This blog has now closedFederal election votes tracker, electorates map and seat countsSee our full coverage of the Australian electionGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastShare of borrowers falling behind on debt slips to 1.36%, Westpac reportsFollowing on from the previous post: Westpac’s loans generally have grown healthier as households receive relief from cost-of-living concerns.The resilience of customers who have navigated significant cost-of-living challenges over the past few years is impressive … and RBA rate cuts are now also providing welcome relief. This resilience is reflected in the improvement in credit quality metrics indicating we may have passed the low point in the cycleRelief finally arrived late in the First Half 2025 when the RBA cut rates for the first time in almost five years. Housing credit growth recovered shortly after interest rates peaked. We expect housing credit growth of approximately 5% in 2025.Geopolitical uncertainty is a key risk that’s as high as it has been for a very long time. Changes to global trade policies have impacted markets and funding for the bank. Despite the volatility, it’s important that we look through the noise and avoid reacting to the headlines. Australia is well placed to handle the instability. Continue reading...