ASX 200 climbs 0.69% to 8,717.7 as April CPI cools to 4.2%; ASX Ltd slumps 9.74%
ASX 200 close: 8,717.7 (+0.69%, +59.9 pts) Sentiment: bullish
The S&P/ASX 200 closed at 8,717.7 on 27 May 2026, up 59.9 points or 0.69% and its highest close in over two weeks, after April CPI slowed to 4.2% — under the 4.4% consensus. Data-centre and AI-linked names led, headed by Megaport (MP1.AU +8.63%), while exchange operator ASX Ltd (ASX.AU -9.74%) extended a two-day fall on a sharp lift to its cost and capex guidance. Pricing for an August RBA rate hike dropped to 33.7% from 45% after the print.
Session highlights
The S&P/ASX 200 added 0.69% to 8,717.7 on 27 May 2026, erasing an early 0.3% loss once the 11:30am AEST inflation data landed.
- 8,633 to 8,717.7: the index sat down 0.3% mid-morning, then turned higher after the CPI release to close up 59.9 points.
- April CPI ran 4.2% year-on-year, down from 4.6% in March and below the 4.4% consensus; the trimmed mean rose to 3.4%, above the RBA's 2–3% target band.
- August rate-hike pricing fell to 33.7% from 45%; the cash rate holds at 4.35% into the RBA's 16 June meeting.
- AU VIX dropped 5.6% to 11.95 as rate-sensitive growth names outperformed.
- Wall Street set the backdrop overnight: the S&P 500 (+0.61%) and Nasdaq (+1.19%) closed at records, though the Dow eased 0.23% and the US VIX rose to 17.01.
Top movers
| Ticker | Move | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| MP1.AU | +8.63% | Subsidiary Latitude.sh signed a 36-month, ~US$25.1m AI-compute contract. |
| DTL.AU | +5.04% | IT reseller and services name rose with the data-centre cohort. |
| SLX.AU | +4.51% | Uranium-enrichment developer tracked firmer nuclear-fuel peers. |
| FPH.AU | +4.13% | FY26 revenue +14% to NZ$2.31bn, net profit +24%. |
| NXT.AU | +3.75% | Data-centre operator lifted with the overnight Nasdaq record. |
| ASX.AU | -9.74% | Second day of selling on FY27 expense growth of 18-21%. |
| EDV.AU | -4.87% | Strategy update paired $300m of cost savings with a lower payout ratio. |
| NEU.AU | -4.09% | No price-sensitive announcement; flow-driven. |
| CHC.AU | -2.47% | Diversified REIT lagged as data-centre property led. |
| PNV.AU | -2.43% | No price-sensitive announcement; flow-driven. |
Sector scorecard
Information technology led the S&P/ASX 200 on 27 May 2026, as data-centre and cloud names posted the session's largest gains.
- Technology and data centres out front: Megaport (MP1.AU +8.63%), Data#3 (DTL.AU +5.04%), NextDC (NXT.AU +3.75%) and Goodman (GMG.AU +3.73%).
- Health care higher: CSL (CSL.AU +2.44%) and Fisher & Paykel Healthcare (FPH.AU +4.13%) after FPH's FY26 result.
- Resources split: BHP (BHP.AU +1.54%) and South32 (S32.AU +3.46%) rose, while lithium fell — IGO (IGO.AU -2.32%), Liontown (LTR.AU -2.16%) and Pilbara (PLS.AU -1.87%).
- Financials added just 0.1%, trailing the 0.69% index, as ASX Ltd (ASX.AU -9.74%) offset CBA (CBA.AU +0.31%) and Macquarie (MQG.AU +1.02%).
Notable announcements
- ASX Ltd guided FY27 total expense growth to 18-21% and lifted capex to $180-200m (from $160-180m), tied to CHESS Release 1, cloud platforms and ASIC-inquiry remediation.
- Endeavour Group (EDV.AU) outlined $300m of cost savings in a strategy update but signalled a lower dividend payout ratio to retain cash.
- Fisher & Paykel Healthcare (FPH.AU) reported FY26 revenue up 14% to NZ$2.31bn, net profit up 24% to NZ$468m, and a final dividend of NZ$0.33.
- Megaport (MP1.AU) said subsidiary Latitude.sh won a 36-month compute and storage contract worth about US$25.1m, ~US$8.4m in annual recurring revenue.
Global markets at the AU close (16:15 AEST)
| Asset | Level | Change | Context |
|---|---|---|---|
| S&P 500 (Tue close) | 7,519 | +0.61% | record high overnight |
| Nasdaq (Tue close) | 26,656 | +1.19% | record; tech leadership |
| S&P 500 futures | 7,541 | +0.05% | live into the Wed US open |
| US VIX | 17.01 | +2.53% | above Tuesday's 16.59 |
| Brent crude | US$94.62 | -2.12% | WTI US$91.50 (-2.55%) |
| Gold | US$4,487/oz | -0.34% | Jun futures |
| AUD/USD | 0.7152 | -0.26% | softer after CPI |
Next 24h catalysts (AEST)
- Tonight (Wed) — Wall Street's regular session reopens; S&P 500 futures sit at 7,541 (+0.05%) and Nasdaq 100 futures at 30,085 (+0.04%) after Tuesday's record closes.
- Thu 28 May, 10:00 — ASX 200 reopens; the SPI will track Wall Street's Wednesday session and the post-CPI AUD at 0.7152.
- Energy in focus — Brent at US$94.62 (-2.1%) and WTI at US$91.50 (-2.5%) frame the read for Woodside (WDS.AU) and Santos (STO.AU).
- 16 June — RBA rate decision; the cash rate is 4.35% and August-hike pricing eased to 33.7% today.
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