Updated Jun 30, 2026 – 5.46pm, first published at 5.23pmStock pickers have endured one of the most challenging 12-month periods on the ASX in living memory. Those that backed the mining sector were handsomely rewarded, but those that bet on technology or healthcare were brutally wrong-footed by former blue chips.The S&P/ASX 200 Index eked out a 2.8 per cent gain for the 2026 financial year, its worst showing since 2022 and well below a long-term average of 5.7 per cent.Subscribe to gift this articleGift 5 articles to anyone you choose each month when you subscribe.Subscribe nowAlready a subscriber? Fetching latest articles