Wednesday 18th February 2026
Daily Market Update: 19 February 2026
Australian market extends gains
The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) rose 48.10 points, to 9007 on Wednesday, marking a third consecutive gain as financial stocks underpinned momentum during reporting season. Materials was the only one of the 11 sectors to close lower. The big four banks have added $72 billion in market capitalisation since results began, reflecting stronger-than-expected earnings outcomes and resilient margins.
Financials and earnings drive gains
National Australia Bank Limited (ASX: NAB) jumped 4 per cent to $47.14 after briefly hitting a record $47.96, reporting a 16 per cent rise in cash earnings to $2.02 billion, around 5 per cent ahead of expectations. Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA) fell 1 per cent, Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Limited (ASX: ANZ) eased 0.3 per cent and Westpac Banking Corporation (ASX: WBC) edged 0.2 per cent higher. Health insurers advanced after approval for a roughly 5 per cent premium increase, with nib holdings limited (ASX: NHF) up 5 per cent and Medibank Private Limited (ASX: MPL) up 6 per cent. Technology was the strongest sector as Technology One Limited (ASX: TNE) surged 8.2 per cent on upgraded guidance. In real estate, Dexus (ASX: DXS) gained 6.8 per cent and Mirvac Group (ASX: MGR) rose 5.7 per cent following earnings beats. Superloop Limited (ASX: SLC) soared 18.2 per cent after a strong first-half result and acquisition announcement, while Netwealth Group Limited (ASX: NWL) climbed 13.6 per cent on consensus-beating numbers.
Global markets hold firm
In the United States, the Nasdaq-100 Index (NASDAQ: NDX) climbed 0.8 per cent, the S&P 500 Index (NYSE: SPX) rose 0.5 per cent and the Dow Jones Industrial Average (NYSE: DJI) added 0.2 per cent as investors balanced artificial intelligence optimism with expectations of Federal Reserve rate cuts. Minutes from the Federal Open Market Committee signalled disinflation may be slow and uneven, though traders continue to price in multiple cuts this year. NVIDIA Corporation (NASDAQ: NVDA) rose 1.6 per cent after Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ: META) flagged significant chip purchases for new data centres, while Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN) and Micron Technology, Inc. (NASDAQ: MU) gained 1.8 per cent and 5.3 per cent respectively. In contrast, Palo Alto Networks, Inc. (NASDAQ: PANW) fell 6.8 per cent after issuing weaker-than-expected earnings guidance.
| Australian Indices | Daily % | Weekly % | 1 Month % | 3 Month % | 1 Year % |
| ASX 200 | 0.6 | 0.1 | 1.3 | 6.8 | 10.5 |
| Financials | 1.3 | 1.8 | 6.1 | 8.7 | 15.3 |
| Resources | -0.2 | -0.8 | 3.6 | 19.0 | 42.1 |
| Information Technology | 1.3 | -6.1 | -17.6 | -20.9 | -32.4 |
| Global Indices | Daily % | Weekly % | 1 Month % | 3 Month % | 1 Year % |
| US 500 | 0.6 | -0.4 | -6.4 | -4.5 | 1.5 |
| Europe | 1.0 | 0.6 | -2.3 | 3.9 | 16.9 |
| Japan | 1.0 | -2.1 | -0.2 | 7.3 | 22.4 |
| China top 50 | 0.6 | -1.5 | -7.6 | -8.9 | 0.5 |
| India top 50 | 0.5 | 0.2 | -4.7 | -10.1 | -4.7 |
| Fixed Interest | Daily % | Weekly % | 1 Month % | 3 Month % | 1 Year % |
| Australian Treasury Bond | -0.1 | 0.2 | 0.1 | -0.6 | 3.1 |
| Australian Corporate Bond | -0.2 | 0.2 | 0.2 | -0.3 | 3.8 |
| US Treasury | -0.2 | 0.4 | 1.2 | 1.5 | 6.1 |
| Cash | 0.0 | 0.1 | 0.3 | 0.9 | 3.9 |
| Commodities & Crypto | Daily % | Weekly % | 1 Month % | 3 Month % | 1 Year % |
| Gold | -0.2 | -3.4 | 0.0 | 10.1 | 48.6 |
| Silver | 0.6 | -12.5 | -22.1 | 36.5 | 103.5 |
| Crude Oil | -1.4 | -2.6 | 6.1 | 4.8 | -2.4 |
| Bitcoin | -1.3 | 2.3 | -32.4 | -33.2 | -37.0 |
