To The Moon

As of the close on Friday, $S&P/ASX 200(XJO.AU)$ closed at 8,708.80, down 1.27% in the past 5 days.

The Australian sharemarket on Friday fell the most since US President Donald Trump’s “liberation day” tariffs in April, as sliding commodity prices, concerns about AI and a dive in bitcoin triggered broad equity derisking.

The five Australian stocks showed strong gains in the five trading days leading up to February 6, 2026, mainly driven by a combination of company-specific positives (e.g., earnings/synergies) and sector/market rotation into defensives amid broader ASX choppiness (e.g., tech/commodity sell-offs offset by resilient sectors like financials, packaging, and logistics).

1. $AMCOR PLC-CDI(AMC.AU)$ +10.13%

• Berry integration is working — and the market is buying it：Q2 results confirmed that Berry synergies are coming through faster and cleaner than expected, allowing the company to reaffirm FY2026 guidance despite volume softness. The earnings beat and guidance clarity shifted the narrative from execution risk to earnings visibility, driving a sharp upside reaction.

• Morgans and peers highlighted high-end synergies and portfolio optimization; shares closed sharply higher post-results.

• Packaging viewed as a non-cyclical safe haven amid volatile markets, supporting relative outperformance.Sector rotation helped extend gains beyond the initial earnings reaction.

2. $COMMONWEALTH BANK OF AUSTRALIA(CBA.AU)$ +6.39%

• RBA rate hike (+25bps to 3.85%) boosting banking sector and net interest margins, CBA passed through full +0.25% to variable loans/savings (e.g., GoalSaver to 4.50%). Higher rates support NIMs and lending income, driving sector strength.

• Consensus expects solid cash earnings (~A$5.22B, +2% YoY); investors positioned for benign bad debts and robust capital; shares showed relative strength in sessions. Analysis: Defensive appeal and dividend expectations attracted flows pre-results.

• Full pass-through to home/business loans effective mid-Feb, demonstrated ability to manage borrower pressure while preserving profitability, reinforced confidence in earnings resilience amid rising rates.

• Banks held up better than cyclicals, CBA benefited from broader financials resilience post-RBA move. Capital rotated to stable income generators in uncertain environment.

3. $BRAMBLES LTD(BXB.AU)$ +4.96%

• Amid ASX volatility and growth-sector sell-offs, supply chain and logistics names attracted defensive flows as non-cyclical safe havens.

• Steady gains and a push toward multi-month resistance reflected capital rotation rather than company-specific catalysts, amplifying short-term upside.

• Consistent revenue and profit growth, strong ROE, and an essential role in global pallet logistics reinforced investor confidence.

• Outperformance versus the broader market positioned the stock as a stability play during a choppy trading environment.

4. $Rio Tinto Ltd(RIO.AU)$ +3.65%

• The collapse of Glencore talks was taken positively, eliminating overpay and dilution concerns and refocusing attention on Rio’s standalone strengths.

• Exposure to iron ore and a growing copper pipeline helped cushion volatility, with Pilbara strength and copper now a rising earnings contributor.

• In a choppy tape, miners showed relative resilience versus other cyclicals, attracting rotation flows despite softer commodity prices.

• Structural demand for copper from energy transition and AI, alongside iron ore’s core role, continues to underpin longer-term optimism.

5. $QBE INSURANCE GROUP LTD(QBE.AU)$ +2.23%

• Insurance names steadily gained, outperforming resources and tech, supported by underwriting discipline and higher interest rates.

• Anticipation of strong premiums and cost moderation positioned insurers for minor gains ahead of results.

• Capital flowed into insurers as safe havens, helping them hold up better than cyclicals during weak sessions.

• Higher premiums and investment income in the current rate environment reinforced relative strength across the sector.