Today
Major banks ready to carry Westpac’s Armaguard load
The banks and regulators met on Wednesday afternoon without the cash transit monopoly to work out how to replace Westpac’s unique cash distribution operation.
- 1 hr ago
- James Eyers
Business tax breaks don’t spur investment: RBA
The RBA found company tax cuts are probably more effective than instant asset write-offs promoted by both Labor and the Coalition.
- 1 hr ago
- Michael Read
These five economists make a bold prediction on next rate cut
Analysts at Barrenjoey, Deloitte, KPMG, Judo Bank and Oxford Economics are tipping that the Reserve Bank will keep rates on hold on February 18.
- Updated
- Cecile Lefort
- Opinion
- Monetary policy
Even small RBA rate cuts will fuel election spending
Any monetary easing this month will embolden more cash-burning by politicians, and therefore have important political and economic ramifications.
- John Kehoe
This Month
Top forecaster Paul Bloxham says trade war changes the RBA path
HSBC’s chief economist says the RBA will only cut twice in 2025, beginning this month, and once in 2026.
- Cecile Lefort
Westpac’s Armaguard deal complicates negotiations to save banknotes
The major banks are scheduled to meet with the Lindsay Fox-owned cash transportation business in the hope of keeping the company afloat and money circulating.
- James Eyers
Banks and Armaguard revisit life support for cash distributor
Banks expect Armaguard to confirm its banknote distribution operation is on rocky financial footing this week, but the future of the Linfox-owned business is anyone’s guess.
- James Eyers
PM must take on premier
Readers’ letters on Donald Trump’s tariffs, the Reserve Bank’s next interest rate decision, West Australian Premier Roger Cook’s push against federal Nature Positive legislation and the teals’ financial backers.
- Exclusive
- Federal election
Voters will be better off under Labor, PM promises – again
Anthony Albanese concedes he hasn’t been able to keep the same pledge he made three years ago, but insists this time will be different.
- Phillip Coorey
January
RBA rate cuts coming – but don’t expect a windfall
Economists say the tight jobs market and increasing government spending will mean the RBA will deliver just three or four rate cuts in total this year.
- Michael Read
- Opinion
- Interest rates
Housing market will welcome RBA rate cuts
The beleaguered residential property market will be one key transmission mechanism through which the RBA’s interest rate relief will affect the wider economy.
- Christopher Joye
Albanese making the same mistake as Keating: Dutton
Peter Dutton has likened the Albanese government’s priorities to “the failed social experiment” that drove Paul Keating’s ejection from office.
- Phillip Coorey and Paul Karp
- Analysis
- Australian economy
Falling behind: three reasons why the RBA will sit on its hands
Analysts are getting excited about a rate cut but inflation risks, and lack of any credible economic agenda, will likely leave them disappointed, writes Michael Stutchbury.
- Michael Stutchbury
NAB helps Amazon bypass credit cards with new way for customers to pay
The bank will enable the online retailing platform to accept payments directly from bank accounts, via an Reserve Bank-backed system known as PayTo.
- James Eyers
US Fed cools rate cut talk as prospects of RBA easing balloon
If Michele Bullock holds the cash rate steady on February 18, it will represent the most counter-consensus decision since that of Glenn Stevens in April 2015.
- Cecile Lefort
- Opinion
- Monetary policy
Jerome Powell held. So should Michele Bullock
The US Federal Reserve held rates constant as it waited to see what policies Trump implements. The Reserve Bank should also wait until after our election and it knows what policies will be implemented here.
- Updated
- Ed Shann
- Opinion
- Interest rates
CPI pushes the rate cut door wide open
RBA is overachieving on inflation and should “break on through to the other side” to reduce the policy rate in February.
- Stephen Miller
- Opinion
- Inflation
Falling inflation boosts Labor’s election push
The Albanese government will be even more relieved than the Reserve Bank that the latest consumer price index shows a further drop in inflation.
- Jennifer Hewett
Major banks close to consensus on February interest rate cut call
Traders imply an 80 per cent chance of an interest rate cut next month to 4.1 per cent though the Reserve Bank could opt to wait for more data.
- Cecile Lefort
- Opinion
- Inflation
February rate cut on the table, but not a done deal
There is a plausible reason to cut interest rates next month, but also a reasonable case to hold steady and await more information on the economy.
- John Kehoe
