Today's changes to interest rates

Here are the changes the main banks have made to retail interest rates on Monday, May 18, 2026

The world economy after the Trump-Xi summit

Shang-Jin Wei explains how last week's meeting between the Chinese and US presidents could improve the global outlook

The world after the Iran war

Shlomo Ben-Ami envisions a less stable, more fragmented future, with China benefiting from declining faith in the US

Breakfast briefing: A major financial market re-think is underway

US gets bump from defensive stockpiling effects; China sees off Trump; bond markets rethink US prospects; Japan gets record PPI jump; Indian exports jump; UST 10yr at 4.60%; gold dives and oil rises; AU$1 = 71.5 USc

2026–27 Australian Federal Budget

The 2026-27 Federal Budget delivers a fiscal impulse that is still slightly expansionary, and some significant tax changes and productivity reforms

Macquarie is winning the term deposit war

Macbank parlays its high rate offers into consistent deposit growth, with new business now outstripping all other major rivals

When your mortgage rate will go up

All the big five banks have said they will pass on the RBA's rate hike in full to borrowers with variable home loans. But there are differences from when that will apply

Tackling high inflation with a third straight rate hike

For a third consecutive time, the Australian central bank has added another 25 bps cash rate target hike to 4.35%, reversing all of of its cuts since February 2025

Up, up and away

Term deposit rates have raced past the 5 percent benchmark and even the largest bank is now offering north of that. Check our rate tables frequently to stay up with this fluid situation

CPI inflation rose 4.6% in the year to March 2026

Inflation jumps +4.6% in March, driven by petrol (8.9%), housing (6.5%), and food (3.1%)

Job security as big a factor as rising interest rates for borrowers 'at risk'

Risk of mortgage stress up 1.9% points in March after the Reserve Bank raised interest rates for second straight month: Roy Morgan

The AI risk we need to focus on

Lenny Mendonca & Martin Neil Baily see looming worker displacement from the march if AI as a greater challenge that systemic financial concerns

Should you be worried about Mythos?

Toby Walsh explains why the world’s banks are so worried about Anthropic’s latest AI model

How to think about selecting a TD term when rates are rising

With term deposit rate offers over five percent for terms as short as five months to as long as two years, we show how you can think about the best strategy for selecting what terms to select

Some 'critical' businesses offered interest-free loans to cope with oil crisis

Government rolls out an Economic Resilience Program aimed at supporting manufacturing and logistics businesses, with a focus on businesses operating in freight, fuel, fertiliser, and plastics critical supply chain sectors

Want to save between $100 to $400 each month on your home loan?

In a rising market, there is an effective way to avoid your mortgage becoming more expensive. Fixing now, even if the current rate is higher than what you are paying now, will insulate you from further almost-certain future rises

From anxiety to action: Helping Australians to plan for their financial future

A new ASIC tool shows how much income you could have in retirement from your superannuation, the Age Pension and other income sources. And explore how different scenarios could affect your income over time