Australian shares end week on positive note as banking stocks push equities to near 3-month high; check ASX 200 top gainers, losers and top performing sectors

Australian shares saw a positive end to the week on Friday (January 16, 2026), with the S&P/ASX 200 ‌rising 0.5% ‌to finish at 8,903.9 points. This is reportedly its highest close since late October 2025. The broader index extended its winning streak to five sessions and rose 2.1% for the week, its strongest performance since late November 2025.

According to the ASX website, over the last five days, the benchmark has gained 2.13%. Australian equities closed at their highest in nearly three months as gains in heavyweight banking stocks outweighed a pullback in miners, Reuters reported.

Modest gains in the resources sub-index underpinned the index's weekly run, benefitting from a rally in metal prices earlier in the period. Miners, which account for about a quarter of the benchmark's weight, jumped 3.8% for the week to mark their best weekly gain in nearly two months. However, ‌the sector’s ‍advance was capped on Friday by a decline in BHP Group.

Top-performing sectors

According to the ASX website, eight of 11 sectors ended higher along with the S&P/ASX 200 Index. Information Technology was the best-performing sector, gaining +1.17% and rebounding from its recent decline. This sector is off -1.38% for the past five days.

Financials gained 1% to touch a one-week high. For the week, the sub-index logged a 1% gain, ‍snapping two straight weeks in the red, according to Reuters. Top lender Commonwealth Bank of Australia advanced 0.5% on the day. Technology stocks rose 0.8%, while rate-sensitive real estate stocks gained 1.1%.

ASX 200: Top gainers and losers

The S&P/ASX 200 recorded notable moves across individual stocks, with strong gains and moderate declines among leading names.

On the upside, Catalyst Metals Limited (CYL) surged to $9.000, rising $1.150, or 14.649%. DroneShield Limited (DRO) advanced to $4.400, gaining $0.320, or 7.843%. Treasury Wine Estates Limited (TWE) closed at $5.490, up $0.390, or 7.647%, while Deep Yellow Limited (DYL) climbed to $2.150, adding $0.150, or 7.500%. Capstone Copper Corp. (CSC) rounded out the top five gainers, ending at $15.630 after rising $1.030, or 7.054%.

On the downside, Karoon Energy Ltd (KAR) slipped to $1.580, down $0.055, or 3.364%. PLS Group Limited (PLS) declined to $4.680, losing $0.150, or 3.106%. IGO Limited (IGO) fell to $8.880, down $0.280, or 3.057%. Neuren Pharmaceuticals Limited (NEU) eased to $19.140, shedding $0.570, or 2.892%, while Silex Systems Limited (SLX) closed lower at $6.500, down $0.190, or 2.841%.