ASX200 - Afternoon report 14th of July 2026 

ASX200 - Afternoon report 14th of July 

The ASX200 trades 7 points (-0.09%) lower at 8801 at 3.30 pm AEST.

The ASX200 fell 49 points (-0.56%) in early trading today to a low of 8758.6 – before fighting back towards the 8800 level as dip buyers once again stepped in to take advantage of the weakness.

The early fall followed a soft session on Wall Street, weighed down by weakness in chipmakers, higher oil prices after President Trump announced that the United States would reinstate its blockade of Iranian shipping and hawkish comments from Fed Governor Waller.

These headwinds have continued to blow as WTI crude oil sprang back above the $80 level for the first time in four weeks. At this morning’s high of $80.42, WTI has surged around 20% from the $67.04 low it hit in early July. This helped the ASX200 Energy sector rally over 2% today, on track to lock in a fourth session of gains in the past five. Karoon Energy jumped 5.20% to $1.52, Woodside Energy lifted 3.48% to $30.34, while the embattled Beach Energy added 2.86% to $0.90.

The ASX200 Materials sector, which at last week’s low had fallen more than 14.5% from its mid-June high found some support today. Fortescue lifted 1.44% to $19.04, Alcoa rose 1.24% to $70.43, South32 gained 1.90% to $4.04, BHP climbed 0.70% higher to $58.74, while Mineral Resources edged 0.40% higher to $58.28.

On the other hand, the red-hot ASX200 financials sector — which at yesterday’s high had rallied 9% from its post-Federal Budget lows — ran into some profit-taking today. ANZ dipped 1.34% to $35.97, National Australia Bank lost 1.15% to $39.60, and Westpac dropped 0.90% to $36.57. Meanwhile, Commonwealth Bank fell 0.82% to $168.66 after its share price filled the gap lower that followed its disappointing third-quarter trading update and the Federal Budget on the 13^th of May. How exactly the backdrop for banks has improved enough to support the 12.5% rise in CBA’s share price from the 14 May low of $151 to today’s $170.32 high remains something of a mystery to this observer.

In today’s other notable moves, gaming company Light & Wonder jumped 7.42% to $111.02 after it reiterated its 2026 outlook and confirmed its commitment to deleveraging its balance sheet.

In today’s economic news, consumer sentiment for July lifted 4.1% to 83.9 from 80.6 in June, remaining in the bottom 10% of results over the 50-year history of the survey. The rise came as concerns over energy costs, rising rates, and labour market weakness abated. However, spending intentions and economic expectations remain weak.

Meanwhile, the NAB Business Confidence survey, jumped to -5 in June from -14 in May. This showed confidence improving off a low base while conditions remained soft across trading and employment.

ASX200 Technical Analysis 

The rejection from the mid-June high of 8983.8 has seen the ASX200 remain confined to the broad 9000–8500 trading range it has occupied over the past 14 weeks.

Looking ahead, we see scope for this ASX200 to continue to trade sideways within this range for a few more weeks yet – while remaining opening minded as to what direction the break of the range will eventually come. 

ASX200 Daily Chart

The figures stated are as of July 14th 2026. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance. This report does not contain and is not to be taken as containing any financial product advice or financial product recommendation.