What’s more important…? How much of the RBA’s 50 basis point cash rate cut the banks have passed on or which bank actually has the lowest interest rates?

Tuesday, May 22nd, 2012

There has been a great deal of hype around how Australia’s banks are deviating from the historic norm of adjusting their mortgage rates in line with the Reserve Bank of Australia cash rate moves.  Two weeks ago, when the RBA slashed the cash rate by 50 basis points and the ...

THE DISTILLERY: Capital clash

Saturday, April 28th, 2012

Jotters jostle over the ASX's proposed easing of capital raising rules, while one says the RBA is copping too much flak. 27 Apr 2012 6:30 AM View full post on WBC | RSS Business News Feed | Business Spectator

Welcome back below average mortgage rates

Friday, April 27th, 2012

With the low CPI reading earlier this week, a drop in the cash rate next Tuesday is pretty much a done deal.   The question is now will the RBA cut the cash rate by 25 or 50 basis points?  According to financial market expectations (based on the ASX cash rate futures ...

The Reserve Bank is in a real bind

Sunday, April 15th, 2012

Following a raft of economic data which has come out recently I felt it was important to reflect on this data.  It is obvious that the Reserve Bank (RBA) is currently in a very tough predicament. While much of the data is proving to be quite negative and providing a ...

Mortgage stress…What mortgage stress?

Friday, March 30th, 2012

For most people, the Reserve Bank of Australia’s bi-annual Financial Stability Review is a tough read. For anyone interested in the housing market however, the section on household balance sheets (pages 41 to 46) is essential reading. Of particular interest is the analysis on mortgage arrears across Australia and the comparisons ...

THE DISTILLERY: Rates lather

Monday, August 1st, 2011

The commentariat works itself into a sweat over the RBA's interest rate outlook, but finds little agreement. 28 Jul 2011 7:25 AM View full post on WBC | RSS Business News Feed | Business Spectator

THE DISTILLERY: Rates fever

Monday, June 6th, 2011

Some fevered jotters appear desperate to grab a headline ahead of the RBA's monthly board meeting. 6 Jun 2011 7:08 AM View full post on WBC | RSS Business News Feed | Business Spectator

Lower your banking aspirations

Sunday, March 27th, 2011

As the RBA touts a new era of slower credit growth, banks still expect returns in the high teens. How can these forecasts be reconciled? 25 Mar 2011 10:23 AM View full post on WBC | RSS Business News Feed | Business Spectator

Our banks’ savings grace

Friday, March 18th, 2011

The RBA's Guy Debelle believes household deleveraging and faster deposit growth will be ongoing trends. That's great news for banks that struggled with wholesale funding during the crisis. 16 Mar 2011 10:23 AM View full post on WBC | RSS Business News Feed | Business Spectator

Mining boom the focus for the RBA

Tuesday, February 15th, 2011

The Reserve Bank of Australia says it is closely watching for a pick-up in the resources boom ahead of its next move on interest rates. View full post on ABC News: Business