What's moving the CBA (ASX:CBA) share price this week

The big banks are entering the buy now, pay later (BNPL) space.

| More on:
CBA share price represented by branch welcome sign

Image Source: Commonwealth Bank

You’re reading a free article with opinions that may differ from The Motley Fool’s Premium Investing Services. Become a Motley Fool member today to get instant access to our top analyst recommendations, in-depth research, investing resources, and more. Learn More

It's been just over a week now since Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA) released its results for the full 2021 financial year. Results that included a whopping $6 billion share buyback.

While the CBA share price gained 1.5% on that day, Wednesday 11 August, it slipped lower for the rest of the week.

CBA's share price continued to struggle this week. It closed 1.4% lower on Monday and dropped a sizeable 3.5% on Tuesday. That saw CommBank fall back to $99 per share, the first time since July that it's traded below the psychological $100 mark.

While a 3.5% fall is dramatic, it's worth noting that was also the ex-dividend day for the banks $2 per share final FY21 dividend payout. When stocks trade ex-dividend, it's common for the share price to fall by a similar amount to the payout.

Wednesday's 0.8% lift was a welcome break from the retracing trend. Though it failed to bring the CBA share price back into 3-figure range, with shares closing at $99.77, and then edging lower to close at $99.22 on Thursday.

At time of writing, CommBank is trading for $99.78 per share, up 0.5% in late afternoon trading.

Legal headaches and BNPL expansion

On Monday, The Motely Fool reported that the Federal Court had ordered CommBank to "publish notices on its own website and newsroom that it had misled customers".

Under investigation by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC), the court found that CBA had illegally overcharged interest for business overdraft clients 12,119 times. Customers were charged 34% annual interest rates rather than the 16% stipulated in documents.

CBA's share price looks to have gotten a lift on Wednesday after it announced the launch of its highly anticipated StepPay.

The buy now, pay later (BNPL) platform can be accessed by some 4 million CommBank customers, allowing them to pay for purchases in 4 instalments at any merchants that accept MasterCard.

Unlike most current BNPL offerings, CommBank will not charge merchants any extra BNPL fees beyond its standard card service fees.

CBA share price snapshot

Over the past 12 months the CBA share price is up $42. Over that same time the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is up 22%.

Year-to-date, CBA's share price has continued to outperform, up 19% in 2021.

The Motley Fool Australia's parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Bruce Jackson.

More on Bank Shares

Small girl giving a fist bump with a piggy bank in front of her.
Bank Shares

Buying Westpac shares today? Here's the dividend yield you'll get

Westpac has a reputation as one of the ASX's most reliable providers of fat, fully franked dividends.

Read more »

A young girl looks up and balances a pencil on her nose, while thinking about a decision she has to make.
Opinions

Should I sell my CBA shares in 2026?

What's next for the banking giant this year?

Read more »

Worried woman calculating domestic bills.
Bank Shares

Big news is making Bank of Queensland shares fall today

There has been some big news out of this bank today.

Read more »

Time to sell ASX 200 shares written on a clock.
Bank Shares

Sell alert! Why this analyst is calling time on ANZ shares

A leading analyst foresees headwinds ahead for ANZ shares. But why?

Read more »

A toy house sits on a pile of Australian $100 notes.
Dividend Investing

Buying NAB shares? Here's the dividend yield you'll get today

NAB's current dividend yield might surprise you.

Read more »

A young bank customer wearing a yellow jumper smiles as she checks her bank balance on her phone.
Opinions

Forget CBA shares: I'm buying shares in another Aussie bank

I think this bank's shares have far more potential.

Read more »

A man thinks very carefully about his money and investments.
Bank Shares

UBS just rated ASX bank shares NAB, BOQ and Macquarie as a buy

Experts think it’s time to be optimistic about these banks.

Read more »

Woman calculating dividends on calculator and working on a laptop.
Bank Shares

Here's the dividend forecast out to 2028 for Westpac shares

Can investors bank on good dividends from Westpac?

Read more »