Sydney, February 15, 2026, 16:56 AEDT — Market’s final bell has rung.
- ANZ closed out Friday at A$40.89, sticking close to its highs for the month.
- First-quarter trading numbers reflected a bump in lending margins, while costs came in lower.
- Next up: whether banks can hold the line on costs and margins as reporting season continues.
Shares in ANZ Group Holdings Ltd (ANZ.AX) wrapped up Friday at A$40.89, gaining 1.34%. The day’s trade saw prices move between A$40.11 and A$41.00. Since closing at A$36.71 on Tuesday, the stock has surged roughly 11%, now brushing against the top end of its 52-week range, according to exchange data. (Investing)
The ASX takes a break for the weekend. Come Monday, it’s a straightforward test for ANZ—can the stock stay above A$40, or do traders cash out and look elsewhere?
ANZ caught attention this week after releasing its first-quarter trading update: unaudited cash profit hit A$1.94 billion for the three months to Dec. 31, with statutory profit coming in at A$1.87 billion. The bank favors cash profit as its core metric. Net interest margin inched up 2 basis points to 1.56%, while Markets income reached $557 million. Expenses dropped 8% for the quarter. ANZ’s common equity tier 1 (CET1) ratio landed at 12.15%. CEO Nuno Matos said, “Our productivity program aimed at removing duplication and simplifying the bank is well underway, delivering a significant reduction in expenses while growing revenue.” (ANZ)
Cost discipline grabbed the spotlight. “The beat was largely driven by faster than expected progress on costs,” Citigroup’s Thomas Strong noted. But Jefferies’ Andrew Lyons pointed to what’s next: “The real test though, in our view, will be how it manages its net interest margin when it gets back to system housing growth.” ANZ, for its part, has moved quickly—Reuters said it already cut more than half of its planned 3,500 staff by the end of 2025. (Reuters)
Plenty of movement in the sector. Westpac on Friday posted a first-quarter unaudited net profit of A$1.9 billion, with shares hitting an all-time high of A$42.13—even as its core net interest margin shaved off 3 basis points to land at 1.79%, pressured by tough competition. Earlier this week, Commonwealth Bank logged record first-half cash earnings of A$5.45 billion, sending its shares surging more than 8%. (Reuters)
At ANZ, focus stays locked on two figures: cost base and margin. Flat revenue isn’t a dealbreaker as long as expenses keep dropping, but if margins start to slip—especially with the mortgage market jammed—the trade loses its footing fast.
One more thing weighs on ANZ, though it doesn’t show up in the regular trading action. Back in December, the Federal Court slapped the bank with A$250 million in penalties for misconduct and systemic risk failures. ASIC chair Joe Longo didn’t mince words: “ANZ is a critical part of Australia’s banking system and, frankly, they must do better.” (ASIC)
That’s the “but” heading into the week. Execution risk swings both directions—aggressive cost-cutting can pull focus away from core operations, while even a small compliance or service misstep could sting more than usual, especially with the stock trading on expectations of flawless performance.
Coming up, investors are eyeing National Australia Bank’s first-quarter trading update on Feb. 18—often a bellwether for margins and credit trends across the major banks. (Market Index)
Should the banks hold up, ANZ could revisit that A$41 mark. But if sentiment turns, the stock heads into Monday without much room to maneuver following a rapid run-up.
Looking past next week, investors are watching for ANZ’s half-year numbers, which land May 7. The bank’s financial calendar pegs the ex-dividend date at May 18, with payouts expected July 1. (Anz)
