The Australian Bureau of Statistics released its home loans data on Friday. Home loans in Australia climbed 2.6% in December, missing expectations for a 3.0% rise, after 1.9% increase in November. November's figure was revised up from a 1.8% rise.

The value of owner occupied loans rose at a seasonally adjusted 0.9% in December, investment lending increased 0.6%, while the number of loans for the construction of dwellings climbed 1.8%.