S&P/ASX 200 closes on a high as miner BHP boosts Australian shares, banks remain flat; check top gainers, losers and best-performing sectors

The Australian sharemarket saw gains on Tuesday, February 17, 2026. BHP, the world's largest listed miner, reached a record high after reporting strong first-half results. This boosted the S&P/ASX 200 index. Investors are now watching for upcoming jobs data and signals on iron ore demand. Several Asian markets were closed for Lunar New Year.