Sydney, Feb 20, 2026, 16:56 AEDT — The session wrapped with the market closed.

• Commonwealth Bank finished the day 0.8% higher, closing at A$179.67 on Friday.
• Australian banks drew more interest from traders, with earnings staying solid even as hopes for rate cuts slipped away.
• Attention shifts to what the Reserve Bank signals next on policy, while CBA’s March 30 dividend payout is also on the radar.

Commonwealth Bank of Australia finished Friday’s session up 0.8% at A$179.67, lifted alongside other major banks as the sector drew support from a busy stretch of earnings. (Investing.com)

CBA, the heavyweight name on the ASX and a fixture in crowded “defensive” portfolios locally, tends to drag the index…