Sydney, January 25, 2026, 17:23 (AEDT) — Market closed
- On Friday, ANZ closed at A$36.21, slipping 0.5%
- ASX will be closed Monday in observance of Australia Day, shortening the trading week
- Wednesday’s inflation figures and a looming New Zealand class-action suit are grabbing attention
ANZ Group Holdings Ltd (ASX:ANZ) shares ended Friday at A$36.21, slipping 19 cents. During the session, the stock fluctuated between A$35.85 and A$36.33.
This print is significant as Australian markets shut down for Australia Day, with the ASX cash market closed Monday and reopening Tuesday. That leaves investors with limited chances to adjust positions before crucial economic data. Liquidity often thins out during a long weekend as well.
A New Zealand class action over loan disclosure rules under the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Act is playing out in the courts. Commonwealth Bank’s New Zealand arm ASB has agreed to a NZ$135.6 million (A$118 million) settlement. ANZ, on the other hand, is still fighting the claims, with hearings scheduled for March, reported.
Friday saw the S&P/ASX 200 nudge up 0.13% to 8,860 points. The Australian dollar hovered near 68.47 U.S. cents, making ANZ’s slide appear more like an isolated stock move than a broader market trend.
Bank shares remain largely driven by rate expectations. Dr Shane Oliver, AMP’s head of investment strategy, said it’s “a very close call” if inflation will push the Reserve Bank of Australia to raise rates. He noted money markets are currently pricing in about a 57% chance of a February hike. AMP
The next key date is Wednesday. Australia’s December 2025 CPI report drops January 28, and traders will be on alert for any upside surprises that might revive bets on a higher RBA cash rate—its primary policy interest rate.
The central bank’s upcoming policy meeting is set for February 2–3, as per the RBA’s schedule. For lenders such as ANZ, the path of interest rates directly impacts funding costs and net interest margin — the difference between earnings on loans and expenses on deposits and wholesale funding.
Risks cut both ways. A stronger CPI reading might push bond yields higher, hitting bank valuations despite the fact that some higher rates could boost margins in certain areas. Then there’s the New Zealand class-action battle—a messy verdict or a bigger-than-anticipated payout would definitely rattle equity investors.
Tuesday’s session starts with a focus on whether local bank shares will catch up to offshore gains over the break, or if investors remain focused on Wednesday’s inflation data. After that, all eyes turn to the RBA meeting scheduled for early February.
ANZ’s calendar is light on company events in the near term, with the next key date being its half-year results on May 7, per the bank’s investor schedule. The immediate market drivers remain the January 28 CPI release and the RBA meeting on February 2–3. Meanwhile, the March court timetable in New Zealand lingers quietly in the backdrop.
