Technology was the strongest of the 11 ASX 200 market sectors following a commanding lead from Wall Street.

The NASDAQ Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC) has been on a tear in April and hit a new record high last week.

As of Friday's market close (Australian time), the NASDAQ had recorded 12 consecutive days of gains — its best run since 2009.

ASX 200 tech shares have followed suit, but not in a straight line. The sector has lifted 18.47% since the rebound began on 31 March.

It appears investors may have overcome their fears about artificial intelligence (AI).

Investors have fretted over large AI spending and the potential for AI tools like Claude to wipe out software-as-a-service (SaaS) providers.

These fears drove a near halving in the value of the S&P/ASX 200 Information Technology Index (ASX: XIJ) in just seven months.

You read that right — the tech index experienced an extraordinary 48% sell-off between 29 August and 30 March.

No other sector recorded significant gains last week amid the ongoing war in Iran and a major fire at one of Australia's two oil refineries.

Only five ASX 200 sectors finished the week in the green.

Let's recap.

ASX 200 tech shares led the market last week

The ASX 200's largest tech company, WiseTech Global Ltd (ASX: WTC), skyrocketed 22.72% to finish the week at $46.18 per share.

The Xero Ltd (ASX: XRO) share price leapt 14.72% to $81.98, while TechnologyOne Ltd (ASX: TNE) jumped 11.34% to $30.83.

NextDC Limited (ASX: NXT) shares rose 10.14% to $14.12 and Life360 Inc (ASX: 360) increased 9.6% to $21.35.

The Megaport Ltd (ASX: MP1) share price screamed 26.53% to $8.49.

Hansen Technologies Ltd (ASX: HSN) shares soared 9.37% to $5.02.

ASX 200 hotel booking platform provider, Siteminder Ltd (ASX: SDR), ripped 13.27% to $3.33 per share.

Nuix Ltd (ASX: NXL) shares stormed 10.96% higher to $1.26 apiece, while Appen Ltd (ASX: APX) rose 12.77% to $1.59.

The Weebit Nano Ltd (ASX: WBT) share price lifted 7.41% to $4.06.

Objective Corporation Ltd (ASX: OCL) shares lifted 6.97% to $11.82.

The Dicker Data Ltd (ASX: DDR) share price ascended 4.19% to $8.95.

ASX 200 market sector snapshot

Here's how the 11 market sectors stacked up last week, according to CommSec data.

Over the five trading days:

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Shares in the All Ordinaries Index (ASX: XAO) tech stock, which provides data solutions for AI applications, closed on Friday trading for $1.445. In early afternoon trade on Monday, shares are changing hands for $1.355 apiece, down 6.2%.

For some context, the All Ords is down 1.2% at this same time.

Despite today's fall, Appen shares remain up an impressive 108.5% since closing at one-year lows of 65 cents on 21 November.

Without a doubt, then, that would have been an opportune time to buy the All Ords tech stock.

But after more than doubling from those lows, has the train left the station on further gains?

For some greater insight into that question, we defer to MPC Markets' Mark Gardner (courtesy of The Bull).

Is it too late to buy Appen shares today?

"Appen is a former market darling of technology stocks," Gardner said. "The company built a global business providing the human-labelled data that artificial intelligence systems needed to learn."

However, Gardner expects that the artificial intelligence revolution is going to take a material bite out of the company's future earnings.

Explaining his sell recommendation on Appen shares, he said:

Demand seemed unlimited and the share price reflected optimism, trading above $35 in July 2020. While Appen pays workers to label data, artificial intelligence is getting better at doing the role itself.

Synthetic data generation, automated labelling pipelines and AI systems that can evaluate their own outputs are advancing rapidly. In our view, the recent share price bounce reflects short term sentiment around AI investment themes rather than an improvement in the structural outlook.

Gardner concluded, "The company's statutory net loss after tax of US$21.8 million in full year 2025 was up from a US$20 million loss in the prior corresponding period. The shares were trading at $1.565 on March 26, 2026."

What's the latest from the ASX All Ords tech stock?

Appen reported its full-year 2025 results, which Gardner mentioned above, on 25 February.

Despite the company's full-year loss, Appen shares closed up 27.6% on the day of the release.

Investors reacted positively to the company's 4.5% year-over-year increase in operating revenue to $230.8 million.

On the earnings front, the company achieved a 251% increase in underlying earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA), before FX, to $12.2 million.

"FY25 was pleasing as we saw durable improvements to the business, with new wins in generative AI, operational efficiencies, and the revenue trajectory throughout the year," Appen CEO Ryan Kolln said.

The post Up 109% since November, are Appen shares still a buy today? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Shares in the All Ordinaries Index (ASX: XAO) tech stock, which provides data solutions for AI applications, closed yesterday trading for $1.325. In late morning trade on Wednesday, shares are changing hands for $1.51 apiece, up 14%.

For some context, the All Ords is up 0.9% at this same time.

This strong outperformance follows the release of Appen's full calendar year 2025 results.

Here's what's got ASX investors reaching for their buy buttons today.

(*Note, all figures below in US dollars.)

Appen share price leaps on earnings growth

For the 12 months to 31 December, the ASX tech stock reported operating revenue of $230.8 million, up 4.5% from 2024. Management said the ongoing turnaround within Appen Global was supported by strong growth from Appen China.

While Appen Global revenue of $127.9 million was down 21% year on year, Appen China revenue of $102.9 million was up 75%, driven by new and expanding large language model (LLM) related projects.

The company credited a greater mix of generative AI projects for the 1.00% increase in gross margin, which came to 40.3% in 2025.

And the Appen share price looks to be getting a lift with the company reporting a 251% year-on-year increase in underlying earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA), before FX, to $12.2 million. That reflects a 5.3% EBITDA margin.

On the bottom line, management noted that underlying net profit after tax (NPAT) improvement "was minimal despite the EBITDA improvement due to an increase in non-cash amortisation".

Appen reported a net loss after tax of $10.3 million, compared to a $10.5 million loss reported in 2024.

As at 31 December, Appen had a cash balance of $59.8 million, down 33% from last year.

