BHP(US:BHP) The Economic Times·2026-02-17 07:26Market Overview - The S&P/ASX 200 closed up on February 17, 2026, gaining 21.80 points or 0.24% to reach 8,958.90, with a 1.03% increase over the last five days and currently 1.71% off its 52-week high [1][10] - The mining subindex rose by 1.3%, driven by BHP's strong performance [2][10] Top Performers - JB Hi-Fi Limited (JBH) led the gains, closing at A$89.10, up A$6.70 or 8.13% [6][11] - Pro Medicus Limited (PME) followed, finishing at A$125.96 after rising A$8.99, a gain of 7.69% [6][11] - Other notable gainers included A2 Milk Company Limited (A2M) up 6.26%, PEXA Group Limited (PXA) up 4.76%, and BHP Group Limited (BHP) up 4.73% to A$52.74 [7][11] Sector Performance - The materials sector was the best-performing sector, gaining 1.28% on the day and 1.41% over the past five days [8][11] - Financials remained relatively unchanged, with losses in three of the big four banks offsetting Westpac's 0.3% gain [9][11] Upcoming Events - Investors are awaiting Rio Tinto's earnings report on February 19, 2026, and Fortescue's report next week, focusing on iron ore demand and sector outlook [3][10] - Traders are also eyeing upcoming jobs data expected to show a cooling in hiring and a slight uptick in unemployment, which will be crucial for the country's rate outlook [10][11]