Sydney, February 9, 2026, 17:21 AEDT — Market closed
- National Australia Bank finished the session roughly 1.5% higher at A$43.99, bouncing back alongside its peers.
- ASX financial stocks climbed to levels not seen since mid-November, with the index bouncing back before earnings season.
- NAB will hand down its first-quarter trading update on February 18.
Shares of National Australia Bank Ltd (NAB.AX) added 1.45% Monday, finishing the session at A$43.99. The stock moved in a range from A$43.38 up to A$44.14, with roughly 1.5 million shares traded, market data showed. 1
Australian shares bounced back, with the S&P/ASX 200 climbing 1.9% to 8,870.1 after Friday’s steep decline. Philip Pepe, senior equities analyst at Shaw and Partners, described the day as “a partial reversal of the doom and gloom last week” but cautioned that volatility may linger into February’s reporting season. Financials posted a 1.2% gain, hitting their strongest levels since mid-November. The big four banks advanced between 0.6% and 1.7% as investors eyed earnings and kept an eye on margins and credit growth. 2
Bank investors aren’t looking far these days. Net interest margin—the gap between what banks make on loans and what they shell out for deposits—takes center stage fast, along with any signs of changing credit demand. The market’s zeroed in on both, and pressure is building.
Global mood got a lift too. Asian stocks surged Monday—Japan’s Nikkei out front, buoyed by political changes in Tokyo. U.S. chip giants bounced, giving risk appetite in the region a needed anchor. 3
NAB shares have moved between A$31.13 and A$45.25 over the past year, staying near their upper mark yet vulnerable to sharp moves if earnings come up short. 4
The next major event for NAB is the first-quarter trading update, set for February 18. After that, half-year results are on the books for May 4. 5
The rebound isn’t exactly decisive. Should earnings season highlight sluggish loan growth, squeezed lending margins, or a jump in bad-debt charges, bank stocks could easily surrender those gains — volatility’s already on the rise, after all.
This week, investors are eyeing peer bank earnings for any signals on mortgage rivalry and business lending. NAB steps up with its own read on margins and credit trends on February 18.
