Westpac shares (ASX:WBC) in focus after bushfire relief package as rate outlook shifts

Sydney, Jan 10, 2026, 17:14 AEDT — Market closed

Westpac said it will offer repayment deferrals and short-term credit support for customers hit by Victorian bushfires
Shares last ended down 0.3% on Friday as big banks weighed on the ASX
Traders are eyeing Australia’s quarterly CPI on Jan. 28 and the RBA decision on Feb. 3

Westpac Banking Corp said on Saturday it would roll out a disaster relief package for customers affected by Victorian bushfires, days after its shares slipped with the broader bank sector. (Mirage News)

The move lands as fires burn across parts of Victoria and force evacuations, lifting scrutiny on household cash flow, small-business closures and the risk that missed payments turn into bigger losses for lenders. (The Guardian)

Rates are the other live wire. Reserve Bank of Australia Deputy Governor Andrew Hauser said inflation was “still too high,” reinforcing that the next policy move is not a one-way bet for borrowers or bank stocks. (Reuters)

Westpac said the package includes the option for home-loan customers to defer repayments for up to three months, credit-card repayment deferrals, and temporary overdrafts for business customers. “Westpac stands ready to support customers affected by the Victorian bushfires,” retail banking general manager Damien MacRae said. (MarketScreener)

Westpac shares last closed at A$37.90 on Friday, down 0.29% on the day, in a session that also left Commonwealth Bank, NAB and ANZ mostly weaker. The stock is sitting below its 50-day moving average, a common trend gauge, around A$38.5. (Yahoo Finance)

The next hard macro marker is Australia’s December-quarter CPI report on Jan. 28, which can reset bets on whether rates rise again or stay on hold. (Australian Bureau of Statistics)

The RBA’s next monetary policy board meeting runs Feb. 2–3, with the decision due on Feb. 3, putting banks back in the firing line for any shift in the outlook for lending margins and bad debts. (Reserve Bank of Australia)

For Westpac, the next scheduled company update is its first-quarter results on Feb. 13, followed by interim results and a dividend announcement on May 5, according to its financial calendar. (Westpac)

But the bushfire hit is still an unknown. Relief measures can soften the immediate blow for borrowers, yet a wider economic toll could still flow through to higher arrears and credit charges, especially if rates stay restrictive longer than markets expect. (ABC)

Shan Ahmed Khan Latest posts

As a journalist focused on finance and the stock market, he delivers fast, reliable, and easy-to-understand coverage of market news.

View all

Genting Singapore stock at S$0.73 as funds turn net sellers ahead of Feb 19 earnings
January 11, 2026, 3:33 AM EST. Genting Singapore closed Friday at S$0.73, up 0.7%, but fund-flow data show institutions started 2026 as net sellers. The shares traded in a narrow range (S$0.725-S$0.735) with a 52-week span of S$0.66-S$0.80. Analysts are broadly positive: average target around S$0.878, implying roughly 20% upside. Investors await the Feb 19 earnings release for clues on revenue, margins, and the Resorts World Sentosa overhaul. Morgan Stanley flags debt funding as a viable option, with about S$5 billion still needed for the next expansion phase. A softer visitor spend or higher costs could squeeze cash returns as capital expenditure (capex) rises. Friday's close keeps the stock near the critical S$0.72 level, with a potential move toward the upper end of the year range if earnings surprise to the upside.