What moved the ASX 200 lower today?

Weakness in resources and technology sectors led to the decline.

Why did Coles (ASX:COL) rise in trade?

Coles advanced on strong full-year supermarket sales and profit growth.

How did Fortescue (ASX:FMG) impact the index?

Fortescue’s profit decline and lower dividend weighed on the materials sector.

ASX 200 Opens Lower as Fortescue Sees Profit Drop and Coles Gains Strength

3 min read | August 26, 2025 02:10 PM AEST | By Team Kalkine Media

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ASX 200 Opens Lower as Fortescue Sees Profit Drop and Coles Gains Strength — Image source: Shutterstock

Coles Lifts Consumer Staples

Coles (ASX:COL) advanced strongly following its release of annual results. The supermarket operator recorded higher sales and an increase in net profit, surpassing market expectations. The group’s earnings before interest and tax also stood above consensus estimates, reflecting resilience in grocery demand.

Rival Woolworths (ASX:WOW) also saw early gains ahead of its scheduled earnings release, adding support to the consumer staples sector.

Fortescue Decline Pressures Resources

Fortescue Metals (ASX:FMG) reported a fall in profit as weaker iron ore prices affected revenue, although the miner achieved record shipments during the financial year. Dividend payments were scaled back, which added further pressure on the stock in early trade.

The mining decline extended to other heavyweights, with BHP (ASX:BHP) and Rio Tinto (ASX:RIO) also trading lower. As resources account for a significant portion of the benchmark index, the downturn in the sector contributed heavily to overall weakness.

Banks and Broader Market Moves

The major banks were mixed across the session. National Australia Bank (ASX:NAB) and Commonwealth Bank (ASX:CBA) traded with small gains, while Westpac (ASX:WBC) and ANZ (ASX:ANZ) edged lower. Their mixed performance did little to offset broader index softness.

Childcare provider G8 Education (ASX:GEM) reached a multi-year low despite reporting a rise in earnings, attributing its occupancy challenges to sector-wide issues. Corporate Travel Management (ASX:CTD) remained halted as its auditors flagged adjustments relating to revenue and cost timing.

Global Market Influence

Overnight, Wall Street finished weaker ahead of US inflation data and the Federal Reserve’s policy decision. The S&P 500, Dow Jones, and Nasdaq all slipped, with strength in large technology names limiting the downside.

Market focus remains on US inflation numbers and upcoming corporate results from major global technology firms. These external signals are expected to continue influencing sentiment across the Australian equity market.

Frequently Asked Questions

What moved the ASX 200 lower today?
Weakness in resources and technology sectors led to the decline.
Why did Coles (ASX:COL) rise in trade?
Coles advanced on strong full-year supermarket sales and profit growth.
How did Fortescue (ASX:FMG) impact the index?
Fortescue’s profit decline and lower dividend weighed on the materials sector.

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