Sydney, Jan 24, 2026, 17:24 AEDT — Market closed.
- Shares of Macquarie Group ended the day down 0.2%, closing at A$210.41.
- Filings revealed Macquarie entities crossed the 5% threshold in Beetaloo Energy but dropped below 5% in Pantoro Gold.
- Traders are now eyeing Australia’s CPI release on Jan. 28, alongside the Fed’s decision the same day in U.S. time.
Shares of Macquarie Group Ltd (MQG.AX) slipped 0.2% to close at A$210.41 on Friday, retreating slightly after a midweek rally. The dip came as fresh ownership filings from the bank’s controlled entities hit the market. 1
Why it matters now: the next ASX session comes right after a public holiday on Monday, leaving investors with less time to respond if inflation or rate shocks emerge early in the week. 2
Australia’s December 2025 consumer price index drops Wednesday at 11:30 a.m. AEDT, and it could reshape forecasts for local interest rates. Those moves often ripple directly through bank valuations. 3
Looking offshore, the Federal Reserve’s January 27-28 meeting is set to rattle risk assets, the U.S. dollar, and bond yields — key factors that could shift trading dynamics for global banks. 4
Company filings on Thursday and Friday revealed that Macquarie’s controlled entities have crossed the threshold to become a “substantial holder” in Beetaloo Energy Australia (BTL.AX), owning 62,280,902 shares, or 5.01%. At the same time, they confirmed they are no longer a substantial holder in gold miner Pantoro Gold (PNR.AX). 5
A substantial holder is anyone owning 5% or more of a company’s voting shares, a threshold that mandates disclosure in Australia. These reports often reflect client flows, custody shifts, or securities lending—not necessarily a fresh investment stance. 6
Australian shares closed Friday a touch up, buoyed by strength in gold, IT, and mining sectors. Yet, that momentum failed to lift Macquarie by the session’s end. 7
Dr Shane Oliver, AMP’s chief economist and head of investment strategy, said Australian shares dropped roughly 0.4% over the week, weighed down mainly by financials. This is significant for Macquarie, which not only trades within that sector but also reacts to shifts in global risk appetite. 8
Macquarie spans asset management, banking and markets, commodities trading, and advisory. Investors often track it not just for loan growth but as a barometer of market activity. 9
Next week could swing the other way. A hotter CPI print might drive bond yields higher and boost rate expectations, a combination that tends to weigh on financial stocks, even if the economy appears solid.
Wednesday brings the next big events: the CPI report and the Fed’s policy decision in the U.S., followed by the Reserve Bank of Australia’s meeting on February 2-3. 10
