Sydney, January 26, 2026, 16:57 AEDT — The market has closed.
- Woolworths Group (WOW.AX) ended last Friday’s session down 1.24%, closing at A$30.38
- Australia’s CPI, a crucial inflation indicator, is set for release Wednesday and might sway expectations on interest rates
- Woolworths will release its half-year results on February 25
Woolworths Group Ltd shares (WOW.AX) slipped 1.24% to close Friday at A$30.38. Investors are now bracing for a brief trading week ahead, with an inflation report poised to shake up rate forecasts. (Yahoo Finance)
The Australian Securities Exchange is closed Monday for Australia Day, reopening Tuesday with just four trading sessions this week. (Australian Securities Exchange)
Wednesday brings the consumer price index (CPI), Australia’s main inflation measure, scheduled for release at 11:30 a.m. AEDT, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics calendar. (Australian Bureau of Statistics)
Supermarket stocks face a dual impact from the CPI. It affects both consumers’ spending power and the costs suppliers and transport firms pass on.
Coles Group (COL.AX) slipped 0.43% to close Friday at A$21.00. Metcash (MTS.AX), the wholesaler, dropped 0.90% to A$3.32, dragging the grocery sector down a bit ahead of the restart. (Market Index)
Woolworths announced it will publish its fiscal 2026 half-year results on the ASX Wednesday, Feb. 25. (Woolworths Group)
That report will zero in on sales momentum, the cost structure, and just how aggressively the company is using pricing to defend its market share. Shifts in the approach to promotions or margin pressure usually emerge quickly in retailer forecasts.
There are other factors at play. Earlier this month, New Zealand’s Commerce Commission flagged Woolworths New Zealand for a probable breach related to product “delisting” — that is, pulling items off shelves. The company has since revised its procedures. Groceries chief Alice Hume acknowledged that the risk of delisting can place “a significant weight on suppliers.” (Commerce Commission)
Trading thins out over the holidays, often amplifying price swings once the ASX opens again, especially among major index stocks influenced by passive flows and ETF rebalancing.
Tuesday brings the market back to action, eyes fixed on Wednesday’s CPI data. Then, on Feb. 25, Woolworths steps into the spotlight, releasing results and facing analysts’ questions about the second half outlook.
