SYDNEY, Jan 25, 2026, 17:28 AEDT — Market closed
- Macquarie Group Ltd (ASX: MQG) ended the day at A$210.41, slipping 0.22%.
- The ASX will be closed Monday for Australia Day. Trading resumes Tuesday, ahead of Australia’s CPI release on Wednesday, Jan. 28.
Shares of Macquarie Group Ltd slid slightly ahead of the Australia Day holiday, with local markets closed until Tuesday and a crucial inflation report due midweek.
Timing is crucial. A holiday-shortened week tends to amplify market swings, and investors will focus on Wednesday’s inflation report to see if it tightens bets on a rate hike in early February.
Macquarie finds itself caught in the middle of this debate as it operates both as a lender and a markets-facing entity. Changes in rate bets drive bank stock movements, along with shifts in deal flow, trading environments, and asset valuations.
The broader market edged up on Friday. The S&P/ASX 200 finished 0.13% higher at 8,860.09, making Macquarie’s modest drop stand out as a rare underperformer heading into the weekend.
Rate-sensitive financial stocks dipped 0.5%, wiping out gains seen in miners and tech, according to a Reuters market update. Marc Jocum, investment strategist at Global X ETFs Australia, noted banks could face rising pressure on their “cost-to-income ratios” if higher rates start to curb mortgage demand. Indo Premier
The Australian dollar gained ground late Friday, hovering around 68.47 U.S. cents, per an ABC market update. A rising Aussie can weigh on offshore earnings once converted back into local currency — a current concern for multinational firms like Macquarie.
Offshore, investors face a Federal Reserve meeting spanning Jan. 27–28, with the rate decision set for the second day. Sharp moves in global bond yields often ripple through bank valuations and risk sentiment fast.
Traders at home are zeroing in on one key date: the Australian Bureau of Statistics will release the December-quarter CPI on Wednesday, Jan. 28. This inflation figure is crucial as it drives expectations around interest rates.
The Reserve Bank of Australia will hold its next policy meeting on Feb. 2–3. Should inflation data come in hotter than expected, traders might ramp up bets on a 25 basis point hike—a quarter-point increase—at that gathering.
But the setup works both ways. A soft inflation reading might ease rate worries and support financials, while a hotter print could trigger a sharper yield repricing that usually weighs on the sector, Macquarie included.
Investors have Macquarie’s 2026 operational briefing marked for Feb. 10, with the full-year results due May 8.
The ASX is closed Monday, putting the spotlight on Tuesday’s reopening as the next hurdle for Macquarie shares. Wednesday’s CPI release follows closely, alongside the Fed decision. Macquarie’s own briefing date is also gaining attention.
