Australian shares notch best February since 2019 as earnings outshine rate headwinds

Feb 27, 2026, 13:29 GMT+7
Key points:

• AXJO logs strongest February since 2019
• Miners gain 1.1%
• Coles sheds 7.4%
• Block's Australia-listed shares soar 27.8%

By Shruti Agarwal
Reuters - Australian shares ended a muted Friday slightly higher, as gains in miners countered losses in banks and consumer staples, while a strong corporate season helped the benchmark clock its best February since 2019.
The S&P/ASX 200 indexrose 0.3% to close at 9,198.60, taking its February gain to 3.5%.
The benchmark hit three record highs during the month, most recently touching 9,202.90.
A robust earnings season overshadowed a 25-basis-point cash rate hike by the Reserve Bank of Australia and made investors look past a slate of data that included stronger-than-expected inflation.
Craig Sidney, senior investment adviser at Shaw and Partners, said he expects a pullback from current levels, highlighting elevated valuations, relatively low dividend yields and upcoming downward pressure from ex-dividend trades.
Financialsfell 0.2%, with Commonwealth Bank of Australia,the country's top lender, losing 1.5% and leading losses.
Despite the recent earnings upgrades from brokers, investors weighed CBA's lofty valuation, Sidney added.
Still, the sector recorded its strongest month since October 2022, supported by results from the "Big Four" showing improving margins, solid credit growth and benign loan impairments.
Meanwhile, consumer staples weakened, dragged down by supermarket giant, which slid 7.4% after posting an 11% drop in half-year profit amid intensifying competition with Woolworths in a cost-conscious market.
The stock pulled the broader consumer staples index 2.7% lower.
Minersadvanced 1.1%, lifted by a 2% rise in gold stocks.
Strength in commodity prices and strong earnings from base and critical minerals producers helped the sector notch four record highs during the month and gain more than 8%.
Meanwhile, shares of Block Inc'slocal listing surged 27.8% after the payments firm said it would nearly halve its workforce as part of an AI-focussed restructuring.
New Zealand's benchmark S&P/NZX 50 indexrose 0.4% to 13,722.97 points.

Sumber : Reuters