South Africa Eyes ECB Repo Lines as Inflation Eases and Rate Cuts Loom 
RBI Holds Repo Rate at 5.25% as India’s Growth Outlook Strengthens After U.S. Trade Deal 
Best Gold Stocks to Buy Now: AABB, GOLD, GDX 
Silver Prices Plunge in Asian Trade as Dollar Strength Triggers Fresh Precious Metals Sell-Off 
Dollar Near Two-Week High as Stock Rout, AI Concerns and Global Events Drive Market Volatility 
Trump’s Inflation Claims Clash With Voters’ Cost-of-Living Reality 
Gold and Silver Prices Slide as Dollar Strength and Easing Tensions Weigh on Metals 
Vietnam’s Trade Surplus With US Jumps as Exports Surge and China Imports Hit Record 
Australia’s housing finance continued to fall in December, with the largest falls seen for owner-occupiers. Finance for first home buyers, which had previously outperformed other segments, fell sharply in December.
Total financing is down 20 percent over the last year, and further falls are likely in the near term. A sustained improvement in housing finance would be an early indicator of a stabilisation in the housing market.
The value of housing finance commitments fell at a faster rate in December. Finance approvals are now 20 percent lower over the year. Further declines are likely as tighter lending standards continue to filter through, ANZ Research reported.
The value of finance for owner-occupiers fell 6.4 percent m/m, leaving it 16.2 percent lower for the year. Investor finance fell 4.6 percent in the month and is 27.8 percent lower year on year.
Within the owner-occupier category, the trend of first home buyer outperformance has ended, as it declined 8 percent m/m. As a share of the value of total housing finance (excluding refinancing), first home buyers were 16 percent, down from 17 percent in November. It appears that tighter lending standards are now affecting this segment.
