More rate cuts as mining boom fades
Rates will drop further as a result of the fading mining boom, according to AMP chief economist, Shane Oliver.
With mining investment appearing to be heading towards its peak in 2013, discussion of further interest rate drops is on the cards, Mr Oliver pointed to in his latest Oliver’s Insight newsletter.
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“For the first time in years the June quarter survey of mining investment intentions did not show an upgrade in plans for the current financial year and projects under consideration have peaked. Falling mining sector profits suggests mining projects remain at risk,” he said.
In conjunction with soft indicators in the non-mining sectors of the economy, this will push another cut.
Mr Oliver has previously told Smart Property Investment that he expects to see two rate cuts by year end, and with one having since been announced this week, this leaves space for yet another in November.
“While housing related indicators have probably bottomed on average, taken separately they present a very mixed picture with house prices up over the past few months, housing finance, housing credit and building approvals looking like they have bottomed but remaining soft and new home sales still falling,” he noted.
With only a “tentative” response to lower mortgage rates being seen, this indicates that they “have not fallen enough.”
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