Sydney, Jan 17, 2026, 10:42 AEDT — Market closed.
- The S&P/ASX 200 closed Friday 0.48% higher at 8,903.9, marking a 2.1% gain for the week
- Banks regained footing following a valuation-driven dip, as miners gained on metals strength and China-related demand
- Upcoming catalysts include jobs data on Jan. 22, CPI figures on Jan. 28, and the RBA meeting scheduled for Feb. 2-3
Australian shares wrapped up their best week since November on Friday, with the S&P/ASX 200 closing 42.2 points higher, or 0.48%, at 8,903.9. The index gained 2.1% over the course of the week. 1
Late in the week, banks, property shares, and miners pushed the market higher, fueled by Wall Street’s bank-driven rally that boosted risk appetite. Early Friday saw Rio Tinto climb, while BHP edged lower. Meanwhile, Liontown Resources kept up its strong weekly momentum, with analysts remaining positive on lithium prices. 2
The mix is crucial heading into the new week as investors shift between expensive bank stocks and commodity-linked shares amid changing rate expectations. “Valuation fatigue in banks and strong tailwinds for miners are prompting a rotational positioning into the latter,” said Marc Jocum, senior product and investment strategist at Global X ETFs Australia, following Thursday’s session. That day, miners hit another record close, with BHP finishing at its highest level in over two years. 3
Commodities took a big slice of the action. Iron ore stayed resilient on signs of Chinese demand but futures dropped off toward week’s end after data hinted at weaker hot metal production. Copper slipped too, weighed down by a stronger U.S. dollar.
Oil played a key role in market swings. Energy shares stumbled Friday following an overnight drop in crude, underscoring how geopolitical tensions continue to disrupt broader macro and earnings trends.
The week’s gains aren’t guaranteed to hold. A steeper drop in Chinese steel output, a stronger U.S. dollar, or fresh hits to bank valuations could quickly erode the trades pushing the index up.
Thursday brings the December Labour Force report, set for release at 11:30 a.m. AEDT on Jan. 22. Any unexpected changes in hiring or unemployment could rapidly alter rate forecasts. 4
Australia’s Consumer Price Index for December 2025 is set to drop at 11:30 a.m. AEDT on Jan. 28, posing a major challenge. 5
Traders will also be watching the Reserve Bank of Australia’s policy meeting on Feb. 2-3 closely, looking for clues on inflation trends and the likely speed of any easing moves. 6
