I guess this about the cash/gold/cash/gold basket so relevant to gold HC the game out there is to shop around - rumour is that all the banks have "specials" to confuse the punters and the rates advertisers -if you talk about another banks rates you will find most are negotiable and don't expect a bank to understand simple concepts such as interest - CBA are into compound interest for ex. A couple of years ago people here were writing about up to 8.5% from Westpac for 5 yrs which was a smart move in hindsight I think the banks generally are asleep at the wheel and like us lot here are confused (thats me) about inflation/deflation. Westpac seems to need the money more but BOQ for ex and the smaller banks have and have had high rates too My guess is that its deflation and low interest rates for some time yet (could be dealing with zombie banks like Japan for many years?) - that is the next RBA action will be to reduce rates as we all fall apart again But then again inflation could get through and you will need cash for the equity armageddon So its best to spread things out (laddering as in wot Granny used to do -now being reinvented by the financial press) Shopping down at the banks has become something of a past-time for me as they all muck about with the cost of their paper - same with the mini forex booths that are all over the city centre and are probably the only businesses making any money from I can see
