Allegra Spender's brave tax plan

A Teal MP's plan for a significant package of budget-neutral tax reforms to the personal tax system to better reward hard work, build prosperity, and ensure more people "can build financial security and a decent life for themselves"

The ground shifts faster as sudden new inflation threats become real

Westpac is part of a growing group of analysts to revise their view of RBA policy: 25bp hikes in both March and May expected. Single hike still possible but not their base case

Five percent rates arrive

Three banks including a major raise term deposit rates, and one challenger bank cracks the 5% barrier as the fight extends for household deposit funding

Breakfast briefing: Markets bet heavily on the TACO effect

US data mixed; Canada enjoys a travel boost; China exports jump; Aussie confidence mixed; UST 10yr at 4.14%; gold rises and oil falls; Straits of Hormuz still closed; AU$1 = 71.5 USc

The middle-power moment?

Ian Bremmer considers whether the countries most vulnerable to US or Chinese domination can find common cause

A fifteen year high

While everyone else is fixated on the sharp falls in equity prices, we look at bond yields, and they have their own sharp responses

5% here we come

Challenger banks are seeing worrying leakage in their household deposit books. Now one of the most badly affected is offering 4.95% for a one year term deposit, a new market high

Macbank is winning the savings war

The latest APRA data shows dramatic shifts in where household deposits are flowing from and where they are flowing to

Home loan fixed rates are on the move up

Five more banks have raised fixed home loan rates, narrowing the options to grab savings from variable rates which themselves are due to rise in a few weeks. But there are still many good options to fix now to avoid those cost increases

Why wait?

If you are on a variable home loan rate, you can lock in a similar rate now by moving to a one year fixed rate and avoid the next upcoming RBA rate hike. We show the possible savings

Inflation stays high, doesn't dip as expected

The pressure will be on the RBA after the high January CPI inflation rate, bringing their March cash rate target review into sharper focus

Play in May, don't go away

With inflation now higher than previously expected, the RBA raised the cash rate in February. The question then becomes, how much more is coming and when? Westpac's Luci Ellis says another cash rate increase will occur, in May

Lots of fraud, failures and misconduct to be dealt with

ASIC secures record $350 million in civil penalties and $583 million back to Australians in second half of 2025

Short or long TD rates?

Term deposit rates currently beat inflation. But should you opt for a shorter term, or a longer one?

Competition for new savers heats up, with very attractive advertised rates

Savers who like at-call savings accounts have become a new target by many banks wanting you to switch to them. They will offer you a bonus rate that they don't offer to their existing clients

The only direction is up

Rate increases spread widely for both savers and borrowers. Here are the latest

Mortgage rate variability brings opportunity

As home loan rate change announcements start to flow through, there is a unique opportunity to either lock in a lowish fixed rate, or switch banks for a better deal