Evening report: ASX 200 rises as tech recovers from AI sell-off, WTC rises 12.8% while Fortescue falls 4.7% on iron ore decline

The S&P/ASX 200 closed 19.5 points higher, up 0.22%.

The ASX 200 posted a small gain as a strong recovery rally in the technology sector and reporting season success offset profit-taking in banks and renewed weakness in iron ore heavyweights.

Information Technology (XIJ) (+5.6%) rebounded after last week’s AI-driven sell-off WiseTech Global (WTC) (+12.8%) And Xero (XRO) (+7.5%) lead the charge.

Iron ore remained below $100/t after falling $1.60/t on Friday, and mining prices slipped along with it Fortescue (FMG) (-4.7%) And Rio Tinto (RIO) (-4.1%) the biggest problems. BHP Group Ltd (BHP) (-1.5%) wasn’t that hot either.

In earnings season news:

• The a2 Milk Co. (A2M) (+6.8%) rose sharply after strong results in the first half of the year (1H) and improved sales growth to a mid-double-digit range in the 2026 financial year.

• Aurizon (AZJ) (+6.9%) also saw a solid first half increase as well as a big dividend surprise and an expanded buyback.

• JB Hi-Fi (JBH) (+7.4%) recovered despite a consistent result

• Treasury Wine Estates (TWE) (-5.1%) fell after a large legal loss and…