Today
- Opinion
- Chanticleer
Meme stock stupidity is back at the dumbest possible time
The $6 billion jump in the value of crappy US retailer GameStop is a sign of pure speculative excess.
- James Thomson
Chalmers rejects ‘political trick’ inflation reduction claim
Former RBA board member Warwick McKibbin levelled the claim ahead of Tuesday’s budget, while economists warned bill relief would only stoke consumer demand.
- Ronald Mizen and Michael Read
Yesterday
Rate rise still priced in despite Chalmers’ ‘optimistic’ forecasts
Bond markets are continuing to bet that the RBA will have to lift rates this year, despite new government forecasts predicting inflation will fall faster than the central bank expects.
- Updated
- Alex Gluyas
The little-known budget figure you should care about
The figure, known as the ‘table of truth’, cuts through the spin and shows how the treasurer’s saving and spending decisions affect the bottom line.
- Michael Read
First home buyers purchase from investors in $780,000 sale
This Central Coast home’s proximity to the M1 highway made it popular with tradies commuting to Sydney – and with rates outlooks stabilising, they were confident about buying.
- Michael Bleby
This Month
Markets on edge ahead of budget cash splash
Australian shares are set to edge lower on Monday as they wait to assess the impact of federal budget spending on the central bank’s path to an interest rate cut.
- Cecile Lefort
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
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
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.