This Month
Labor to spend $11.3b on social housing
The new package to be detailed in the budget aims to enable states and territories to combat homelessness and repair social housing.
- Updated
- Phillip Coorey
Bank of England boss ‘optimistic’ interest rate cuts are coming
The BoE left its benchmark unchanged at 5.25 per cent, but the UK economy is looking ripe for a rate cut.
- Updated
- Hans van Leeuwen
‘Unprecedented’ migration blamed for jump in WA spending
Treasurer says the state government had been forced to spend more on education, housing and healthcare after 95,000 people moved to WA last year.
- Tom Rabe
Michele Bullock’s run of good news may be about to end
RBA governor Michele Bullock has proven a better communicator than her predecessor Philip Lowe. But her real test may still be yet to come.
- Ronald Mizen
- Exclusive
- Interest rates
RBA board split in doubt as Libs dig in
The impasse between Jim Chalmers and Angus Taylor means the new RBA interest rate setting board will not be up and running by its planned start date of July 1.
- Michael Read
- Updated
- Manufacturing
Orica says lower input costs offsetting fall in revenues
The commercial explosives maker has reported a 10 per cent increase in earnings, beating analyst estimates.
- Updated
- Elouise Fowler
Business loan demand spikes, keeping inflation fears alive
CBA, the country’s largest lender, says a strong labour market is driving “robust” demand from companies, which could push up prices, economists warn.
- James Eyers and Lucas Baird
Argentina launches 10,000-peso notes, worth $17, as inflation bites
The new note, worth five times more than the previous largest note, was introduced as Argentina’s annual inflation rate reached 287 per cent in March.
- Ciara Nugent
Transport costs up 10 per cent nationwide as petrol stokes inflation
The rising cost of diesel in the past three years has put a dent in Jesse Bradley’s removalist business based in Queensland.
- Gus McCubbing
Families expected to stash extra cash from tax cuts
Retailers hoping income tax cuts will lift sales of non-essential goods are likely to be disappointed.
- Michael Read
Some fundies unconvinced the RBA is done with rate increases
Fortlake Asset Management’s Christian Baylis has joined a small number of economists who expect rates to rise, not fall. He says inflation isn’t under control.
- Cecile Lefort
- Opinion
- Chanticleer
‘I’m not Buffett’: Druckenmiller on Nvidia, Trump and the Fed’s error
Wall Street legend Stan Druckenmiller has profited from the Federal Reserve’s dovish pivot, though he says it could get harder for investors to time AI’s boom.
- James Thomson
Traders trim rate rise bets on patient RBA
The markets are now pricing in just a 15 chance the cash rate will rise again this year after the Reserve Bank stood pat on Tuesday.
- Updated
- Cecile Lefort
Rising government spending is hurting the RBA’s inflation fight
The Australian economy is still operating at an unsustainably strong level despite a string of weak economic growth figures, due in part to public sector spending.
- Michael Read
- Opinion
- Chanticleer
RBA is still betting on Goldilocks. Investors shouldn’t follow suit
With the ASX 200 back near record levels, investors are betting Michele Bullock is right on a soft landing. But with uncertainty high, a more all-weather approach looks sensible.
- Updated
- James Thomson
Petrol, strong jobs market stoking inflation: RBA
The central bank on Tuesday upgraded its near-term forecasts for headline inflation and pushed back the likelihood of interest rate relief until mid-2025.
- Ronald Mizen
- Updated
- Interest rates
Reserve Bank on high alert for rate rise
The RBA is “very alert” to the cost of stubbornly high inflation lingering in the economy, signalling interest rates will need to stay higher for longer.
- Ronald Mizen
- Opinion
- Chanticleer
Ken Moelis on Trump, interest rates and Ozempic
The billionaire investment banker thinks Donald Trump has his nose in front in the US presidential race, and that could have ramifications for interest rates.
- James Thomson
RBA’s radio silence fuels extreme rate rise bets
Traders’ bet that the RBA will lift the cash rate is fuelled by the central bank’s lack of communications since March as it undergoes sweeping reporting changes.
- Cecile Lefort
- Exclusive
- WA budget
WA to raise iron ore projections in budget
The WA government will increase its long-term price assumptions for iron ore at this week’s state budget.
- Tom Rabe
