Today
- Opinion
- Opinion
Central banks need true transparency not fake consensus
The Bank of England isn’t afraid to advertise its differences. That is better for creating trust than the obsession with a united front at the US Fed.
- Mohamed El-Erian
This Month
- Analysis
- Interest rates
‘Hottest ticket since Cold Chisel’: Bullock returns home to Armidale
The RBA governor’s formative years helped make the country’s most high-profile economist a ‘tough’ leader.
- John Kehoe
Rising costs hit Mirvac margins, new homes
Property developer Mirvac blamed the steep rise in labour and material costs for halving its profit margins on some residential projects, triggering a 13 per cent fall in operating earnings this year.
- Michael Read and Nick Lenaghan
Why the market doesn’t believe the RBA on rates
Despite the surprisingly strong hawkish rhetoric from the Reserve Bank this week, bond traders (and some economists) aren’t buying it.
- Updated
- Cecile Lefort and Sarah Jones
- Opinion
- Federal Reserve
The Fed will not let markets dictate a rate cut
The US central bank reacts to the sharemarket only when volatility threatens financial stability. For the moment, there is no evidence that this is the case.
- Barry Eichengreen
Traders don’t believe the RBA’s warning on rates
Bond markets are still wagering that the Reserve Bank will cut interest rates this year even as the central bank said it considered a rise on Tuesday.
- Cecile Lefort
- Opinion
- Interest rates
RBA at odds with the market and the world
A panicked market is convinced the central bank faced a simple choice to prepare for interest rate cuts. Its staffers clearly don’t see it that way as the bank laid out the case for increases.
- Jonathan Shapiro
- Updated
- Interest rates
No rate cuts before Christmas, says RBA governor
Michele Bullock has declared “near-term interest rate cuts are not on the agenda”, warning the economy remained too hot and ruling out decreasing the cash rate before Christmas.
- Michael Read
Goolsbee warns on Fed, downplays recession fears
Chicago Fed president Austan Goolsbee says the Fed can’t be over-restrictive when it comes to rates, amid fears the central bank has been too slow to cut rates.
- Reuters
- Opinion
- Opinion
RBA must say no to the Recessionistas out there
The Reserve Bank is taking its dual mandate seriously and seems to be ignoring the incessant clamouring for another rise in the cash rate.
- Craig Emerson
Traders bet on rapid rate cuts as recession fears deepen
Bond prices are soaring globally after weaker US jobs data rattled investors and prompted traders to dial up the need for urgent rate cuts in both the US and Australia to stem an economic downturn.
- Cecile Lefort
AFR readers want RBA to hold, divided on saving Rex
Almost two-thirds of readers surveyed by The Australian Financial Review think the Reserve Bank of Australia should hold rates steady on Tuesday.
- Patrick Durkin
- Opinion
- Interest rates
The RBA has more to worry about than just inflation
Monetary policy is now more than ever just a wealth redistribution policy in Australia, just ask Baby Boomers.
- Updated
- Tim Hext
US July jobs data points to unexpected weakness
Non-farm payrolls increased 114,000 last month and the jobless rate rose to 4.3 per cent, putting the Fed solidly on a path to cutting rates in September.
- Updated
- Augusta Saraiva
- Analysis
- AFR Weekend
Don’t pop the champagne on interest rate cuts just yet
Inflation data nixed the danger of an interest rate rise next week, but former RBA economists are split on the outlook from here.
- John Kehoe
Fed’s rate cut conviction sweeps RBA up in global easing hopes
Markets are fully priced for Jerome Powell’s September easing, but economists do not share the same enthusiasm that the Reserve Bank may not be far behind.
- Updated
- Cecile Lefort
July
- Opinion
- Opinion
Productivity is the key to taming inflation for good
Either governments and business improve the supply side of the economy, or the RBA will have to keep squeezing demand indefinitely.
- Paul Brennan
- Opinion
- Inflation
Inflation stays sticky, but it won’t force RBA rate rise
The consumer price figures were not as bad as feared, but inflation remains persistent and higher-for-longer interest rates will be required.
- John Kehoe
Traders gird for ‘dangerous’ 48 hours in markets
There’s a lot riding on the next few days, with Australia’s quarterly inflation report and the US Federal Reserve’s interest rate decision. Anything less than consensus could rile markets.
- Sarah Jones
Labor braces for higher inflation, interest rates
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese sought to exonerate the government from rising inflation and a possible rate rise, arguing Labor’s two budget surpluses have helped the RBA reduce price pressures.
- John Kehoe
