Sydney, Feb 1, 2026, 17:13 AEDT — The market has closed.
Westpac Banking Corporation (ASX: WBC) shares look set to open Monday in Sydney after climbing 0.83% on Friday, closing at A$38.82. The stock fluctuated between A$38.51 and A$39.20 during the session, following a previous close of A$38.50, Investing.com data indicated. The ASX will be closed Sunday and resume trading Monday. (Investing)
That small bounce on Friday caught attention because Australian bank shares often trade like a real-time wager on interest rates. Positioning has already swung sharply ahead of the central bank’s meeting. According to a Reuters poll cited by investingLive, 24 out of 31 economists now expect the Reserve Bank of Australia to raise the cash rate by 25 basis points — recall, one basis point equals one-hundredth of a percentage point — pushing it to 3.85%. The report points to a stronger trimmed-mean inflation reading, which filters out extreme price swings to reveal underlying inflation trends, as the catalyst for this shift. (investingLive)
Tony Sycamore, market analyst at IG, noted that “there is now 18 basis points (75% probability) of rate hikes built in for next week’s RBA board meeting.” This matters for lenders: while higher rates might boost spreads on new loans, gains can be quickly offset by rising deposit costs, wholesale funding, and borrower strain. (IG)
Westpac’s immediate challenge is managing volume and pricing in mortgages and business loans while defending its deposit base against competitors. Investors will watch closely for shifts in the net interest margin — the difference between loan earnings and funding costs — as well as any early indicators of credit strain.
Westpac usually tracks alongside the other major banks—Commonwealth Bank of Australia, National Australia Bank, and ANZ Group Holdings—making it hard to spot stock-specific moves when the rate narrative dominates.
The trade could reverse quickly. A surprise hold or a rate hike combined with cautious guidance might revive “peak rates” chatter, dragging bank valuations down. On the other hand, a more aggressive tightening would refocus attention on arrears risk and rising funding costs.
Since there’s no trading on Sunday, Monday’s mood will be key. Traders usually focus first on the short end of the bond curve and the currency, then turn to banks to gauge if the market still favors a higher-for-longer rate outlook.
The RBA’s 2026 calendar reveals a board meeting slated for Feb. 2-3, placing its rate decision squarely in the middle of the week. (Reserve Bank of Australia)
Westpac’s next major event is just around the corner: the bank will release its first-quarter results on Feb. 13, per its financial calendar. Investors are expected to focus on margins, volumes, and asset quality once the rate decision is behind them. (Westpac)
