Tuesday 17th February – ASX up 22 points – BHP the winner – SEK -BBN – SGM – RBA Minutes.

17 Tuesday Feb 2026

Posted by in Daily Reports

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The ASX 200 rose 22 points as BHP delivered in spades. Up 4.7% on a beat and a silver streaming deal to add to capital base. Most of the market gain today. The rest of the resource sector drifted lower with China closed for New Year. Gold miners eased as bullion dipped, EVN down 1.8% and GMD off 2.9%. Rare earth stocks dropped, LYC down 5.5% and base metal stocks also drifting lower. Oil and gas eased, STO down 0.5% with uranium stocks drifting around. Banks eased back, the Big Bank Basket drifted to $303.47 (+0.1%). Insurers firmed, MQG up 0.6% and ZIP doing ok ahead of numbers. REITS slid with GMG down 1.4% and SCG off 0.8% as healthcare mixed, CSL down 0.4% and RHC off 0.7%. Retail was firm led by JBH up 8.1% and LOV bouncing 3.7%.

Tech stocks eased back for a change, WTC down 1.6% and XRO off 0.7% with WBT falling 4.3%.

In corporate news, SEK fell 3.3% on write off in China and results. JDO did well on growth outlook, up 2.4%. CGF result was below expectations. BBN rose 8.6% after it narrowed guidance. RWC fell 9.1% after a tougher first half. SGM fell 4.0% on results too, after a HY loss.

In economic news, RBA in focus, minutes suggest that any future rises are not a given. the RBA would need to see slower activity and easing inflation for the cash rate to remain on hold in May. Australian consumer confidence rose slightly last week, up 0.2 points to 77.1, but the four-week average slipped to 79.6, its lowest since June 2024.

US Futures down ahead of reopening. DJ down 156 Nasdaq down 191.

HIGHLIGHTS

  • Winners: EOS, JBH, PME, GNG, A2M, QAL, EHL, BHP
  • Losers: SMI, RWC, SGR, LYC, MTM, MEI, SRG
  • Positive Sectors: BHP. Retail.
  • Negative Sectors: REITs. Tech. Gold miners. Rare earths.
  • ASX 200 Hi 8996 Lo 8959. Narrow range – BHP in focus.
  • Big Bank Basket: Slips to $303.47 (-0.2%)
  • All-Tech Index: Down 0.2%
  • Gold: Steady at $7012
  • Bitcoin: Steady at US$68451
  • AUD: Slips to 70.61c.
  • Asian markets – Japan down 0.7% China and HK closed.
  • US futures weaker.

MARKET MOVERS

  • EOS +13.7% good tick higher.
  • JBH +8.1% broker upgrades.
  • PME +7.7% bargain hunters.
  • BHP +4.7% very solid results – Silver deal too.
  • A2M +6.3% broker upgrades.
  • TPW +4.7% bargain hunters.
  • RYM +3.3% research report.
  • DRR +3.9% BHP derivative.
  • TM1 +21.7% high grade PGM feeder system confirmed.
  • TKM +12.1% Capital raising to underpin drilling program.
  • SRL +1.7% volatility continues.
  • SMI -9.6% placement and SPP.
  • RWC -9.1% results underwhelm.
  • SRG -5.1% results underwhelm.
  • TWE -4.6% broker downgrades.
  • LYC -5.5% rare earths slip
  • Speculative Stock of the Day: C1X +29.4% EAU Lithium executes negotiation with YLB.

ECONOMIC AND OTHER NEWS

  • Australian consumer confidence rose slightly last week, up 0.2 points to 77.1, but the four-week average slipped to 79.6, its lowest since June 2024, according to ANZ and Roy Morgan.
  • Weekly inflation expectations edged up 0.5 points to 5.5% , while short- and medium-term economic confidence remained subdued.
  • Households reported weaker outlooks for their finances over the next year and the broader economy over five years, with key subindices at decade lows.
  • The RBA decision to raise the cash rate this month by a quarter of one percentage point followed concerns that inflation is likely to persist.
  • The RBA says it will remain attentive to incoming data and the evolving economic outlook when making policy decisions.
  • The board noted that financial conditions had eased materially since mid-2025, with “banks lending freely, and credit growing strongly”, and judged that “excess demand was unlikely to be corrected if the cash rate remained at 3.6%”.
  • Members acknowledged uncertainty around the future path of rates.
  • The BoJ is likely to seize on a raft of new data available in April as an opportunity to raise its benchmark interest rate, looking past rumblings in the market over the possibility of a move in March, according to a former BOJ board member.
  • Macron arrives in India as blockbuster fighter jet deal nears.
  • Fed set to loosen US bank rules in attempt to boost mortgage lending.
  • It can only be a matter of time before Mt Rushmore gets a makeover surely! Mt Trumpmore!

And finally….

Law news. I’m suing the local fishmonger for selling undersized shellfish.

I’m taking him to the small clams court.

Spotify update. I must have played ‘I’m Not in Love’ by 10cc at least a dozen times today.

It’s just a silly phase I’m going through….

Clarence

XXXXX

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