Today
Fed’s Logan says still too early to think about rate cuts
Lorie Logan, the president of the Dallas Fed, flagged uncertainties over how restrictive monetary policy is.
- Catarina Saraiva
Yesterday
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
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
- Inflation
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
- Opinion
- AFR Weekend
RBA’s credibility at risk as central banks confront interference
The contradictions in the Reserve Bank of Australia’s communications reveal policy conflicts that could erode its already embattled credibility.
- Christopher Joye
This Month
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
- Opinion
- Chanticleer
What we learnt as CEOs meet capital markets kings, queens
It’s been three days of watching CEOs pitch to fund managers and hearing their off-record feedback at Macquarie’s annual conference. Both sides are more upbeat.
- Anthony Macdonald
- Exclusive
- Federal budget
The budget is already adding to inflation
The federal budget has injected $22 billion of new policy spending over two years, which economists say will cause higher interest rates than necessary and delay any rate cuts.
- John Kehoe
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
Why $800,000 homes are in hot demand
Competitive pressure is building up in this segment of the market as investors and first-home buyers return in droves.
- Nila Sweeney
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
- Opinion
- The AFR View
An RBA tightening bias is called for
It’s hard not to interpret the governor’s press conference and the board’s statement as at least a mild tightening bias that will keep the cash rate where it is at least until near the end of 2024.
- The AFR View
‘We need to be alert and vigilant’: Michele Bullock
This is an edited and abridged transcript of a press conference held by Reserve Bank of Australia governor Michele Bullock.
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
- Opinion
Why data-driven Bullock has her eye on the budget
RBA governor Michele Bullock says it’s too early to declare victory over inflation as she avoids the markets’ frenzied guessing game on interest rates.
- Jennifer Hewett
- 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
Stressed by rates and thinking about fixing? Try the sleep test first
Lenders outside the big four are offering some of their best fixed mortgage rates in more than a year, but practice extreme caution, experts say.
- Updated
- Lucy Dean
Pace of house price growth to cool as risks emerge
House prices have recouped the interest rate-induced losses in the past two years and are poised to hit record highs this year, but downside risks are gathering pace, according to experts.
- Nila Sweeney
