FEAR & GREED | Business News More rate hikes in 2026; Coalition at odds; challenger brands winning mobile battle
Feb 3, 2026
The Reserve Bank lifts rates and signals more hikes later in the year. Political tensions flare as Coalition parties remain divided over reunification rules. Challenger telcos are stealing customers from incumbents in Australia’s mobile market. Elon Musk merges his ventures to push orbital data centres and AI development. US-owned TikTok draws user ire with new terms and content rules.
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Inflation Resurgence Spurs More Rate Risk
- The Reserve Bank raised rates by 0.25 percentage points and signalled inflation is broader and more persistent than expected.
- That means mortgage holders face higher repayments and markets now price further hikes this year.
Act Now If You Have A Mortgage
- If you have a $600,000 mortgage, expect about $100 a month more in repayments per 0.25% hike.
- Review your budget and consider fixing or refinancing to manage higher payments.
Politics Frames The Rate Narrative
- Opposition seized the rate rise politically, blaming government spending as ‘Jimflation’.
- The RBA declined to single out fiscal policy, focusing on aggregate demand instead.