Today: 7 February 2026
Subscribe
Browse Category

Australian Economy News 20 January 2026 - 27 January 2026

NAB share price jumps after holiday break as Australia CPI and RBA decision loom

NAB share price jumps after holiday break as Australia CPI and RBA decision loom

Sydney, Jan 27, 2026, 16:51 AEDT — After-hours Shares of National Australia Bank Ltd ended Tuesday up 1.3%, or 53 Australian cents, closing at A$42.88. The stock traded between A$42.42 and A$43.15 throughout the session before pushing higher near the close. (Investing.com) This matters because investors are scrambling to figure out where Australian interest rates will head next. Banks usually move in step with those forecasts. Changes in rate pricing hit bank valuations directly, affecting everything from expectations for loan growth to concerns over bad debts. NAB’s monthly business survey fueled the rate debate, revealing that business conditions improved in
27 January 2026
····
BHP share price jumps near A$50 as miner edges past CBA again — what to watch next

BHP share price jumps near A$50 as miner edges past CBA again — what to watch next

MELBOURNE, January 27, 2026, 17:03 AEDT — The market has closed. BHP Group Ltd (ASX:BHP) shares rose Tuesday, overtaking Commonwealth Bank in market value as a broad rally in resources lifted major stocks. BHP plays a crucial role in the Australian market and serves as a bellwether for China-exposed commodities, particularly iron ore. Following Monday’s market holiday, miners saw renewed positioning when trading resumed on Tuesday. (Australian Securities Exchange) BHP closed 2.73% higher at A$49.75, having touched a peak of A$50.08 during the session. The shares swung between A$49.55 and A$50.08 on roughly 7.2 million traded, per Investing.com data. MarketIndex
27 January 2026
····
Woodside Energy share price: ASX shut for Australia Day, oil holds gains as WDS heads into Q4 update

Woodside Energy share price: ASX shut for Australia Day, oil holds gains as WDS heads into Q4 update

Sydney, Jan 26, 2026, 17:33 AEDT — Market closed. Woodside Energy Group Ltd (WDS.AX) shares finished Friday down 0.5%, closing at A$24.08. Australia’s market remained shut Monday in observance of the Australia Day public holiday. (Investing.com) The break matters because it tightens the week for local traders preparing for Woodside’s earnings release. Settlement and reporting schedules will shift as a result of the holiday. (ausiex.com.au) Overseas developments are steering the market. Oil stalled Monday, following a 2% jump the previous day, with Brent near $66. Winter outages and Middle East tensions continue to weigh in with added risk. Priyanka Sachdeva,
26 January 2026
······
CBA share price: Australia Day closure tees up CPI and February earnings test for Commonwealth Bank stock

CBA share price: Australia Day closure tees up CPI and February earnings test for Commonwealth Bank stock

Sydney, January 26, 2026, 16:49 AEDT — Trading has wrapped up for the day. Commonwealth Bank of Australia shares will not trade on Monday, with the ASX cash market shut for the Australia Day holiday. Investors won’t get a fresh look at the stock until trading resumes Tuesday. The week ahead is short, but inflation and interest rate forecasts remain front and center. (Australian Securities Exchange) This is significant because CBA is Australia’s biggest listed lender and a major market force, so even small policy shifts can move large amounts of capital. Banks also factor in expectations for net interest
26 January 2026
·····
BHP share price in focus: China iron ore curbs and Chile strike set up next ASX session

BHP share price in focus: China iron ore curbs and Chile strike set up next ASX session

Sydney, Jan 26, 2026, 16:48 AEDT — Markets have closed for the day. BHP Group Ltd shares enter Tuesday’s session facing a fresh twist in a familiar battle: offloading iron ore while its biggest customer resists. Australia’s cash market will be shut on Monday for the Australia Day public holiday, so miners will have to digest offshore news until local trading kicks back in on Jan. 27. (Australian Securities Exchange) The reason this matters now is straightforward. Iron ore remains the backbone of BHP’s profits, and the dispute over China contracts is starting to affect daily logistics, discounts, and inventory
26 January 2026
·····
Fortescue stock steadies after cost spike jolts FMG — what to watch after the long weekend

Fortescue stock steadies after cost spike jolts FMG — what to watch after the long weekend

Sydney, Jan 24, 2026, 16:56 AEDT — Market closed Fortescue Ltd shares (FMG.AX) closed Friday at A$21.51, up 0.14%, bouncing back slightly after a 5.1% drop the day before that knocked more than A$1 off the price. The ASX cash market will be closed Monday for Australia Day and will reopen on Tuesday. (Investing.com Australia) Fortescue’s December-quarter production update triggered the selloff, highlighting rising unit costs and fresh doubts about the Iron Bridge ramp-up, its Pilbara magnetite project. CEO Dino Otranto mentioned on the call the company is sourcing more equipment from China, including battery storage from BYD, and called
24 January 2026
·····
ANZ share price slips after Suncorp job-cut row as RBA rate bets tighten

ANZ share price slips after Suncorp job-cut row as RBA rate bets tighten

Sydney, Jan 23, 2026, 17:30 AEDT — The market has closed. Shares of ANZ Group Holdings Ltd finished Friday 0.5% lower, closing at A$36.21. The stock fluctuated between A$35.85 and A$36.33 during the session, with roughly 3.9 million shares traded. (Investing.com) The bank starts a holiday-shortened week facing two challenges: renewed political scrutiny over the Suncorp Bank integration and a volatile interest-rate debate that could swiftly shake bank stocks. This is significant since Australian banks usually follow changes in the rate outlook closely. Quicker adjustments to the Reserve Bank of Australia’s policy rate can affect lending margins and funding costs,
23 January 2026
····
Telstra share price flat at A$4.72 — CPI, RBA and February results are next

