S&P/ ASX 200 rises 0.27 percent to 9,153.20 despite bank weakness

The S&P/ASX 200 finished Wednesday, November 11, 2026, at 9,153.20 points, adding 24.20 points or 0.27 percent from Tuesday's close. The benchmark reached an 11-month high for a second consecutive session, according to Yahoo Finance Australia.

Mining and technology shares provide support

The market recovered from early losses as investors returned to major miners and technology companies. BHP rose 0.87 percent and Rio Tinto gained 0.67 percent, while the technology sector benefited from advances in WiseTech Global, Xero and TechnologyOne. The financial sector was the only sector to finish lower, declining 0.35 percent.

Commonwealth Bank fell 1.21 percent and National Australia Bank lost 1.51 percent. Westpac edged 0.08 percent higher and ANZ gained 1.37 percent. The bank sector remained under pressure after Commonwealth Bank reported higher loan impairments and an increase in mortgage arrears in its quarterly update.

Housing data adds to rate sensitivity

Australian Bureau of Statistics data showed that the value of new home loans fell 15.5 percent in the September quarter to A$81.16 billion, according to Yahoo Finance Australia. The decline was the largest quarterly fall since the series began in 2002. The data added to concerns that high borrowing costs are weakening housing demand and could affect bank credit quality.

US inflation data also shaped the backdrop. A Brisbane Times report said hotter-than-expected US inflation had increased expectations that the Federal Reserve could raise rates in December. Despite that pressure, Australian shares found support in technology and materials stocks. The report also attributed part of the technology strength to renewed interest in artificial-intelligence companies after better-than-expected results from CoreWeave.

Benchmark remains concentrated

The index's composition helps explain the mixed session. S&P Dow Jones Indices describes the S&P/ASX 200 as a float-adjusted, market-capitalization-weighted benchmark of 200 eligible ASX-listed companies. Financials and materials together represented a substantial share of the index as of the provider's latest published breakdown, leaving the benchmark sensitive to both bank earnings and commodity-related moves.

The close followed Tuesday's 1.10 percent gain to 9,129.03 points. With the latest advance below 0.30 percent, the session was a modest continuation of the rally rather than a broad-based acceleration. Investors' focus now remains on the interaction between Australian credit conditions, commodity shares and expectations for global interest rates. Further index coverage is available on the S&P/ASX 200 topic page.