Small Business Finance :: News

Finance News from Small Business Finance

Small Business Finance is pleased to present the latest financial news headlines.

To read an entire news item, simply click on the headline.

Finance News
Year: Month:

Pressures Mount as Australian Wage Growth Slows Pressures Mount as Australian Wage Growth Slows
28 Aug 2025: Paige Estritori

Australian real wages have hit a challenging plateau, currently trailing 6.1% below their mid-2022 'covid-bubble' heights. The Reserve Bank of Australia's (RBA) recent Statement of Monetary Policy provides little solace, projecting that real wages will stay 5.5% beneath their peak by the close of 2027. This comes amidst SEEK's latest advertised salaries index, which paints a picture of slowing wage growth. - read more
Unexpected Inflation Surge Puts RBA Rate Cut on Hold Unexpected Inflation Surge Puts RBA Rate Cut on Hold
28 Aug 2025: Paige Estritori

The latest inflation figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics have disrupted expectations for a rate cut by the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) in September. July's monthly CPI inflation escalated to an annual rate of 2.8%, rising significantly from June's 1.9% and outstripping forecasts from multiple market analysts. This unexpected inflationary surge is mainly attributed to a dramatic 13.0% hike in electricity prices and robust travel costs. - read more
Home Loan Scheme Could Drive Up Prices, Warns Insurance Body Home Loan Scheme Could Drive Up Prices, Warns Insurance Body
27 Aug 2025: Paige Estritori

A new federal scheme, designed to lower the demand for lenders’ mortgage insurance (LMI), may inadvertently escalate home prices and hinder lower-income earners' ability to purchase property, according to concerns raised by Australian insurers. The Home Guarantee Scheme, set to expand in October, offers first-time buyers the opportunity to bypass the usually required LMI if they have managed a deposit of just 5%. - read more
Labor Speeds Up Mortgage Guarantee Extension Labor Speeds Up Mortgage Guarantee Extension
26 Aug 2025: Paige Estritori

The Australian federal government has announced an earlier implementation of its expanded program guaranteeing low-deposit loans for first-time home buyers, set for October. This program aims to eliminate the need for lenders' mortgage insurance (LMI) by allowing first-home purchasers with just a 5% deposit to enter the market. Previously planned for next year, the revamped policy also removes income caps and raises property price limits. - read more
Australian Household Spending Set to Surge with Rate and Tax Relief Australian Household Spending Set to Surge with Rate and Tax Relief
25 Aug 2025: Paige Estritori

A significant financial shift is on the horizon for Australian households. After years of stringent budgeting, new data suggests a revitalisation in household spending, thanks to recent interest rate cuts and tax relief measures introduced last July. - read more
Australian Dollar Faces Pressure Amid Federal Reserve Uncertainty Australian Dollar Faces Pressure Amid Federal Reserve Uncertainty
22 Aug 2025: Paige Estritori

The Australian Dollar (AUD) is experiencing increased pressure as uncertainties surrounding the Federal Reserve's stance on interest rates and U.S. economic growth persist. Meanwhile, the U.S. Dollar Index (DXY) maintains its strength, creating a challenging environment for the AUD. The Federal Reserve recently shared insights that inflation remains above its long-term goal of 2%, with notable impacts from tariffs influencing goods price inflation. - read more
Summit Considers Comprehensive Tax Reforms with Focus on Negative Gearing Summit Considers Comprehensive Tax Reforms with Focus on Negative Gearing
21 Aug 2025: Paige Estritori

The Australian federal government's economic reform summit in Canberra is drawing attention with discussions on major tax overhauls, specifically scrutinising negative gearing as part of a broader suite of fiscal reforms. As the three-day summit reaches its final discussions, key elements such as tax reform and budget sustainability are at the forefront. - read more
Australian Dollar Faces Pressure as Jackson Hole Symposium Approaches Australian Dollar Faces Pressure as Jackson Hole Symposium Approaches
20 Aug 2025: Paige Estritori

In a surprising downturn, the Australian dollar has faced a significant setback as market risks amplify. The DXY is showing strength, while the Chinese yuan remains stable. Gold markets exhibit fragility, and other metals signal caution with sustained bearish trends in the mining sector. Emerging markets have faced challenges, but junk bonds and yields appear resilient. Stock markets, however, took a hit amid the nervous financial climate. - read more
Australian Housing Market Faces Affordability Challenges Despite Rate Cuts Australian Housing Market Faces Affordability Challenges Despite Rate Cuts
19 Aug 2025: Paige Estritori

At the close of 2024, Cotality, the company formerly known as CoreLogic, reported that both the national dwelling value to income ratio and the income percentage needed for a new mortgage hit unprecedented highs. According to Cotality's housing report for July, the median dwelling value in Australia's capital cities was $926,854. Sydney and Brisbane, with median values of $1,228,435 and $934,623, respectively, were noted as the most expensive markets, reflecting impressive growth over the past five years. - read more
Call for Red Tape Reduction Gains Momentum in Australian Financial Sector Call for Red Tape Reduction Gains Momentum in Australian Financial Sector
19 Aug 2025: Paige Estritori

