Rates on hold, cut still possible; ASIC warns on private credit; Maldives bans smoking

Wednesday 5 November 2025 The Reserve Bank leaves interest rates on hold, with little clear direction about whether there’ll be any more rate cuts.  The corporate regulator, ASIC, criticises private credit players in a benchmark review of financial markets.  The federal government will force electricity suppliers to provide three free hours of energy to households each day.  Microsoft’s mega-deal with a largely unknown Tasmanian data centre operator.  The Maldives becomes the first country in the world to outlaw cigarette smoking. Join our free daily newsletter here. And don’t miss the latest episode of How Do They Afford That? - this week, is it time to fix your interest rate? Get the episode from APPLE, SPOTIFY, or anywhere you listen to podcasts.Find out more: https://fearandgreed.com.au/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.