Jan 23, 2026, 12:58 GMT+7
Key points:

• ASX200 wraps up worst week since mid-December
• Financials fall 0.5% for day, down 1.4% for week
• Miners climb 1.5%, post third straight weekly gain
• NZ50 falls 0.8%, post worst week since December 2024

By Anjali Singh
Reuters - Australian equities ended slightly higher on Friday, with losses in rate-sensitive financials countering gains in miners as bets for an interest rate hike as early as February surged ahead of a key inflation report next week.
The S&P/ASX 200 indexclosed 0.13% higher at 8,860.1 points. The benchmark fell 0.6% this week in its worst week since mid-December.
Investors have ramped up bets for an early Reserve Bank of Australia rate hike after a stronger-than-expected December jobs report.
Markets are now pricing in a roughly 60% chance of a quarter-point increase at the February 3 meeting - about double the odds at the start of the week. (0#AUDIRPR)
Rate-sensitive financialsslipped 0.5% for the day and 1.4% for the week, on track for the weakest January in four years. The "big four" banks slipped between 0.2% and 0.8%.
Although high interest rates may boost margins, banks are challenged in terms of cost-to-income ratios, especially if rate hikes start to weigh on the volume of mortgages issued by banks, said Marc Jocum, investment strategist at Global X ETFs Australia.
Meanwhile, minersrose 1.5%, extending gains for the third week on the back of robust commodity prices. BHP Groupadvanced 0.7%.
Gold minersclosed 4.9% higher after hitting a record high earlier in the session, as bullion prices extended their record-setting rally helped by a weaker U.S. dollar and expectations of U.S. Federal Reserve rate cuts.
Northern Star Resourcesand Evolution Miningclimbed over 5% each.
Technology stocksadvanced 3.8%, while consumer discretionary fell 0.7% on concerns over higher borrowing costs, Jocum said.
In New Zealand, the S&P/NZX 50 indexfell 0.8% to 13,448.24. The benchmark declined 2% this week, marking its worst week since December 2024, after a strong inflation report signalled a pause in monetary easing cycle.
Reserve Bank of New Zealand Governor Anna Breman told Reuters that there was still sufficient spare capacity in the economy to bring inflation back towards 2%, adding that the central bank would act to ensure that outcome.

Sumber : Reuters