Why Commonwealth Bank (ASX:CBA) shares fell 3% as Australia’s CPI test nears

Why Commonwealth Bank (ASX:CBA) shares fell 3% as Australia’s CPI test nears

Sydney, Jan 6, 2026, 16:57 AEDT — Market closed

  • Commonwealth Bank of Australia shares closed down 2.95% at A$155.85.
  • The ASX 200 ended down 0.43% as financials slid while miners rose on firmer commodity prices.
  • Focus shifts to the ABS monthly CPI on Jan. 7, ahead of the RBA decision on Feb. 3 and CBA’s half-year results on Feb. 11.

Commonwealth Bank of Australia shares closed down 2.95% at A$155.85 on Tuesday, giving up early gains as investors sold rate-sensitive banks into the close. Investing

The drop lands hours before Australia’s next inflation reading, with the ABS set to publish the monthly consumer price index for November on Wednesday, Jan. 7. Australian Bureau of Statistics

That matters for CBA stock because the bank is widely treated as a bellwether for domestic rates. Higher rates can widen banks’ net interest margin — the spread between what they earn on loans and pay on deposits — but can also slow credit growth and lift bad debts.

The broader market was weaker. The S&P/ASX 200 fell 0.43% to 8,690.7, with financials down more than 1% while materials stocks climbed about 2% on stronger commodity prices, a CBA Newsroom/AAP report said. CommBank

CBA traded between A$155.68 and A$160.93, after opening at A$160.90, and finished at its lowest close since Dec. 18, Investing.com data showed. Investing

A Reuters report carried by ABC said investors were watching Wednesday’s CPI for direction after the RBA’s recent hawkish tone, with markets pricing a meaningful chance of a move as soon as February. ABC

“The shift in cash rate expectations is being felt across the market,” Canstar data insights director Sally Tindall said. ABC

For CBA, the next company-specific catalyst is its half-year results and interim dividend announcement on Feb. 11, followed by an ex-dividend date on Feb. 18, the bank’s financial calendar shows. CommBank

There was no fresh company filing to pin Tuesday’s move on: CBA’s latest listed ASX announcement on a compiled announcements feed was dated Dec. 22. Intelligent Investor

The risk for investors is that a hotter-than-expected CPI print could harden expectations of tighter policy, lifting funding costs and stoking concern about mortgage stress, even if higher rates can support lending margins. A softer print would likely ease the pressure on bank valuations, but could also revive debate about slower earnings growth into results season.

Stock Market Today

  • PWR Holdings (ASX:PWH) DCF sets intrinsic value at AU$8.48; shares near AU$8.80
    January 7, 2026, 4:47 PM EST. PWR Holdings' intrinsic value is estimated at AU$8.48 per share using a two-stage Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) model. The current AU$8.80 share price indicates the stock trades near its estimated fair value. An analyst price target of AU$8.22 implies a potential downside. The analysis uses ten years of levered free cash flow (FCF) and then a Terminal Value calculated with the Gordon Growth formula. Present value of the initial decade's cash flows totals about AU$242 million, discounted at 7.8%. Projected FCF rises from AU$2.03m in 2026 to AU$57.1m in 2035, with growth rates tapering over time. The report notes a DCF is one valuation metric among many and carries limitations.
NAB slides nearly 3% as rate-hike chatter hits bank stocks ahead of Australia inflation print
Previous Story

NAB slides nearly 3% as rate-hike chatter hits bank stocks ahead of Australia inflation print

IndusInd Bank’s loan slump deepens: Q3 update shows advances down 13% and CASA sliding
Next Story

IndusInd Bank’s loan slump deepens: Q3 update shows advances down 13% and CASA sliding

Go toTop