2323 GMT -- Australian banks may be facing an uncertain medium outlook, but the short term trends look supportive, say Macquarie analysts in a note. The investment bank adds that there is likely to be minimal risk to lenders' earnings in the upcoming results, even as it stays as much as 5% below consensus in FY 2024. At the same time, Macquarie says its research shows new home loan profitability has improved from around 7% to between 12%-15%, while deposit spreads continue to narrow. Recent cash rate increases and a slowing rate of switching from cheap transaction accounts to more expensive accounts, Macquarie reckons, should provide some support to margins. Macquarie is neutral on the banking sector, with NAB its favored stock followed by Westpac, ANZ and CBA. (alice.uribe@wsj.com)
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
July 31, 2023 19:23 ET (23:23 GMT)
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