ASX 200 rises 0.92% to 8,789.3 as property trusts gain 3.6% after the RBA hike
ASX 200 close: 8,789.3 (+0.92%) Breadth: 152 advancers / 67 decliners (ASX 200 sweep) Sentiment: bullish
The S&P/ASX 200 closed at 8,789.3 on 30 September 2026, up 80 points or 0.92%, as rate-sensitive property and consumer stocks rose while the three-year bond yield fell to 4.88%, 17 bps below its level before Tuesday's RBA hike. NST.AU gained 6.35% to $24.77 after reports that Gold Fields may add cash to the A$38.7 billion approach Northern Star rejected on Monday. August CPI printed 4.0% annual, up from 3.5%, but monthly prices rose 0.4% against 1.0% in July, and Governor Bullock said the board wants to see how four 2026 hikes feed through before the 3 November meeting.
What moved the index
The S&P/ASX 200 gained 92 bps on 30 September 2026, with ten sector indices higher and only financials and tech lower.
- A-REITs: the property index rose 3.6%, worth about 25 bps. GMG.AU +3.86%, SGP.AU +4.61%, MGR.AU +4.82% and CHC.AU +6.43% rose from three-year sector lows as the three-year yield eased.
- Consumer discretionary: +2.27%, worth about 18 bps. WES.AU +3.04%, JBH.AU +4.69% and Domino's DMP.AU +6.32%.
- Industrials and communications: +1.65% and +1.93%, together about 19 bps. REA.AU +5.85%, SEK.AU +4.89%, BXB.AU +2.52%, ALX.AU +5.33%.
- Materials and energy: +0.67% and +1.56%, together about 20 bps. RIO.AU +1.56%, FMG.AU +1.04%, NST.AU +6.35%, WDS.AU +1.27%, STO.AU +1.53%.
Together these account for about 82 bps of the 92 bps move. Financials fell 0.27% (about 9 bps off) with MQG.AU -0.40% and ANZ.AU -0.36%; health care (+0.71%) and staples (+0.57%) make up most of the residual.
Session highlights
- 3.6% gain for the A-REIT index made it the best sector on 30 September 2026; LLC.AU led the group, up 11.30% to $2.66 with no price-sensitive announcement.
- SUN.AU +4.83% to $19.97, the day after it bought back 153,960 shares at up to $19.18 under its $250 million on-market program.
- NST.AU +6.35%, while Gold Fields (GFI.US) was indicated 4.55% higher in pre-market trade in New York. Gold futures added 1.15% to US$4,227.90/oz.
- AXVI.INDX, the ASX 200 volatility index, fell 5.61% to 10.31.
- 152 ASX 200 names closed higher and 67 lower, a 2.3 to 1 ratio.
Sector scorecard
- Best: A-REITs (+3.6%)
- Worst: Information technology (-0.41%)
- Dispersion (best minus worst): 4.01 pts
- Tech split: XRO.AU -1.93%, TNE.AU -1.90% and WTC.AU -1.16% fell while SKS.AU rose 10.98% and WBT.AU 5.15%.
Top movers
| Ticker | Move | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| BTR.AU | +13.82% | Unannounced, likely flow-driven. |
| LLC.AU | +11.30% | No price-sensitive news; A-REIT index +3.6% |
| SKS.AU | +10.98% | Unannounced; joined the S&P/ASX 300 on 21 September |
| KAR.AU | +8.97% | Unannounced, likely flow-driven. Brent fell 0.93%. |
| CHC.AU | +6.43% | A-REIT index +3.6% as the three-year yield fell to 4.88% |
| DVP.AU | -10.00% | Unannounced, likely flow-driven. |
| AMI.AU | -8.82% | Unannounced, likely flow-driven. |
| DYL.AU | -5.26% | Unannounced; BMN.AU -3.38% in the same uranium group |
| PNI.AU | -4.87% | Audit delays at affiliate Metrics Credit Partners |
| QRI.AU | -4.67% | Unannounced, likely flow-driven. |
Notable announcements
- 4.0% annual CPI for August, from 3.5% in July; housing +5.7% annual, trimmed mean +0.2% monthly and 3.6% annual.
- 24.74% fall for Black Cat Syndicate BC8.AU to $0.73 after it raised FY2027 cost guidance.
- CDA.AU +2.17% to $65.83, adding to Tuesday's gain after Codan lifted FY2027 guidance and flagged first-half net profit above $160 million.
- COH.AU -3.30% to $139.59 after Cochlear confirmed this week that it was served with a class action over its FY2026 profit forecast.
At the AU close (16:15 AEST)
| Asset | Level | Change | Context |
|---|---|---|---|
| S&P 500 futures | 7,752.75 | +0.27% | Tuesday cash close 7,670.84, -0.17% |
| Nasdaq 100 futures | 30,660.75 | +0.16% | Tuesday Nasdaq cash close -0.09% |
| STOXX 600 | 642.73 | +0.73% | Mid-European session |
| Nikkei 225 | 66,753.72 | +1.94% | Closed |
| Brent | US$95.27 | -0.93% | KAR.AU and BPT.AU rose against it |
| Gold | US$4,227.90/oz | +1.15% | NST.AU +6.35% on takeover reports |
| AUD/USD | 0.6980 | -0.11% | Day after the hike to 4.60% |
Next 24h catalysts (AEST)
- Wed 23:30: New York cash open, with the US 10-year Treasury yield at 5.26% and the 30-year after a 5.61% print this week.
- Thu 10:00: SPI open tracks overnight S&P 500 futures, now +0.27%.
- Open date: Gold Fields has announced no terms for a revised Northern Star proposal.
- Tue 3 Nov: next RBA Monetary Policy Board decision, cash rate 4.60%.
Context only. Not financial advice. Track your own trades with Swingfolio.