Today
Fed says September rate cut is ‘on the table’
Jerome Powell said “a reduction in our policy rate could be on the table as soon as the next meeting in September” as the Federal Reserve held rates steady.
- Updated
- Matthew Cranston
Yesterday
- Opinion
- The AFR View
August reprieve but no interest rate relief yet
Inflation remains sticky, well-above the 2 per cent to 3 per cent target band, and has basically moved sideways.
- The AFR View
This start-up’s invention is keeping coffee prices down
Surging input costs forced Perth company Filament Coffee to rethink how it delivered its cold brew to customers.
- Tom Rabe
- Opinion
- Monetary policy
Productivity is the key to taming inflation for good
Either governments and business improve the supply side of the economy, or the RBA will have to keep squeezing demand indefinitely.
- Paul Brennan
- Opinion
- Chanticleer
Investors should ignore CPI drama and focus on these five questions
The inflation story for the ASX is largely unchanged: price pressures remain uncomfortably high, and the RBA has little scope to support a weakening economy.
- James Thomson
- Opinion
- Australian economy
Inflation helps government dodge interest rate bullet
The June quarter figures were not good, but they also weren’t as bad as feared. That is likely to give the Reserve Bank breathing space to keep interest rates on hold next week.
- Jennifer Hewett
RBA rate rise off the table as inflation not so bad
Investors believe the next move by the RBA will be an interest rate cut rather than a rise, after underlying inflation came in only slightly above forecasts.
- Updated
- Michael Read
- Opinion
- Inflation
Inflation stays sticky, but it won’t force RBA rate rise
The consumer price figures were not as bad as feared, but inflation remains persistent and higher-for-longer interest rates will be required.
- John Kehoe
- Analysis
- Interest rates
Here’s what you need to know about Wednesday’s inflation number
The consumer price index will be released today at 11.30am. Here’s the number to look at for and how we expect markets to react.
- Jonathan Shapiro
July
Why industry policies are no longer a ‘hidden’ trade war
The Productivity Commission’s deputy chairman has added to warnings that the federal government’s signature Made in Australia policy could fuel protectionism.
- James Hall
Home building crisis worsens with young tradies out of work
The wave of construction insolvencies is worsening an undersupply of homes and skills shortages, as trade apprentices are forced to drop out of TAFE courses.
- John Kehoe and Tom Rabe
- Opinion
- Australian economy
Australia can’t afford for economic security to trump trade in Asia
Economic diplomacy that builds interdependence with China in critical minerals and green energy will contribute to Australian prosperity and security, not detract from it.
- Shiro Armstrong
- Opinion
- Australian economy
Why the Productivity Commission is wrong about green subsidies
The independent government agency has an outdated neoliberal mandate that needs an ESG makeover.
- Jeremy Cooper
Labor braces for higher inflation, interest rates
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese sought to exonerate the government from rising inflation and a possible rate rise, arguing Labor’s two budget surpluses have helped the RBA reduce price pressures.
- John Kehoe
Dealmakers face tougher ‘public benefit’ test on mergers
Businesses using public interest grounds such as climate change action or financial stability to get takeover approvals will face a stricter hurdle from the ACCC.
- Updated
- John Kehoe
- Opinion
- Monetary policy
Why the case for an August rate rise has been overdone
The RBA missed its chance to lift rates at the end of last year. Raising them now will be much harder to explain.
- Ben Udy
The price rises creating a big dilemma for the RBA
High inflation for items that interest rates have little control over, such as education, healthcare and insurance, will force the RBA to consider squashing harder on the prices of other items.
- John Kehoe
- Opinion
- Company mergers
Merger changes crown the ACCC as Wizard of Oz dealmaking
The legislation, which empowers the antitrust regulator to be the administrative “steward” of M&A, is the most profound reorientation of Australian merger law in its 50-year history.
- Simon Muys
Merger crackdown to make ACCC ‘judge and jury’ on deals
More takeovers will be able to be blocked under the government’s move to give the competition watchdog stronger powers than previously thought, lawyers say.
- John Kehoe
Construction collapses lead record insolvency year
It was the highest number of annual insolvencies recorded by ASIC since records dating back to 1999-2000 and surpassed the previous high at the tail end of the global financial crisis.
- John Kehoe
