BUZZ-Commonwealth Bank of Australia gains in line with broader sector; MS sees revenue growth

Shares of Commonwealth Bank of Australia CBA.AX rise 0.7% to A$160.19

Stock's gains in line with a 0.6% jump in local financials .AXFJ

Analysts at Morgan Stanley expect 1H25 earnings for the country's largest bank to continue to show revenue growth

Brokerage sees lender's 1H25 margins to be above market consensus, and also eyes an eight-basis-point margin rise, compared with previous half-year period

Underlying margin trends should be broadly stable vs 1Q25, with deposit impacts worth watching - MS

Morgan Stanley thinks CBA should consider a further lift in its payout ratio, forecasts 1H25 CET1 ratio of about 12.4%

We expect management commentary to be balanced, with references to ongoing competitive intensity and an uncertain macro environment - Brokerage

CBA stock has gained 4.5%, YTD