Sydney, February 16, 2026, 17:02 AEDT — Market closed.
ANZ Group Holdings Ltd (ANZ.AX) slipped 3.1% to finish Monday at A$39.63, coming off Friday’s close at A$40.89. Shares moved within a range of A$39.62 to A$40.55 through the session. (Google)
That slip counted, with the S&P/ASX 200 actually closing up 0.22% at 8,937.10—even as ANZ absorbed the bulk of the late selling. The broader index finished stronger. (Google)
Banks faltered out of the gate, traders taking profits after last week’s rally, as gold stocks pushed higher on hopes the U.S. Federal Reserve may ease rates ahead of schedule. Australia’s financials sub-index shot up 5.4% over the past week—best stretch since mid-March 2022—then edged lower in early moves Monday. (Business Recorder)
The Commonwealth Bank picked up 1.2% and Westpac edged 0.2% higher. National Australia Bank slipped roughly 1.0%. ANZ underperformed, trailing the other majors even with the broader market’s steady showing. (Google)
The drop follows ANZ’s disclosure just days ago of an unaudited cash profit of A$1.94 billion for the December quarter, with the lender touting progress on its cost-cutting overhaul. “Our productivity program aimed at removing duplication and simplifying the bank is well underway, delivering a significant reduction in expenses while growing revenue,” CEO Nuno Matos said. (ANZ)
ANZ’s net interest margin edged up to 1.56% for the quarter, while return on tangible equity hit 11.7%, according to a Reuters report. Citigroup’s Thomas Strong flagged that costs landed “about 3% below our expectations in the quarter”. (Reuters)
But what happens next really hinges on rates and rivals. Should policy makers turn dovish and banks ramp up the battle for mortgages and deposits, margins could compress quicker than cost cuts can keep up. If the jobs market stumbles, credit quality takes the hit.
Traders are zeroed in on Tuesday, when the Reserve Bank of Australia drops its February meeting minutes at 11:30 a.m. AEDT. Any change in how the central bank talks about inflation, growth, or the cash rate tends to jolt bank stocks. (Reserve Bank of Australia)
Australia drops its January labour force numbers Thursday at 11:30 a.m. AEDT, dropping another data point into the rate outlook and funding cost mix. The jobs figure usually gets parsed for signals on household pressure and possible loan delinquencies. (Australian Bureau of Statistics)
ANZ’s next big date is May 7, when it posts half-year results. Until that lands, the shares are basically moving as a rate proxy, with cost-cutting in the backdrop. (Anz)
