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Reserve Bank of Australia
Oct 22, 2026

RBA says card surcharges on eftpos, Mastercard and Visa will be removed from October 2026

The Reserve Bank of Australia said in an FAQ attached to its retail payments regulation conclusions that removing card payment surcharges on eftpos, Mastercard and Visa from Oct. 1, 2026 would be in the public interest. From that date, the central bank will also lift the ban that had prevented those designated card networks from enforcing no-surcharge rules, under changes tied to Standard No. 3 of 2016 and the 2026 revisions to merchant card payment costs and surcharging standards. eftpos, Mastercard and Visa have each decided to introduce no-surcharge rules from Oct. 1, 2026, generally covering credit, debit and prepaid cards, including cards issued overseas. American Express, UnionPay and PayPal have also decided to remove surcharges, though they are not currently subject to formal RBA regulation. American Express and UnionPay will exit their existing undertakings with the RBA on Oct. 1, 2026, while PayPal’s no-surcharge rule will take effect on Oct. 5, 2026. The change applies only to fees added because a customer pays by card. It does not cover weekend or public holiday surcharges, booking fees or service fees. The reform will be rolled out in stages, including lower interchange caps for domestic card transactions, new disclosure requirements for card payment costs, and later application of interchange caps to overseas-issued cards acquired in Australia.

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RBA says card surcharges on eftpos, Mastercard and Visa will be removed from October 2026
Reserve Bank of Australia
Oct 6, 2026

RBA warns sharp AI stock pullback could hit household spending and growth

Australia’s central bank has warned that a significant correction in AI-related stocks could weigh on the country’s economy by eroding household wealth and curbing consumer spending. According to a Techub News brief citing Crypto Briefing, the Reserve Bank of Australia, or RBA, said the risk could feed through to broader economic growth. The note links the potential impact to a familiar transmission channel: weaker asset values can leave households feeling less wealthy, which may in turn reduce spending. In the RBA’s view, that dynamic could become a drag on Australia’s growth if the pullback in AI stocks is large enough. No additional figures or timing details were provided in the brief.

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RBA warns sharp AI stock pullback could hit household spending and growth
RBA
Sep 29, 2026

RBA lifts cash rate to 4.60%, citing oil prices and AI-driven inflation pressure

The Reserve Bank of Australia raised its cash rate target by 25 basis points to 4.60% on Sept. 29, marking its fourth increase this year and taking rates to their highest level in 15 years, according to ABC. In its policy statement, the RBA said inflation remains too high and warned that some upside risks flagged in August are now materializing. The central bank pointed to a wider Middle East conflict that has pushed global energy prices well above the assumptions used in its August forecast, while demand tied to artificial intelligence has lifted prices for technology-related goods worldwide. The RBA also said domestic businesses are still facing cost pressure and have either raised prices already or are preparing to do so. Higher fuel costs have partly flowed through to other goods and services, short-term inflation expectations remain elevated, and recent inflation readings came in stronger than expected at the time of the previous meeting. ABC reported that Australia’s July headline inflation rate was 3.5% year over year and core inflation was 3.6%, both above the RBA’s 2% to 3% target band. The bank said it is prepared to raise rates again if needed, while BetaShares chief economist David Bassanese said his base case is another 25-basis-point increase to 4.85% on Melbourne Cup Day.

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RBA lifts cash rate to 4.60%, citing oil prices and AI-driven inflation pressure
RBA
Sep 29, 2026

Bitunix analyst says RBA rate hike to 4.60% could keep global tightening in place longer

Australia’s central bank has raised its policy rate by 25 basis points to 4.60% and said further tightening remains possible if needed, putting inflation back at the center of market attention. According to the BlockBeats report citing a Bitunix analyst, the move comes even as Australia’s consumer and housing markets have cooled, because economic growth and inflation are still running above expectations. The report also points to two cost drivers that could keep price pressures elevated: higher energy prices linked to conflict in the Middle East, and rising technology product prices tied to AI demand. The analysis extends beyond Australia. It argues that when energy costs and technology demand lift input prices at the same time, inflation can stay sticky even as economic activity slows, limiting room for global rate cuts. On commodities, Deutsche Bank said U.S. copper stockpiling tied to tariff expectations is reducing spot supply available to other regions. In an extreme scenario, the bank said copper could reach $22,050 per ton in the second quarter of 2027, though it stressed that this is not its base-case forecast. The broader market implication is that higher raw material and financing costs together could keep pressure on valuations, liquidity, and risk assets.

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Bitunix analyst says RBA rate hike to 4.60% could keep global tightening in place longer
RBA
Sep 29, 2026

RBA Raises Rates by 25 Basis Points to Highest Level Since November 2011

The Reserve Bank of Australia raised its policy rate by 25 basis points to 4.6% on Sept. 29, according to BlockBeats. The move matched market expectations. Following the increase, Australia’s interest rate reached its highest level since November 2011. The report did not provide further policy details or additional commentary beyond the rate decision and its alignment with expectations. This latest move places the benchmark at a near 15-year high based on the timeframe cited in the report.

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RBA Raises Rates by 25 Basis Points to Highest Level Since November 2011