ASX 200 – afternoon report 13 August 2026

The ASX 200 trades 21.5 points (-0.23%) lower at 9187 at 3.30pm AEST.

After a strong start to the August reporting season that saw the ASX 200 storm to a fresh record high of 9296.7, momentum has flagged this week with the index on track for a fourth session of declines in the past five.

Today's decline, which saw the ASX 200 fall 68 points (-0.73%) to a low of 9141.3, came as the mix of today's earnings results combined with overhang from reports earlier this week weighed on the local market. 

ASX 200 stocks 

Telecommunications sector

The telco sector was the worst performer:  

• Telstra fell ~5.20% on the open to a low of $4.74 after its fiscal year 2026 (FY26) earnings disappointed. Total income slipped around 0.9% while underlying earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, amortisation and leases (EBITDAaL) rose a modest 4% to $8.3 billion, and the reported profit growth of roughly 3% to $2.4 billion came in a touch soft versus expectations despite the higher dividend and fresh $1 billion buyback. The result also landed just weeks after a major network outage that left millions of customers without service and cost chief executive officer (CEO) Vicki Brady $607,000 of her bonus, adding to the cautious reaction.

Financial sector

• IAG's FY26 earnings release saw its share price dive ~7.30% to a low of $7.63, before trimming its earlier losses. Reported net profit after tax (NPAT) fell 25% to $1.02 billion, weighed down by higher natural perils costs following a busy year of severe weather events, even though underlying insurance profit rose a modest 2.3% and gross written premium (GWP) grew 7.6%.
• ANZ's share price lifted 4.36% to $37.98 after its third quarter (Q3) 2026 report showed cash profit rose a modest 1% to $1.90 billion (up 5% excluding a New Zealand (NZ) class-action provision), net interest margin (NIM) edged higher, and the bank returned home lending to system growth, while cost discipline kept it on track for its full-year targets.
• Swinging the hammer in favour of a fifth day of falls for the financial sector, the fallout from CBA's FY26 earnings report yesterday saw its share price fall 3.10% to a low of $167.35 as some of the key areas of focus outlined in our CBA earnings preview here came home to roost.

Utilities sector

The utilities sector, which usually flies under the radar except on big down days when its defensive characteristics come to the fore, was the day's star performer. 

• Origin Energy lifted 4.84% to $11.80 after its earnings showed a solid result driven by strong Energy Markets performance. Underlying Energy Markets earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) rose 21% to $1.70 billion, the company added 243,000 customer accounts, and it delivered robust free cash flow while maintaining its fully franked 60 cents per share dividend. The solid earnings report should help Origin's share price close in on the $13.13 high of August 2025. 

Looking ahead to next week, we are set to receive an earnings extravaganza from companies including BlueScope Steel, JB Hi-Fi, Sims, BHP, CSL, Cochlear, Lendlease, Iluka Resources, Hub24, a2 Milk, Reliance Worldwide, Stockland, Breville, Pro Medicus, Evolution Mining, Whitehaven Coal, Regis Resources, Santos, Sonic Healthcare, Downer EDI, Vault Minerals, Northern Star, Super Retail Group, Dexus, Goodman Group, Zip, Bega Cheese, Megaport, Superloop and Telix Pharmaceuticals.

You can read our previews of four of those stocks reporting next week 

BHP - here

A2M - here

JB Hi-Fi - here

Cochlear - here

ASX 200 technical analysis

The ASX 200 spent the better part of 17 weeks confined within an 8500 – 9000 range before releasing that pent-up energy at the start of August to hit a fresh record high of 9296.7.

However, with reporting season picking up speed and with more bombs than beats expected, we would not be at all surprised if we were to see a retest of the 9000 support in the coming weeks.

ASX 200 daily chart 

• _{Source: TradingView. The figures stated are as of 13 August 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.}