Sydney, Jan 18, 2026, 17:09 AEDT — The market has closed.
Macquarie Group Ltd (ASX:MQG) shares closed Friday 2.6% higher at A$211.86, rallying alongside other Australian banks ahead of the weekend. The S&P/ASX 200 benchmark rose 0.48%, marking a 2.1% gain for the week. Westpac climbed 1.8%, but Macquarie stood out among the major lenders. (Market Index)
Markets remain closed Sunday. The real test arrives Monday, as investors weigh if the bank-driven rally can hold or quickly falters on shaky conviction.
Why it matters now: bank stocks have regained their role as the market’s steering wheel. At Macquarie, what really drives moves are shifts in rate expectations and risk appetite—these often outweigh daily headlines and can shift abruptly following major data releases.
The move came without any clear company-specific news in Australia. That’s a double-edged sword — it opens the door for gains to continue, but the stock could also retreat if the sector rally fades.
On Friday, MQG’s shares fluctuated from A$206.41 to A$212.07, with roughly 808,170 shares exchanging hands, according to data from Investing.com. (Investing)
Macquarie’s investment banking unit appeared in a UK deal notice on Friday. A takeover statement named Macquarie Capital as joint financial adviser to FitzWalter Capital, which is considering a higher cash offer for Auction Technology Group at 400 pence per share. That values the company around £491 million. FitzWalter partner Andrew Gray said the bid would provide shareholders with “certainty to realise a cash offer.” (Investegate)
Global risk factors remain influential. On Friday, U.S. stocks slipped modestly: the S&P 500 dropped 0.1%, while the Dow fell 0.2% as earnings season kicked off, according to the Associated Press. (AP News)
Australia’s next crucial domestic data point is the ABS labour force report for December 2025, scheduled for Thursday, Jan. 22 at 11:30 a.m. AEDT. The jobs figures frequently influence Reserve Bank rate expectations and tend to impact bank valuations directly. (Australian Bureau of Statistics)
The BEA calendar lists the Personal Income and Outlays report for October and November 2025 hitting on Jan. 22 at 10:00 a.m. ET. It features the PCE price index, the Fed’s favored inflation measure, known to sway global bond yields and, by extension, financial stocks. (Bureau of Economic Analysis)
But there’s a snag. If inflation fears push yields higher, or growth concerns resurface, that crowded trade boosting financials could reverse fast — and Macquarie tends to swing more sharply than most banks when risk appetite shifts.
Macquarie shares will draw attention as the ASX reopens Monday, with traders sizing up moves in bank stocks and bond yields for clues. Eyes are on Thursday’s Australian jobs figures, followed by the U.S. PCE inflation data, which could set the tone for markets.
