Sydney, Jan 19, 2026, 17:41 AEDT — Market closed.
- Macquarie Group (MQG.AX) ended the day down 0.5%, settling at A$210.81 following a volatile session
- The lender introduced “Q,” an AI-driven support agent designed for Macquarie Bank customers
- Traders are now focused on Thursday’s Australia jobs report and the RBA decision set for Feb. 3
Macquarie Group Ltd (MQG.AX) shares ended Monday 0.5% lower at A$210.81, slipping from a range of A$208.41 to A$212.11 during the session. Roughly 316,000 shares traded hands, matching typical volume levels. 1
Australian stocks ended a five-day winning streak as investors fled to “safe-haven” assets like gold, typically favored when risk spikes. The shift came after fresh U.S. tariff threats unsettled markets. The S&P/ASX 200 slipped 0.3%, with banks dropping 0.6% and tech tumbling 2.5%, according to a Reuters report. 2
Macro noise is hitting as local rate bets resurface. Investors eye Australia’s December jobs report coming Thursday, rethinking the Reserve Bank of Australia’s next move. Markets now price roughly a 25% chance of a 25-basis-point hike at the Feb. 3 meeting, Reuters noted. 3
Macquarie, spanning investment banking, markets trading, asset management, and retail banking, reacts as much to changes in risk appetite as to company updates. When markets grow volatile, deal flow often dries up and client activity becomes uneven, though trading desks may still experience sudden spikes in volume.
Macquarie did have news to share. The bank rolled out “Q,” an AI support agent for its Australian customers, providing round-the-clock assistance via its mobile app and online banking platform. For tougher queries, Q hands things over to human staff. “We all now expect instant, seamless and personalised support,” said Ashwin Sinha, the bank’s chief digital, data and AI officer. 4
Global markets took the lead. The U.S. dollar eased as investors shifted toward safe havens following U.S. President Donald Trump’s announcement of new 10% tariffs on several European nations, according to a Reuters report. Risk assets remained pressured heading into Asian trading hours. 5
This isn’t a one-way street. Should tariff headlines ease, financials could bounce back fast. Yet, a stronger-than-expected labour report might stiffen rate-hike chatter, weighing on bank valuations. Conversely, a weaker print would steer things the opposite way.
