PRE-MARKET AUSTRALIAN STOCKS NEWS: RBA kicks starts its 2-day policy meeting where it is expected to hike rates

The RBA's two-day policy meeting has commenced with expectations for a rate hike, indicating a shift towards tightening monetary policy.

Newsquawk StaffPublished 1 Feb 2026, 23:15 UTCOn the live feed at 22:55 UTC — 1 more headline followed before this page went public

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23:50

BoJ's Summary of opinions noted that one member said financial conditions remain accommodative even after a rate hike in December

23:03

[MARKET UPDATE] Risk-off mood at the reopen of futures trading after last Friday's metals price collapse and with the US government in a partial shutdown, while data also showed that Chinese official PMIs slipped into contraction territory

22:55

PRE-MARKET AUSTRALIAN STOCKS NEWS: RBA kicks starts its 2-day policy meeting where it is expected to hike rates

22:39

Newsquawk Daily Asia-Pac Opening News - 2nd February 2026

22:00

Australian Manufacturing PMI (Jan F) 52.3 (Prelim. 52.4)

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BlueScope Steel (BSL AT) - Tania Archibald commences as MD and CEO, while she stated that she supported a rejection of the takeover proposal as the SGH and Steel Dynamics takeover bid very significantly undervalued the company. Furthermore, she said cost and productivity initiatives will remain a key focus with the Co. to target further cost improvements of around AUD 150mln annualised. (Newswires)

Critical Resources (CRR AT) - Co. was accepted into the US solid-state battery innovation centre. (Newswires)

GrainCorp (GNC AT) - Co. expects FY underlying EBITDA to decline to AUD 200mln-240mln vs AUD 308mln in FY25, while it sees underlying net to decline to AUD 20mln-50mln from AUD 87mln Y/Y. (Capital Brief)

Rio Tinto (RIO AT) - Co. and Glencore (GLEN LN) eye an extension as the deadline for the AUD 300bln deal looms. (AFR)

Context

This decision is likely influenced by current economic conditions and may have implications for the AUD and broader market sentiment across fixed income and equities. Traders should watch for reactions in the AUD and relevant asset classes as the meeting progresses.

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