
The Guardian - 6 hours 29 min ago
Follow the day's news live. Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast The treasurer, Jim Chalmers , has defended his economic record on the eve of what is widely expected to be the fourth interest rate rise of 2026, as the Reserve Bank remains concerned about persistent inflation. The RBA board is poised to hike the cash rate from 4.35% to 4.6% on Tuesday, which would be the fourth increase in 2026 and push typical home loan interest rates to 6.5%. We have a lot going for...

The Guardian - 22 hours 8 min ago
Savers face a dilemma: lock down the deals now or wait, with offers tipped to get even better' Returns on the top fixed-rate savings accounts are at their highest level in years and still climbing, with some now paying up to 5.25%. It leaves those with money to put away facing a choice: lock into some of the best interest rates on offer in several years or hold your nerve in the hope they get even better? Continue reading...