What did management say?

Commenting on the full-year results boosting the Appen share price today, CEO Ryan Kolln said, "FY25 was pleasing as we saw durable improvements to the business, with new wins in generative AI, operational efficiencies, and the revenue trajectory throughout the year."

Kolln added:

Q4 in particular saw a strong finish to the year for both our China and Global businesses. Appen China achieved a meaningful milestone exceeding $100 million in revenue for the full year.

What's ahead for the Appen share price?

Looking to what's ahead for the ASX All Ords tech stock, Kolln said:

With the progress we continue to make, we are confident that Appen is well positioned to capture growth at a global scale as AI adoption deepens across consumer, enterprise and emerging applications. We have a strong balance sheet and maintain our focus on revenue growth and ongoing underlying EBITDA profitability.

Appen provided full-year 2026 revenue guidance in the range of $270 million to $300 million. The company expects to achieve an underlying EBITDA (before FX) margin of around 5% to 10%.

With today's big intraday lift factored in, the Appen share price is now up 75.6% in 2026.

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The third week of the earnings season saw some sectors soar. ASX 200 tech shares rebounded while strong results and higher oil prices pushed the index to a record high on Thursday. 

New data from CommSec revealed the Australian shares that were most traded by its clients last week, and some major players have made the list.

CommSec's 5 most-traded ASX shares last week

Zip Co Ltd (ASX: ZIP) shares dominated investor attention last week after they crashed following the company's half-year FY26 results announcement. 

At the close of the ASX on Thursday afternoon, Zip shares had dropped 33.87% to $1.865 a piece. The share price has continued tumbling this week too. At the time of writing the shares have fallen 41.13% since its results announcement less than one week ago.

The price crash ignited investor interest though. Zip shares were the most traded among Commsec clients last week, and by a significant margin too. The data shows 76% of activity was from buyers who were, mostly likely, taking advantage of the low trading price.

CSL Ltd (ASX: CSL) were also among the favorite ASX shares last week. The stock was the second-most traded among Commsec clients, with 66% from buying activity. 

The biotech stock had a subdued week last week after it crashed 15% following its half-year results and shock CEO exit earlier this month. At the time of writing the shares are down 13.88% for the year-to-date.

BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP) shares were the third most-traded among Commsec investors, although most of the activity (55%) was investors selling up their stake in the mining giant.

The miner's share price jumped nearly 6% throughout the course of last week. The gains have continued through to this morning too. BHP shares are now up 20.43% for the year-to-date. This implies the selling activity is likely investors taking strong recent gains off the table.

WiseTech Global Ltd (ASX: WTC) shares were the third most traded last week. Most activity (68%) was from buyers after the shares dropped another 2% throughout the week, even despite a broader tech sector uplift. WiseTech shares are now down 35.62% at the time of writing.

Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA) shares were the fifth most-traded, but most of the activity (76%) was investors selling up their stock. This is most likely investors taking profits after the shares jumped 10% following the bank's surprisingly strong half-year results announcement earlier this month.

What other ASX shares were investors interested in?

There was also a flurry of interest in buying Electro Optic Systems Holdings Ltd (ASX: EOS), Droneshield Ltd (ASX:DRO), Appen Ltd (ASX: APX) and Telix Pharmaceuticals Ltd (ASX: TLX) shares last week. 

There was also a lot of selling activity around Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS) shares throughout the week. 

The post Zip, CSL and BHP among CommSec's most-traded ASX shares appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

The index was largely affected by selling pressure among investors offloading their gold mining stocks. This was after the metal price slumped from its peak.

New data from CommSec reveals the Australian shares that were most traded by its clients last week, highlighting investor sentiment and market momentum.

Most traded Australian shares in the last week of January

CommSec's data shows that Droneshield Ltd (ASX: DRO) continues to be a firm favourite among its clients. The drone operator's shares were the most traded Australian stock between the 26th and 30th of January.

Droneshield shares have gathered a lot of attention recently. The company is making great progress, and its share price continues to recover following the price crash late last year.

The shares are now just 43.4% below their all-time high of $6.60 seen in October. Over the course of last week, 58% of Droneshield activity was investors buying, but 42% was investors selling up and taking some recent gains.

At the time of writing, Droneshield shares are up 8.41% for the day to $3.74 a piece. For the year to date, the shares are up 12.16%. Analysts widely rate the shares as a buy following the company's strong quarterly update last week. 

Next on CommSec's most traded Australian shares list are Global X Metal Securities Australia Ltd (ASX: ETPMAG) and BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP). 

The data shows that 69% of trades in the silver exchange-traded fund ETPMAG were purchases, after surging silver prices were thrust into the spotlight last week. Meanwhile, 65% of trades in the mining giant BHP were sales after the miner took the top spot as the largest stock on the ASX.

What else were investors interested in last week?

CommSec clients were also interested in Global X Physical Gold Structured (ASX: GOLD), 4DMedical Ltd (ASX: 4DX), PLS Group Ltd (ASX: PLS), WiseTech Global Ltd (ASX: WTC), Lynas Rare Earths Ltd (ASX: LYC), and Perth Mint Gold Structured Product (ASX: PMGOLD). Most activity for each of these shares was buying.

Appen Ltd (ASX: APX) shares also made the top 10 most traded shares list during the week, but the majority of activity (41%) was investor selling.

The post These were the 10 most traded Australian shares last week appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Four ASX shares that are rising more than most today are listed below. Here's why they are climbing:

Appen Ltd (ASX: APX)

The Appen share price is up 12% to $1.88. Investors have been buying this artificial intelligence data services company's shares since the release of a strong quarterly update last week. Appen reported revenue of $73.4 million for the three months. This was a 10% lift on the prior corresponding period and a 33% increase on the third quarter of FY 2025. Commenting on the quarter, Appen's CEO, Ryan Kolln, said: "Q4 was a strong finish to the year for both our China and Global businesses. Appen China exited the quarter with an annualised revenue run-rate growing to over $135 million – a pleasing result, providing strong momentum heading into FY26."

