ASX 200 Recovers from Recent Weakness

2026-08-20 06:40 By Farida Husna 1 min. read

Australia’s ASX 200 rose 30 points, or 0.3%, to close at 9,084 on Thursday, snapping a six-day losing streak.

Gains in consumer durables, non-energy minerals, and healthcare helped lift sentiment, aided by a modest rise in U.S.

futures after the Treasury said it would double longer-term debt purchases to ease yields.

Local markets rebounded from a two-week low as top trading partner China kept lending rates at record lows for a 15th month to support growth.

However, domestic headwinds capped momentum: July employment unexpectedly fell, pushing the jobless rate to a three-month high, while August inflation expectations rose from July’s six-month low, underscoring sticky price pressures with trimmed mean CPI up 3.6% yoy in June, the fastest since September 2024.

Miners advanced, led by BHP (2.5%) and Rio Tinto (1.6%), while Northern Star Resources surged 5.9% on a 24% profit jump.

In contrast, the big four banks slid 1.5% and 2.5%.

Traders now await Friday’s flash PMI prints for August.



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ASX 200 Recovers from Recent Weakness
Australia’s ASX 200 rose 30 points, or 0.3%, to close at 9,084 on Thursday, snapping a six-day losing streak. Gains in consumer durables, non-energy minerals, and healthcare helped lift sentiment, aided by a modest rise in U.S. futures after the Treasury said it would double longer-term debt purchases to ease yields. Local markets rebounded from a two-week low as top trading partner China kept lending rates at record lows for a 15th month to support growth. However, domestic headwinds capped momentum: July employment unexpectedly fell, pushing the jobless rate to a three-month high, while August inflation expectations rose from July’s six-month low, underscoring sticky price pressures with trimmed mean CPI up 3.6% yoy in June, the fastest since September 2024. Miners advanced, led by BHP (2.5%) and Rio Tinto (1.6%), while Northern Star Resources surged 5.9% on a 24% profit jump. In contrast, the big four banks slid 1.5% and 2.5%. Traders now await Friday’s flash PMI prints for August.
2026-08-20
Australian Stocks Snap Six-Day Slide as Miners, Healthcare Rally
Australian shares rose 31 points or 0.4% to 9,085 in Thursday morning trade, snapping a six-session losing streak as U.S. equity futures firmed after Wall Street ended its three-day slide amid easing Treasury yields. Local markets emerged from a two-week low as bargain hunters set in. In China, the central bank left lending benchmarks unchanged for a 15th month, keeping one- and five-year LPRs at record lows to bolster growth. Domestic data, however, dampened sentiment with July employment unexpectedly falling and the jobless rate edging up to a three-month high. RBA Deputy Governor Andrew Hauser cautioned that further rate hikes may be needed if inflation risks persist, noting price growth remains “too high.” Consumer durables, non-energy minerals, healthcare, and utilities drove the strength, amid notable gains from heavyweights BHP Group (2.2%), CSL Ltd. (4.9%), and Northern Star Resources. In contrast, the four major banks bucked the trend, sliding between 1.3% and 2.2%.
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ASX Extends Slide to End at 2-Week Low
The ASX 200 lost 16 points, or 0.2%, to finish at 9,054 on Wednesday, marking a sixth straight decline and a two-week low. Sentiment remained downbeat as U.S. stock futures weakened, weighed by rising oil prices, elevated Treasury yields, and an extended drop in chip stocks on Wall Street. Locally, Q2 wages in Australia rose 3.2% yoy, unchanged from the prior quarter and the weakest pace in five quarters, while caution built ahead of July labor data due Thursday. Separately, RBA Deputy Governor Andrew Hauser warned cash rates may need to rise again if inflation risks persist, stressing price growth remains “too high.” Tech led losses, followed by consumers, logistics, and financials. Whitehaven Coal tumbled 2.4% on weak earnings, and Evolution Mining shed 0.9% despite stronger FY26 profit. Three of the big four banks eased 0.1%–1.4%. In contrast, Santos gained 2.5% on higher oil prices and an interim dividend aligned with estimates, reflecting its first-half operating free cash flow.
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