This Month
Stressed by rates and thinking about fixing? Try the sleep test first
Lenders outside the big four are offering some of their best fixed mortgage rates in more than a year, but practice extreme caution, experts say.
- Updated
- Lucy Dean
Pace of house price growth to cool as risks emerge
House prices have recouped the interest rate-induced losses in the past two years and are poised to hit record highs this year, but downside risks are gathering pace, according to experts.
- Nila Sweeney
- Updated
- Earnings season
ANZ says it can reward shareholders and grow lending
The bank said profits were down in its retail business with conditions “more competitive than ever”, but lending to large companies was stronger.
- Updated
- Lucas Baird and James Eyers
- Opinion
- Chanticleer
Westpac shows how banks are mortgage war casualties
Peter King says Westpac is hunting growth. But he won’t find it in old-fashioned mortgages and deposits, where returns have been brutally competed away.
- James Thomson
Westpac deflects downturn with special dividend
The Westpac boss says the return of $1.5 billion to shareholders is a sign of confidence in the Australian economy and the outlook for bad debts.
- Updated
- James Eyers and Lucas Baird
Australia to fall 300,000 homes short of Albanese’s target
The housing industry welcomes official recognition that the country will fall short of its goals, but warns demand for new homes is still underestimated.
- Michael Bleby
Macquarie goes after big four’s business lending lunch
The investment bank’s share of small business lending is only 1.7 per cent, but its $15.8 billion book grew by 22 per cent for the year and Macquarie wants more.
- Updated
- James Eyers and Lucas Baird
- Updated
- Earnings season
NAB clings to business banking prize as mortgage brokers bite
National Australia Bank’s first-half profit tumble underlined the toll intense mortgage competition is still claiming on margins.
- Updated
- Lucas Baird and James Eyers
- Opinion
- Chanticleer
The ‘astonishing’ number in NAB’s profit
There’s a very good reason why new boss Andrew Irvine won’t change the bank’s strategy too much.
- James Thomson
April
- Opinion
- Chanticleer
The politician who’s answered ANZ’s rallying call on bank rules
Liberal Senator Andrew Bragg has backed Shayne Elliott’s view that bank rules are restricting economic growth and making it harder for first home buyers to get into the market.
- James Thomson
Loosen rules so banks can write more home loans: Liberal MP
Liberal Andrew Bragg has endorsed a call by bankers to relax home loan regulations to make it easier for first home buyers to enter the housing market.
- John Kehoe
- Opinion
- Chanticleer
Why Shayne Elliott says it’s time to tweak responsible lending rules
The ANZ boss says the derisking of Australia’s very safe banking system is coming at a cost to growth and economic dynamism. A rebalancing is required.
- Updated
- James Thomson
CBA dumps bonus limits to fight Macquarie on mortgages
The bank will dump bonus caps agreed in the shadow of the Hayne royal commission as it tries to stem market share losses to rival Macquarie.
- James Eyers
Macquarie exits car lending to double down on mortgages
Macquarie expects 100 jobs to go as it winds down its $5 billion car lending book, following Westpac out of the sector.
- Updated
- James Eyers
‘Tapped out’ property investors use super when banks say no
A growing number of property investors who have “tapped out” their personal borrowing capacity are using their self-managed super funds to borrow more, advisers say.
- Updated
- Nila Sweeney
House deposit or HECS debt: what’s best for the kids?
Soaring student loan debts can reduce first home buyer lending capacity by up to $140,000, according to analysis by RateCity.
- Duncan Hughes and Lucy Dean
- Opinion
- Chanticleer
BOQ says selling more mortgages will make its ugly position worse
Don’t be fooled by the pop in Bank of Queensland’s share price. Its big profit drop underscores the raft of structural challenges it is facing.
- Updated
- James Thomson
BoQ shares surge on earnings surprise but rough road ahead
Continuing pressure on margins and an “unfair playing field” means the regional lender needs additional ways to improve returns, says CEO.
- Lucas Baird
Mark escaped mortgage prison. Thousands more remain trapped
Brokers say “lowball” valuations are on the rise as home owners struggle to refinance.
- Lucy Dean
Borrowers agitating for better mortgage deals are saving $2000 a year
New data shows lenders are willing to slice an existing mortgage rate by 0.46 percentage points, on average, when a customer negotiates on price.
- James Eyers
