{"id":271155,"date":"2026-02-03T02:34:14","date_gmt":"2026-02-03T02:34:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/271155\/"},"modified":"2026-02-03T02:34:14","modified_gmt":"2026-02-03T02:34:14","slug":"rba-live-updates-interest-rate-decision-ahead-with-hike-forecast-asx-up-strongly-after-wall-st-rally","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/271155\/","title":{"rendered":"RBA live updates: Interest rate decision ahead with hike forecast, ASX up strongly after Wall St rally"},"content":{"rendered":"

1h agoTue 3 Feb 2026 at 12:45amMarket snapshot\"YiyingASX 200: +1% to 8,869 pointsAustralian dollar: +0.2% at 69.63 US centsS&P 500: +0.5% to 6,976 pointsNasdaq: +0.6% to 23,592 pointsFTSE: +1.2% to 10,341 pointsEuroStoxx: +1% to 617 pointsSpot gold: +3.4% to $US4,820\/ounceBrent crude: flat to $US66.30\/barrelIron ore: +2% to $US102.85\/tonneBitcoin: +0.6% to $US78,884<\/p>\n

Price current around 11:45am AEDT<\/p>\n

Live updates on the major ASX indices:<\/p>\n

13m agoTue 3 Feb 2026 at 2:20am<\/p>\n

Petrol down 5.8 cents in a week\"Daniel<\/p>\n

Look, I know we’re all waiting for rates.<\/p>\n

But there’s been an interesting shift in the only other number that Australians tend to focus on – the one lit up in neon on massive signs you drive past.<\/p>\n

Last week the national average retail petrol price fell by 5.8 cents\u00a0to 170.7 cents per litre (unleaded).<\/p>\n

(The 12-month average is 179.5 cents, so this is lower).<\/p>\n

The national weekly average ‘metropolitan’ retail petrol price fell by 8.2 cents last week to 170.3 cents per litre, with regional barely above it: down 0.9 cents to 171.6 cents per litre.<\/p>\n

For diesel-burners, the national average retail diesel price fell by 0.7 cents last week to 181.4 cents per litre.<\/p>\n

28m agoTue 3 Feb 2026 at 2:05am<\/p>\n

Dead cat bounce or something more?\"David<\/p>\n

Buyers have come rushing into the precious metals market.<\/p>\n

At 1pm AEDT, gold is up 3.7% to $US4,842 while silver has surged 6.5% to $US84.42.<\/p>\n

Both metals are well down from their record highs but the panic selling, for now, is over.<\/p>\n

Analysts have told the ABC it could take a few days for the dust to settle.<\/p>\n

Globally, equities and Bitcoin have also rallied.<\/p>\n

The VIX index has also fallen a noteworthy 6% back down to 16.3.<\/p>\n

37m agoTue 3 Feb 2026 at 1:56amWhat impact will a rate hike have on home buyers?\"Yiying<\/p>\n

Canstar says a rate hike today will shrink the average Australian’s maximum home-buying budget by around $12,000.<\/p>\n

For a couple, the maximum amount they can borrow can drop as much as $24,000, it says.<\/p>\n

“While this isn’t going to completely blow up people’s home-buying budgets en masse, it could push some buyers to the sidelines until they get a clearer idea of just how many hikes might be on the horizon,” Canstar says.<\/p>\n

“If you have pre-approval from your bank already, go back to them and double-check you’ve still got the green light on the amount they pre-approved.”<\/p>\n

Sally Tindall, director of data insights, has urged borrowers to do a check themselves.\u00a0<\/p>\n

“The bank will stress test your budget to make sure you can still afford the mortgage at a rate that’s 3 percentage points higher than what you are applying for \u2014 a highly unlikely scenario in the near future.<\/p>\n

“However, it’s worth running this stress test yourself \u2014 because your opinion of what you can afford could well be very different to what the bank thinks you can afford.<\/p>\n

“You might not actually like the idea of eating baked beans for the next 3 decades.”<\/p>\n

40m agoTue 3 Feb 2026 at 1:53amTokyo leads gains on Asian markets\"Stephanie<\/p>\n

