0302 GMT - Australian banks' recent underperformance relative to global peers shouldn't be seen as a buying opportunity, Macquarie analysts warn. They tell clients in a note that, since late 2024, global bank stocks have been catching up on ASX counterparts following a period of depressed valuations. However, Australia's premium has narrowed rather than disappeared, with its banks still trading at a 50% premium to global peers on a price-to-earnings basis. The MS analysts see limited scope for Australian banks to meaningfully improve revenues, leaving cost reduction as the most credible route through which they can lift returns. Without a sustained improvement in profitability, they anticipate further compression in Australian bank valuation multiples.