Imricor Medical Systems Inc (ASX: IMR)

The Imricor Medical Systems share price is up 2% to $1.99. This morning, this medical device company revealed that Oklahoma Heart Institute (OHI) has joined the VISABL-AFL clinical trial. It notes that this will support the U.S. FDA approval process for Imricor's ablation products. OHI is now the fourth U.S. site to join the trial. Imricor's Chair and CEO, Steve Wedan, added: "Oklahoma Heart Institute represents a highly sophisticated cardiology-led model of care, with the clinical vision and infrastructure already in place to support advanced MRI-guided procedures. The fact that cardiology owns and operates their MRI system creates a streamlined environment for innovation, reducing organisational complexity while enabling physicians to focus on delivering the best possible outcomes for patients."

Qoria Ltd (ASX: QOR)

The Qoria share price is up 19% to 40 cents. This follows news that the cyber safety company is merging with its peer, Aura. It is a US-based provider of intelligent online safety solutions to individuals and families. Aura will acquire all Qoria shares through an all-scrip deal at a price equivalent to 72 cents per share. Qoria's CEO, Tim Levy, said: "The internet was created to connect us, yet online safety has eroded, making trust paramount for parents, guardians and organisations, in general, for the protection of our activities online. The combination of Aura and Qoria pioneers a lifelong digital safety ecosystem; a new category that meets the urgent need for technology, education, and trust to protect people – confidently and safely, throughout their entire lives."

Xero Ltd (ASX: XRO)

The Xero share price is up 3% to $96.46. Investors have been buying this cloud accounting platform provider's shares following the release of an update on its AI and US plans. Xero also reiterated its FY 2026 guidance. It advised that total operating expenses as a percentage of revenue is expected to be around 70.5%, including the Melio business. In addition, management reaffirmed its aim of more than doubling its FY 2025 group revenue in FY 2028.

The post Why Appen, Imricor, Qoria, and Xero shares are storming higher today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Four ASX shares that are falling more than most today are listed below. Here's why they are dropping:

Appen Ltd (ASX: APX)

The Appen share price is down 9% to $1.68. This may have been driven by profit-taking from investors after the artificial intelligence data services company's shares rocketed last week. Investors were buying Appen's shares following the release of a strong quarterly update. It reported revenue of $73.4 million. This was a 10% lift on the prior corresponding period and a 33% increase on the third quarter of FY 2025. Appen's CEO, Ryan Kolln, said: "Q4 was a strong finish to the year for both our China and Global businesses. Appen China exited the quarter with an annualised revenue run-rate growing to over $135 million – a pleasing result, providing strong momentum heading into FY26."

Brightstar Resources Ltd (ASX: BTR)

The Brightstar Resources share price is down 23% to 48.2 cents. This has been driven by the gold explorer raising funds through a major capital raising. Brightstar has received binding commitments from tier one institutional investors to raise $175 million at a discount of 50 cents per new share. Brightstar's managing director, Alex Rovira, commented: "The near-term development of our Goldfields Hub, as shown in our DFS 2.0, enables Brightstar to underpin its position as an emerging Western Australian gold producer with a significant growth profile that will generate outstanding financial metrics and unlock significant value for our shareholders."

Graincorp Ltd (ASX: GNC)

The Graincorp share price is down 16% to $6.07. This has been driven by the release of guidance from the grain exporter this morning. Graincorp is now forecasting underlying EBITDA of $200 million to $240 million and underlying net profit after tax between $20 million and $50 million. These are both down materially on the prior corresponding period. The company's CEO, Robert Spurway, said: "Record global production has created an oversupply of grain, outpacing demand growth and placing downward pressure on commodity prices for the whole market. Despite strong ECA production volumes, with ABARES estimating a 2025-26 ECA winter crop of 31.2 million tonnes (mmt), the current abundance of global supply and low grain prices have reduced incentives for growers to deliver grain to market. As a result, GrainCorp is experiencing lower margins on grain handled in FY26."

Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST)

The Northern Star share price is down 7.5% to $26.78. Investors have been selling Northern Star's shares following a huge decline in the gold price on Friday night. It isn't just Northern Star that is tumbling today. Most ASX gold shares are falling heavily along with it this afternoon. This has seen the S&P/ASX All Ordinaries Gold index fall 7.1% so far today.

The post Why Appen, Brightstar, Graincorp, and Northern Star shares are sinking today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Four ASX shares that are not letting that hold them back today are listed below. Here's why they are rising:

4DMedical Ltd (ASX: 4DX)

The 4DMedical share price is up 3% to $3.53. This follows news that the respiratory imaging technology has expanded its partnership with University of Chicago Medicine to include commercial deployment of CT:VQ. 4DMedical's founder CEO, Andreas Fouras, said: "University of Chicago Medicine is one of the nation's most respected AMCs and a pioneer in medical innovation. Their expansion of our partnership to include CT:VQ represents powerful validation of both the clinical value our technology delivers and the strength of our commercialisation approach."

Appen Ltd (ASX: APX)

The Appen share price is up a further 24% to $1.75. This artificial intelligence data services company's shares have been on fire this week following the release of a strong quarterly update. Appen reported revenue of $73.4 million. This was a 10% lift on the prior corresponding period and a 33% increase on the third quarter of FY 2025. Appen's CEO, Ryan Kolln, said: "Q4 was a strong finish to the year for both our China and Global businesses. Appen China exited the quarter with an annualised revenue run-rate growing to over $135 million – a pleasing result, providing strong momentum heading into FY26."

Nine Entertainment Co Holdings Ltd (ASX: NEC)

The Nine Entertainment share price is up 4.5% to $1.14. This morning, the media company announced a major strategic shake-up. This includes acquiring digital outdoor media platform QMS Media for $850 million. In addition, it is offloading its radio assets and transitioning its regional TV station NBN to affiliate status. Nine's CEO, Matt Stanton, said: "Today's announcements mark a critical milestone in our Nine2028 transformation. These transactions will create a more efficient, higher-growth, and digitally powered Nine Group for our consumers, advertisers, shareholders and people."

