FEAR & GREED | Business News Afternoon Report | BHP results boost ASX
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Feb 17, 2026 Markets lifted after BHP’s strong results and a materials-led rally. Tech stocks showed sharp swings and global markets stayed subdued. JB Hi‑Fi surged after analyst upgrades. A major energy project faces a costly blowout affecting households. A $100m Pentagon challenge sparks competition to build autonomous, voice-controlled drone swarms.
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BHP's Copper Moment
- BHP's results shifted market leadership as copper generated more earnings than iron ore for the first time.
- The company's share price rose 4.7% to a record high and lifted the ASX 200's materials sector.
Push For Childcare Flexibility
- Consider offering more flexible childcare support rather than one-size-fits-all universal models.
- Angus Taylor proposes vouchers and tax offsets to increase family choice and control over childcare spending.
Earnings Divergence Across Sectors
- Company results were mixed, with lenders and retailers seeing gains while some financial and industrial firms disappointed.
- Earnings beats and guidance upgrades moved stocks like Judo Bank and Baby Bunting higher, while Challenger and Reliance Worldwide fell.