Westpac stock edges up as Aussie banks lift the market; two February dates loom for WBC
Sydney, Jan 12, 2026, 17:16 AEDT — After-hours Westpac Banking Corp (WBC.AX) shares rose 0.5% to close at A$38.08 on Monday, having fluctuated between A$37.72 and A$38.41 during the session. The stock remains roughly 2% lower year to date in 2026. (Investing.com) The shift was minor, but the timing is crucial. Australian bank stocks now serve as a fast gauge for rates, funding expenses, and the intensity of competition among lenders for home loans. Investors watching Westpac are fixated on just two issues. Will the net interest margin—the difference between what the bank earns on loans versus what it pays