\u00a0Here’s how stock markets are tracking around the region:<\/p>\n

\"\"Asian markets (LSEG Refinitiv)<\/p>\n

(India’s Sensex is yet to open)<\/p>\n

46m agoTue 3 Feb 2026 at 1:47amAustralian stocks rallying alongside Asian markets\"Stephanie<\/p>\n

It’s approaching lunchtime in Sydney and the local share market remains strongly higher, up 1.1%.<\/p>\n

If we remain at this level, it will recoup the losses posted by the ASX 200 yesterday.<\/p>\n

The gains are broad-based, with most sectors higher, led by materials, real estate and tech.<\/p>\n

\"\"ASX 200 sectors (LSEG Refinitiv)<\/p>\n

The best performing stocks include gold names, which took a hit yesterday:<\/p>\n

DroneShield +7.5%Newmont Corp +6.5%Capstone Copper +5.7%Life360 +5.6%Evolution Mining +5%<\/p>\n

And the worst:<\/p>\n

Neuren Pharmaceuticals -12.6%Ventia Services Group -3.1%Telix Pharmaceuticals -3.1%Karoon Energy -2.5%Graincorp -2.5%<\/p>\n

57m agoTue 3 Feb 2026 at 1:36am<\/p>\n

How are you feeling about interest rates?\"Emilia<\/p>\n

How am I feeling about interest rates? I feel inflation isn\u2019t under control, so am happy to see interest rates rise. I know this would hurt those with mortgages, but inflation is nobody\u2019s friend. <\/p>\n

– Jonathan <\/p>\n

Rate hike won’t affect me, as my husband and I left our payment the same before the 3 rate cuts last year, so we’ll still be paying more off. That’s honestly the key – don’t change your payments if you get a cut, then if\/when they rise again, it won’t affect you \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n

– Lauren<\/p>\n

I have a feeling that they will increase the interest rate by 15 basis points. Taking us back to a nice and “round” 3.75% Nice and round figures, like was intended. \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n

– Round Rick<\/p>\n

Whether you’re a\u00a0saver wanting higher deposit rates\u00a0or a homeowner\u00a0hoping for lower interest\u00a0repayments, today’s cash rate decision by the\u00a0RBA at 2:30pm AEDT\u00a0will impact you.<\/p>\n

We’d love to hear your story and possibly interview you for ABC News!\u00a0Email our journalist at terzon.emilia@abc.net.au<\/p>\n

Thanks for your comments so far.<\/p>\n

57m agoTue 3 Feb 2026 at 1:35am<\/p>\n

Imagine if the RBA holds!\"Stephanie<\/p>\n

I’ve never seen the ASX have such a great day in anticipation of a rate rise.<\/p>\n

– Craig <\/p>\n

The ASX 200 is up 1.1% with about two hours to go until the RBA decision<\/p>\n

1h agoTue 3 Feb 2026 at 1:18am<\/p>\n

Nikkei average jumps more than 1,300 points in morning\"Yiying<\/p>\n

Japan’s benchmark Nikkei 225 stock average shot up\u00a0by more than 1,300 points following overnight gains in US stocks.<\/p>\n

The index of 225 select issues listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange’s top-tier Prime section stood at 53,976 this morning, up 1,321 points from Monday’s closing.<\/p>\n

All three key US market gauges advanced Monday, thanks to the release of an indicator showing firm economic conditions in the country.<\/p>\n

Tokyo stocks attracted broad buying, with chipmaking equipment maker Advantest, a heavyweight Nikkei component, surging more than 4% at one point.<\/p>\n

Reporting with Reuters<\/p>\n

1h agoTue 3 Feb 2026 at 1:05am<\/p>\n

How much will a rate hike cost borrowers?\"Yiying<\/p>\n

If you’re wondering how a rate hike affects you, Canstar may have some answers for those with a mortgage.<\/p>\n

If the RBA hikes the cash rate today \u2014 and banks pass it on, as we expect they will \u2014 the average borrower with a $600,000 debt and 25 years to go would see their minimum monthly repayments rise by $90, it says.<\/p>\n