ResMed Inc. (ASX: RMD)

The ResMed share price is up 3.5% to $37.66. Investors have been buying this sleep disorder treatment company's shares following the release of another strong quarterly update. ResMed reported an 11% increase in revenue US$1.4 billion thanks to increased demand for its portfolio of sleep devices, masks, and accessories. And thanks to further margin expansion, ResMed posted an 18% increase in income from operations. ResMed's chairman and CEO, Mick Farrell, said: "Our second quarter results demonstrate the strength and resilience of our global business as we continue advancing our mission to help people sleep better, breathe better, and live longer and healthier lives in the comfort of their own home."

The post Why 4DMedical, Appen, Nine Entertainment, and ResMed shares are storming higher today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Shares in the All Ordinaries Index (ASX: XAO) tech stock, which provides data solutions for AI applications, closed up 29.1% yesterday, trading for $1.41. In late morning trade on Friday, shares are changing hands for $1.81 apiece, up another 28.4%.

This sees the Appen share price up a blistering 66.5% since Wednesday's close.

For some context, the All Ords is up 0.2% since end of trade on Wednesday.

Here's what's been sending the ASX AI stock leaping higher.

(*Note, all figures below in US dollars, unless otherwise indicated.)

Appen share price rockets on strong quarter

ASX investors lit a fuse under the Appen share price on Thursday following the release of the company's December quarter results. With no fresh news out from Appen today, it looks like those results are spurring ongoing interest in the stock.

Highlights from the three months to 31 December included a 10% year-on-year increase in revenue to $73.4 million, driven by the expansion of generative AI-related projects.

Revenue at Appen China was up 81% from the prior corresponding period to $32 million. However, Appen Global revenue declined by 16% year on year to $41.4 million.

Investor enthusiasm was also spurred, with the company reporting a 182% year-on-year increase in its underlying earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) to $13.3 million (before foreign exchange movements).

Turning to the balance sheet, Appen held $59.8 million cash as at 31 December (AU$85 million at current exchange rates).

What did management say?

Commenting on the results that have sent the Appen share price rocketing, CEO Ryan Kolln said, "Q4 was a strong finish to the year for both our China and Global businesses."

He noted that, "Appen China exited the quarter with an annualised revenue run-rate growing to over $135 million – a pleasing result, providing strong momentum heading into FY26."

As for Appen Global, Kolln said:

The Appen Global division continues to improve as the business has executed against its turnaround strategy in a highly dynamic market. Q4 delivered a pleasing 56% revenue growth compared to the prior quarter and underlying EBITDA of $10.2 million – a significant improvement on Q3 and pcp.

Kolln credited that growth to new project wins, including a "$10 million-plus generative AI opportunity that has grown faster than expected and has continued into FY26".

Looking at what could impact the Appen share price in the months ahead, Kolln pointed to the company's strong balance sheet and added, "Appen is well positioned to capture growth at a global scale as AI adoption deepens across consumer, enterprise and emerging applications."

The post Appen share price surging 67% since Wednesday. Here's why appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Four ASX shares that are not letting that hold them back are listed below. Here's why they are rising:

Appen Ltd (ASX: APX)

The Appen share price is up 27% to $1.38. Investors have been buying the artificial intelligence data services company's shares following the release of a strong quarterly update. Appen reported revenue of $73.4 million. This was a 10% lift on the prior corresponding period and a 33% increase on the third quarter of FY 2025. Appen's CEO, Ryan Kolln, said: "Q4 was a strong finish to the year for both our China and Global businesses. Appen China exited the quarter with an annualised revenue run-rate growing to over $135 million – a pleasing result, providing strong momentum heading into FY26."

Imricor Medical Systems Inc (ASX: IMR)

The Imricor Medical Systems share price is up 11% to $2.11. The catalyst for this has been news that the medical device company has received US FDA approval for its NorthStar Mapping System. NorthStar is the first and only MRI-native 3D mapping and guidance system to receive FDA clearance. Imricor's chair and CEO, Steve Wedan, said: "At Imricor, we have been building a comprehensive suite of uniquely MRI-compatible devices for two decades. These devices, which include both consumable products and capital equipment, enable doctors to harness the superior soft tissue imaging of MRI to precisely guide minimally invasive procedures in a 100% radiation-free setting."

Sunrise Energy Metals Ltd (ASX: SRL)

The Sunrise Energy Metals share price is up 2.5% to $10.36. This follows the release of the company's quarterly update this morning. Management took this opportunity to remind investors about the progress it is making. It highlights that its Syerston scandium deposit is currently the world's largest and highest-grade source of mineable scandium on a granted mining lease adjacent to excellent infrastructure.

Whitehaven Coal Ltd (ASX: WHC)

The Whitehaven Coal share price is up 2.5% to $9.42. This morning, this coal miner released its quarterly update and revealed a 21% quarter on quarter increase in managed ROM production to 11Mt. Also increasing strongly were its equity sales, which rose 18% to 7Mt. Management also advised that it is on track to deliver $60 million to $80 million of annualised cost savings by 30 June 2026.

The post Why Appen, Imricor, Sunrise Metals, and Whitehaven Coal shares are charging higher today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

In morning trade, the ASX AI stock is up 32% to $1.43.

Why are Appen shares rocketing today?

Investors have been scrambling to buy the artificial intelligence data services company's shares following the release of its quarterly update.

For the fourth quarter of FY 2025, Appen reported revenue of $73.4 million. This was a 10% lift on the prior corresponding period and a 33% increase on the third quarter of FY 2025.

This reflects strong performances from both Appen China and Appen Global.

Management revealed that Appen China's revenue was $32 million during the quarter, which is up 81% on the prior corresponding period. This side of the business was operating with an annualised revenue run-rate exceeding $135 million in December. This reflects demand from generative AI related projects, including supporting international expansion for Chinese technology companies.

Appen Global's revenue came in at $41.4 million. This is up 90% on the third quarter, but down 16% on the prior corresponding period. This reflects new project wins, including a previously announced $10 million+ generative AI opportunity that has grown faster than expected.

