S&P/ASX 200 ends week on a high as Australian shares post best February since 2019; utilities and miners gain, check top gainers and losers

The S&P/ASX 200 closed up on Friday (February 27, 2026), gaining 23.30 points, or 0.25%, to 9,198.60, as Australian shares ended a muted day and the week slightly higher. The upward movement was witnessed as gains in miners countered losses in banks and consumer staples. While a strong corporate season helped the benchmark clock its best February since 2019, as reported by news agency Reuters.

According to the ASX website, the top-performing stocks in this index were BLOCK, INC. and LYNAS RARE EARTHS LIMITED, up 27.83% and 10.09%, respectively. Over the last five days, the index has gained 1.29% and is currently 0.05% off of its 52-week high.

The broader index rose ⁠0.3%, taking its February gain to 3.5%. The benchmark hit three record highs during the month, most recently touching 9,202.90.

S&P/ASX 200: Top gainers and losers

The S&P/ASX 200’s top five gainers delivered strong advances, led by BLOCK, INC. (XYZ), which closed at 94.150, surging 20.500 points, or 27.834 per cent. LYNAS RARE EARTHS LIMITED (LYC) finished at 18.980, up 1.740 or 10.092 per cent. ILUKA RESOURCES LIMITED (ILU) ended the session at 6.750, gaining 0.560, or 9.046 per cent.

CAPRICORN METALS LTD (CMM) settled at 14.720, rising 0.720 or 5.142 per cent, while CAR GROUP LIMITED (CAR) closed at 26.520, up 1.200 or 4.739 per cent.

On the downside, HARVEY NORMAN HOLDINGS LIMITED (HVN) led the declines, finishing at 5.760, down 0.570 or 9.005 per cent. MESOBLAST LIMITED (MSB) fell to 2.240, shedding 0.180, or 7.438 per cent. COLES GROUP LIMITED. (COL) closed at 20.560, dropping 1.630, or 7.346 per cent.

LIONTOWN LIMITED (LTR) ended at 1.705, down 0.110 or 6.061 per cent, while IDP EDUCATION LIMITED (IEL) finished at 4.660, losing 0.280 or 5.668 per cent.

S&P/ASX 200: Top-performing sectors

Seven of 11 sectors ended higher along with the S&P/ASX 200 Index. Utilities was the best-performing sector, gaining +1.41% and rebounding from its recent decline. This sector is off -1.10% for the past five days.

Financials fell 0.2%, ⁠with Commonwealth Bank of Australia, the country's top lender, losing 1.5% and leading losses. Meanwhile, consumer staples weakened, dragged down by supermarket giant, which slid 7.4% after posting an 11% drop in half-year profit amid intensifying competition with Woolworths in a cost-conscious market.

The stock pulled the broader consumer staples index 2.7% lower. Miners advanced 1.1%, ⁠lifted by a 2% rise in gold stocks. Strength in commodity prices and strong earnings from base and critical mineral producers helped the sector notch four record highs during the month and gain more than 8%.

Meanwhile, shares of Block Inc.'s local listing surged 27.8% after the payments firm said it would nearly halve its workforce as part of an AI-focused restructuring.