Home prices in Australia's big east coast cities show no sign of slowing, with the latest CoreLogic figures pointing to an average 0.5 per cent gain across the nation last month.
Shortly before they are off and running in Melbourne for the Cup, the Reserve Bank board will be considering interest rates, contemplating something else that's off and running - the east coast housing market.
US stocks end slightly lower as investors exercise caution ahead of next week's presidential election.
Australia's banking sector is at risk of a mass credit rating downgrade as Standard & Poor's warns surging debt and home prices are creating potential economic imbalances.