On a $1 million debt, you\u2019re looking at an increase of $150 a month, assuming banks pass it on, according to Canstar’s research.<\/p>\n

\"\"(Canstar.com.au)<\/p>\n

1h agoTue 3 Feb 2026 at 12:53am<\/p>\n

Saver, renter or borrower? Tell us your rates story\"Emilia<\/p>\n

Whether you’re a saver wishing for higher deposit rates or a person with a mortgage hoping for lower interest repayments, today’s cash rate decision by the RBA at 2:30pm AEDT\u00a0will certainly impact you.<\/p>\n

We’d love to hear your story and possibly interview you for ABC News! Email our journalist at terzon.emilia@abc.net.au<\/p>\n

1h agoTue 3 Feb 2026 at 12:38amMaterials sector up along with ASX 200\"Yiying<\/p>\n

Materials is the best-performing sector, gaining 2.2%, as of 11:35am AEDT, rebounding from its recent decline.<\/p>\n

This sector is off 2.1% for the past five days.<\/p>\n

\"\"(ASX)<\/p>\n

The ASX 200 is also up by 1.2% to 8,882, despite crossing below its 125-day moving average.<\/p>\n

The top-performing stocks in this index are Droneshield and NRW Holdings, up 7.5% and 5.8% respectively.<\/p>\n

The index has lost 0.7% for the last five days but sits 2.6% below its 52-week high.<\/p>\n

2h agoTue 3 Feb 2026 at 12:19amFinancial markets see a 72% chance of a rate hike\"Samuel<\/p>\n

The market thinks the likelihood of the RBA lifting interest rates on Tuesday is\u00a072 per cent.<\/p>\n

But here\u2019s a\u00a0very important caveat\u00a0\u2014 the market has been wrong before and at some point it will be wrong again.<\/p>\n

You don\u2019t even have to look very far back to find a glaring example.<\/p>\n

In July last year, the market was 96 per cent confident the RBA was about to cut rates.\u00a0It was wrong.<\/p>\n

Independent economist Nicki Hutley says the market\u2019s predictions are normally pretty good but forecasting is harder when the data on inflation is less clear.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think the market has overreacted to the December inflation data,\u201d she said. \u201cThere is something that we need to be watching closely but it feels like it\u2019s a bit of a \u2018henny penny, the sky is falling\u2019 over-reaction to me.\u201d<\/p>\n

Read more from\u00a0Ahmed Yussuf, Matt Liddy, Ben Spraggon and Ashley Kyd.<\/p>\n

3h agoMon 2 Feb 2026 at 11:32pmNeuren falls on EU regulatory hurdle while NRW Holdings jumps on winning new contracts\"Samuel<\/p>\n

Neuren Pharmaceuticals plunged more than 10% after the company said its licensee Acadia Pharmaceuticals was informed of a trend vote from the European Medicines Agency\u2019s Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) on its marketing authorisation application\u00a0for trofinetide for the treatment of Rett syndrome in the European Union. It’s expected that Acadia will request re-examination of that opinion.<\/p>\n

On the flip side, DroneShield (+7%), Lynas Rare Earths (+4%) and NRW Holdings (+3.7%) were leading the gains at open.<\/p>\n

Construction company NRW Holdings\u00a0jumped on winning three civil contracts including projects for Rio Tinto and Main Roads Western Australia. Those contracts are valued at around $270 million in total.<\/p>\n

Here were the top and bottom movers at open.<\/p>\n

\"\"(LSEG)<\/p>\n

3h agoMon 2 Feb 2026 at 11:16pm<\/p>\n

Market snapshot\"SamuelASX 200: +1% to 8,866 pointsAustralian dollar: +0.1% at 69.51 US centsS&P 500: +0.5% to 6,976 pointsNasdaq: +0.6% to 23,592 pointsFTSE: +1.2% to 10,341 pointsEuroStoxx: +1% to 636 pointsSpot gold: +1.1% to $US4,715\/ounceBrent crude: -4.3% to $US66.31\/barrelIron ore: -1% to $US102.80 a tonneBitcoin: +0.4% to $US78,760<\/p>\n

