0257 GMT - Morgan Stanley analysts raise their impairment charge forecasts for Australia's major banks and expect cautious commentary from the lenders over the next month or so. MS analysts trim their loan volume forecasts by an average of 1% across the big lenders and now expect impairment charges to be an average 33% higher than previously forecast. They tell clients in a note that Westpac's announcement ahead of its May 5 1H result that it will increase its collective provision coverage is consistent with this thesis. They expect ANZ, National Australia Bank and Commonwealth Bank to follow suit. ANZ and NAB are scheduled to report 1H results May 1 and May 4, respectively. Commonwealth, which is on a different reporting schedule, will publish a 3Q trading update May 13. (stuart.condie@wsj.com)

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

April 15, 2026 22:57 ET (02:57 GMT)

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