Finance

The Reserve Bank's third successive rate hike hit mortgage holders like a kick in the guts and there is little light to be found at the end of the tunnel when digging deeper.

Australia's big four banks have wasted little time in passing on today's interest rate hike to their customers.

The Reserve Bank has done what homeowners were dreading by hiking interest rates again to 4.35 per cent.

Inflation has surged to its highest level in almost three years as borrowers brace for a potential third consecutive interest rate hike to start the year.

Australian borrowers are just hours away from receiving the clearest indication of whether an unwelcome third-straight interest rate rise will be handed down next week.

Inflation could soar past five per cent as experts warn Australians could be slapped with higher prices.

Australian shares dropped 1.5 percent on opening this morning, a four-month low as oil prices surged as energy infrastructure on all sides in the Middle East came under attack.

Think petrol prices are bad now? It's entirely possible you ain't seen nothing yet.

Aussie mortgage holders are being told to brace for an interest rate rise, with the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) looking to keep on top of rising inflation.

As major banks predict more interest rate hikes, Sydney borrowers say something will have to give - with travel, dining out and everyday spending first on the chopping block.

ANZ has followed the other major banks in predicting triple-rate hike pain for Aussie borrowers.

Oil prices could surge past US$150 a barrel, potentially pushing oil and refined product prices to levels not seen in history.

Market instability fueled by the volatile war in the Middle East pushed two of the big banks to shift their RBA cash rate predictions today.

At one stage today, the ASX had sunk by as much as 4.3 per cent, which would have put it on track for the steepest single-day drop since the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.

Investors arfe spooked by skyrocketing oil prices due to the conflict in the Middle East.

The Reserve Bank has cautioned it remains too early to tell what the economic impact of the war in Iran will be, even as surging petrol prices deliver another hit to inflation-weary households.

Inflation has once again come in hotter than expected, raising the chance of another interest rate hike soon.

The government is being warned it can't afford to keep kicking the problem of productivity down the street.

The unemployment rate has remained steady to start 2026, with more people in work than economists had expected in a move that could aid the case for a second interest rate hike this year.

After generations of improvement, our living standards will be stuck in the present – or go backwards – without major economic reform.

The good times for Australians enjoying more affordable travel because of the strong dollar are likely to keep rolling, and there could be some welcome repercussions for those stuck at home, too.

"Inflation is now expected to remain above the Reserve Bank's target band for some time."

The world's most popular cryptocurrency tanked overnight, reflecting a weakening appetite for risk among investors.

Both companies said any potential deal would fail to deliver shareholders enough value.

The Commonwealth Bank has joined NAB in pencilling in a second interest rate hike in May.

The latest cash rate rise is another hammer blow for struggling mortgage holders, new research has found.

The RBA has effectively said it had no choice in making its dreaded decision.

Investors are spurning gold and other precious metals in a vote of confidence for the man expected to lead the world's most powerful central bank.

An Aussie pub tycoon is making a venture into the world of the media with a big purchase.

Economists are backing the RBA to raise the cash rate next week, and any future relief could be months away.

There's some hope for mortgage-holders, one of the big banks has said.

Expects are not ruling out the precious metal hitting the $US6000 mark later this year.

The local currency today was worth US70 cents, its highest since February 2023.

Twelve months ago, mortgage holders were looking forward to a new year that promised to be full of interest rate cuts. The outlook now, though, is considerably bleaker.

The Reserve Bank held off on a rate rise on Tuesday, but the bad news has come today for many mortgage-holders.

Full-time employment fell by 57,000 people, with 40,000 males and 16,000 females exiting the workforce.

The ASX is expected to jump today on news the key US figure reached its lowest level for three years.

The president says his administration is "very seriously" considering a move to replicate it in the US.

Many aren't even aware of the impending risk.

The figures are so bad that one leading economist is refusing to rule out a rate hike.

Traders have been spooked by a wild day of trading on Wall Street and mixed US jobs data.

Fears of an "AI bubble" have been put to rest - albeit temporarily - as the world's most valuable company beats expectations.

There are fears that the party may be over for an industry that has boomed in the past 12 months.

It's now bigger than Boxing Day, but there's a concerning reason behind the decline is business participation in the event.

The federal government is facing yet another call to overhaul the GST, with new research outlining the tremendous amount of unfairness baked into the current system.

If you've read much about the economy recently, you'll have noticed not a hell of a lot of the headlines have been positive as of late.