CBA tips mortgage rates to rise

Commonwealth Bank of Australia’s (CBA) competitive pricing on mortgages helped it gain 21.9% of the mortgage market in 2009, but chief executive Ralph Norris has warned interest rates could rise.

“There’s no doubt we will reprice where necessary, we have to do what’s right on a commercial basis,” Norris said during the bank’s full year results briefing. Read More »

Interest rate put on hold for fourth month in a row

Interest rates were left on hold for the fourth month in a row and signalled the end to its recent rate cutting cycle, economists said after the RBA decision to leave the cash rate at 3% on Tuesday.
RBA governor Glenn Stevens indicated monetary policy was now on a neutral footing.  Here are some of his comments:

“The board’s judgment is that the present accommodative setting of monetary policy is appropriate given the economy’s circumstances,” Mr Stevens said. Read More »

Interest rate rise on the horizon

Coinciding with the experts’ suggestion that the worst of the recession is behind us, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has indicated that interest rates  will  rise in the coming months. Read More »

Tips On Interest Rates – Fixed & Variable Interest Rates

Variable Interest Rates

Variable interest rates in Australia are generally set against the Reserve Bank’s “Cash Rate.” This rate is used by the RBA to make adjustments to monetary policy so that such things as people’s spending capacity can be controlled. By controlling our ability to spend, the Reserve Bank and the Australian government can achieve desired outcomes for such things as levels of employment and inflation, thereby controlling the economy.They do this by adjusting the Cash Rate up or down, dependent on whether they want us to loosen or tighten our spending habits. Read More »