ASX 200 report:
17 March 2026

The Australia 200 trades  32 points (0.38%) higher at 8615 as of 3.20pm AEDT.

ASX 200 rebounds as market digests RBA's rate hike decision

The ASX 200 is set to snap a three-day losing streak, with a relief rally taking hold after today's Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) board meeting delivered what might just be the 'best possible outcome' a back-to-back rate hike could offer.

While the RBA did raise the official cash rate by 25 basis points (bp) to 4.10% – marking its first back-to-back hike since the aggressive tightening cycle that ran from May 2022 to February 2023 – the details were telling. Specifically, the decision came down to a razor-thin 5-4 vote, with five members favouring the hike and four preferring to hold steady at 3.85%.

The market’s relief stems directly from this surprisingly narrow split. It acts as a powerful counterweight to the rate hike itself. The fact that four board members voted to hold suggests the next rate hike may not come until the second half of the year, given that a significant portion of the Board is already uncomfortable with today’s rate hike.

This lack of unanimity effectively dilutes the hawkishness of the hike. It indicates that the bar for another back-to-back move in May is now much higher, likely requiring compelling data rather than being a foregone conclusion. Consequently, the rates market is now pricing in just 9 bp of hikes for the May meeting, with a follow-up hike not fully priced in until August.

ASX 200 stocks

Financial sector

The heavyweight financial sector also surged, as higher rates promise fatter net interest margins, while the dovish vote split eases fears of aggressive over-tightening that could crush the economy.

• Westpac lifted 1% to $41.33
• Macquarie added 0.95% to $195.85
• NAB gained 0.90% to $47.50
• CBA climbed 0.58% to $176.50
• ANZ edged 0.21% higher to $37.52.

Materials sector

The materials sector found some much-needed support after falling 17% from the record high struck in early March. This bounce was aided byiron ore futures in Asia adding 1.16% to $108.75.

• BHP rose 1.1% to $49.71
• Fortescue gained 1.07% to $19.90
• Rio Tinto lifted 0.3% to $155.16.

Real estate sector

The relief was most obvious in the interest rate-sensitive real estate sector.

• Vicinity Centres lifted 2.56% to $2.40
• Goodman Group added 1.85% to $25.89
• Scentre Group climbed 1.54% to $3.63.

Technology sector

The pain continues for information technology (IT), which remains the worst-performing sector and is on track for an eighth straight month of falls – down over 45% from its September high.

• Zip dipped 3% to $1.55
• Block slid 2.6% to $83.92
• WiseTech Global fell 2.5% to $45.49.

ASX 200 technical analysis

From the ASX 200’s 9202.9 high it struck two weeks ago, the ASX 200 fell 745 points (-8.1%) into Monday 9 March’s 8457.2 low.

To negate the technical damage from this sell-off, the ASX 200 must reclaim (on a sustained basis) the 200-day moving average currently at 8777. Until then, a retest of the 8457 - 8383 support level is possible.

ASX 200 daily candlestick chart

• _{Source: TradingView. The figures stated are as of 17 March 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.}