The Insurance Council of Australia (ICA) has aligned with a coalition of business groups urging the government to cut red tape ahead of the Economic Reform Roundtable hosted by Treasurer Jim Chalmers. The 27-member strong alliance is pushing for reforms that focus on increasing investment, fostering innovation, reducing red tape by 25% by 2030, and enhancing major project approvals. Additionally, they are advocating for tax reforms that won't adversely impact consumer or business costs. - read more
RBA Rate Cut Spurs Property Market Surge RBA Rate Cut Spurs Property Market Surge
18 Aug 2025: Paige Estritori

Last week, the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) made its third rate cut this year, lowering the official cash rate by 0.25% to 3.60%. Historically, such rate reductions have been linked to a significant rise in Australian home values, with double-digit growth expected within two years of the start of a rate-cutting cycle, according to the Australian Financial Review. - read more
BFG Faces 44% Profit Decline Amid Strategic Transformation BFG Faces 44% Profit Decline Amid Strategic Transformation
15 Aug 2025: Paige Estritori

In a recent financial disclosure, Bell Financial Group (BFG) announced a notable 44% drop in half-year net profit after tax as it navigates challenging market conditions. While the company's overall revenue declined by 12.5% to $121.5 million, its Technology & Platforms and Products & Services units showed resilience with a combined revenue increase of 12% to $46.3 million. This contrasts sharply with the 23.5% revenue dip in its broking division, which totalled $69.4 million. - read more
Self-Directed Investors Urged to Assume Greater Responsibility  Self-Directed Investors Urged to Assume Greater Responsibility 
14 Aug 2025: Paige Estritori

The evolving landscape of private credit funds in Australia necessitates greater responsibility from self-directed investors, according to Darren Connolly, the Chief Executive of Investment Markets. As the landscape of fixed income investments becomes increasingly complex, investors are being urged to take ownership of their decision-making processes. - read more
Reserves Bank's Rate Cuts: Impact on Australian Housing Affordability Reserves Bank's Rate Cuts: Impact on Australian Housing Affordability
14 Aug 2025: Paige Estritori

The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) recently made a pivotal decision to cut the official cash rate (OCR) by 0.25%, bringing it down to 3.60%. This move marks a total reduction of 0.75% from its peak of 4.35%. Economists and financial markets anticipate further cuts, potentially two more by mid-2026, reflecting a cautious easing policy by the RBA. - read more
Costly Glitches Plague Fee Disclosure Under New DBFO Legislation Costly Glitches Plague Fee Disclosure Under New DBFO Legislation
13 Aug 2025: Paige Estritori

As financial planners await forthcoming updates to the Delivering Better Financial Outcomes (DBFO) legislation, many are grappling with significant challenges arising from the first tranche, specifically concerning fee consent requirements. These issues, unfortunately, seem to require legislative amendments as they fall outside the scope of regulatory fixes, amplifying the compliance burden on financial advisers, especially regarding breach reporting. - read more
RBA's Rate Cut Strategy Sparks Industry Debate on Future Moves RBA's Rate Cut Strategy Sparks Industry Debate on Future Moves
13 Aug 2025: Paige Estritori

The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) has recently initiated a 0.25% cut to the official cash rate, stirring dialogue among industry leaders about the timing and necessity of potential future cuts. Despite the reduction aligning with broad expectations, there are diverging opinions about further reductions this year. - read more
Opportunities for Serving the Mass Affluent Market in Financial Advice Opportunities for Serving the Mass Affluent Market in Financial Advice
12 Aug 2025: Paige Estritori

Charlie Viola, executive chairman of Viola Private Wealth, recently highlighted a promising opportunity for financial institutions to better serve the mass affluent market. Despite the recent trends stemming from the royal commission that have seen personnel changes across the financial advisory sector, Viola asserts that there remains a strong clientele base. The financial advisory business, he notes, benefits from a steady stream of increasingly wealthy individuals, but the challenge lies in effectively serving those with moderate wealth. - read more
Melbourne's Property Market: A Bargain Hunter's Paradise Melbourne's Property Market: A Bargain Hunter's Paradise
12 Aug 2025: Paige Estritori

Melbourne's property landscape offers a distinctive picture compared to Australia's major cities, with a notably stable market over recent years. PropTrack data shows the city's median dwelling values increased only 19.2% over the past five years, trailing significantly behind the combined capital cities' average rise of 45.5%. - read more
FAAA Expands Specialisation Program to Elevate Financial Advice Standards FAAA Expands Specialisation Program to Elevate Financial Advice Standards
11 Aug 2025: Paige Estritori

