Sydney, Feb 20, 2026, 17:12 AEDT — Market shut down for the day

Westpac Banking Corp (WBC.AX) finished Friday at A$42.54, up 1.6% and touching its highest level in a year. Investors kept piling into the big Australian banks, pushing Westpac up roughly 4.3% across the last two sessions after Thursday’s 2.7% gain. (Investing.com)

This shift carries weight—banks have been propping up the benchmark lately, and when traders rush for quick “Australia” exposure, Westpac stands out as a go-to pick. With a few big banks and miners driving the gains, the whole market is now more exposed if those leaders slip. (Market Index)

The real test comes when the macro calendar gets crowded again. With the inflation print on…