ASX 200 financial shares led the market during a difficult week, rising 1.52% over the five trading days.
The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) closed 1.81% lower at 8,708.8 points as earnings season got underway.
The week began with a commodities rout that pummelled ASX 200 mining shares.
Investors took profits as metals, particularly gold and silver, plunged on news of the US President’s Fed chair pick.
On Tuesday, a 0.25% interest rate hike in Australia benefitted the ASX 200 financial sector but created pain for tech.
ASX 200 tech shares fell almost 12% last week. The sector is now down almost 20% in the year to date.
Out of the 11 market sectors, only two finished the week in the green.
Let’s review.
Financial shares led the ASX sectors last week
Share price performance varied across the ASX 200 financial sector, which incorporates bank shares, insurers, fund managers, and more.
The Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA) share price soared 6.39% to finish at $158.91 on Friday.
CBA will reveal its 1H FY26 results on Wednesday.
Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Ltd (ASX: ANZ) shares closed the week at $37.01, up 0.84%.
Westpac Banking Corp (ASX: WBC) shares ascended 1.57% to $39.43.
National Australia Bank Ltd (ASX: NAB) shares fell 0.02% to $43.36.
The Macquarie Group Ltd (ASX: MQG) share price lost 2.05% to close at $207.83.
Among the investment companies and fund managers, Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Co Ltd (ASX: SOL) shares fell 4.09% to $37.01.
GQG Partners Inc (ASX: GQG) shares rose 7.96% to $1.70.
Shares in Argo Investments Ltd (ASX: ARG), which reports on Monday, descended 0.77% to $9.02 apiece.
Among the financial services providers, AMP Ltd (ASX: AMP) shares fell 2.94% to $1.65.
AMP will release its 1H FY26 results on Thursday.
The Challenger Ltd (ASX: CGF) share price dropped 3.15% to $8.92.
Buy now, pay later share Zip Co Ltd (ASX: ZIP) fell 10.19% to $2.38.
Among the ASX 200 insurers, Medibank Private Ltd (ASX: MPL) shares fell 1.08% to $4.57.
The QBE Insurance Group Ltd (ASX: QBE) share price ascended 2.23% to $20.18.
Insurance Australia Group Ltd (ASX: IAG) shares rose 1.71% to $7.73.
IAG will release its 1H FY26 results on Thursday.
See our earnings calendar to find out when the companies you’re invested in will announce their dividends.
ASX 200 market sector snapshot
Here’s how the 11 market sectors stacked up last week, according to CommSec data.
Over the five trading days:
| S&P/ASX 200 market sector | Change last week |
| Financials (ASX: XFJ) | 1.52% |
| Consumer Staples (ASX: XSJ) | 0.03% |
| Consumer Discretionary (ASX: XDJ) | (1.36%) |
| Healthcare (ASX: XHJ) | (2.39%) |
| Energy (ASX: XEJ) | (2.4%) |
| Industrials (ASX: XNJ) | (2.42%) |
| Communication (ASX: XTJ) | (3.88%) |
| A-REIT (ASX: XPJ) | (4.08%) |
| Materials (ASX: XMJ) | (4.12%) |
| Utilities (ASX: XUJ) | (4.72%) |
| Information Technology (ASX: XIJ) | (11.91%) |
The post ASX 200 financials flew but tech and mining shares faltered last week appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.
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Motley Fool contributor Bronwyn Allen has positions in Zip Co. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Macquarie Group and Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Company Limited. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Macquarie Group and Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Company Limited. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Challenger and Gqg Partners. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.