Australian Shares Seen Flat Ahead of RBA Rate Decision
ASX futures barely moved before Monday's session, while Westpac reported a flat annual profit as higher rates squeezed its margins. The RBA meets Tuesday.
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what happened
ASX futures barely moved ahead of Monday's session, pointing to a flat open for Australian stocks. The S&P/ASX 200 gained 1.3% last week and has mostly risen week by week since early August.
Before the open, Westpac reported a flat annual profit despite margin pressure from higher interest rates.
The Reserve Bank of Australia meets on Tuesday, and economists expect it to raise the cash rate for the fifth time in 2026. The move is widely expected by the market. Source: Market Talk.
why it matters
The main driver for markets here is the expected tightening by the RBA. A higher cash rate typically supports the Australian dollar and improves conditions for banks, but it also raises borrowing costs for households and companies sensitive to interest expenses. Tuesday's decision will therefore be an important signal for shares and the currency.
market impact
Australian dollar and banks: a higher RBA rate supports the currency, while bank margins face pressure
- AUD/USD pressure up — expected RBA rate hike supports the Australian dollar
- Westpac mixed — higher rates lift lending yields but squeeze net interest margins
instruments
sources
- Australia Shares Set for Flat Open — Market Talk, 1 November 2026 at 23:01 UTC
prepared by the newsmetry newsroom with ai assistance from the sources listed below. not investment advice.
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