Growing at an even stronger rate was the ASX AI stock's earnings. Appen revealed that its underlying EBITDA (before foreign exchange) was $13.3 million. This represents a 182% increase on the prior corresponding period and a $12.3 million improvement on the prior quarter.

Management commentary

Commenting on the company's performance for the quarter, its CEO and managing director, Ryan Kolln, said:

Q4 was a strong finish to the year for both our China and Global businesses. Appen China exited the quarter with an annualised revenue run-rate growing to over $135 million – a pleasing result, providing strong momentum heading into FY26. In addition to the significant revenue growth, our China business also expanded underlying EBITDA profitability on the previous quarter by $1.0 million to $4.3 million, reflecting gross margin expansion and operating leverage as the business continues to scale.

The Appen Global division continues to improve as the business has executed against its turnaround strategy in a highly dynamic market. Q4 delivered a pleasing 56% revenue growth compared to the prior quarter and underlying EBITDA of $10.2 million – a significant improvement on Q3 and pcp. Growth was driven by new project wins, including the previously announced $10 million+ generative AI opportunity that has grown faster than expected and has continued into FY26.

Outlook

No guidance has been given for FY 2026, but management appears positive on its outlook. Kolln added:

With a strong balance sheet and a dedication to delivering quality data at speed we are well positioned for sustained profitable growth. We maintain our focus on revenue growth and ongoing underlying EBITDA profitability

The post Why are Appen shares rocketing 32% on Thursday? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

By comparison, the S&P/ASX All Ordinaries Index (ASX: XAO) is down 0.14%.

The Appen share price opened higher at 91 cents per share, up 2.25%, and quickly rose to an intraday high of 94 cents, up 5.6%.

The ASX tech share then retreated, touching an intraday low of 85 cents, down 4.5%, before recovering a little to 86 cents now.

Let's take a look at that report.

Appen shares tumble amid revenue and EBITDA declines

Here are the highlights of the report:

• Revenue of US$102.1 million, down 10% on the prior corresponding period (pcp)
• Underlying earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortisation (EBITDA) after FX loss of (US$2.8 million) compared to (US$2.6 million) pcp
• Underlying EBITDA before FX loss of (US$2.2 million), a minor improvement from (US$2.3 million) in the pcp
• Underlying net loss of (US$12.2 million) compared to (US$11.8 million) pcp
• Gross margin of 37%, down from 37.7% pcp
• Cash on hand, as at 30 June, was US$60.9 million

What else happened in 1H FY25?

Appen's loss of the Google contract in March 2024 was a major component of its 10% revenue decline year over year in 1H FY25.

Appen's China division was the standout performer, with revenue of US$42.2 million, up 67% on 1H FY24.

However, the company noted that China margins are traditionally lower than other countries.

Appen said growth in China was offset by ongoing volatility in the US artificial intelligence market, including uncertainty on the timing for large language model (LLM) projects to resume.

Appen said it was continuing to try to turn around the core business by deepening customer relationships and executing its strategy.

It noted that it recently won a project with the potential to deliver more than US$10 million in annual revenue.

What did Appen management say?

Appen's CEO & Managing Director, Ryan Kolln, said:

Appen's first half delivered a strong result for our China business, exiting the period with an annualised revenue run-rate over $100 million – a pleasing result and milestone.

In addition to the significant revenue growth, the China business achieved underlying EBITDA profitability for both Q1 and Q2.

The remainder of our business was impacted by short-term volatility due to the dynamic nature of the US AI market.

Notwithstanding this, we remain confident the market opportunity remains strong, and the execution of our near-term strategy will be the enabler in capturing growth throughout the remainder of FY25 and into FY26.

Kolln said the company's focus was on achieving revenue growth and EBITDA profitability.

What's next for Appen?

Appen said its near-term strategy of increasing efficiency through technology innovation and automation will deliver about $10 million in incremental annualised cost savings in its non-China business.

The company said this cost-cutting will be executed over the rest of FY25, with about 70% expected to be completed by the end of 3Q.

Appen also intends to wind back investment in its US Government division in 2H FY25, given that policy uncertainty has made it difficult to generate meaningful short-term revenue opportunities.

The company expects to save $4 million in annual operational expenses as a result.

Appen reaffirmed its existing FY25 guidance range of revenue at the low end of between $235 million and $260 million.

The company is also guiding positive full-year underlying EBITDA.

Appen share price snapshot

Appen shares have tanked 34% over the past 12 months and 97% over the past five years.

The post Appen shares sink after 10% drop in revenue for 1H FY25 appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) also hit a new peak of 8,899.1 points, up 0.82%, on Thursday.

Meanwhile, new data released by wholesale trading platform provider AUSIEX reveals some interesting insights into investor activity.

These insights include the top 10 ASX shares being bought by Australian investors in the new financial year.

AUSIEX accounts for a third of the wholesale trading market in Australia.

The provider analysed a sample of a large cohort of its trading data to discover which ASX shares are in the buy zone for investors.

The data is split between retail investors (that's us ordinary folk) and advised investors (those who can afford professional advice).

It's interesting to see the differences in favoured stocks for investment between advised and non-advised investors.

CBA shares a point of contention

Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA) features in the top 10 ASX shares purchased by retail investors in July.

However, the market's biggest stock did not make the top 10 shares bought by advised investors.

In fact, AUSIEX said CBA was one of the most heavily sold shares among advised investors in July.

This is reflective of the large number of sell or hold ratings from professional analysts on CBA shares today.

This follows the ASX 200 bank stock's astronomical 85% rise between November 2023 and the end of FY25, when it peaked.

Lots of experts think it's time to take profits on CBA shares, and the AUSIEX data suggests advised investors are heeding that message.

Value-focused investing?

It's noteworthy that the No. 1 stock picks among retail and advised investors are companies that have had a poor run in recent years.

This suggests some value-focused buying in the hopes of upside in FY26.

The favourite among retail investors is the ASX 200 lithium share, Pilbara Minerals Ltd (ASX: PLS).

The Pilbara Minerals share price is currently $2.21, down 58% over the past two years.

The favourite among advised investors is the blue chip ASX 200 healthcare giant, CSL Ltd (ASX: CSL).

