November
- Opinion
- Inflation
Chalmers gets caught between a strong economy and households in pain
The prospect of further rate rises will come as a shock to many who look at growing financial stresses and conclude that, surely, they must be nearing the end.
- Opinion
- AI
OpenAI chaos will transform Silicon Valley’s MO
Regardless of whether Sam Altman returns to the helm of OpenAI, the events of the past week will change Silicon Valley’s idea of acceptable management practices.
- Opinion
- Big four
Banks wonder if the home loan margins squeeze is terminal
The bosses of the big four banks are trying to work out whether the ANZ-driven squeeze on home loan margins is temporary, or whether it’s a long-term problem.
Why Australia risks being the wooden spooner in the inflation race
As major economies enjoy a spell of disinflation, this country is still struggling with price pressures caused by the infrastructure boom and strong migration.
- Opinion
- Big four
Banks mystified by where all the offset money is coming from
Home loan customers are tipping billions of dollars into mortgage offset accounts. Nobody knows how.
- Opinion
- Big four
Bank bosses answer question: Where’s the growth coming from?
As business and home lending slow sharply, the big four bank bosses are keen to reassure investors they see plenty of opportunities for growing profits.
- Opinion
- Sharemarket
Santa Claus rally? Probably more anxiety than joy for investors
The bond market is increasingly dictating what happens in equity markets, and that’s bad news for sharemarket investors as US bond yields push higher.
- Opinion
- Big four
NAB defends its moat – at least for now
Rivals are keen to steal a slice of NAB’s coveted business lending book, but the Melbourne-based bank appears confident it can defend its moat.
- Opinion
- Commercial real estate
Why commercial real estate is booming – just not office towers
Commercial real estate prices are booming as the market gets a fillip from wealthy Chinese buyers.
- Opinion
- Interest rates
RBA governor tries to calm tensions with Canberra
Michele Bullock has provided a cogent argument for raising interest rates, but she has been careful not to offend Treasurer Jim Chalmers by explaining why inflation has been so strong.
- Opinion
- Big four
Why Michele Bullock won’t find any reassurance in the latest Westpac results
Ahead of Tuesday’s Reserve Bank board meeting, the bank says “the vast majority of customers” are adapting to the high interest rate environment.
- Opinion
- Big four
Under-fire ANZ kicks back against the criticism
ANZ is staring down its critics as it battles on a range of fronts, from the aggressive pricing of its home loans to the performance of its ANZ Plus platform.
- Opinion
- Big four
The big question for bank reporting season
Shareholders are hoping for an insight into how the big banks are dealing with the thorny issue of writing down cashback costs this reporting season.
- Opinion
- Bonds
Why Jim Grant believes gold will have its day
The veteran market commentator warns that we might be in the early stages of a long-term bear market in bonds which could be good news for the previous metal.
October
Rising rates have created interesting opportunities in corporate debt
Tom Cahill, the co-head of tactical investing at Morgan Stanley Investment Management, says investors can earn returns of 8 to 10 per cent on senior debt securities.
Why Michele Bullock will not call Jim Chalmers’ bluff
Michele Bullock is aware that it’s not a good time to be picking a fight with the Treasurer by drawing attention to the fact that government policies are playing a major role in driving inflation.
Forget cuts, investors fear the Fed is not done raising interest rates
Some fear that the US central bank is being overly complacent, given inflation remains well above its target, and the improvement appears to be levelling out.
- Opinion
- RBA
Not wanting a fight, Michele Bullock will not call Jim Chalmers’ bluff
The Reserve Bank governor is unlikely to highlight how the Albanese government’s own policies are fuelling inflationary pressures as she ponders higher rates.
- Opinion
- Monetary policy
The next RBA rate move will be down, says Westpac
The next move in interest rates will be down, says the bank’s economics team, which is now led by a highly regarded former Reserve Bank assistant governor.
- Opinion
- Big four
Macquarie feels the sting of rising rates
The investment bank’s sprawling asset management business, which has benefitted from more than a decade of ultra-low interest rates, faces a tougher environment.
