Central Banks

The Australian dollar is around its lowest level since 2020 against the US currency, continuing its move towards 61 US cents with a sharp fall over the weekend.

A weak Chinese economy, American threats to impose punishing trade tariffs, a poor medium-to-longer-term outlook for our key exports and a sluggish economy are likely to keep the Australian dollar under pressure through 2025, threatening to send it to 20-year lows.

The Reserve Bank has highlighted scenarios where it might consider both cutting and hiking interest rates. The RBA's chief economist Sarah Hunter used a speech to show how the bank deals with an uncertain macroeconomic environment.

The Reserve Bank has left interest rates on hold for a ninth-straight meeting. The RBA kept its cash rate target at 4.35 per cent.

The RBA has kept the cash rate unchanged at 4.35 per cent in December, for a ninth-straight meeting. The next chance borrowers have for a reprieve is in February.

The decisions the Reserve Bank makes affect the rest of us, and therefore should continue not to be taken lightly — whichever board might make them.

The Federal Reserve sets US interest rates and manages monetary policy, and its chair, Jerome Powell, has declared he won't be stepping down until his term ends in 2026.

Prices rose by 0.2 per cent in the September quarter, according to the ABS, compared to the 1 per cent rise in the three months through June. Underlying inflation remains above the Reserve Bank's target.

A modern-day gold rush has moved up a gear with the price of the precious metal breaking records, as observers, including the Reserve Bank deputy, warn broader financial markets may have gotten ahead of themselves.

As Australians await stronger signals that a rates reprieve is imminent here, across the Tasman, New Zealand's central bank has again taken the knife to its key interest rate.

Australia would be among the countries that would suffer most from what Trump is proposing, after the US and China.