Bill Evans, the former chief economist at Westpac who was widely regarded as one of Australia’s most influential interest rate forecasters, has died at the age of 76.
Evans passed away following a battle with cancer, marking the end of a career that spanned more than three decades at the lender.
Evans joined Westpac in 1994 and served as its chief economist for 32 years.
He was known for his bold and often accurate calls on the direction of Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) policy, including correctly predicting the rate cuts in 2011.
His forecasts were so closely watched by traders that his commentary frequently moved markets, earning him a reputation as a key voice in Australian monetary policy debates.
The news arrives as Australian financial markets navigate a period of heightened uncertainty.