Rising Home Loan Rates Will Cause Need For Financial Assistance
Surveyed Australians show concern for rising rates.
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According to a survey by Finder, many Australian households would be pushed into financial hardship if their home loan rate increased out of cycle.
The survey found one in 20 (5%) of Australians with a home loan would require financial assistance if their home loan rate went up.
Further, more than half of borrowers (53%) – equivalent to 1.5 million people – would attempt to negotiate a lower rate if they suffered a rate rise.
The survey also found that one in four (25%) would refinance to another lender if possible, equalling an estimated 725,000 homeowners with a mortgage who would consider switching lenders if their interest rate went up.
Sarah Megginson, Finder home loans expert, noted that thousands of Australians had been left ‘debt vulnerable’ by the COVID lockdowns.
Further, Ms Megginson added that should rates go up, shopping around for a cheaper mortgage would be advised.
“Competition in the market is fierce so get on the phone and negotiate. Ask for a better deal – odds are, the rate your bank is offering new customers is lower than what you’re paying,” said Ms Megginson.
“If they won’t give you a better rate, take a walk to another lender and get a better deal. It’s easier than you think and you can save thousands of dollars a year.”
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“Only with competition can we become stronger and allow the industry to remain healthy,” Ma said
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Alibaba Group co-founder Jack Ma said competition will make the company stronger and the e-commerce giant needs to trust in the power of market forces and innovation, according to an internal memo to commemorate the company’s 25th anniversary.
“Many of Alibaba’s business face challenges and the possibility of being surpassed, but that’s to be expected as no single company can stay at the top forever in any industry,” Ma said in a letter sent to employees late Tuesday, seen by The Wall Street Journal.
Once a darling of Wall Street and the dominant player in China’s e-commerce industry, the tech giant’s growth has slowed amid a weakening Chinese economy and subdued consumer sentiment. Intensifying competition from homegrown upstarts such as PDD Holdings ’ Pinduoduo e-commerce platform and ByteDance’s short-video app Douyin has also pressured Alibaba’s growth momentum.
“Only with competition can we become stronger and allow the industry to remain healthy,” Ma said.
The letter came after Alibaba recently completed a three-year regulatory process in China.
Chinese regulators said in late August that they have completed their monitoring and evaluation of Alibaba after the company was penalized over monopolistic practices in 2021. Over the past three years, the company has been required to submit self-evaluation compliance reports to market regulators.
Ma reiterated Alibaba’s ambition of being a company that can last 102 years. He urged Alibaba’s employees to not flounder in the midst of challenges and competition.
“The reason we’re Alibaba is because we have idealistic beliefs, we trust the future, believe in the market. We believe that only a company that can create real value for society can keep operating for 102 years,” he said.
Ma himself has kept a low profile since late 2020 when financial affiliate Ant Group called off initial public offerings in Hong Kong and Shanghai that had been on track to raise more than $34 billion.
In a separate internal letter in April, he praised Alibaba’s leadership and its restructuring efforts after the company split the group into six independently run companies.
Alibaba recently completed the conversion of its Hong Kong secondary listing into a primary listing, and on Tuesday was added to a scheme allowing investors in mainland China to trade Hong Kong-listed shares.
Alibaba shares fell 1.2% to 80.60 Hong Kong dollars, or equivalent of US$10.34, by midday Wednesday, after rising 4.2% on Tuesday following the Stock Connect inclusion. The company’s shares are up 6.9% so far this year.
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Just 55 minutes from Sydney, make this your creative getaway located in the majestic Hawkesbury region.
