Sydney, Jan 25, 2026, 17:33 AEDT — The market is closed.
- National Australia Bank closed at A$42.35, slipping roughly 0.2% from its previous session
- The ASX cash market will be closed on Monday due to Australia Day; trading picks up again on Tuesday
- Investors are zeroing in on Wednesday’s CPI figures, the RBA’s decision due early February, and NAB’s trading update set for Feb. 18
Shares of National Australia Bank Ltd closed the week slightly down as investors await Australia’s upcoming inflation data for clues on interest rate moves and bank valuations. NAB last changed hands at A$42.35, slipping 0.08 Australian dollars from the prior close, after trading between A$42.03 and A$42.50 during the session. (Investing)
This is significant as the local market gears up for a shortened week. The ASX cash market will be closed Monday for the Australia Day public holiday, shifting the next session to Tuesday—when trading can feel erratic and liquidity tends to dry up.
The next major event is set for midweek. On Wednesday at 11:30 a.m. AEDT, the Australian Bureau of Statistics will roll out its December 2025 Consumer Price Index. This report frequently shifts the Reserve Bank of Australia’s outlook—and with it, bank shares. (Australian Bureau of Statistics)
NAB slipped while the wider market eked out a small gain on Friday. The S&P/ASX 200 ended 0.13% stronger at 8,860 points, per ABC market data. (ABC)
Banks weighed on the market beneath the surface. Financial stocks dropped 0.5% overall, with the “big four” lenders sliding between 0.2% and 0.8%. This comes as money markets factor in about a 60% probability of a 25 basis point hike at the RBA’s February 3 meeting. Marc Jocum, investment strategist at Global X ETFs Australia, noted that while banks’ margins can benefit from higher rates, they risk pressure on “cost-to-income ratios” if rising borrowing costs start to curb mortgage demand. (Indo Premier)
NAB faces familiar pressure points in the rate debate: funding costs, home loan demand, and the speed at which loan losses climb if household budgets tighten. Even without new company updates, the stock often moves as a stand-in for the RBA’s trajectory.
A rate hike can boost interest income on paper, but it often triggers tricky second-order effects. Mortgage growth may stall, and investors usually zero in on expenses when revenue momentum wavers.
The policy calendar is tight. The RBA’s Monetary Policy Board will meet on Feb. 2–3, with the decision revealed at 2:30 p.m. on the second day, according to the central bank’s published schedule. (Reserve Bank of Australia)
NAB has another key event coming up shortly. The bank will release its first-quarter trading update on Feb. 18, per its financial calendar. This report will offer insight into business lending, margins, and costs as the fiscal year’s second half approaches. (NAB)
The week could still shift course. A softer CPI reading might ease pressure on near-term rate hike bets, giving bank stocks a chance to rebound. On the flip side, a hotter figure could send yields up and raise fresh worries over mortgage demand and credit quality.
NAB investors will be watching Wednesday’s inflation figures closely, ahead of the RBA’s decision on Feb. 3. After that, all eyes turn to the company’s trading update on Feb. 18.
