ASX Market Update: Banks among worst performers as Aussie market retreats | Feb 17, 2025

The ASX200 has been down 0.79% at 8,488 points.

The Aussie bourse retreated on Monday on the back of disappointing results among banks such as Westpac and Bendigo and Adelaide, and as Oz investors await a decision on Tuesday from the Reserve Bank.

Consumer staples has been the strongest performer, up 1.17%, followed by Real Estate, up 0.79%, and Utilities, up 0.66%.

Financial has been the worst-performing sector, down 2.03%, followed by Energy, down 1.53%, and Materials, down 0.70%.

Bendigo and Adelaide Bank (ASX:BEN) has been down 16.9% – on track for its worst day ever – after it reported a lower net interest margin in the first half of the 2025 fiscal year.

Austal has been $11.15

One of the big four banks Westpac (ASX:WBC) has been down 5.68% after telling investors its net profit had fallen 9 per cent in the first quarter to $1.7 billion.

Westpac has been $32.74 cents.

And Bluescope Steel (ASX:BSL) was 9.57% higher after its interim dividend was lifted to 30¢ in spite of a 59 per cent drop in net profit after tax.

Bluescope Steel has been $24.49

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