big banks

Australia's four major banks now all expect the Reserve Bank of Australia to increase interest rates at next week's meeting, according to an ABC News finance report. The shared forecast suggests markets and economists see fresh inflation pressure making another rate hike likely, with borrowers bracing for higher repayments.

Major banks are warning that AI agents — automated software that can act on a person's behalf — could open new doors for fraudsters and lead to an increase in scams. As more people delegate tasks like payments and account management to these tools, banks caution that criminals could exploit or impersonate them, and the industry is calling for stronger safeguards around agentic AI.

Bank of America analysts have identified Nvidia and several other stocks as trading at attractive prices, effectively labeling them 'on sale' for investors. The call comes as market attention stays fixed on Nvidia amid the AI-driven rally, and investors weigh whether recent pullbacks in major tech names represent buying opportunities. The bank's list of discounted stocks is drawing attention across financial media and investor circles.

The Saudi Central Bank has increased its shareholding in Meta Platforms, according to a regulatory filing report. The move means the institution, which oversees Saudi Arabia's financial system, now holds a larger position in the parent company of Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp. Market watchers flagged the disclosure as notable given Meta's recent stock performance and growing interest from sovereign-linked investors in major US technology firms.