The CSL share price is $272.20, up just 2.2% over the past two years.

AUSIEX said retail investors focused on ASX resources companies and a few bank shares in July.

By contrast, advised investors bought a more diversified portfolio of ASX industrial shares.

Let's check out the rest of the top 10 most bought ASX shares.

Retail investors: Top 10 ASX shares bought in July

Advised investors: Top 10 ASX shares bought last month

The post Top 10 ASX shares being bought by Aussie investors in the new financial year appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Four ASX shares that have failed to follow the market higher today are listed below. Here's why they are falling:

Appen Ltd (ASX: APX)

The Appen share price is down 11.5% to 97 cents. Investors have been selling this artificial intelligence (AI) data services provider's shares following the release of its second quarter update. Appen reported a 6% year on year decline in revenue to $51.9 million for the quarter. Appen's CEO, Ryan Kolln, commented: "Q2 was a strong quarter for our China business, exiting the quarter with an annualised revenue run-rate over $100 million – a pleasing result and milestone. In addition to the significant revenue growth, the China business achieved underlying EBITDA profitability for both Q1 and Q2. The remainder of our business was impacted by short-term volatility due to the dynamic nature of the US AI market."

Emerald Resources NL (ASX: EMR)

The Emerald Resources share price is down 5% to $3.48. This follows the release of the gold miner's quarterly update. The company revealed quarterly production of 19.1k ounces, which was flat quarter on quarter. Looking ahead, management has downgraded its FY 2026 guidance to a range of 105k ounces to 120k ounces. This is down from 110k ounces to 125k ounces previously.

IGO Ltd (ASX: IGO)

The IGO share price is down over 6% to $4.67. Investors have been selling the battery materials miner's shares following the release of its quarterly update. While it performed reasonably positively during the three months, this was overshadowed by its weak cash flow generation and concerns over the Kwinana refinery. IGO's CEO, Ivan Vella, said: "The Kwinana lithium hydroxide refinery operated well below nameplate capacity in the quarter and did not achieve guided production tonnes for the year. Despite the strong commitment from the team at site to address operational problems and ongoing issues, IGO has low confidence in the ability of this asset to achieve meaningful, sustained improvement."

Strike Energy Ltd (ASX: STX)

The Strike Energy share price is down 6% to 12.2 cents. This morning, this energy producer released its quarterly update and revealed a 1% increase in sales volumes but a 1% decline in sales revenue. Strike Energy's CEO, Peter Stokes, remains positive on the future. He said: "Our integrated gas and power model positions Strike to capture higher-margin opportunities while ensuring energy security for the State. We enter FY26 with strong momentum, a robust balance sheet and a renewed focus on disciplined delivery."

The post Why Appen, Emerald Resources, IGO, and Strike Energy shares are falling today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

In morning trade, the artificial intelligence (AI) data services company's shares are down 15% to 93 cents.

Why is the Appen share price crashing?

The catalyst for today's decline has been the release of the company's second quarter and half year update before the market open.

According to the release, Appen reported a 6% year on year decline in revenue to $51.9 million for the quarter. This was despite the company recording strong revenue growth in China.

Appen revealed that its China business continued to perform well during the quarter, delivering 77% revenue growth over the prior corresponding period. It also highlights that this business exited the quarter with an annualised run-rate exceeding $100 million. Additionally, it achieved standalone underlying EBITDA profitability in the second quarter.

Unfortunately, management notes that the strong growth of the China business was offset by the ongoing volatility and dynamic nature of the US AI market. This includes uncertainty in timing for large LLM projects to resume.

However, it believes that recent industry consolidation has reinforced high-quality data as foundational to the future of AI.

As a result, it remains focused on the continued execution against its near term strategy. This includes increased technical expertise in the go-to-market and delivery teams. The company believes it has made continued progress in each of these areas during the quarter.

In addition, its previously announced near-term strategy of capturing efficiencies through technology innovation and automation has identified approximately $10 million in incremental annualised cost efficiencies.

These savings are very much needed. Appen's underlying EBITDA was negative $0.6 million for the second quarter and negative $2.2 million for the first half.

This was despite the China business recording positive EBITDA of $2.1 million for the quarter and $2.9 million for the half.

Management commentary

Commenting on the quarter, Appen's CEO, Ryan Kolln, said:

Q2 was a strong quarter for our China business, exiting the quarter with an annualised revenue run-rate over $100 million – a pleasing result and milestone. In addition to the significant revenue growth, the China business achieved underlying EBITDA profitability for both Q1 and Q2.

The remainder of our business was impacted by short-term volatility due to the dynamic nature of the US AI market. Notwithstanding this, we remain confident the market opportunity remains strong, and the execution of our near-term strategy will be the enabler in capturing growth throughout the remainder of FY25 and into FY26. As the market continues to evolve, the companies best positioned to deliver trusted, scalable data will be those that shape the next generation of AI development. That's where Appen has a unique and powerful role to play.

Outlook

Management advised that its FY 2025 revenue is currently tracking towards the low end of its $235 million to $260 million guidance range.

The Appen share price is now down 63% over the past 6 months.

The post Why is the Appen share price crashing 15%? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

The revolutionary technology is rapidly reshaping companies and markets.

And business leaders are increasingly warning of the impact AI will have on jobs.

Jim Farley of Ford Motor Co. (NYSE: F) was the latest high-profile CEO to offer his thoughts on the subject.

He stated AI could replace 50% of all white-collar jobs.

While such news may come as a dire warning for some, others will be looking for ways to capitalise on this technological transition.

So, here are 3 top ASX AI shares for your watchlist.

Life360 Inc. (ASX: 360)

Life360, a location-sharing app designed to help families and close groups stay connected, now claims to have 80 million users.

The company continues to expand its offerings and drive efficiencies by utilising AI.

And investors have cashed in on the company's success, with its share price doubling over the past year.  

Life360 shares, currently changing hands for about $32.95 each, still have significant growth ahead, according to analysts.

Bell Potter has a price target of $37.50 on Life360 shares, implying a potential upside of around 14% over the next year.

