Finance 15 February 2026

Finance·Health Technology·Investing·News

Cochlear share price crash: why ASX:COH slid 19% — and what investors watch next

Cochlear shares plunged 18.9% to A$199.22 Friday after half-year profit dropped and full-year profit guidance was cut to the low end of forecasts. The company cited delays in registering and contracting its new Nexa system. Interim dividend held at A$2.15 per share. Statutory net profit fell to A$161.5 million on revenue of A$1.176 billion.

February 15, 2026

Energy·Finance·News·Stock Market

Origin Energy share price in focus after Friday jump as brokers reset targets

Origin Energy shares closed up 5% at A$12.08 on Friday, outperforming a 1.39% drop in the S&P/ASX 200, after Jarden upgraded the stock and Origin raised its full-year earnings outlook. Underlying profit reached A$593 million, while the interim dividend was set at A$0.30 per share, fully franked, with payment due March 27.

February 15, 2026

Finance·Investing·News·Stock Market

Aristocrat Leisure share price hits 52-week low — what ASX:ALL investors watch before Monday

Aristocrat Leisure closed Friday down 5% at A$48.44, its lowest in 52 weeks, as the S&P/ASX 200 fell 1.4%. About 1.69 million shares traded. The company’s annual general meeting is set for Feb. 19, with shareholders watching for updates on trading and its extended buyback program. Aristocrat shares are down about 16% in 2026.

February 15, 2026

Finance·Investment·News·Stock Market

Telstra share price steadies at A$4.94 as ASX:TLS heads into Feb 19 results week

Telstra Group Ltd closed up 1.23% at A$4.94 on Friday, with 18.96 million shares traded. The stock will trade ex-dividend on Feb. 25, with results due Feb. 19 and payment set for March 27. The S&P/ASX 200 fell 1.39% to 8,917.6, led lower by technology and health care. Investors await Telstra’s half-year update for guidance on margins, costs, and capital spending.

February 15, 2026

Finance·Investment·News·Stock Market

Xero (ASX:XRO) share price fell 4.5% Friday — what investors watch next week

Xero Ltd shares fell 4.45% to A$73.49 Friday as Australian tech stocks slumped, with the S&P/ASX 200 down 1.39% and the IT sector off about 5%. WiseTech Global dropped 10.4% and TechnologyOne lost 7.1%. Analysts cited fears over AI’s impact on software margins and broad selling pressure. Jefferies maintained a “hold” on Xero, warning of near-term earnings risk from its Melio acquisition.

February 15, 2026

Finance·Investment·News·Stock Market

PLS Group share price slips 4.5% into weekend as traders brace for Feb 19 results

PLS Group (ASX:PLS) closed Friday down 4.5% at A$4.23, with 24.4 million shares traded as the S&P/ASX 200 fell 1.4%. Investors await PLS’ Feb. 19 interim results after a new Canmax offtake deal set a US$1,000/t price floor and a US$100 million prepayment. Lithium prices edged up 0.9% Friday but remain volatile.

February 15, 2026

Finance·Investments·News·Stocks

Evolution Mining share price: EVN drops 3.7% into weekend as gold jumps and dividend date nears

Evolution Mining shares fell 3.68% to A$15.44 Friday, reversing an earlier 8.68% midweek surge. Spot gold jumped 2.1% to $5,022.06 an ounce after soft U.S. inflation data. Investors are focused on EVN’s March 3 ex-dividend date and new spending plans at Northparkes. The S&P/ASX 200 closed down 1.4%.

February 15, 2026

Business·Finance·News·Stock Market

Brambles share price heads into Feb 19 results week after Friday rise in BXB

Brambles Ltd shares rose 1.35% to A$23.30 on Friday, outperforming the S&P/ASX 200’s 1.4% drop. The stock’s move comes ahead of its half-year results due Feb. 19, with investors focused on pricing power and volume trends. Brambles traded between A$22.94 and A$23.59, well below its 52-week high. Markets remain volatile as traders await the company’s update.

February 15, 2026

Business·Finance·News·Technology

Wesfarmers stock price in focus after Microsoft, Google Cloud AI pacts, with results next week

Wesfarmers closed at A$87.69 on Friday, down 0.2%, after announcing multi-year AI and cloud deals with Microsoft and Google Cloud. The company will expand AI tools across Bunnings, Kmart, Priceline and other brands. Investors await Wesfarmers’ half-year results on Feb. 19 for details on tech spending and returns. The S&P/ASX 200 fell 1.39% Friday; Wesfarmers outperformed sector peers.

February 15, 2026

Business·Finance·News·Stock Market

Woodside Energy stock price falls 2% into weekend as Feb 24 results loom

Woodside Energy shares fell 2.1% to A$25.78 on Friday, underperforming the S&P/ASX 200, which dropped 1.39%. About 4.85 million Woodside shares changed hands. Investors await the company’s full-year results and briefing on Feb. 24. Oil prices edged higher, but OPEC+ is considering raising output from April, adding uncertainty.

