The Australian share market ended Tuesday’s session virtually unchanged, with the S&P/ASX 200 slipping just 3.70 points to close at 9,022.30, a resilient result given a volatile day of trade that saw sharp swings across individual sectors and stocks.
Despite the marginal decline, the session had plenty of moving parts. Six of the eleven sectors finished in positive territory, a sign that underlying market sentiment remains broadly constructive even as pockets of selling pressure kept the broader index from pushing higher. The benchmark index remains within striking distance of its 52-week high, sitting just 1.05 per cent below that peak, while over the past five trading days it has added a solid 0.71 per cent.
Figure 1: ASX Sectors’ Performance on 24th February, 2026 [ASX]
Energy is the Best Performing Sector
If there was a clear winner on Tuesday, it was the energy sector. Energy stocks collectively gained 1.76 per cent on the day, extending what has been a strong recent run; the sector is up 5.22 per cent over the past five sessions. The result was helped along by Woodside Energy‘s well-received full-year results, which showed record production and a robust dividend, lifting sentiment across the broader energy space.
Also Read: Woodside Energy Posts Record Production as Shares Surge on Strong Full-Year Results
Materials also had a positive session, adding 1.16 per cent. Industrials edged up 0.42 per cent, and Consumer Staples added a modest 0.25 per cent. Telecommunications Services and Utilities rounded out the green sectors, each gaining 0.14 per cent and 0.12 per cent, respectively.
Technology is Still Bleeding
The technology sector was the session’s biggest drag, tumbling 3.59 per cent in what was a bruising day for growth-oriented names. The decline reflects a broader pattern of investors rotating away from higher-valuation tech plays amid ongoing uncertainty about interest rate trajectories and global economic conditions.
Consumer Discretionary was the second-worst performer, shedding 1.82 per cent, while A-REITs fell 1.19 per cent as property-sensitive stocks continued to grapple with elevated borrowing costs. Health Care declined 0.94 per cent, and Financials dipped 0.35 per cent.
Top Gainers: Lithium and Resources Lead the Charge
Among individual stocks, the session’s top performers were concentrated in the resources sector, reflecting renewed appetite for hard commodities:
- LTR (Liontown Resources) — up 8.68% to $1.815
- VEA (Viva Energy Group) — up 8.09% to $1.870
- PLS (Pilbara Minerals) — up 8.01% to $4.720
- ILU (Iluka Resources) — up 7.92% to $5.720
- IMD (Imdex Limited) — up 7.00% to $4.280
Liontown Resources’ near nine per cent surge was particularly eye-catching, continuing a volatile period for the lithium miner as investors reassess supply and demand dynamics in the critical minerals space. Viva Energy’s strong gain also stood out, with the fuel and energy retailer riding the coattails of the broader energy sector rally.
Sharp Falls for ARB and Austal
Not everyone had a good day. ARB Corporation and Austal Limited were the index’s two heaviest casualties, each suffering double-digit losses that rattled investors in what were otherwise unrelated businesses.
- ARB Corporation — down 13.07% to $21.360
- Austal Limited — down 12.48% to $4.910
- SiteMinder — down 11.71% to $2.940
- Data#3 Limited — down 8.22% to $7.150
- Megaport — down 7.29% to $7.380
ARB Corporation’s steep fall was the most dramatic of the session, with the four-wheel drive accessories maker shedding more than $3 per share. The stock also featured among the day’s most significant volume outliers, with trading activity surging 890 per cent above its 90-day average, a clear sign that a catalyst drove an unusual rush of buying. SiteMinder’s shares were down almost 12% on volume 323 per cent above average, indicating significant news-driven selling. The company also appeared on the decline and volume outlier lists.
Australian Dollar Holds Steady
On currency markets, the Australian dollar remained relatively firm, with one Australian dollar buying US$0.7061 at the 4:20 pm AEDT delayed close, up a marginal 0.07 per cent on the day. Against the euro, the local unit bought €0.5998, while it fetched £0.5237 against the British pound.
The Aussie also strengthened slightly against the Japanese yen, with one dollar buying ¥109.61, up 0.43 per cent, and edged higher against the Chinese yuan at ¥4.8782. Against the New Zealand dollar, the Australian unit bought NZ$1.1849, up just 0.01 per cent on the day, largely steady between the two trans-Tasman economies.
Outlook
Despite the technology-led selling, Tuesday’s session showed that the overall market still has underlying support, as evidenced by the index remaining above 9,000 and six sectors ending the day higher. Investors will be watching closely for further corporate results in the days ahead, as well as any developments on the global commodity front that could further influence the energy and materials sectors.
All eyes will also remain on the Australian dollar, which at US 70 cents continues to reflect a delicate balance between domestic economic resilience and global uncertainty.
