A big week for getting a temperature on the economy leading into Tuesday’s RBA interest rate decision… and that pesky Aussie inflation figure looks to be heading in the right direction. Consumer prices, CPI, rose 0.2 per cent in October and 6.9 per cent over the year, which is slowing down and came in well… Read more »
Everyone wants to get the best possible interest rate from their bank. And this is the best home loan bargaining tool you’ll ever get. Okay, listen up if you have a home loan or know someone with a mortgage. I constantly encourage you to negotiate with your financier to get a better deal, to ask… Read more »
Here are two clear signs that things are looking pretty good for the Australian economy right now. 1. We’re coping with the interest rate increase impact on our home loans When Westpac declared their disappointing earning result this week – which hammered its share price – I was interested in the page summarising the state… Read more »
When it comes to money, this week was ruled by Central Banks and interest rates. The Reserve Bank (RBA) on Tuesday and the US Federal Reserve (the Fed) yesterday morning. Big decisions… big reactions. So first our Reserve Bank’s decision to lift official interest rates by another 0.25 per cent to 2.85 per cent. That’s… Read more »
As the dust has now settled after last week’s interest rate hike by the Reserve Bank, economists have been reassessing just how many more hikes are to come in this interest rate cycle. Three of the big four banks have revised their forecasts, after the lower than expected 0.25 per cent RBA October rate hike.… Read more »
The big four are always quick to raise their home loan rates, but really drag their feet to reward savers. Here’s where to find the best savings rates. All of the big four banks have hiked their variable home loan rates by 0.5 per cent after the latest RBA increase, but not all their savers… Read more »
There are many things you can do to become a savvier saver, starting with demanding a better rate. Research by RateCity shows complacent savers are potentially missing out on hundreds of dollars in interest, as the gap widens between some of the highest and lowest savings rates on the back of the RBA hikes. The… Read more »
Well, where to start when it comes to interest rates and the Reserve Bank (RBA)? Major speeches this week from the RBA Governor and Deputy Governor, plus the Federal Treasurer orders an independent “review” of the RBA’s performance, governance, mandate and inflation settings. Let’s start with the review. As you know, I’ve been scathing of… Read more »
Let’s go through the facts and disprove some of the mistruths currently being sprouted by the media and politicians about interest rates. Yes, the Reserve Bank surprised everyone by raising official interest rates 0.25 per cent (instead of the expected 0.15 per cent) to 0.35 per cent. Yes, home loan monthly repayments will rise almost… Read more »
How much interest rates will rise is the big question and each of the big banks have a slightly different answer… but they all agree the first rate increase will be June. Westpac’s economic team is now predicting the cash rate hikes will start in June and hit 2 per cent by June the following… Read more »
