Opposition claims on debt dismissed

LEADING economists have derided continuing claims by the Opposition that government debt is forcing up Australian retail mortgage rates.

Don't bank on a future with the second-tier players

There's a huge amount of hand-wringing going on about the future of the country's second-tier banks. From a somewhat healthy group of five, this band of brotherly bankers has shrunk to three with growing concerns being expressed that over time the remainder could disappear altogether.