This is the third RBA board meeting in a row where the cash rate has been held, following no changes in both November and December (there was no meeting in January). 

For a long time February had been earmarked as the month of the next cut by a wide range of economists, but expectations turned against a cut after stronger-than-expected employment data in late January.

RBA-cash-rate-changes (1)

Although the effects of bushfires and the recent coronavirus have led some to believe there would still be a cut, the leading economists from each of the big four banks had all said the next cut would occur in April. 

Only three of the 25 economists surveyed by Bloomberg meanwhile believed today would see a cut, with April again being the consensus - only the economists from ING Bank, Deutsche Bank and Morgans Financial thought there would be a cut this month. 

The table below displays a selection of variable-rate home loans on offer, featuring a low-rate picks from each of the following three categories: the big four banks, the top 10 customer-owned banks, and the larger non-banks.

Update resultsUpdate
LenderHome LoanInterest Rate Comparison Rate* Monthly Repayment Repayment type Rate Type Offset Redraw Ongoing Fees Upfront Fees LVR Lump Sum Repayment Additional Repayments Split Loan Option TagsFeaturesLinkCompare
6.04% p.a.
6.06% p.a.
$2,408
Principal & Interest
Variable
$0
$530
70%
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5.99% p.a.
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$2,396
Principal & Interest
Variable
$0
$0
80%
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  • No application or ongoing fees. Annual rate discount
  • Unlimited redraws & additional repayments. LVR <80%
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Important Information and Comparison Rate Warning

Base criteria of: a $400,000 loan amount, variable, fixed, principal and interest (P&I) home loans with an LVR (loan-to-value) ratio of at least 80%. However, the ‘Compare Home Loans’ table allows for calculations to be made on variables as selected and input by the user. Some products will be marked as promoted, featured or sponsored and may appear prominently in the tables regardless of their attributes. All products will list the LVR with the product and rate which are clearly published on the product provider’s website. Monthly repayments, once the base criteria are altered by the user, will be based on the selected products’ advertised rates and determined by the loan amount, repayment type, loan term and LVR as input by the user/you. *The Comparison rate is based on a $150,000 loan over 25 years. Warning: this comparison rate is true only for this example and may not include all fees and charges. Different terms, fees or other loan amounts might result in a different comparison rate. Rates correct as of . View disclaimer.

More rate cuts could still be on the cards

RBA Governor Philip Lowe said the central bank remains prepared to ease monetary policy further if needed to support its targets.

"The easing of monetary policy last year is supporting employment and income growth in Australia and a return of inflation to the medium-term target range," he said. 

"Lower interest rates have assisted with the process of household balance sheet adjustment.

"With interest rates having already been reduced to a very low level and recognising the long and variable lags in the transmission of monetary policy, the Board decided to hold the cash rate steady at this meeting.

"Due to both global and domestic factors, it is reasonable to expect that an extended period of low interest rates will be required in Australia to reach full employment and achieve the inflation target."

Governor Lowe also eased some of the fears of the coronavirus and its effects on the Australian economy. 

"Another source of uncertainty is the coronavirus, which is having a significant effect on the Chinese economy at present," he said. 

"It is too early to determine how long-lasting the impact will be."

Continued pick-up in housing markets 

Mr Lowe then listed continued housing market improvement as another reason for holding the cash rate. 

"There are continuing signs of a pick-up in established housing markets. This is especially so in Sydney and Melbourne, but prices in some other markets have also increased," he said. 

"Mortgage loan commitments have also picked up, although demand for credit by investors remains subdued. Mortgage rates are at record lows and there is strong competition for borrowers of high credit quality."

The latest CoreLogic data yesterday showed house prices grew by 0.9% nationally in January, leading to a 4.1% annual rate of growth. 

This is the fastest growth rate in three years: Melbourne led the house price increase with values up by 1.2%, followed by Sydney where prices rose by 1.1%.

CoreLogic head of Research Tim Lawless echoed Mr Lowe's views on the housing market.

"To date, lower interest rates haven’t flowed through to a material improvement in economic conditions, but housing markets have well and truly responded, with national housing values rising 6.7% since the first rate cut in June through to the end of January," Mr Lawless said. 

"Importantly we may be seeing some early signs that strength in housing markets is transferring through to other sectors, with dwelling approvals recording their first annual rise since mid-2018 and the value of new mortgage commitments up 5.9% over the year to November, driven by a 10% increase in owner-occupier commitments.

"Although rates remained on hold today, we are expecting the RBA to cut the cash rate later in 2020.  Further rate cuts could fuel home buyer demand, although we don’t expect future cuts to the cash rate to be passed on in full to mortgage rates."





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