The Financial Advice Association of Australia (FAAA) is expanding its approved specialisations program, which currently includes areas such as aged care, life risk, and the Fellow Chartered Financial Practitioner (FChFP). The organisation is now seeking applications from education and designation providers to broaden the program's scope. New areas of interest include estate planning, retirement, money therapy, self-managed superannuation funds (SMSF), and responsible investing, though additional relevant specialisations are also welcome. - read more
Australian Dollar Faces Tariff-Driven Volatility Amid Inflation Concerns Australian Dollar Faces Tariff-Driven Volatility Amid Inflation Concerns
11 Aug 2025: Paige Estritori

The Australian dollar is navigating turbulent times, influenced by global currency markets and ongoing inflationary pressures. With market sentiment swaying, the Aussie dollar finds itself in a precarious position, significantly impacted by anticipated tariffs and inflation reports. This period of uncertainty emerges as the US Dollar Index (DXY) shows indecision, metals markets react to geopolitical developments, and overall market volatility remains high. - read more
Rising Land Costs Fuel Australia's Housing Dilemma Rising Land Costs Fuel Australia's Housing Dilemma
08 Aug 2025: Paige Estritori

Australia's housing market is grappling with stark increases in land costs, which are driving home prices to unprecedented heights. Recent data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics indicates that residential land values surged by 8.8% between 2023 and 2024, reaching a staggering $7.7 trillion. Over the past 35 years, these values have ballooned from 1.1 to 2.9 times the nation's GDP. - read more
APRA Imposes Stricter Conditions on KeyInvest APRA Imposes Stricter Conditions on KeyInvest
07 Aug 2025: Paige Estritori

The Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) has recently increased its oversight of KeyInvest, a financial services firm renowned for its funeral bond product, by imposing additional licence conditions and raising the capital requirement. This decision follows an APRA review identifying deficiencies in KeyInvest’s risk management framework and questioning the board's effectiveness in maintaining strategic oversight. - read more
Surging House Prices Challenge Australian First-Time Buyers Surging House Prices Challenge Australian First-Time Buyers
06 Aug 2025: Paige Estritori

As property prices continue to soar across Australia, first-time homebuyers are facing an increasingly challenging market. High-end properties exhibit greater volatility, responding sharply to interest rate changes, as illustrated by CBA data comparing the price fluctuations of the most costly and least expensive homes. Recent interest rate cuts by the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) have fueled a rise in property prices, yet costlier homes have not seen as much growth as more affordable ones. - read more
Global Markets Show Mixed Reactions Amid US Economic Uncertainty Global Markets Show Mixed Reactions Amid US Economic Uncertainty
05 Aug 2025: Paige Estritori

Global financial markets displayed varied performances overnight, with Wall Street experiencing a minor rebound that failed to recover from Friday night's losses. The US dollar remained under pressure, gaining some ground only against the Swiss Franc, as the Federal Reserve's potential early rate cut looms larger. Concurrently, US Treasury yields continued their downward trajectory across all maturities, whereas the Australian dollar held steady just below 65 cents. - read more
Sydney Real Estate Shifts as Seller’s Market Looms Sydney Real Estate Shifts as Seller’s Market Looms
04 Aug 2025: Paige Estritori

Australia is gearing up for a shift in the real estate landscape, with industry insiders identifying an emerging seller's market. Sydney's real estate agent and auctioneer, Tom Panos, highlighted this trend after observing a string of exceptionally strong auction results. - read more
Complexities in Reverse Mortgages Alarm Older Australians Complexities in Reverse Mortgages Alarm Older Australians
01 Aug 2025: Paige Estritori

Many older Australians are increasingly struggling to understand the reverse mortgage market, according to recent research and inquiry records from the national brokerage, Seniors First. This complexity is evidenced by a threefold rise in inquiries from Australians over 60 during the past two years, largely driven by concerns over living costs, misconceptions about the products, and inadequate access to information. - read more
Follow us!

We are a proud member of the Financial Services Online network!

Connect with us on your favourite social media platform for the latest financial news, views, tips, tricks, resources and information.


Business Loans Articles

Investing in Growth: How to Finance Your Business Expansion Strategically
Investing in Growth: How to Finance Your Business Expansion Strategically
Australia's dynamic SME landscape is ever-evolving, constantly presenting new opportunities and challenges for today's entrepreneurs. Growth is not just a goal but a necessity for these small and medium enterprises to thrive in the competitive market. As these businesses stand on the cusp of expansion, it becomes critical to recognize the indicators for growth and to approach this next stage with a robust strategic plan. - read more
The Essential Guide to Fast-Tracking Your Small Business Loan Approval
The Essential Guide to Fast-Tracking Your Small Business Loan Approval
In the fast-paced world of business, securing funding swiftly can be the difference between seizing an opportunity and watching it slip away. For small businesses, the urgency of quick loan approvals is often more pronounced. Each day spent waiting for approval could translate to lost revenue, hindered growth, or the inability to meet operational demands. - read more


Need Help Finding a Loan?
Loan Amount:
Postcode:
All finance quotes are provided free (via our secure server) and without obligation.
We respect your privacy.

Knowledgebase
Credit Default Swap (CDS):
A financial derivative or contract that allows an investor to "swap" or offset their credit risk with that of another investor.