SYDNEY, Jan 12, 2026, 11:02 (AEDT) — Regular session underway
- Westpac shares climbed roughly 1% to A$38.30 in late morning trading.
- The bank highlighted relief measures available for customers hit by the Victorian bushfires.
- Traders are eyeing Australia’s jobs report due Jan. 22 and Westpac’s first-quarter update set for Feb. 13.
Shares of Westpac Banking Corp (WBC.AX) climbed 1.1% to A$38.30 by 11:02 a.m. Sydney time Monday, adding 40 Australian cents since Friday’s close. Over the last 52 weeks, the stock has fluctuated between A$28.44 and A$41.00. (Investing)
Big lenders hold significant sway over Australian indices, so even minor tweaks to the interest-rate outlook can send them reeling. This week kicks off with investor attention zeroed in on funding costs and borrower health, despite no new earnings reports hitting the tape.
Westpac will release its first-quarter results on Feb. 13, offering a crucial update on lending growth, pricing, and costs as the bank moves further into 2026.
Over the weekend, Westpac announced that customers hit by the Victorian bushfires can seek relief measures like short-term deferrals on home loan repayments and temporary overdrafts for businesses. “Westpac stands ready to support customers affected by the Victorian bushfires,” said Damien MacRae, retail banking general manager.
Commonwealth Bank climbed roughly 0.9%, National Australia Bank added 1.8%, and ANZ Group increased by about 1.0%, the three lenders largely tracking each other. (Investing)
The S&P/ASX 200 climbed roughly 0.8%, giving the sector a boost following a shaky start to the new year. (Investing.com Australia)
Bank investors are currently weighing margins against credit quality. Net interest margin, or NIM, measures the gap between a bank’s earnings on loans and its costs for deposits and wholesale funding.
Mortgage competition can tighten NIM even if headline rates hold steady. Deposit pricing often lags, catching many off guard. Credit losses usually surface later—and when they do, they hit harder than expected.
That balance can shift fast if traders start betting on higher rates again or if slowing growth pushes up arrears. Natural disasters also pose a risk to parts of a loan book, even when the main fallout remains operational.
Australia’s labour force report for December lands on Jan. 22. It has the potential to move both rate expectations and bank shares.
Westpac’s next key date is Feb. 13, set for its first-quarter results announcement.
