Sydney, Feb 10, 2026, 16:45 (AEDT) — The market has shut for the day.
- BHP ended the session 1.1% higher at A$50.26, having fluctuated from A$50.10 to A$50.70 during the day.
- Miners picked up ground, Rio Tinto advancing 1.4% while Fortescue tacked on roughly 1.0%.
- Focus has shifted to BHP’s copper expansion strategy, with half-year results due next week.
BHP Group Ltd ended Tuesday’s session on a high note, with shares gaining ground alongside other major miners. The stock hovered near its intraday peak as it advanced steadily into the closing bell. 1
This is significant. BHP stands right where two powerful trends clash: iron ore, a steady cash machine riding on China, and copper, a longer-term wager on electrification growth.
The market’s closed until Wednesday. Traders are looking to see if attention flips from “ore volumes and costs” over to “growth pipeline” as Australia’s reporting season heats up and commodity prices keep moving.
There’s fresh buzz around Vicuña Corp, the Argentina–Chile copper joint venture backed by BHP and Lundin Mining of Canada. The company could pour roughly $800 million into the Filo del Sol and Josemaría projects this year, according to communications director Caterina Dzugala. “In 2025, almost $400 million was invested… and we aspire to double that figure this year,” Dzugala said. Vicuña’s official tally for total investment sits at $5 billion, but some local officials and industry contacts peg the potential spend closer to $15 billion. The group plans to kick off production in 2030 and estimates its deposits contain 13 million metric tons of measured copper, with another 25 million inferred — the latter reflecting lower-confidence estimates. 2
Investors tracked iron ore movements following cyclone-related interruptions in Western Australia. Pilbara Ports reported that Port Hedland was back in action at noon on Sunday, with Dampier and Ashburton reopening after that. 3
Iron ore prices are sticking close to $100 a tonne, while copper’s pulled back from its highs. That’s left miners quick to react to headlines and shifts in the curve. 4
Still, plenty could unravel. Weather disruptions cropping up again, a steeper iron ore slide on China demand jitters, or unexpected signs of cost inflation—all could sour sentiment in a hurry. And those copper projects? First production is still years out.
All eyes now turn to Feb. 17, when BHP reports its half-year numbers—investors are set to scrutinize dividend cues, watch for shifts in unit costs, and parse any tweaks to capital spending plans. 5
