Fuel companies warned not to exacerbate ongoing global price movements.
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Woman sentenced for New Plymouth street attack where she bit the victim while ‘growling’ like a dog
The victim had a large open arm wound from the bite and was also bitten on the wrist.
Crankworx Rotorua 2026: Young fans help create ‘banger’ atmosphere
Educational psychologist says the event inspires purpose in students’ learning.
Regional mayors warn Air New Zealand flight cuts threaten lifeline routes
Temporary schedule cuts are because of volatile jet fuel prices from the Middle East war.
Police treating deaths of mother and baby daughter as suspicious
A mother and her baby daughter have been found dead inside a home south of Brisbane after a man was hit by a car in front of a nearby supermarket.
Police were called to Beaudesert Beenleigh Road at Bannockburn in Logan at 7.30am today after the man was struck by the vehicle.
He was taken to Princess Alexandra Hospital with serious injuries under police guard.
READ MORE: All big four banks now tip triple-dip rate hike pain for borrowers
This led police to a home on Belivah Road in Belivah, where officers found the bodies of a 38-year-old woman and a one-year-old child.
Crime scenes were established at the home and the scene of the crash.
Forensic investigations are under way at both scenes.
Queensland Police detective superintendent Chris Ahern said police were treating the deaths as suspicious and working to confirm the relationship between the three.
"Our investigations are focusing heavily on the nature of their relationship and those living arrangements at that house," Ahern said.
"Our minds are open as to what's gone on here."
Police are working to determine how the woman and her baby died.
"What I indicate is, on cursory look, it looks like the injuries are consistent with an edged weapon," Ahern said.
Police are also working to determine if the man had any injuries prior to the car crash.
Ahern encouraged members of the public with dashcam or phone vision in the vicinity of the home or outside of the supermarket between 7am and 8.30am today to contact police
"We'd like to hear from them, they may be able to assist us with our investigation," he said.
Support is available from the National Sexual Assault, Domestic and Family Violence Counselling Service at 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732)
Winston Peters asks KiwiRail about bringing in spare ferry parts as fault reduces Interislander fleet
New ferries are not due until 2029, leaving years of reliance on older vessels.
Motueka cricket club mourns sudden death of young player TK Hadzhikostov
The Motueka boy died unexpectedly on Saturday, March 7.
Son forgives Hamilton driver Kathleen Davies for failing to stop after father’s fatal scooter crash
Kathleen Davies hit the 92-year-old as he crossed a Hamilton road on his scooter.
All big four banks now tip triple-dip rate hike pain for borrowers
ANZ has followed the other big four banks in predicting triple rate hike pain for Aussie borrowers.
CBA, Westpac and NAB yesterday shifted their cash rate predictions due to inflation running too hot, a stretched labour market, and the war in the Middle East – which is likely to add to inflation.
All four big banks now anticipate the Reserve Bank will increase the cash rate 25 basis points when it meets next Tuesday, and by the same margin at the following meeting in May.
READ MORE: Aussies could pay more for groceries as farmers hit by dual fertiliser and fuel hike due to Iran war
The RBA increased the interest rate by 0.25 per cent at its most recent meeting on February 3, to 3.85 per cent.
A triple hike would bring the cash rate to 4.35 per cent.
Across three prospective hikes in February, March and May, a borrower with a million-dollar mortgage would pay an extra $453 every month.
The major banks cited high inflation and the instability brought on by the conflict in Iran as the reasons why they were now forecasting what would end up being three consecutive rate hikes.
"With inflation above target and the labour market tight, the inflation risks are likely to be more central for the board than risks around activity," ANZ's economic team said.
"The increased inflation risks will exacerbate those concerns, creating more urgency to move quickly to contain inflation expectations."
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NAB and Westpac yesterday said the RBA's decision would rely on developments in the war in the Middle East and its impact on oil prices and the wider market.
"Much will depend on the trajectory of oil prices and the domestic data flow, and we see two-sided risks around our new central case for a 4.35 per cent peak," NAB said in a statement yesterday.
Westpac chief economist Luci Ellis said a swift resolution to the war, and subsequent fall in oil prices "would mean that the expected March hike would not be followed up in May".
"Again, this is not our base case, but we will keep the possibility under review," Ellis said.
Westpac said the effect of higher oil prices on inflation was "large but temporary" but believes the RBA will "nevertheless feel compelled to react".
Canstar Data Insights Director Sally Tindall said war in the Middle East "has cast a huge cloud of uncertainty over the [rates] decision".
"While the short-term impact of the conflict will push up prices, particularly fuel, the longer-term damage to the economy and jobs market is not yet clear," she said.
"If the Westpac and NAB forecasts prove accurate, the RBA would deliver three back-to-back rate hikes across February, March and May – a scenario that would add further pressure to already stretched household budgets."
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Oil price could fly past unheard-of milestone, major bank warns
Oil prices could skyrocket past $US150 a barrel due to disruption caused by the Middle East conflict, Australia's largest bank has warned.
Commonwealth Bank economists said the global benchmark Brent oil could surge to between $US120 and $US150 per barrel ($168 to $210), which would discourage demand for the crucial resource in developing economies once there is a local shortage.
However, the report said the price could rise beyond $US150 if advanced economies need to set a higher price to weaken demand.
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The war in Iran has all but closed the Strait of Hormuz, a critical energy-shipping route between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman, where around 19 per cent of global oil supply passes.
This morning, Brent crude oil jumped above $US100 a barrel.
CBA said that, while some oil can be exported from Gulf states through alternate routes, the majority of it cannot.
"Oil is the only energy commodity that has potential to bypass the Strait of Hormuz," CBA commodities strategist Vivek Dhar wrote.
"We estimate that only three to five per cent of global supply can bypass the Strait of Hormuz.
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"That means the effective disruption to global oil markets amounts to 14 to 16 per cent of global supply."
CBA economists believe the war will last for months rather than weeks, which it said hadn't been taken into account by global energy markets.
"Our view that energy markets are not fully pricing in the disruption posed by the Middle East conflict ultimately comes down to the expected length of the current disruption," Dhar said.
"Our expectation that this crisis could last for months instead of weeks likely means that markets are underestimating the disruption to global energy markets."
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He added that, if the war isn't ended soon, "oil and refined product prices are at risk of rising to levels not seen in history".
"This would seem to make it intolerable for the world to remain unmoved. This helps explain why energy markets are so reluctant to fully price an extended closure of the Strait of Hormuz," he wrote in his report.
"On the other hand, the US will not want to leave without achieving its strategic goals and risk emboldening Iran and its proxies.
"This is yet another example of geopolitics clashing with economics in this new era.
"This adds a wildcard element to the outlook."
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