PRE-MARKET AUSTRALIAN STOCKS NEWS: RBA rate decision is in focus amid expectations for the first rate hike in over two years

The focus on the RBA's impending rate decision suggests markets are bracing for a potential shift in monetary policy, marking the first rate hike in over two years.

Newsquawk StaffPublished 2 Feb 2026, 23:05 UTCOn the live feed at 22:45 UTC — 5 more headlines followed before this page went public

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22:45

PRE-MARKET AUSTRALIAN STOCKS NEWS: RBA rate decision is in focus amid expectations for the first rate hike in over two years

22:20

Newsquawk Daily Asia-Pac Opening News - 3rd February 2026

21:47

US President Trump says doing very well with Ukraine and Russia and think we'll have some good news

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Adairs (ADH AT) - Co. appointed Matt Edmonds as group CFO. (Newswires)

NRW Holdings (NRW AT) - Co. was awarded a AUD 170mln bulk earthworks contract from Rio Tinto (RIO AT). (Newswires)

Regis Resources (RRL AT) - Co. is proposing a new design for the development of a AUD 1bln gold project near Bathurst which had been blocked in 2024 by former Environment Minister Plibersek. (AFR)

Telix Pharmaceuticals (TLX AT) - Co. chair resigns less than 8 months into the role. (The Australian)

Xero (XRO AT) - Co. reported strong AI-driven subscriber growth and deeper US payments focus following Melio integration. Co. noted over 2mln Xero subscribers are now benefitting from AI features, with 300k using new GenAI tools, while it stated that over 4mln customers are now using Xero's platform globally and it reiterated its FY26 guidance. (Motley Fool)

Power/Utilities - Three major investment firms have emerged as frontrunners to buy Ausgrid’s smart metering business in a AUD 2.5bln auction set to begin this month. (The Australian)

Context

This is significant as it aligns with broader expectations regarding inflation and economic recovery, likely influencing both the AUD and equity markets. Traders should keep an eye on cross-asset reactions as any hawkish tone could lead to volatility in risk assets and fixed income.

Central Banks · last 90 days

Recent headlines that moved markets

CENTRAL BANKS/20 Aug · 07:30 UTC

Riksbank maintains its rate at 1.75% as expected; assesses that the probability of a rate increase later this year remains; there is considerable uncertainty and developments call for vigilance

Market, after we published+0.3%

SEK was little changed after the announcement was broadly as expected; EUR/SEK moved higher from 11.01 to a peak of 11.02. Ten minutes post-announcement, EUR/SEK moves a little higher, moving to a peak just below 11.03.

CENTRAL BANKS/13 Aug · 08:00 UTC

Norges Bank maintains its rate at 4.25% as expected; may still become necessary to raise the policy rate

Market, after we published+0.6%

CENTRAL BANKS/12 Aug · 09:07 UTC

The PBoC is to conduct overnight reverse repos on August 14th and between August 17th-19th

FX/9 Sept · 15:01 UTC

US Treasury Buyback: Treasury to buy back a maximum of USD 6bln in 10-20year Treasuries on Thursday (vs guidance for at least USD 4bln).

USD/JPY, after we published+0.4%

ENERGY/8 Sept · 19:50 UTC

Iran launched an attack against US Navy ships on Monday that the US military has yet to acknowledge, WSJ reports, citing US officials.

Brent crude, after we published+0.8%

EQUITIES/8 Sept · 05:24 UTC

Saudi Energy Minister says a number of energy facilities and utilities were hit; are temporarily halting some operations.

Equity indices, after we published−0.3%

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