RBA cuts cash rate to record low amid coronavirus concerns

The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) has cut the official cash rate by 25 basis points to a new record low of 0.50% as the coronavirus outbreak impacts global financial markets.

RBA Governor Philip Lowe said the coronavirus has clouded the near-term outlook for the global economy and global growth in the first half of 2020 will be lower than earlier expected.

“Prior to the outbreak, there were signs that the slowdown in the global economy that started in 2018 was coming to an end,” Governor Lowe said in a statement.

“It is too early to tell how persistent the effects of the coronavirus will be and at what point the global economy will return to an improving path.”

The RBA previously cut the official cash rate to 0.75% in October, which was the third interest rate cut in 2019.

More rate cuts on the way?

Governor Lowe also hinted that more rate cuts could be on the way in coming months, saying the RBA will continue to monitor developments closely and assess the implications of the coronavirus for the economy.

“The Board is prepared to ease monetary policy further to support the Australian economy,” Governor Lowe said.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison earlier in the day said he expected the big banks to “do the right thing” by Australians and pass on any rate cut in full.

“And honestly, I don’t see it any different to what Qantas did when we called out to Qantas and we said, we need your help to get some people out of China,” the Prime Minister said.

Want to know what this rate cut means for your home loan?

With this being the fourth RBA cash rate cut since June 2019, it can get a bit confusing as to just how much of these cuts your lender is passing on to you.

The good news is we’re following the market closely and can tell you which lenders pass this fourth rate cut on to their customers in full, and which lenders don’t.

So if you’d like to find out, then please get in touch – we’d be happy to help break it down for you.

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