The Reserve Bank of Australia sets interest rates each month that affect investments across the country. When interest rates rise, more conservative investments like bonds and bank deposits become more appealing due to lower risk. However, when interest rates fall, these investments earn very little return so trading in shares increases despite higher risk. The RBA adjusts rates to influence economic growth, lowering rates to encourage business investment and raising them to pull money from shares back into banks. Companies benefit from lower rates through more stock sales and higher share prices, while higher rates reduce revenue and investment opportunities. Individuals also benefit from lower rates through increased housing prices and riskier investments, but higher rates push people to safer bank investments and make home loans more expensive.