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. 1
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 4.1% in December, with employment rising by 65,200. Market pricing now reflects a 57% probability of a 25-basis-point hike at the Reserve Bank of Australia’s February 3 meeting, up from 29% before the data, according to a Reuters report. UBS economists warned the labour market “needs to ease” but “at the moment, it’s going the wrong way.” 2
The next key rate indicator arrives Wednesday, as the Australian Bureau of Statistics releases December-quarter inflation figures at 11:30am AEDT. Traders are focused on core inflation gauges favored by the RBA, like trimmed mean inflation. 3
Australian shares edged up on Friday, with the S&P/ASX 200 wrapping at 8,860—gaining 11 points, or 0.13%, per an ABC market summary. 4
The ASX cash market will shut down Monday in observance of Australia Day, pushing the next trading day to Tuesday. This short break tightens the schedule ahead of the inflation report and the February central bank meeting. 5
Telstra’s next major event is its half-year results, set for February 19. The stock will go ex-dividend on February 25, so anyone buying from that date won’t be eligible for the interim dividend. That payout is due on March 27. 6
Investors will zero in on any changes in mobile and broadband pricing, customer churn rates, and cost management in the results, as well as updates on network spending. Competitive pressure from players like TPG Telecom and Aussie Broadband remains a factor, even if the stock is trading quietly.
The immediate risk lies beyond the company itself. Should Wednesday’s inflation data prove strong and bond yields climb, dividend stocks could take a hit purely on valuation grounds—and Telstra won’t be spared.