NextDC Ltd (ASX: NXT)

Data centre operator NextDC has positioned itself to ride the AI wave.

As demand for AI processing increases, so too does the need for high-performance data centres.

NextDC owns and operates data centre facilities across Australia and is pressing ahead with its expansion plans abroad, particularly in South East Asia.

A series of recent contract wins has coincided with a recovery of the company's share price.

The NextDC share price sunk to $10.04 in April in the wake of Trump's tariffs turmoil.

But the data centre operator's share price has since recovered.

NextDC shares are currently changing hands for about $13.78 each, having gained more than 37% in the past few months.

Brokers still see an upside in NextDC at its current valuation.

Morgans has a buy rating and a $18.80 price target on NextDC shares.

Ord Minnett also has a buy rating on NextDC shares with an $18.00 price target.

Appen Ltd (ASX: APX)

Appen was once among the most celebrated AI shares on the ASX.

The company provides datasets used by major tech companies to develop AI and machine learning capabilities.

After listing in 2015, Appen shares hit an all-time high of $31.52 in 2020.

But the Appen share price has since come crashing back to earth, with Appen shares currently trading at around $1.12 each.

Still, a fresh wave of investor confidence has pushed the Appen share price up over the past year.

Appen shares have gained almost 150% over the past 12 months after the company's share price dropped below $0.50 at one point last year.

Last month, Appen stated it's forecasting revenue between $235 million and $260 million for FY25.

If the result comes in at the higher end of the projection, the company will realise growth of 10.9% for the year.

Although things may be looking up for Appen, it has proved to be a highly volatile company for investors over the years.

The post 3 top performing ASX AI shares for your watchlist appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Things were even better for the shareholders of the ASX shares listed below which more than doubled in value over the period. Let's see why they rocketed over the 2025 financial year:

Appen Ltd (ASX: APX)

The Appen share price was in fine form over the 12 months and raced 141% higher.

Investors were fighting to buy the artificial intelligence data services company's shares after its turnaround started to gather pace.

A recent guidance update at its annual general meeting also got investors excited. At the event, Appen revealed that it is expecting revenue between $235 million and $260 million for 2025. This implies flat to 10.9% growth for the year. It also expects positive underlying EBITDA for the full year.

Austal Ltd (ASX: ASB)

The Austal share price was on fire in the last financial year with a stunning gain of 152%.

There were a number of catalysts for this. This includes the shipbuilder winning material contracts from the US Navy and Gotlandsbolaget of Sweden. The latter is a $265 million to $275 million contract for the design and construction of a hydrogen-ready vehicle passenger ferry.

In addition, its inclusion in the ASX 200 index late in the financial year and speculation that it could be takeover target gave its shares a boost. In respect to the takeover speculation, last month, Austal revealed that South Korean shipbuilder and substantial shareholder, Hanwha Group, has received approval from the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) to increase its shareholding to 19.9%.

Hanwha previously made a takeover offer for the company in 2024. The market appears to believe this could be the beginnings of another approach.

TechnologyOne Ltd (ASX: TNE)

The TechnologyOne share price was a very strong performer and delivered a return of 126% in the 2025 financial year.

This was driven by an impressive performance from the enterprise software provider in both FY 2024 and the first half of FY 2025. In respect to the latter, TechnologyOne posted a 21% jump in annualised recurring revenue (ARR) to $511.1 million.

Incredibly, this meant that it achieved its $500 million ARR target 18 months ahead of target. Management has now set itself a target of reaching $1 billion by 2030.

TechnologyOne's CEO, Ed Chung, said: "We are on track to double our business again and surpass total ARR of $1 billion by FY30, from our current base of $511 million. We will continue to invest for the long term in R&D to build platforms for growth."

The post 3 ASX shares that rose 100%+ in FY25 appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

It's no surprise, then, that interest in AI stocks on Australian share markets has surged.

A recent AUSIEX report reveals a 43% increase in trade volumes and a 41% increase in traded value year over year.

And some ASX-listed stocks are more in favour than others.

Appen Ltd (ASX: APX) was the most traded artificial intelligence stock on the ASX from April 1 to June 15. 

This was followed by NextDC Ltd (ASX: NXT) and then BrainChip Holdings Ltd (ASX: BRN).

Here is the full list of the 10 most traded AI stocks in Q2 of the 2025 calendar year, according to AUSIEX data.

Appen

Appen provides data for training AI models, including natural language processing and machine learning systems. 

The company's shares are trading 2.66% higher at $1.16 today, which represents an impressive 136.73% increase over the year to date.

Appen's share price suffered a dramatic 54.68% decrease over 72 hours in late February after the company posted a 14% decrease in revenue in its annual 2024 results. This was mostly due to the termination of its contract with Google. 

The share price dropped to a low of $0.78 in April and has since slowly begun to recover.

BrainChip Holdings 

Brainchip specialises in neuromorphic computing, developing the Akida chip. 

The company's shares are trading 7.9% higher today at $0.205 each. 

For the year, BrainChip's shares are down 4.65% thanks to a 74% spike in late-December. Investor buying rocketed after the company secured a commercial licence agreement with Frontgrade Gaisler, a Swedish leader in radiation-hardened microprocessors for space applications.

Dicker Data Ltd (ASX: DDR) 

Dicker Data distributes IT hardware and software, including AI solutions, to resellers. 

The company's shares are trading 0.38% lower today at $7.97 a piece.

Over the year, Dicker Data's share price has slowly corrected downwards and is 18.76% lower to date. The trend follows the company's half-year results announcement in August last year.

FBR Ltd (ASX: FBR) 

FBR, or Fastbrick Robotics, develops robotic systems for construction, integrating AI for autonomous bricklaying. 

The company's shares are trading hands 8.33% lower today at $0.0055 each. The share price has fallen 85.9% since February this year after the company released a disappointing update.

The current trading price represents a 78% decline over the year. 

Macquarie Technology Group Ltd (ASX: MAQ) 

Macquarie Technology offers data centre and cloud services that facilitate AI workloads. 

The company's shares are trading 1.28% today at $65.06. Over the year, the share price is down 29.96%.