Price current around 10:15am AEDT<\/p>\n

Live updates on the major ASX indices:<\/p>\n

3h agoMon 2 Feb 2026 at 11:12pm<\/p>\n

ICYMI: intense competition for affordable homes drive property prices\"SamuelLoading…<\/p>\n

Property prices have continued to rise across the country at the start of 2026, but the pace of growth is expected to slow as interest rate hikes put off prospective buyers.<\/p>\n

3h agoMon 2 Feb 2026 at 11:07pmASX opens 1% higher\"Samuel<\/p>\n

The Australian share market has opened sharply higher after a rally on Wall Street.<\/p>\n

The ASX 200 index gained 1% or 87 points to 8,868, by 10:05am AEDT.<\/p>\n

Miners and banks led the gains.<\/p>\n

3h agoMon 2 Feb 2026 at 10:44pmIf RBA hikes, you can’t say it didn’t warn us\"Samuel<\/p>\n

Could RBA economists conceivably see inflation returning to target without a rate hike? We’ll know this afternoon, and while it’s not the dominant view, it’s not a fringe one, either, Stephanie Chalmers writes this morning.<\/p>\n

If you walk away from a central banker unsure whether they are leaning towards hiking or holding interest rates, it could be said they’ve done a pretty decent job \u2014 avoiding accusations of dipping their toe into the dangerous waters of forward guidance.<\/p>\n

Former Reserve Bank governor Philip Lowe is perhaps the most infamous recent example of what happens when a central banker wades right in.<\/p>\n

It’s an accusation you could not level at\u00a0RBA deputy governor Andrew Hauser after an interview last month, which had me leaving the room slightly unsure whether I’d learned anything new.<\/p>\n

Read more here:<\/p>\n

4h agoMon 2 Feb 2026 at 10:08pm<\/p>\n

ICYMI: Alan Kohler’s Finance Report\"Samuel<\/p>\n

4h agoMon 2 Feb 2026 at 9:51pm<\/p>\n

Rate hike would boost savings or erode buffers\"Stephanie<\/p>\n

Late last year, my partner and I felt uneasy about the direction the world was heading. We expected that Trump\u2019s behavior would create ripple effects globally, especially in the stock market, and that did play out. To protect ourselves, we decided to use our savings to pay off the mortgage so we could feel secure in owning our home outright.<\/p>\n

– Missy<\/p>\n

I don’t believe we’ll get a rate hike. My bet is the RBA will hold. We have only just started saving with the last 3 cuts, so for us, we won’t have to cut our spending yet if they do raise rates, but it means less of a buffer<\/p>\n

– Hopeful<\/p>\n

Hi Stephanie. As a retiree with money in the bank and no mortgage I am very lucky I know. Rate rises are good for me. I do appreciate the difficulties faced by younger generations but we have all been through them in our early days. My only advice – buy where you can afford not where you want . Long commutes are part of the early days process.<\/p>\n

– Phillip<\/p>\n

As always, there’s a range of different ways an interest rate hike would affect Australians.<\/p>\n

Thanks to all of our readers writing in \u2014 keep your comments coming.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"1h agoTue 3 Feb 2026 at 12:45amMarket snapshotASX 200: +1% to 8,869 pointsAustralian dollar: +0.2% at 69.63 US…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":271156,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[11],"tags":[2372,11466,79887,19594,79889,11468,114,2288,3151,184,85,46,1569,2378,1010,5269,79888,5268,920,196],"class_list":["post-271155","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-economy","tag-asian-markets","tag-asx","tag-asx-200","tag-aud","tag-australian-company","tag-australian-dollar","tag-business","tag-dollar","tag-dow-jones","tag-economy","tag-il","tag-israel","tag-live-blog","tag-nasdaq","tag-sp-500","tag-shares","tag-stockmarket","tag-stocks","tag-tech","tag-wall-street"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/271155","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=271155"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/271155\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/271156"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=271155"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=271155"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=271155"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}