Banks Step Up Mortgage Price War as Housing Market Slows
August 2, 2026, 6:16 AM EDT. The slowdown in Australia’s housing market is pushing banks into a mortgage price war as they look to grab a bigger piece of the $2.5 trillion mortgage market. With property prices falling and less property changing hands, lenders are seeing weaker borrowing growth. Banks are dropping rates mainly for new borrowers and refinancers, leaving many existing customers out unless they push for a better deal. Most rate cuts are being run through mortgage brokers to encourage borrowers to switch lenders. Now, borrowers are looking at savings if they negotiate, threaten to leave, or refinance with another bank, as competition heats up under the surface.
How to benefit from the coming mortgage pr…
Australian Property Prices Drop After Government Moves
August 2, 2026, 6:15 AM EDT. Australian home prices fell hard after the government cut tax breaks for property investors. Some analysts are now questioning what comes next for the country’s long-running property boom and if this is the start of a bigger downturn.
Australia’s property boom faces turning po…
BOQ (ASX: BOQ) Share Price: 4 Numbers Investors Are Watching
August 2, 2026, 5:27 AM EDT. Anyone looking at Bank of Queensland Limited (ASX: BOQ) is looking at four main numbers: workplace culture, net interest margin (NIM), loans portfolio, and return on equity (ROE). BOQ gets a 2.6 out of 5 for culture, which misses the sector average and could cause retention issues. NIM is 1.56%, below the 1.78% average for ASX’s bigger banks. Lending brought in 93% of total income last year. ROE runs at 4.7%, still behind sector levels. These are the numbers shaping how the market looks at BOQ’s efficiency and profit.
BOQ share price: 4 key metrics to consider
Xero, AI Names on ASX Post Revenue Gains as Market Eyes Digital Growth
August 2, 2026, 4:56 AM EDT.Xero Ltd ASX:XRO and other ASX-listed AI players like Aura Consolidated (ASX:AXQ) are showing revenue growth as demand rises for digital, cloud, and AI-led services. Aura, which does online safety and identity protection, logged 31.3% revenue growth but still posted a net loss of US$140.78 million and reports limited cash on hand. Xero posted NZ$2.75 billion in revenue, leaning on cloud accounting and AI tools for small businesses in Australia, New Zealand, the UK and US. Investors are watching risks tied to cash flow, funding, and tech sector volatility as inflation, rates, and energy prices shape tech spending. For now, these companies are drawing a line between AI momentum and real revenue performance as the digital economy shifts.
Xero Stock And Two ASX AI Peers Backed By …
Lactalis CEO Puts Australia in Top Five as Group Pushes into Asia
August 2, 2026, 4:26 AM EDT. Lactalis chief Emmanuel Besnier says Australia is now one of the group’s top five regional bases, after buying Fonterra’s Mainland brands. The French dairy company is ramping up in South-East Asia, with Besnier making his first comments to an English-language outlet on the push. He pointed to deals in Australia and New Zealand as a core part of Lactalis’ Asia-Pacific plan, as the company chases growing dairy demand in the region.
Lactalis CEO Emmanuel Besnier says Austral…
McKinnon School Zone Home Passes In, Clearance Rate Holds at 60%
August 2, 2026, 4:25 AM EDT. A clinker brick house in Melbourne’s McKinnon school zone didn’t sell at auction, passing in at $1.55 million after missing its $1.645 million reserve. The place needs a complete renovation. The result points to ongoing weakness for the local market. Auction volumes last week hit 570, with a clearance rate of 60% as winter keeps things cool. Jellis Craig CEO Andrew McCann said the slowdown is mostly seasonal and expects more buyers come spring. In a different patch, buyers snapped up a Brunswick East townhouse for $1.77 million above reserve, showing there are still pockets of strong demand.
Stock Market Today: Live Updates 02.08.202…
McKinnon School Zone Clinker Brick Home Passes In as Market Stays Soft in Melbourne
August 2, 2026, 4:09 AM EDT. A three-bedroom clinker brick home in the McKinnon school zone did not sell at auction in Melbourne, passing in at $1.55 million with a post-auction offer of $1.58 million, still under the $1.645 million reserve. The property kept its original interiors and needs a full renovation. The result comes as 570 homes were auctioned last week with a 60% clearance rate, which is better than before but still muted for winter. Jellis Craig CEO Andrew McCann pointed to less aggressive bidding, saying it’s a seasonally slow market that should pick up in spring. Meanwhile, a Brunswick East townhouse brought in $1.77 million, beating its reserve and showing buyers are still out for some homes.
Clinker brick classic in popular school zo…
