SYDNEY, Feb 25, 2026, 17:13 AEDT — Market finished the day.
- CBA edged 0.1% higher to finish at A$178.68. Westpac and ANZ posted gains as well.
- CommBank launched a A$90 million workforce initiative centered on AI, while the union said 300 jobs are set to be cut.
- Australia’s January inflation stuck at 3.8%, leaving the door open for further rate hikes.
Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA.AX) edged 0.1% higher to A$178.68 at Wednesday’s close, as the stock found support despite a union warning of 300 jobs on the line at the bank. Shares in Westpac Banking Corp (WBC.AX) were up 0.7%, and ANZ Group Holdings (ANZ.AX) added 0.48%.
The jobs question hangs over CBA, now a costly benchmark for the market and for the country’s banks. Investors react quickly if there’s a suggestion that automation-driven savings will arrive ahead of schedule — or might be delayed. The stock tends to shift on even a whiff of either scenario.
Rate bets pulled some weight, too. Consumer prices climbed 0.4% in January, leaving annual inflation steady at 3.8%. The trimmed mean—used as a core measure to filter out outliers—nudged up to 3.4%. After the Reserve Bank of Australia bumped its cash rate to 3.85% with a 25 basis point hike earlier this month, traders saw the odds of a rate increase in May at 80%. Deloitte’s Stephen Smith called the trimmed mean “still too high for its liking”. Reuters
The S&P/ASX 200 closed at a fresh record—9,128.30—gaining 1.17%. High mark for the session: 9,130.30.
CBA on Tuesday unveiled plans for a A$90 million “Future Workforce Program” over three years, which features the Grow Your Career portal to chart job paths and highlight skill gaps. More than 30,000 employees have already received AI training. Chief executive Matt Comyn said the aim is “transparency and opportunity” as AI reshapes workflows. CommBank
The Finance Sector Union says 300 jobs are being axed, spanning retail, business and institutional banking, as well as HR, though tech roles take the brunt. National secretary Julia Angrisano blasted the timing, calling the move “totally unacceptable” after the bank reported a $5 billion half-year profit. The bank wouldn’t comment on the layoffs, according to 9News. 9News
Investors have heard this before: invest upfront in systems, then trim back-office costs. The challenge for CBA comes down to timing—and making the case that employees will transition to other positions rather than exit entirely.
Banks often follow the bond market closely since higher rates typically boost interest income early on. But there’s a catch: borrowers can start to buckle, and that can push up bad debt.
Investors are eyeing CBA’s interim dividend as well. The A$2.35 payout went ex-dividend on Feb. 18, with payment scheduled for March 30, Market Index data show.
AI projects have a habit of blowing past budgets, and layoffs can quickly drag workforce plans into political territory. Should inflation prove stubborn and the RBA decides to tighten once more, the sector’s challenges around loan growth and credit quality only get steeper.
Central bank watchers will be tuning in as Governor Michele Bullock delivers remarks at a Melbourne University event this Wednesday at 7.40 pm AEDT. She’s also slated to address the AFR Business Summit on March 3. The board’s next policy call lands after the March 16–17 meeting, with the decision statement locked in for 2.30 pm AEDT on March 17.