February 15, 2026

Commodities·Finance·News·Stock Market

Fortescue share price in focus as FMG ends lower, iron ore slips under $100 ahead of results

Fortescue Ltd shares fell 1.9% to A$21.21 Friday, extending a two-day slide as iron ore futures dropped ahead of China’s Lunar New Year break. The miner’s half-year results are due Feb. 25, with investors watching costs and payouts as ore prices soften. Fortescue added two battery-electric locomotives to its Pilbara rail fleet. Second-quarter iron ore shipments rose 2% to 50.5 million metric tons.

February 15, 2026

Finance·Investment·News·Stock Market

Macquarie share price closes at A$216 as risk-off hits ASX — what MQG stock holders watch next

Macquarie Group shares closed at A$216.17 on Friday, down 0.91%, marking a second straight loss. The S&P/ASX 200 dropped 1.4% to 8,917 as Australian equities fell into the weekend. About 762,000 Macquarie shares changed hands. No new company announcements were lodged with the ASX ahead of Monday’s open.

February 15, 2026

Finance·Investment·News·Stock Market

Pro Medicus share price sinks to A$118 after results shock; brokers cut targets

Pro Medicus (ASX:PME) closed at A$118.22 on Friday, down 8.4%, capping a two-day drop of about 30% after its half-year results missed analyst expectations. Around 1.46 million shares changed hands. Brokers slashed price targets, and traders are watching the Feb. 26 ex-dividend date for the 32-cent payout.

February 15, 2026

Finance·News·Stock Market·Technology

WiseTech Global (ASX:WTC) share price hit as AI scare trade bites — what to watch next

WiseTech Global shares fell 10.4% to A$42.62 Friday, hitting a 52-week low amid a sharp sell-off in software stocks driven by AI disruption fears. The stock lost A$4.95 on the day, with market value at about A$14.32 billion. The S&P/ASX 200 dropped 1.4%. WiseTech’s next results are due Feb. 25.

February 15, 2026

Finance·Investing·News·Stock Market

NAB share price: what to watch after Friday’s slip into a data-heavy week

National Australia Bank shares fell 1.14% to A$46.01 Friday, closing 2.62% below their Feb. 12 high. The S&P/ASX 200 index dropped 1.39% to 8,917.60, with nine of 11 major sectors lower. NAB’s first-quarter update is set for Feb. 18, as investors watch for margin pressure and asset quality. The Reserve Bank of Australia minutes and key economic data are due next week.

February 15, 2026

Finance·Investing·News·Stock Market

Westpac share price hit a record high — then slipped. What matters before Monday for WBC stock

Westpac shares closed at A$40.52, down 1.2% after hitting a record A$42.13. The bank posted an unaudited first-quarter profit of A$1.9 billion, with loan and deposit growth but a 3 basis point drop in net interest margin to 1.79%. Investors await Australia’s jobs data on Feb. 19 and Westpac’s interim results on May 5.

February 15, 2026

Finance·Mortgages·News·UK Economy

Nationwide brings back 3.54% fixed mortgages as UK lenders jostle for borrowers

Nationwide cut selected fixed mortgage rates by up to 0.16 percentage points, lowering its cheapest two-year fix for home movers at 60% loan-to-value to 3.54%. The changes took effect Friday. The lender also reduced rates for first-time buyers, with a two-year fix at 90% LTV now at 4.10%. Brokers said the move stands out amid volatile market pricing.

February 15, 2026

Finance·Investing·News·Stock Market

CSL Limited share price near 52-week low after bruising week as investors eye Monday open

CSL shares closed Friday at A$150.01, down 1.4% and 17% lower for the week after a weak half-year update and CEO change. The slump dragged Australia’s healthcare sub-index down 12.6% for the week, its worst since March 2020, even as the broader market rose. Trading resumes Monday.

February 15, 2026

Finance·Investing·News·Stock Market

ANZ share price near A$41 after cost-cutting profit beat — what investors watch next week

ANZ shares closed at A$40.89 Friday, up 1.34% and near 52-week highs after a first-quarter update showed a cash profit of A$1.94 billion and an 8% drop in expenses. Net interest margin rose to 1.56%. The stock is up 11% since Tuesday. Analysts cited cost cuts as the main driver, but flagged margin pressure and pending staff reductions.

February 15, 2026

Finance·Investment·News·Stock Market

BHP share price slips ahead of Feb 17 results as iron ore dips below $100

BHP shares fell 1.84% to A$51.13 in Australia on Friday, while its U.S.-listed stock rose 0.85% to $73.38. The miner reports half-year results Feb. 17, with dividends and cost guidance in focus. Iron ore settled at $99.66 a tonne on Feb. 13, while copper inventories have climbed above 1.1 million metric tons.

February 15, 2026