financial doom
AUSTRALIANS are reeling in financial doom, with 2 in 3 saying their financial situation is worse now than it was 12 months ago.
Rudd under the pump as fuel heads for $1.70
HIGHER petrol and food prices are having a bigger impact on households than interest rate hikes, a survey has found.
Wizard raises home loan rates
WIZARD Home Loans has raised its variable interest rate on number of its products by 10-basis points.
Rate rises hit house sales
THE Reserve Bank’s interest rate rises have sent housing markets plunging around the country, with the squeeze hitting those on low incomes the hardest.
Fewer home loans taken out in March
RISING mortgage rates have put off home buyers, with the number of home loans taken out in March falling 6.1 percent.
RBA lifts inflation forecasts
THE RBA has raised its forecasts for inflation for this year but believes prices pressures will start come off the boil by the end of 2008.
RBA boss in rates warning
RESERVE Bank governor Glenn Stevens has raised the prospect of further interest rate rises, warning that the commodities boom and excessive wage claims threaten to derail the bank’s effort to control inflation.
Ten good reasons for rate reprieve
PLUMMETING consumer confidence and higher mortgage repayments are among 10 key reasons why the RBA should leave rates on hold.
Economy running at full speed
HOME owners have enjoyed the best price gains in four years and the economy may not be slowing as quickly as the Reserve Bank believes.
Inflation rises at record pace
INFLATION is rising at its fastest rate on record as petrol prices reach fresh heights, a leading private sector indicator shows.
HSBC predicts more rate rises
HSBC AUSTRALIA boss Stuart Davis expects the big banks to continue raising their home loan rates independently of the RBA.
Rudd wants one million new homes
KEVIN Rudd says Australia needs one million new homes over the next six years to keep up with estimated population growth.
Why central banks do what they do to us
NEWS.com.au takes a look at what prompts interest rate movements, and how Australia’s rates compare to the rest of the world.
Rate cuts flagged on building slump
BUILDING approvals have dived by more than five times market forecasts, with some economists now predicting a rate cut by the end of September.
Borrowing slows as rates bite
LENDING to the private sector is showing signs of moderating as higher interest rates begin to bite, new figures show.
Variable mortgage interest rates up
NATIONAL Australia Bank has lifted its variable mortgage interest rates by 10 basis points.
Swan warned: Home is where the hurt is
THE Government is bracing for a savage backlash from home buyers who believe they have been singled out to fight inflation.
Housing stress levels overstated – RBA
THE RBA says a typical household can afford to spend much more than the old benchmark of 30pc of its income on a mortgage.
ANZ slaps homeowners with rate hike
ANZ has slapped homeowners with more mortgage pain after the bank lifted its variable mortgage interest rates to nearly 9.5 per cent.
Triple blow on rates, petrol and inflation
FAMILIES are facing a triple blow as yet another rate rise looms, petrol prices appear certain to jump, and inflation goes through the roof
May rate hikes a ’50/50 chance’
A JUMP in inflation has wiped out any thoughts of interest rate cuts this year and put the odds of a hike next month at 50/50.
Tough budget ahead
THE Federal Government will have to deliver an extremely tough budget if it is to avoid further interest rate rises this year, a leading economic forecaster has warned.
Inflation to hit 17-year high
INFLATION is expected to have grown further in the first quarter of 2008, as food, petrol and commodity prices soared. Rising inflationary pressures…
Borrowers not scared of floating loans
FIXED rate home loans are becoming a less attractive option for borrowers as talk of further rate rises by the Reserve Bank dies down.
Rate hikes slowing economy
THE Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) says an interest rate hike was unnecessary this month as higher rates were already working to slow the domestic economy.
Rates bite at home loan numbers
HIGHER interest rates look to have begun taking their toll on home loan numbers after national housing finance figures fell 5.9 per cent.
More Australians retiring with a mortgage
MORE Australians are retiring with a mortgage on their home, which means rising interest rates are having more impact than they used to.
Borrowers are in a fix on rates
TWO thirds of home owners believe another rate rise will force them to either refinance or sell their homes, a survey shows.
Slowdown sets up rates slide
INTEREST rates may drop back to 6 per cent by late next year, as the latest economic data shows a significant slowing in the economy.
Economists defend RBA boss
PRIVATE sector economists have defended embattled RBA governor Glenn Stevens but he has won little support from politicians.
Banks are ready to ratchet up loan rates
BANKS are expected to follow the RBA’s advice this week, hitting struggling home owners with yet another independent rate rise.
RBA recognises mortgage stress
RBA GOVERNOR Glenn Stevens has acknowledged that recent rate rises have put significant pressure on borrowers.
Recession unlikely, RBA boss tells student
INTEREST rates have risen far enough to bring inflation back below the Reserve Bank’s target, RBA governor Glenn Stevens says.
Commonwealth Bank slam borrowers
IF you’re after the highest variable home loan rate in the land, then it’s time to step into a Commonwealth Bank branch, which is slapping borrowers hard.
Houses will never be affordable – RBA
AUSTRALIANS should resign themselves to the fact that housing will never be affordable, a housing report from the Reserve Bank says.
RBA holds fire on rates – but where next?
THE Reserve Bank sat on its hands on Tuesday, opting to keep the official cash rate steady at 7.25 per cent, in line with market expectations.
Risky time to lock in rates
ALTHOUGH banks continue to raise home loan rates, it could be too late to think about fixing your mortgage if you want long term savings.
April Fools’ rate hike unlikely
HOME buyers are universally tipped to be spared an April Fools’ Day interest rate rise as the global credit crunch restrains the RBA in its battle against inflation.
RBA ‘happy’ with big bank rate hikes
THE RBA is happy with the major banks putting up their lending rates beyond official moves in the cash rate because it helps in the fight against inflation, economists say.
Don’t blame banks for rate hikes – RBA
RESERVE Bank governor Glenn Stevens says it is unrealistic to expect banks to move their lending rates with the official cash rate given “the recent environment”.
Credit woes destroying lending market
THE global credit crunch is destroying competition in the home-lending market, leading to the threat of permanently higher mortgage interest rates.
Home loans defy credit turmoil
HOME buyers flocked to mortgage brokers in the December quarter, shrugging off the effect of interest rate rises, a sagging share market and the Federal election.
Original URL: https://www.news.com.au/finance/economy/interest-rates/page/73