Powered by MOMENTUM MEDIA
Powered by momentum media
Powered by momentum media
nestegg logo

Invest

RBA open to new record-low rate

By
  • September 23 2020
  • Share

Invest

RBA open to new record-low rate

By
September 23 2020

The Reserve Bank has flagged the possibility of a rate adjustment, albeit a small possibility, as the country recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic.

RBA open to new record-low rate

author image
By
  • September 23 2020
  • Share

The Reserve Bank has flagged the possibility of a rate adjustment, albeit a small possibility, as the country recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic.

RBA open to new record-low rate

Australia’s official cash rate fell to a record low of 0.25 per cent in March, with RBA governor Philip Lowe stating it was the “lower bound” for interest rates.

However, speaking on the Australian economy and monetary policy, Mr Lowe’s number two, RBA deputy governor Guy Debelle, did not rule out future rate reductions.

“In the short term, they can contribute to a lower exchange rate. In the medium term, the effectiveness can wane, including through the effect on the financial system,” Mr Debelle said.

Advertisement
Advertisement

However, the deputy governor pointed to mixed results for countries who have dropped their rates below zero.

RBA open to new record-low rate

“Negative rates can also encourage more saving as households look to preserve the value of their saving, particularly in an environment where they are already inclined to save rather than spend,” Mr Debelle explained.

“That is, the income effect can be larger than the substitution effect. To date, those economies with negative policy rates have not lowered them further. Instead, they have eased monetary policy settings through other means.”

Mr Debelle also said that the RBA could consider buying bonds further out along the curve, supplementing its three-year yield target, and named foreign exchange intervention as another potential policy option, while warning that the Australian dollar was “broadly aligned” with fundamentals and that any intervention might not be effective.

“Given the outlook for inflation and employment is not consistent with the bank’s objectives over the period ahead, the board continues to assess other policy options,” Mr Debelle said. 

But Mr Debelle refused to be drawn on when the RBA could use these measures, saying they would continue to monitor the recovery but would take into account support announced in the October budget.

Mr Debelle also said that Australia’s debt burden as a result of COVID-19 remained serviceable and that it could have been much higher if the government hadn’t launched its stimulus programs. 

“The fact that household income rose in the quarter does not mean that the stimulus was overdone,” Mr Debelle said. 

“Absent the stimulus, the decline in GDP and employment would have been significantly larger and there would have been much greater financial hardship… The transfer from the strong balance sheet of the government to bolster the balance sheet of the household sector is an entirely appropriate and timely policy response.”

Forward this article to a friend. Follow us on Linkedin. Join us on Facebook. Find us on X for the latest updates
Rate the article

About the author

author image

Cameron is a journalist for Momentum Media's nestegg and Smart Property Investment. He enjoys giving Aussies practical financial tips and tricks to help grow their wealth and achieve financial independence. As a self-confessed finance nerd, Cameron enjoys chatting with industry experts and commentators to leverage their insights to grow your portfolio.

About the author

author image

Cameron is a journalist for Momentum Media's nestegg and Smart Property Investment. He enjoys giving Aussies practical financial tips and tricks to help grow their wealth and achieve financial independence. As a self-confessed finance nerd, Cameron enjoys chatting with industry experts and commentators to leverage their insights to grow your portfolio.

more on this topic

more on this topic

More articles