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The ASX 200 closed higher today as a rebound in miners and a firmer bank sector offset broad losses elsewhere. Materials was the standout on the day (+2.32%) despite being the week’s weakest sector over five days (-4.41%) — a sharp reversal as gold pushed toward US$4,115/oz and iron ore cleared US$99/tonne. Healthcare was the biggest drag, led lower by Pro Medicus. The index still finished the week down 0.43%, its fourth straight weekly decline.
- ASX 200: +43.46 pts / +0.50% to 8,806.00
- AUD/USD: 0.6951, +0.14%
- Best sectors: Materials +2.32%, REITs +0.58%, Financials +0.55%
- Worst sectors: Healthcare -1.96%, Consumer Disc. -1.13%, Communications -0.83%
- Wages: CBA’s Wage & Labour Insights showed wages +0.8% q/q in June, holding annual growth at 3.1%, as the labour market showed further signs of cooling.
- Westpac (WBC) are now forecasting rate cuts in 2027.
- Pro Medicus (ASX: PME) -6.34% to $197.07 — Led the market lower amid a broader healthcare sell-off.
- Bravura Solutions (ASX: BVS) +15.12% to $2.36 soared after upgrading FY26 cash earnings guidance to $77m, above its $69m–$73m range.
- Rio Tinto (ASX: RIO) +3.77% to $164.49, BHP (ASX: BHP) +2.48% to $58.28 — Rebounded with the broader miners rally as iron ore and gold firmed; BHP’s move comes ahead of a threatened eight-hour strike at its Port Hedland terminal on July 16.
- South32 (ASX: S32) +5.24% to $4.02 — Morgans upgraded to Accumulate after lifting its long-term copper price forecast 14% to US$4.85/lb.
- Deep Yellow (ASX: DYL) +7.43% to $1.45, Paladin Energy (ASX: PDN) +4.14% — Uranium names rallied after Australia and India finalised a long-term uranium export agreement.
- Newmont (ASX: NEM) +1.56% to $135.84 — Tracked gold miners higher as bullion pushed toward US$4,115/oz.
- Telix Pharmaceuticals (ASX: TLX) -3.96% to $16.27, CSL (ASX: CSL) -2.10% to $122.89 — Weighed on the healthcare sector alongside Pro Medicus.
- Commonwealth Bank (ASX: CBA) +0.45% to $168.86, National Australia Bank (ASX: NAB) +0.84% to $39.61, Westpac (ASX: WBC) +0.94% to $38.54, ANZ (ASX: ANZ) +0.81% to $36.05 — Banks broadly firmer through the session.
- Woodside Energy (ASX: WDS) -0.85% to $29.05, Santos (ASX: STO) -0.39% — Gave back some of the week’s strong gains in profit-taking, despite Brent holding near US$76.77/bbl.
- WiseTech Global (ASX: WTC) -1.82% — Slid despite saying that DSV remains committed to its CargoWise platform.
- NextDC (ASX: NXT) +0.80% — Lifted new senior debt facilities to $2.3bn (from $1.8bn) with additional domestic and international bank backing.
- Sandfire Resources (ASX: SFR) +3.75% — Extended planned mine life at its Black Butte (Montana) copper project 50% to 12 years on a maiden Lowry reserve.
- Telstra (ASX: TLS) -1.61% to $4.90 on outages fury
- Ingenia Communities (ASX: INA) -0.46% confirmed talks with Peet over a possible transaction; Peet shares rallied ~4.4%.
- FDC Consolidated rose ~3% to $3.48, extending its debut-week gain after Thursday’s $400m IPO — Australia’s largest float of 2026.
- Gold: Spot near US$4,115/oz, snapping a three-day losing streak.
- Oil: Brent rose 0.6% to US$76.77/bbl, holding near this week’s highs.
- Iron ore: SGX futures +0.6% to US$99.35/t, on track for its best week since early May on the BHP Port Hedland strike threat and unresolved Fortescue-China Super Special Fines dispute.
- Asian markets: China -0.8%, Hong Kong +1% and Japan +1.3%
- Global futures: FTSE +0.38%, S&P 500 E-mini -0.2%, Dow E-mini +0.02%.
