FEAR & GREED | Business News Economy slows as RBA meets; Westpac profit falls; hardest working jobs
Nov 3, 2025
The Reserve Bank meets amid signs of economic slowing and persistent inflation. Westpac reports a profit drop as it struggles in the mortgage market. A split within the coalition over climate policy intensifies, with divisions surfacing. Optus faces scrutiny following a major outage, while the hardest-working Australians are identified, including miners and surgeons. Plus, oil prices rise as OPEC+ pauses output increases. Tune in for insights on navigating the mortgage landscape and some fun Melbourne Cup banter!
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Slowing Growth With Sticky Inflation
- Australia shows a simultaneous slowdown in spending and labour while inflation remains too high.
- The Reserve Bank faces a delicate balancing act between taming inflation and acknowledging consumer fragility.
Read The RBA Statement For Clues
- Watch the Reserve Bank statement for wording about consumer fragility and inflation rather than expecting an immediate rate cut.
- Sift for keywords that indicate future easing or tightening to read into policy direction.
Westpac's Profit Hit And Tech Drag
- Westpac's profit fell slightly amid intense competition for mortgages and deposits.
- Its business lending grew but legacy IT upgrades (Unite) may pressure profits for years.