Australian shares end higher: ASX 200 rises as miners, gold stocks lead rally; check top gainers and losers

Australian shares closed on a high on Tuesday (January 27, 2026) as trading resumed after a long weekend. Markets were closed on Monday (January 26, 2026) for a public holiday. The S&P/ASX 200 closed up on Tuesday, gaining 81.50 points, or 0.92%, to 8,941.60 and setting a new 50-day high.

According to the ASX website, the top-performing stocks in this index were TELIX PHARMACEUTICALS LIMITED and CAPSTONE COPPER CORP., up 8.72% and 7.76%, respectively. Over the last five days, the index has gained 1.43% and is currently 1.90% off of its 52-week high.

The sharemarket climbed to a three-month high on Tuesday ‍in broad-based gains led by mining and gold stocks, while market participants ⁠awaited a key quarterly inflation report due on Wednesday for interest rate clues.


According to news agency Reuters, the fourth-quarter consumer price report is expected to guide the Reserve Bank of Australia's first policy decision of 2026 in mid-February amid fears of an interest rate hike. A hotter monthly inflation report and robust monthly jobs data have led markets to price in a 63% ‌chance of ‍an interest rate hike as early as February 2026.

Miners climbed, and gold stocks rose

Miners ‍climbed 1.9%, and gold stocks rose 1.8%, both hitting ‌record highs on the back of firmer copper and bullion prices. Global miner BHP jumped 3.1% to reclaim its place as the country's biggest listed company from top lender Commonwealth Bank, which rose 1.1% on the day and had held the title since early October 2024, according to Reuters.

Big banks, which ‍rallied in 2025 on the back of rate cuts, have since been punished by investors for failing ‍to justify their ⁠lofty valuations, while ⁠miners have climbed due to firm commodity prices. Rate cuts are a double-edged sword for banks, boosting loan demand while squeezing margins.

Financials advanced 1% on the day to a one-week high, with three of the "Big Four" banks up between 0.8% and 1.3%. Healthcare and discretionary stocks climbed 0.8% and 1%, respectively.

ASX 200: Top gainers and losers

The S&P/ASX 200 recorded notable gains among several leading stocks. Telix Pharmaceuticals Limited (TLX) topped the index, rising 8.721 per cent to close at $11.905, up $0.955 on the session. Capstone Copper Corp. (CSC) followed with a 7.759 per cent increase, gaining $1.160 to finish at $16.110. Resolute Mining Limited (RSG) also advanced, climbing 5.147 per cent, or $0.070, to end the day at $1.430.

Further gains were seen in REA Group Ltd (REA), which added 4.830 per cent, or $9.040, to close at $196.170. Pro Medicus Limited (PME) rounded out the top five performers, rising 4.444 per cent after gaining $8.040 to finish at $188.960.

On the downside, Alcoa Corporation (AAI) led the declines, falling 8.584 per cent to $84.880, a drop of $7.970. Life360 Inc. (360) also recorded a sharp decline, slipping 7.961 per cent, or $2.690, to close at $31.100. DroneShield Limited (DRO) eased 6.600 per cent, shedding $0.295 to end at $4.175.

Lynas Rare Earths Limited (LYC) fell 5.516 per cent, down $0.930 to $15.930, while Iluka Resources Limited (ILU) completed the list of decliners, retreating 4.311 per cent, or $0.300, to close at $6.660.

S&P/ASX 200: Top-performing sectors

According to the ASX website, 9 of 11 sectors ended higher along with the S&P/ASX 200 Index. Telecommunications Services was the best-performing sector, gaining +1.66% and +1.02% for the past five days.