Inflation hits 3.8% in December

Financial market bets for a RBA rate hike likely rose after an above-forcast rise in December inflation

Macbank keeps the pressure on, hard

Term deposit rates just keep on rising with yet another increase from Macbank, taking its one year TD rate to the market leading position

Breakfast briefing: Chaotic US policymaking tests investor nerves

US jobs growth tame, consumer confidence dives; China industry profits rise; EU-India deal signed; Swedes eye euro; Australia business sentiment holds; UST 10yr at 4.23%; gold on hold; oil firmer; AU$1 = 69.8 USc

Ten key risks for savers and investors

Regulator ASIC has identified 'major shifts' in pressures on consumers that risk their nest eggs

Consumers at the crossroads

Westpac's Luci Ellis notes a genuine cyclical upswing in consumer spending is underway. This follows a long period of weakness and should not be assumed to be signaling a runaway inflationary boom

All eyes on Wednesday

The economic signals are pointing to a combination of a strong labour market and higher inflation, the ingredients for the RBA to move against these forces quickly. Financial markets sense the change and have quickly moved their pricing assumptions

The OECD has reviewed our economy and outlook

The OECD wants to see more effective work on reducing the budget deficit, and more effective actions on housing affordability

"We will not be undersold!"

Macbank ensures it offers top term deposit rates after a new small increase in its popular term deposit rates

Should you go 'short' or 'long' when there is no premium for term?

With at-call savings rates little different to one-year term deposit rates for savers, why lock up your money on a fixed term? In fact the 'best' (highest) rate offers are for at-call savings

"Most investors face losses, and even profitable trades can be entirely eroded by trading costs"

ASIC says complex, high risk CFDs result in large losses by 'investors' (speculators), made worse by platform practices that contravene licensing obligations

Moves and countermoves in the savings sector

Both big and challenger banks have moved to counter Macbank's recent hikes in term deposit and savings account rates

Why do educated people fall for conspiracy theories? It could be narcissism

Tylor Cosgrove notes that conspiracy theories spread wider in times of uncertainty, including during war, economic downturn and widespread hardship. He looks at the type of personalities that are drawn to them

The revenge of global imbalances

Barry Eichengreen explains why, after 20 years, major economies' external deficits and surpluses are again a focus of attention

Commbank raises all its fixed home loan rates

Fixed home loan rates are on the move higher. All banks are looking at raising fixed rates now as sentiment shifts to higher rate expectations in 2026

'The states are spending like they are in lockdown': S&P

NSW and Queensland are singled out as at risk of a credit rating downgrade as infrastructure projects and entitlement claims mount, while tax increases become politically much harder

The 2026 outlook calls for recalibration

Mohamed El-Erian thinks that last year's economic tailwinds will give way to more challenging conditions as the AI narrative fades

Macbank goes even higher

With their retail funding strategy working a treat, Macquarie has just piled more rate pressure on its rivals with yet another increase for savers