Economy

Australia’s housing market is set for “a year of flat activity” in 2015, according to Domain Group senior economist Andrew Wilson.

Demand for home loans experienced a slight increase during September, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).

The Financial System Inquiry’s final report is good news for consumers, according to the Customer Owned Banking Association (COBA).

Pepper co-group chief executive Patrick Tuttle has been named Financial Services Executive of the Year at The CEO Magazine’s 2014 Executive of the Year Awards.

A second major bank has this week forecast that the official cash rate will fall to 2 per cent in 2015.

Leading financial services lawyer Jon Denovan has slammed the FSI’s recommendation to ban direct borrowing by SMSFs.

The Financial System Inquiry’s (FSI's) recommendation that Australian banks hold additional capital would lead to a rise in borrowing costs, according to the FSI final report.

Negative gearing encourages “speculative investment” and poses a “systemic risk” to the economy, argues the Financial System Inquiry's final report.

The Financial System Inquiry has recommended a number of significant changes in its final report in an attempt to boost competition.

Sentiment towards rates has shifted in recent weeks with almost all banks now confident the Reserve Bank will cut the cash rate next year.