Megaport Ltd (ASX: MP1) 

Megaport provides network connectivity services that support AI applications requiring high-speed data transfer. 

The company's share price is trading hands at $13.47 today, 0.37% higher. The AI company is benefiting from the AI demand boom this year. The share price has risen 102.2% since January, and is up 14.25% for the year.

The team at Morgans has an accumulate rating and $15.50 price target on its shares.

NextDC 

NextDC operates data centres necessary for AI processing and storage needs. 

The company's share price is trading 0.91% higher today at $14.38. The stock is 18.34% lower over the year after the price plunged in April. But it has since posted a strong and consistent recovery.

Morgans is very bullish on NextDC and sees it as a great way to invest in AI. It has a buy rating and a $18.80 price target on its shares.

Opyl Ltd (ASX: OPL) 

Opyl applies AI to improve clinical trials. 

The company's shares are trading 42.11% higher today at $0.0080. Year-to-date, the stock's price is 35% higher.

Straker Translations Ltd (ASX: STG) 

Straker offers AI-powered language translation services. 

The company's share price is 7.14% higher today at $0.45 per share and is flat over the year. 

Weebit Nano Ltd (ASX: WBT) 

Weebit Nano develops AI-integrated memory solutions.

The company's shares are trading 4.27% higher today at $1.71. Weebit's share price spiked in November last year, and again in December, after the company said it was "well-funded for technical and commercialisation activities". 

Since then, the share price has returned to levels seen before the spikes.

The post 10 most traded AI stocks on the Australian share market in Q2 appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

While most ASX All Ords shares climbed with the market, some delivered stronger gains than others.

For example, listed below are the best-performing ASX All Ords shares in May. Here's how they performed:

Life360 Inc (ASX: 360)

The Life360 share price was the best performer on the All Ordinaries index with a gain of 51% last month. This was driven by the location technology company's impressive first quarter update. Life360 posted a 32% increase in revenue over the prior corresponding period to US$103.6 million. A key driver of this was a 37% jump in core subscription revenue to US$76.2 million. Growing even quicker was Life360's adjusted EBITDA, which more than tripled to US$15.9 million. Commenting on the quarter, CEO Chris Hulls, said: "Life360 started 2025 strongly, achieving record highs in MAUs, subscribers, and Q1 net additions, while making meaningful progress against our strategic roadmap."

Electro Optic Systems Holdings Ltd (ASX: EOS)

The Electro Optic Systems share price wasn't far behind with a gain of 50% in May. Investors were fighting to get hold of this defence and space systems company's shares after it announced that it had won a major counter-drone contract. EOS revealed that it won a new order for Remote Weapon Systems worth 31 million euros (A$53 million). The company noted that the order is from a European naval systems integration business and is for its flagship "Slinger" Counter-Drone Remote Weapon System (RWS). The systems will be configured for naval deployment.

Appen Ltd (ASX: APX)

The Appen share price was on form and also recorded a gain of 50% last month. The catalyst for this was the artificial intelligence data services company's guidance update at its annual general meeting. At the event, Appen revealed that it is expecting revenue between $235 million and $260 million. This implies flat to 10.9% growth for the year. It also expects positive underlying EBITDA for FY 2025. A rebound in AI stocks last month also gave the ASX All Ords share a boost.

Catapult Group International Ltd (ASX: CAT)

The Catapult Group share price was a strong performer and rose 43% during the period. This was driven by the release of the sports technology company's stellar full year results. Catapult recorded a 19% increase in revenue to US$116.5 million and an 18% lift in annual contract value (ACV) to US$101.2 million. This underpinned the more than tripling of EBITDA to US$14.8 million. A bullish broker note out of Morgan Stanley at the end of the month also gave the ASX All Ords share a further lift.

The post These were the best-performing ASX All Ords shares in May appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Meanwhile, the benchmark S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) rose 0.88% to finish at 8,434.7 points on Friday.

Tariff turmoil continued last week after the US Court of International Trade blocked most of President Donald Trump's global tariffs.

The court ruled that Trump had misused the International Emergency Economic Powers Act to implement his tariffs.

The Trump administration appealed and the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit quickly gave it a reprieve.

So, for now, the US tariffs remain in effect. You can view a complete list of the reciprocal US tariffs by country here.

Seven of the 11 market sectors finished in the green last week.

Let's recap.

Technology shares led the ASX sectors last week

Another strong result from Nvidia Corp (NASDAQ: NVDA) buoyed US tech stocks with a flow-on effect to ASX 200 tech shares.

Nvidia reported 1Q FY25 revenue of US$44.1 billion, up 69% year-over-year and up 12% from the previous quarter.

Nvidia dropped its report after the US market closed on Thursday morning.

On Thursday, the S&P/ASX 200 Information Technology Index (ASX: XIJ) lifted 0.69%.

That night, the US Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC) lifted 0.38%.

Overall last week, the WiseTech Global Ltd (ASX: WTC) share price rose by 7.1% to close at $107.15 on Friday.

TechnologyOne Ltd (ASX: TNE) shares continued their upward momentum off the back of the company's 1H FY25 report.

The TechnologyOne share price rose by 6.35% to $41.06 per share last week. It reached an all-time high of $41.35 on Friday.

Life360 Inc (ASX: 360) shares soared 5.61% to $33.33 per share.

Megaport Ltd (ASX: MP1) shares lifted 4.81% to finish the week at $13.52.

Catapult Group International Ltd (ASX: CAT) shares soared 10.17% to $5.85 per share.

The Catapult share price hit a record of $5.88 on Friday. There was no news from the ASX 200 global sports data company last week.

The Siteminder Ltd (ASX: SDR) share price rose 5.26% to $4.60.

Gentrack Group Ltd (ASX: GTK) shares lifted 4.5% to $11.39 per share.

Appen Ltd (ASX: APX) shares ascended 4.35% to $1.20 apiece.

ASX 200 market sector snapshot

Here's how the 11 market sectors stacked up last week, according to CommSec data.

Over the five trading days:

The post Strong gains for Wisetech, TechnologyOne, and Catapult amid ASX 200 tech sector lead appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.