ASX 200 flat at 8,731.9 as banks and healthcare offset miners and tech
ASX 200 close: 8,731.9 (+0.01%) Breadth: 93 advancers / 100 decliners (200 largest names by market cap) Sentiment: mixed
The S&P/ASX 200 closed at 8,731.9 on 21 September 2026, up 0.7 points or 0.01%, as the big four banks (+0.56% on average) and healthcare (+0.51%) offset falls in materials (-0.66%) and technology (-1.60%). PPT.AU fell 15.10% to $16.64 after its board rejected EQT's $22.50-a-share best-and-final proposal. CBA.AU and ANZ.AU joined WBC.AU and NAB.AU in forecasting a 25 bp RBA hike to 4.60% on 29 September, and all four banks closed higher.
What moved the index
The S&P/ASX 200 recovered from an early low of 8,688.9, down 0.5%, to close at 8,731.9 on 21 September 2026.
- Big four banks: CBA.AU +0.37%, WBC.AU +0.52%, NAB.AU +0.65% and ANZ.AU +0.93%, worth about 11 bps of index lift. All four now forecast the RBA to lift the cash rate 25 bp to 4.60% on 29 September, and ANZ.AU also keeps a November hike in its forecast.
- Big miners: BHP.AU -0.44%, RIO.AU -0.82%, S32.AU -1.22% and FMG.AU -0.06%, worth about -12 bps. Copper futures rose 0.81% to US$6.746/lb, so the drop did not follow base metals.
- Healthcare: CSL.AU +1.54% to $178.30 and COH.AU +5.27% to $140.95 (ex-dividend today), worth about 6 bps before the TLX.AU drop.
- Technology: XRO.AU -4.30% to $60.08 and WTC.AU -0.90%, worth about -3 bps. The Info Tech index closed at 1,613.8, down 18.5% from its 25 August close of 1,978.9.
- Single-name shocks: PPT.AU -15.10% and TLX.AU -11.71%, worth about -3 bps together.
These five groups net to about -1 bp against the index's +0.8 bp move. The rest of the index nets to about +2 bps, led by insurers (QBE.AU, SUN.AU and IAG.AU, +0.63% on average), MQG.AU +1.22% and energy names such as STO.AU +1.65%. Weights use market capitalisation, so the basis-point figures are approximate.
Session highlights
On 21 September 2026, 93 of the 200 largest ASX names rose, 100 fell and 7 were unchanged.
- 6 of 11 sector indices fell, with Info Tech (-1.60%) and Materials (-0.66%) weakest, and the Small Ordinaries index lost 0.58% against a 0.04% fall in the All Ordinaries.
- 11.54 on the AU VIX, down 3.38% from Friday.
- 17 gold names sit in the 200 largest: 5 rose, 11 fell and 1 was unchanged. The All Ords Gold index fell 0.73% as gold futures lost 0.83% to US$4,388/oz.
- 0.7130 on AUD/USD, up 0.11%, with the US 10-year yield at 4.998%, up 5.1 bp on Friday.
- KOSPI +1.65% to 7,007.72 and the Shanghai Composite +0.97% to 3,949.91 at their closes.
Sector scorecard
The S&P/ASX 200 Financials index rose 0.63% on 21 September 2026 while Information Technology fell 1.60%.
- Best: Financials (+0.63%)
- Worst: Information Technology (-1.60%)
- Dispersion (best minus worst): 2.23 pts
- Gold has the widest internal dispersion: RMS.AU +6.15% and RSG.AU -8.49% sit in a group of 17 names where 5 rose, 11 fell and 1 was flat.
Top movers
Ramelius Resources (RMS.AU) led the ASX gainers with a 6.15% rise on 21 September 2026, and Perpetual (PPT.AU) led the decliners with a 15.10% fall.
| Ticker | Move | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| RMS.AU | +6.15% | FY30 output target lifted to 560,000 to 610,000 oz. |
| L1G.AU | +4.59% | Unannounced, likely flow-driven. |
| PYC.AU | +4.49% | Unannounced, likely flow-driven. |
| BNZ.AU | +4.47% | Unannounced, likely flow-driven. |
| JDO.AU | +4.17% | Unannounced, likely flow-driven. |
| PPT.AU | -15.10% | Board rejected EQT's $22.50 best-and-final proposal. |
| TLX.AU | -11.71% | US$1.65bn upfront deal for Germany's ITM Isotope Technologies. |
| MI6.AU | -8.51% | Unannounced, likely flow-driven. |
| RSG.AU | -8.49% | 2026 gold guidance cut; Mali disruptions hit Syama. |
| LIN.AU | -8.27% | Unannounced, likely flow-driven. |
Notable announcements
- PPT.AU closed at $16.64, down $2.96 from Friday's $19.60 and 26.0% below EQT's non-binding $22.50-a-share proposal, which carried a permitted dividend of up to $0.60 a share for 1H27. The board said the offer undervalued Perpetual and carried too much execution risk, and the Wealth Management sale continues.
- TLX.AU closed at $15.76, down from $17.85, after signing a binding agreement to acquire ITM Isotope Technologies Munich SE for US$1.65 billion upfront plus up to US$700 million contingent on approvals and sales targets.
- RMS.AU raised its FY30 production target to 560,000 to 610,000 oz at an all-in sustaining cost of A$2,100 to A$2,400/oz, 11% above its October 2025 plan, and set FY27 guidance at 205,000 to 225,000 oz. It closed at $3.80.
- RSG.AU cut its 2026 gold production guidance after Mali security disruptions pushed Syama to the low end of its range, and closed at $1.24.
- COH.AU went ex-dividend and closed at $140.95, up 5.27% on Friday's cum-dividend close of $133.90.
At the AU close (17:35 AEST)
US futures pointed higher at 17:35 AEST on 21 September 2026, with S&P 500 futures up 0.53% to 7,753.
| Asset | Level | Change | Context |
|---|---|---|---|
| S&P 500 futures | 7,753 | +0.53% | Cash S&P 500 closed Friday at 7,650.5 (+0.17%). |
| Nasdaq-100 futures | 30,133.5 | +0.72% | Cash Nasdaq closed Friday at 26,522.5 (+0.39%). |
| US VIX | 14.96 | +1.01% | AU VIX closed at 11.54. |
| Gold futures | US$4,388.2/oz | -0.83% | All Ords Gold index -0.73%. |
| AUD/USD | 0.7130 | +0.11% | Four major banks forecast a 29 September RBA hike. |
| US 10-year yield | 4.998% | +5.1 bp | Friday close. |
Next 24h catalysts (AEST)
- Tue 09:00: SPI open, with S&P 500 futures +0.53% and Nasdaq-100 futures +0.72% at 17:35 AEST Monday.
- Wed 00:00: US Richmond Fed manufacturing index (10:00 ET Tuesday).
- Wed 23:45: US S&P Global flash PMIs (9:45 ET Wednesday).
- Thu: Premier Investments (PMV.AU) full-year result, per third-party earnings calendars.
- Tue 29 Sep: RBA decision at the end of its 28 to 29 September meeting, with all four major banks forecasting +25 bp to 4.60%.
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