Telstra share price flat at A$4.72 — CPI, RBA and February results are next

SYDNEY, January 23, 2026, 17:19 AEDT — The market has closed. Telstra Group Ltd (TLS.AX) shares closed Friday flat at A$4.72, fluctuating narrowly between A$4.705 and A$4.76 during a quiet session for the Aussie telecom giant. Roughly 22.9 million shares traded hands. (eoddata.com) Telstra’s lack of clear direction is significant since it’s frequently seen as a dividend play in Australia. That bet can shift fast when interest-rate expectations change. With markets closed Monday and a packed schedule through early February, investors have less time to adjust their positions. Thursday’s strong jobs report intensified the pressure. Australia’s unemployment rate dropped to
23 January 2026
····
Commonwealth Bank of Australia share price slips as rate-hike bets keep traders on edge

Commonwealth Bank of Australia share price slips as rate-hike bets keep traders on edge

Sydney, Jan 23, 2026, 16:50 AEDT — Market closed Commonwealth Bank of Australia shares slipped A$1.14, or 0.76%, ending Friday at A$149.47 after climbing the day before. The stock traded in a range from A$148.00 to A$149.93 and is still down about 7% from its 2026 opening price. (Investing.com) Markets remain closed as attention turns to next week’s inflation figures and the Reserve Bank’s upcoming decision in early February. For bank stocks, even a slight rate change can quickly alter the story. Rising rates have boosted lending margins but also raised repayments, threatening to cool the housing market—the key collateral
23 January 2026
·····
Commonwealth Bank shares bounce as RBA hike bets return — what to watch for CBA stock next

Commonwealth Bank shares bounce as RBA hike bets return — what to watch for CBA stock next

Sydney, January 22, 2026, 16:50 AEDT — The market has closed. Shares of Commonwealth Bank of Australia climbed 2.3% to A$150.61 on Thursday, bouncing back after a roughly 2.2% drop the previous day. The jump pushed the nation’s largest lender back toward the front of the pack among major banks. (Intelligent Investor) CBA matters because it’s a heavyweight in local portfolios and a major force behind the index. When rate expectations shift, CBA often moves swiftly, since changes in rates directly affect loan pricing, funding costs, and mortgage demand. The rate debate intensified Thursday after a stronger-than-expected jobs report rattled
22 January 2026
·····
ANZ share price drops 2% as risk-off hits Australian banks; CPI and RBA loom

ANZ share price drops 2% as risk-off hits Australian banks; CPI and RBA loom

Sydney, Jan 21, 2026, 16:52 AEDT — Market closed. ANZ Group Holdings (ANZ.AX) slipped 2.1% to close at A$36.17 on Wednesday. The shares have dropped roughly 3% over the last two days, moving in a range from A$36.06 to A$36.76 on a turnover of around 3.43 million shares. (Investing.com) The pullback is significant since Australia’s major banks hold central roles in local portfolios and index weightings. Rate bets have shown signs of faltering once more. As key inflation figures and central bank meetings near, investors are quicker to trim positions on dips, holding fire ahead of upcoming data releases. The
21 January 2026
····
Wesfarmers walks away from a $400m Priceline rescue — and now the Infinity pharmacies are up for grabs

Wesfarmers walks away from a $400m Priceline rescue — and now the Infinity pharmacies are up for grabs

SYDNEY, Jan 20, 2026, 19:29 AEDT Wesfarmers Ltd has pulled out of a last-minute bid to rescue Infinity Pharmacy Group, the largest franchisee in its Priceline Pharmacy network. The move leaves dozens of stores caught up in insolvency proceedings, with creditors facing debts exceeding A$400 million. The collapse hits just as major retailers ramp up their health and beauty offerings, with community pharmacies serving as key hubs for everyday care — from prescriptions and basic medicines to vaccinations and advice — especially in suburbs and regional areas. When a big player falters, the ripple effects quickly reach landlords, suppliers, and
20 January 2026
··
1 2 3 4 5

Stock Market Today

Seagate (STX) stock jumps nearly 6% as Citi hikes target — what to watch next week

Seagate (STX) stock jumps nearly 6% as Citi hikes target — what to watch next week

7 February 2026
Seagate shares rose 5.9% to $429.32 Friday after Citigroup raised its price target to $480 and reiterated a buy rating. The gain ended a two-day slide but left the stock 6.6% below its Feb. 3 high. CEO Dave Mosley sold 20,000 shares on Feb. 2 under a pre-arranged plan, SEC filings show. U.S. jobs and inflation data next week are seen as key tests for tech stocks.
Cummins (CMI) stock price rebounds after earnings whipsaw as investors eye data-center power demand

Cummins (CMI) stock price rebounds after earnings whipsaw as investors eye data-center power demand

7 February 2026
Cummins shares jumped 6.8% to $577.73 Friday, recovering from a nearly 9% post-earnings drop the day before. The company reported Q4 revenue up 1% to $8.54 billion, took a $218 million charge tied to its hydrogen business, and guided for 2026 EBITDA of 17–18% of sales. Demand for data center generators offset weakness in North American truck markets. Analyst reaction was mixed; Truist raised its price target.
Corning stock hits first record close since 2000 as jobs, CPI data loom

Corning stock hits first record close since 2000 as jobs, CPI data loom

7 February 2026
Corning shares surged 8.3% to $122.16 Friday, their highest close since the dot-com era, after Meta agreed to buy up to $6 billion in fiber-optic cables. The stock is up 40% since late 2025, fueled by strong first-quarter guidance and AI data-center demand. Insiders sold shares following the rally, SEC filings show. Investors await next week’s U.S. jobs and inflation data for rate signals.
Go toTop