Materials led the 11 ASX 200 market sectors by a long shot in the final week of earnings season, rising 7.41%.
As usual, it was the major ASX 200 mining shares that propelled the sector higher.
The highlight was the BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP) share price ascending to its highest level in 140 years as a listed company.
BHP shares rose above their previous record of $54.55, set in mid-2021, on Monday; then lifted further to $58.29 on Thursday.
BHP also took back its title as the market’s largest company from Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA) on Friday.
Meantime, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) rose 1.29% to finish the week at a record high of 9,198.6 points.
Six of the sectors finished the week in the green.
Let’s review.
ASX materials sector back in the saddle
The Rio Tinto Ltd (ASX: RIO) share price lifted 2.47% to finish the week at $167.33.
The Fortescue Ltd (ASX: FMG) share price rose 5.49% to $21.14 after the miner revealed its 1H FY26 results on Wednesday.
Mineral Resources Ltd (ASX: MIN) shares rose 19% to $60.98.
The ASX 200 mining share is riding a new wave of momentum after reporting record EBITDA of $1.2 billion for 1H FY26, up 286%.
The South32 Ltd (ASX: S32) share price climbed 4.78% to $4.60.
Among the ASX 200 gold mining shares, Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST) rose 6.88% to close at $30.28 on Friday.
The Newmont Corporation CDIÂ (ASX: NEM) share price increased 5.73% to $177.20.
Evolution Mining Ltd (ASX: EVN) shares rose 10.17% to finish the week at $16.58.
The Evolution share price reached a record $16.99 in intraday trading on Friday.
ASX 200 copper pure-play Sandfire Resources Ltd (ASX: SFR) rose 7.17% to $20.19 on Friday.
Capstone Copper Corp CDIÂ (ASX: CSC) shares finished 4.48% higher at $14.70.
ASX 200 lithium mining share PLS Group Ltd (ASX: PLS) soared 24.16% to close the week at $5.19.
PLS Group shares are also on an upward trajectory after the miner revealed a 241% EBITDA surge in 1H FY26.
The Liontown Ltd (ASX: LTR) share price rose 5.25% to $1.71 on no price-sensitive news last week.
Among ASX 200 ASX rare earths shares, Lynas Rare Earths Ltd (ASX: LYC) ripped 21.05% higher to $18.98.
Last week, Lynas Rare Earths reported a net profit of $80.2 million for 1H FY26, up from $5.9 million in 1H FY25.
Scores of ASX 200 shares have ex-dividend dates next week. Check them out here.
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 |
| Materials (ASX: XMJ) | 7.41% |
| Consumer Staples (ASX: XSJ) | 4.99% |
| Information Technology (ASX: XIJ) | 2.3% |
| Communication (ASX: XTJ) | 1.62% |
| Industrials (ASX: XNJ) | 0.73% |
| Energy (ASX: XEJ) | 0.3% |
| Utilities (ASX: XUJ) | (1.1%) |
| Financials (ASX: XFJ) | (1.23%) |
| Healthcare (ASX: XHJ) | (1.46%) |
| A-REIT (ASX: XPJ) | (1.81%) |
| Consumer Discretionary (ASX: XDJ) | (3.32%) |
The post ASX 200 materials sector leads as earnings season ends with a record high appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.
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Motley Fool contributor Bronwyn Allen has positions in BHP Group. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has recommended Lynas Rare Earths Ltd. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended BHP Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.