Breakfast briefing: Signaled rate cuts locked in

US data positive; Binance to escape oversight; Canadian inflation stays in zone; China and EU industrial production rise; UST 10yr at 4.03%; gold firm, oil up; AU$1 = 66.9 USc

Can you save by converting to a fixed rate home loan?

We look at the rationale for converting your variable rate mortgage to a fixed rate. There are good savings if you do that now, even if the RBA makes another rate cut before the end of 2025

The economic outlook from Sepetember 2025

The Westpac economists reveal their latest thinking on the Australian economy, commodity and financial markets, and the global economy

Offensive measures to target fraudsters

Mark Button & Branislav Hock look at how the global anti-scam community could come together to beat criminals

The twilight of Pax Americana

Koichi Hamada cannot see US leadership recovering from Donald Trump's bullying of trade partners

Bank of Queensland trims some key term deposit rates

There are more term deposit rate reductions from challenger banks but they still offer a significant premium above the big four banks

Global trade is winning Trump's war on it

Daniel Gros points out that even US import demand seems to be withstanding the introduction of tariffs

The best places to park funds in the short term

We highlight the 4% rates and above, still available for a short term fixed deposit that avoids the risks of an intervening 'variable' rate change

Workers receiving a larger slice of the ‘economic pie’

Workers are receiving a larger slice of the ‘economic pie,’ with growth in costs moderating and demand remaining soft enough to help ensure these lower costs are passed on

Indonesian democracy on the brink

Lili Yan Ing urges policymakers in Indonesia to cut waste, strengthen oversight, and ensure fair access to jobs and security to prevent an uncontrollable populist explosion

Stablecoins, tokens and global dominance

Hélène Rey notes technology is reshaping capital flows and currency dominance; data integrity is essential for financial stability

Why gold may be losing its shine as a safe-haven investment

Gold is now firmly established as another investment asset - its role is as part of a diversified portfolio and not as a hedge

Tokens are finance’s newest and oldest innovation

Money has taken many forms over millennia; digital tokens are the latest. The IMF's Itai Agur reveals the large benefits of digital tokenisation - and the enormous risks they bring

Finance changed - but the risks didn't

New technologies are rewiring liquidity, payments, and economic stability

Macbank trims its home lending variable rates

Macquarie trims many variable mortgage rates, but not all. The result is a worthwhile rate advantage over the Big Four bank offers and more in line with what other banks in the next tier offer

Spring loaded

Westpac sees tight supply lifting housing markets with a discernible shift in response to lower interest rates. Price growth has lifted, auction clearance rates are up, and more people say it is 'time to buy'

An unusual burst before affordability constraints

Cotality says housing values bloom ahead of what is likely to be a very active spring selling season