Sydney, Jan 18, 2026, 17:29 AEDT — Market wrapped up.
National Australia Bank Ltd (NAB.AX) ended Friday at A$42.67, gaining 0.73%, while Australia’s main stock index wrapped the week higher. The share price fluctuated between A$42.05 and A$42.80 during the session, according to data. (Intelligent Investor)
The reopening on Monday is significant as banks have recently taken on a bigger role in local trading, reacting sharply to changes in rate forecasts. Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 closed Friday 0.48% higher at 8,903.9. An IG market analyst noted the sector remains “seven per cent off our highs … (with) some value to be had.” (Morningstar)
The market remains somewhat unsettled. A Reuters story Friday highlighted banks bouncing back after a rough previous week, even as investors wrestle with “stretched valuations” and shifting expectations on monetary policy. (Indo Premier)
Overseas signals may be muted at the week’s opening. U.S. markets close Monday for Martin Luther King Jr. Day, following a volatile Friday that saw little net change on Wall Street, Reuters reported. (Reuters)
The next key hurdle for rate bets comes from inflation data. The Australian Bureau of Statistics will release the Consumer Price Index for December 2025 on Jan. 28 at 11:30 a.m. AEDT. (Australian Bureau of Statistics)
Jobs data will drop a day later. According to the ABS calendar, the Labour Force, Australia, Detailed release for the December 2025 reference period is scheduled for Jan. 29 at 11:30 a.m. AEDT. (Australian Bureau of Statistics)
Next up is the Reserve Bank of Australia’s meeting in early February. The RBA’s Monetary Policy Board is set to convene on Feb. 2–3, with the policy update scheduled for Feb. 3 at 2:30 p.m. AEDT. (Reserve Bank of Australia)
For NAB shareholders, the next major event is the bank’s First Quarter Trading Update on Feb. 18. After that, the half-year results are due on May 4, per the lender’s financial calendar. (NAB)
The trade can flip fast. Should inflation come in hotter than expected, or the RBA adopts a hawkish tone, bank funding costs could surge, squeezing the net interest margin — that gap between loan earnings and deposit costs. On the other hand, a slowdown in growth stokes fears of weaker credit demand and rising bad-debt charges.
Monday’s session will hinge on whether the “big four” banks can sustain their bid in the absence of new U.S. cues, and if bond yields shift rate expectations once more. Key upcoming dates include Jan. 28 for the CPI release and Feb. 18, when NAB is set to update on trading.
