Interest Rates
Westpac Cuts Longer Home Loan Rates After Dovish RBNZ Review
Westpac New Zealand cut its longer-term fixed home loan rates, effective February 23, following a dovish Reserve Bank OCR review. This move positions its three-year rate below 5%.
Nvidia Powers U.S. Stock Market Rally Amid AI Hopes and Fed Watch
The U.S. stock market climbed Wednesday, led by Nvidia’s significant gains after a new Meta Platforms AI partnership. Investors also awaited Federal Reserve minutes for clues on future interest rate policy.
UK Inflation Cools to 3% in January, Boosting Bank of England Rate Cut Hopes
The UK’s inflation rate cooled to 3% in January, its lowest since March 2025, significantly boosting expectations for a Bank of England interest rate cut.
UK Unemployment Reaches Five-Year High of 5.2% in Late 2025
The UK unemployment rate rose to 5.2% in late 2025, reaching a five-year high. This signals economic challenges and could prompt further interest rate cuts from the Bank of England.
Mortgage Rates Today Hold Near 6% Amid Affordability Gains
Average 30-year fixed mortgage rates are hovering around 6.05%, with Freddie Mac reporting 6.09% in mid-February. This stability, coupled with sub-6% deals, signals improved affordability for homebuyers.
30-Year Fixed Mortgage Rates Hold Steady Near 6.28% Amid Federal Reserve’s Policy
The average 30-year fixed mortgage rate currently hovers around 6.28% in February 2026, influenced by the Federal Reserve’s ‘passive monetary tightening’ strategy and its broader impact on borrowing costs.
RBA Hikes Rates, Ending Post-COVID Cutting Cycle
Australia’s Reserve Bank has delivered its first interest rate hike since 2023, reversing its cutting cycle amid persistent inflation concerns and becoming the first major central bank to do so post-pandemic.
RBA Interest Rate Decision Nears Amid Renewed Hike Speculation
The Reserve Bank of Australia is set to announce its first interest rate decision of 2026, with financial markets and most economists anticipating a potential quarter percentage point hike as inflation remains above target.
Westpac Adjusts Home Loan Rates Amid Rising Funding Costs
Westpac New Zealand has announced significant adjustments to its home loan rates, increasing most standard and special fixed terms while cutting its six-month rate, effective February 2, 2026. The move reflects rising wholesale interest rates and broader economic pressures.
South African Rand’s Strong Run Faces Test as Rate Decisions Loom
The South African rand has seen a remarkable strengthening against the US dollar since mid-2025, buoyed by a weaker greenback and surging precious metal prices. However, a slight dip this week ahead of critical interest rate decisions from the US…
Fed Pauses Rate Cuts Amid Political Pressure, Powell Defends Independence
The Federal Reserve held interest rates steady on January 28, 2026, for the first time since July, amidst a criminal probe targeting Chair Jerome Powell and ongoing political challenges to the central bank’s independence.
Powell Affirms Fed Policy ‘Appropriate’ Amid Rate Hold, Dollar Rebound
Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell stated Wednesday that the current monetary policy stance is ‘appropriate,’ even as inflation remains elevated and the FOMC held interest rates steady. The U.S. dollar rebounded following these remarks and a reaffirmation of strong dollar…
CommBank App and NetBank Outage Hits Customers Amid Rate Hike Speculation
Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CommBank) faced a significant outage of its mobile app and NetBank services for some customers late Wednesday, January 28, 2026, coinciding with market speculation over an interest rate hike by the Reserve Bank of Australia.
Rick Rieder Emerges as Fed Chair Frontrunner Amid Rate Debate
BlackRock’s Rick Rieder has emerged as the leading candidate to succeed Jerome Powell as Federal Reserve Chair, with President Trump expected to announce a nomination within days. This development comes amid the administration’s aggressive push for lower interest rates and…
Canadian Dollar Consolidates Gains Amid Broad USD Weakness
The Canadian dollar, or ‘Loonie,’ has consolidated its recent gains, trading defensively against a weaker U.S. dollar in global markets as improved risk sentiment and higher commodity prices continue to provide support.