S&P/ASX 200 closes on a high as miner BHP boosts Australian shares, banks remain flat; check top gainers, losers and best-performing sectors

Australian Sharemarket: The S&P/ASX 200 closed up on Tuesday (February 17, 2026) as Australian shares rose, lifted by BHP after the world’s largest listed miner surged to a record on stronger first-half results. The S&P/ASX 200 gained 21.80 points, or 0.24%, to 8,958.90.

According to the ASX website, the top-performing stocks in this index were JB HI-FI LIMITED and PRO MEDICUS LIMITED, up 8.13% and 7.69%, respectively. Over the last five days, the index has gained 1.03% and is currently 1.71% off of its 52-week high.

With US markets shut for Presidents' Day on Monday (February 16, 2026) and several Asian markets closed for Lunar New Year, focus stayed on domestic earnings. According to news agency Reuters, BHP jumped 4.73% to a record A$52.74 after posting stronger-than-expected half-year profit, driven by copper earnings, lifting the mining subindex 1.3%.


Rival Fortescue eased 0.5%. Rio Tinto, up 0.2%, is due to report on Thursday (February 19, 2026), and Fortescue ⁠next week, ‌with investors watching for signals on iron ore demand and the sector outlook.

Minutes from the Reserve Bank of Australia’s latest meeting showed policymakers judged inflation would have remained high without this month’s rate hike and flagged uncertainty over whether further tightening would be needed.

S&P/ASX 200: Top gainers and losers

The S&P/ASX 200 recorded notable movements, with a clear divide between the day’s top performers and weakest stocks. Among the top five gains, JB Hi-Fi Limited (JBH) led the charge, closing at $89.100, up $6.700 or 8.131 per cent. Pro Medicus Limited (PME) followed, finishing at $125.960 after rising $8.990, a gain of 7.685 per cent.

The A2 Milk Company Limited (A2M) ended the session at $9.670, up $0.570 or 6.263 per cent. PEXA Group Limited (PXA) climbed to $14.530, gaining $0.660, or 4.758 per cent, while BHP Group Limited (BHP) rounded out the top five, advancing $2.380, or 4.726 per cent, to close at $52.740.

On the downside, Reliance Worldwide Corporation Limited (RWC) recorded the steepest fall, dropping $0.350, or 9.091 per cent, to $3.500. Lynas Rare Earths Limited (LYC) declined $0.880, or 5.525 per cent, to $15.050. Treasury Wine Estates Limited (TWE) slipped $0.230, or 4.628 per cent, to $4.740. Reece Limited (REH) fell $0.640, or 4.399 per cent, to $13.910, while Sims Limited (SGM) eased $0.860, or 4.042 per cent, to $20.420.

S&P/ASX 200: Top-performing sectors, traders wait for Thursday's ⁠jobs data

More sectors ended lower than higher, despite the gain in the S&P/ASX 200 Index. According to the ASX website, materials was the best-performing sector, gaining +1.28% and +1.41% for the past five days.

Financials ended little changed as losses in three of the big four banks offset gains in Westpac, which rose ‌ 0.3%. Investors turned cautious after last week’s rally, with Waterer attributing the moves to profit-taking following bank earnings that had lifted the sub-index 5.4%.

Traders are now eyeing Thursday's ⁠jobs data, which is expected to show a cooling in hiring and a slight uptick in unemployment – a key read on the country’s rate outlook. Limiting some losses, gold stocks and energy firms fell 1.2% and 0.4%, respectively.