API Blog :: Have your say!

The Federal Government, and treasurer Wayne Swan in particular, have loved playing hero for the Aussie homeowner by attacking lenders and allegedly tightening the reins on their credit policies.

BY ED NIXON

The Federal Treasurer believes his recent moves to abolish exit fees on new home loans will increase competition in the sector and give borrowers a better deal.?

But is this really the case? Or is it more likely that what the banks lose with the abolition of exit fees, they’ll gain by slugging borrowers with an upfront charge for the privilege of applying for a home loan?? Read more →

It wasn’t just homeowners and property investors who were given a reprieve on October 5 when the Reserve Bank declared it intended to keep interest rates on hold; certain sectors of the economy also took the announcement as welcome news.

BY ED NIXON

While many economists were surprised by the Reserve Bank of Australia’s (RBA) decision to keep the cash target rate on hold due to various positive economic indicators – including escalating employment levels and a resources boom the likes of which Australia hasn’t experienced since the late 19th century – some are questioning whether our fiscal position is really as vigorous as the policy makers would like to believe.

With continuing uncertainty surrounding the economic status of other developed nations and the Aussie dollar going from strength to strength, the fact of the matter is we might be putting the horse before the cart with all this ongoing talk of an impending inflationary blowout. Read more →

Property investors and homeowners were given a much needed reprieve as the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) decided to leave the official cash rate of 4.5 per cent unchanged for the third consecutive month at its August 3 meeting. So is now a good time to lock in your interest rate with your lender?

By ED NIXON

The RBA’s decision came as the June quarter consumer price index (CPI) rate of inflation was lower than expected: 3.1 per cent, just outside the central bank’s target band of two to three per cent.

In a statement regarding the decision, RBA Governor Glenn Stevens said, “With (economic) growth likely to be close to trend, inflation close to target and the global outlook remaining somewhat uncertain, the board judged this setting of monetary policy to be appropriate.” Read more →