ASX:CAT.AX 28 January 2026

Australia stock market today: ASX 200 snaps winning streak as inflation jolts RBA rate-hike bets

Australian shares ended lower Wednesday, with the S&P/ASX 200 down 0.09% after inflation data showed annual CPI at 3.8%. Swaps now price a 73% chance of a February rate hike. Electricity prices surged 21.5% over the year. The Australian dollar hovered near 69.9 U.S. cents late in the session.

28 January 2026

ASX:CAT.AX·ASX:DYL.AX·ASX:PDN.AX·ASX:SLX.AX·ASX:WDS.AX·Inflation·Interest Rates·NASDAQ:360·Stock Market

Why HBT Financial (HBT) Stands Out as a Strong Dividend Stock in 2024
March 20, 2026, 1:51 PM EDT. HBT Financial (HBT), a bank holding company in the Finance sector, offers a compelling dividend yield of 3.51%, higher than the Banks - Northeast industry's 2.48% and the S&P 500's 1.47%. The company has increased its dividend annually by an average of 7.62% over five years, with a current payout ratio of 33%, indicating sustainable dividends. Projected 19% earnings growth in 2026 supports future dividend raises. Despite rising interest rates challenging high-yield stocks, HBT's solid financials and a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) rating make it an attractive income stock for investors seeking steady cash flow and growth potential.