Sydney, Jan 26, 2026, 17:09 AEDT — The market has closed.
- Wesfarmers (WES.AX) ended Friday at A$82.80, slipping 0.4%.
- Australian cash equities were off the board Monday, closed for the Australia Day public holiday.
- Attention turns to Wednesday’s inflation figures and Wesfarmers’ half-year results due February 19.
Wesfarmers shares reopen Tuesday, weighed by a familiar cocktail: a holiday lull in trading, a major macroeconomic report, and an approaching earnings date.
Inflation remains the immediate concern. The upcoming consumer price index in Australia could swiftly shift rate forecasts, hitting consumer-facing stocks hard.
This hits Wesfarmers where it counts—right in the heart of household spending. Investors are watching closely to see if demand at Bunnings and Kmart can withstand persistent mortgage and living expenses.
The stock closed at A$82.80, slipping A$0.32 for the session, with trading fluctuating between A$82.50 and A$83.39. Its 52-week range spans A$67.70 to A$95.18. (Investing)
The Australian Securities Exchange cash market remained closed Monday in observance of the Australia Day public holiday, according to the exchange’s 2026 trading calendar. (Australian Securities Exchange)
The Australian Bureau of Statistics will release its December consumer price index report Wednesday at 11:30 a.m. AEDT. The CPI acts as a key inflation gauge and frequently influences interest-rate expectations. (Australian Bureau of Statistics)
The Reserve Bank of Australia’s monetary policy board convenes Feb. 2–3. Changes to the rate outlook are significant for retailers, as rising borrowing costs tend to curb discretionary spending. (Reserve Bank of Australia)
Wesfarmers has pinned down its date as well. The company informed the exchange it plans to unveil half-year results on Feb. 19, with an analyst briefing scheduled for 10:00 a.m. AWST (1:00 p.m. AEDT) that day.
The setup works both ways. A hotter-than-expected CPI might fuel rate concerns and pressure the sector, whereas a softer number could ease the squeeze for retailers heading into February reports.
Wesfarmers is eyeing Wednesday’s inflation figures and the early-February RBA meeting as key checkpoints, ahead of its half-year results due on Feb. 19.
