Finance

Finance · 29 September 2026

RBA Raises Rates to 4.60%, Homeowners Face Higher Bills as Market Participants Shuffle

Vera Chen, Sydney desk

The Reserve Bank of Australia has lifted its benchmark to 4.60%, sending mortgage borrowers into a new era of higher repayments. Market participants scramble to recalibrate budgets, while calculators become the new oracl…

Finance · 29 September 2026

Chalmers Promises ‘Lower Taxes Than Howard’ as Cash Rate Decision Looms—Meanwhile a Missing Activist’s Wife Urges Help

Vera Chen, Sydney desk

Treasurer Chalmers, in a pre‑rate‑cut spectacle, claims taxes will be lower than under Howard, sparking a chorus of sceptical market participants, while the odd subplot of a missing activist’s wife seeking help tur…

Finance · 29 September 2026

ASX Stalls, RBA’s Rate Riddle: Bonds Boil While Wall Street Wavers

Vera Chen, Sydney desk

A flat opening for the ASX and a wobbling US market underscore how RBA’s anticipated rate hike keeps market participants in a state of polite suspense, while bond yields sprint ahead of a possible policy twist.

Finance · 29 September 2026

RBA’s Fifth Rate Hike Hovers: Is the Australian Property Market About to Get a Reality‑TV Make‑over?

Vera Chen, Sydney desk

The Reserve Bank of Australia is poised for a fifth rate increase this year, and market participants are bracing for a potential ‘devastating’ impact on affordability and property sales, sparking a wave of sarcastic…

Finance · 28 September 2026

Washington Desk: US and China Agree to Stop Yelling at Each Other’s Laundry Baskets

Helen Pell, Washington desk

The US and China have agreed to reduce tariffs on $60 billion worth of goods, prompting a chaotic rally among textile traders and a suspiciously calm Federal Reserve.

Finance · 28 September 2026

Oura Rings Up a Big IPO, Investors Wonder if the Market’s Wearing a Smart‑Ring

Helen Pell, Washington desk

Oura’s debut on Wall Street was as dramatic as a fitness tracker on a marathon runner—big numbers, big buzz, and a market that didn’t quite know whether to cheer or check its pulse.

Finance · 28 September 2026

Housebuilders' Shares Soar as New‑Home Scheme Turns the City into a Gift‑Wrapped Market

Iris Quay, London desk

UK housebuilders rally after a government plan to help first‑time buyers, sending shares of Crest Nicholson and others to new highs and giving City traders a holiday‑season boost.

Finance · 28 September 2026

Bond Yields Soar, AI Stocks Squeeze: Wall Street’s High‑Interest Comedy

Vera Chen, Sydney desk

A sudden surge in U.S. Treasury yields has left AI‑heavy stocks teetering, with market participants debating whether the technology boom can survive the new interest‑rate reality.

Finance · 28 September 2026

Trump’s Trade Threats Stir a Robust Market Reverie

Helen Pell, Washington desk

The former president’s latest threat to suspend trade if the Fed refuses to cut rates has sent a ripple through Wall Street, prompting a robust pause in Treasury yields and a robust flurry of speculation among traders.