ASX 200 report:
18 August 2026

The Australia 200 trades 12 points (0.13%) higher at 9085 at 3.35pm AEST.

The ASX 200 is on track to snap a four-day losing streak, with some much-needed earnings cheer coming from the most unlikely of places, the much-maligned health care sector, along with a solid set of numbers from BHP that helped restore some stability to the market.

ASX 200 stocks

Consumer discretionary sector

With consumer-facing stocks still dusting themselves off after yesterday's JB Hi-Fi bombshell, a strong rebound in the Westpac Consumer Sentiment Index helped improve the mood, rising 6% to 88.9 in August. The rise came after the RBA held rates on hold last week, with the improvement concentrated among mortgage holders and responses received after the decision. 

Financials sector

The big four banks are all trading lower and the financial sector’s misery has deepened after regional bank Bendigo and Adelaide Bank released its unaudited FY26 numbers. Its shares fell 5.61% to $10.53 as the regional lender flagged APRA licence conditions over non-financial risk weaknesses. Statutory profit came in at $375.1 million after a $49 million provision for a multi-year risk overhaul, Homesafe impacts and a legal penalty.

Health care sector

• Leading the charge, healthcare heavyweight CSL skyrocketed 17.34% to $157.94, its highest level in six months, as investors looked straight past a hefty statutory loss of US$2.58 billion, the company’s first annual loss as a listed business. That loss was driven by US$7.1 billion in impairments and almost US$800 million in restructuring costs. What mattered more was the solid underlying result and stronger-than-expected FY27 guidance pointing to around 5% growth in underlying profit, with improving momentum in plasma and immunoglobulin.
• Healthcare imaging software company Pro Medicus also had a strong day, surging 8.72% to $191.22 on its solid set of numbers. Revenue rose nearly 23% to $261.7 million, underlying EBIT climbed 24% and underlying NPAT was up more than 24% (over 30% in constant currency). Ten new contracts worth at least $407 million and a 25% lift in the full-year dividend to 69 cents sealed a positive reaction.
• Hearing implant maker Cochlear rounded out the healthcare earnings surprise trifecta, rising 6.66% to $140 after delivering underlying net profit of $322 million at the top end of its revised guidance, even though that was still down 22%. Revenue grew 2% in constant currency and the second half showed clearer momentum. Management is guiding to low single-digit revenue growth and underlying profit of $330 - 350 million next year.

Materials sector

• Materials giant BHP Group added further support, climbing 2.35% to $63.86 after its FY26 earnings met with approval. Underlying attributable profit jumped 30% to US$13.2 billion, revenue rose 15%, and copper contributed more than half of group earnings for the first time. The final dividend of US 99 cents took total cash returns to the highest level in four years.

However, a dour set of Chinese economic data last night, including a thirty-seventh consecutive month of falls in new house prices, countered BHP’s gains:

• Mining services and lithium producer Mineral Resources losing 3.7% to $64.75
• Diversified miner South32 falling 2.34% to $4.80
• Copper producer Capstone Copper Corp. dropped 2.12% to $15.24.

Looking ahead, tomorrow brings results from Evolution Mining, Mirvac Group and Whitehaven Coal, while second-quarter (Q2) wage price index data is expected to show a 0.8% increase, taking the annual growth rate down to 3.2%.

Earnings previews for Coles Group here and trader favourite WiseTech Global here now online.

ASX 200 technical analysis

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

Since then, we have been expecting a pullback towards 9000, and that view has played out reasonably well, with the index today hitting a low of 9054.5.

Looking ahead, provided the ASX 200 holds above the 9000 - 8900 support region, former range resistance, we expect to see a retest and eventual break of the 9296.7 record high in the months ahead.

ASX 200 daily candlestick chart

• _{Source: TradingView. The figures stated are as of 18 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.}