Bellevue Gold shares closed yesterday trading for $1.38. In morning trade on Tuesday, shares are changing hands for $1.35 apiece, down 2.2%.

For some context, the ASX 200 is down 0.2% at this same time. And in a better comparison of golden apples to golden apples, the S&P/ASX All Ordinaries Gold Index (ASX: XGD) is down 1.8%, with the gold price remaining in a downward trend.

Longer term, the Bellevue Gold share price remains up 59% over the past 12 months.

Here's what the miner just reported.

ASX 200 gold stock notches record production

Over the June quarter, Bellevue gold produced 41,643 ounces of gold, up 2.2% quarter on quarter.

That helped lift full-year FY 2026 gold production to 143,539 ounces. That's up 13.8% from FY 2025, and it represents a new record annual production for the ASX 200 gold stock. It also came in at the higher end of the company's full-year production guidance of 130,000 ounces to 150,000 ounces.

Bellevue produced the gold at an average all-in sustaining cost (AISC) of $2,827 per ounce over the year. That's at the lower end of FY 2026 AISC guidance of $2,800 to $3,100 per ounce.

The miner sold 142,000 ounces of the yellow metal over the year for an average realised price of $4,058 per ounce. FY 2026 revenue from gold sales reached $576.3 million.

Looking to the year ahead, the ASX 200 gold stock upgraded it FY 2027 production guidance to between 150,000 ounces and 170,000 ounces of gold. Management forecasts an FY 2027 AISC in the range of $2,800 to $3,100 per ounce.

Turning to the balance sheet, as at 30 June, Bellevue reported cash and gold on hand of $206 million.

What did management say?

Commenting on the results that have yet to lift the ASX 200 gold stock today, Bellevue Gold CEO Darren Stralow said, "Our results are strong and we are hitting our targets. This has resulted in us delivering FY26 in line with our schedules and budgets."

Stralow added:

The performance was underpinned by consistent mine grades, with the steady production quarter on quarter reflecting the fact that the mine is now established and operating in five long-term mining areas.

Looking ahead, Stralow concluded:

With the resumption of underground and surface exploration at the mine, we are already delivering encouraging results and identifying opportunities for future production growth as additional mining areas are defined.

We continued to reduce the hedge book well ahead of schedule, with forward sales commitments reduced by 83,400 ounces to 68,700 ounces in FY26, resulting in us being free of mandatory hedging until the end of FY27.

We anticipate further reductions in advance of the schedule.

The post Guess which ASX 200 gold stock just achieved all-time high full year gold production appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

What did Bellevue Gold report?

• June quarter gold production rose to 41,643oz (March quarter: 40,745oz)
• FY26 annual gold production hit 143,539oz at average all-in sustaining cost (AISC) of A$2,827/oz
• Free cash flow for the quarter (after hedge pre-deliveries) was $27.8 million; cash and gold on hand reached $206 million at 30 June 2026
• Project delivered to the top half of FY26 production guidance (130,000–150,000oz); AISC within guided range (A$2,600–2,900/oz)
• FY27 production guidance upgraded to 150,000–170,000oz at AISC of A$2,800–3,100/oz
• Underlying bank debt unchanged at $100 million, with no minimum repayments until CY27

What else do investors need to know?

The company achieved record mined and processed ore tonnes for the June quarter, maintaining consistent grades and strong metallurgical recovery at 96%. Development rates improved, and stockpiles of high-grade ore increased, giving flexibility heading into FY27.

Bellevue also progressed its contractor transition, with Barminco now mobilised and maintaining solid operational performance. Construction of the new paste plant is underway and on schedule, aimed at supporting mining in key areas.

Exploration remains a bright spot, with expanded underground and surface drilling. Early results at Tribune South returned notable gold intercepts, potentially opening new extensions for future growth.

What did Bellevue Gold management say?

Bellevue Managing Director and CEO, Darren Stralow, said:

Our results are strong and we are hitting our targets. This has resulted in us delivering FY26 in line with our schedules and budgets.

The performance was underpinned by consistent mine grades, with the steady production quarter on quarter reflecting the fact that the mine is now established and operating in five long-term mining areas.

With the resumption of underground and surface exploration at the mine, we are already delivering encouraging results and identifying opportunities for future production growth as additional mining areas are defined.

We continued to reduce the hedge book well ahead of schedule, with forward sales commitments reduced by 83.4koz to 68.7koz in FY26, resulting in us being free of mandatory hedging until the end of FY27. We anticipate further reductions in advance of the schedule.

What's next for Bellevue Gold?

Bellevue has lifted its FY27 production forecast, expecting to produce 150,000–170,000 ounces at an AISC of A$2,800–A$3,100 per ounce. The company expects costs to decrease in the second half as the contractor transition completes and key capital projects, like the paste plant, are delivered.

Exploration investment will rise to $25–30 million to support resource growth, with further drilling at Tribune South and other targets underway. Bellevue remains committed to sustainability, operating Australia's first net-zero (Scope 1 and 2) gold mine, and continues to focus on profitable, resilient operations supported by strong cash flow.

Bellevue Gold share price snapshot

The Bellevue Gold share price is outperforming the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) on a 12-month basis with a stunning 62% gain. This has been driven by a strong operational performance and a gold price above US$4,000 an ounce.

View Original Announcement

The post Bellevue Gold reports record production and FY27 guidance upgrade appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Analysts look across the ASX stock market for ideas, so it's intriguing when one of those experts labels a business a buy. It may be particularly compelling when numerous analysts call a business a buy.

Let's look at two of the most heavily-backed ASX shares right now.

Paladin Energy Ltd (ASX: PDN)

Paladin is a sizeable uranium producer, with 75% ownership of the large Langer Heinrich Mine (LHM), which is in Namibia. It also owns exploration and development assets in Canada and Australia.

According to CMC Invest, there have been 13 analyst ratings on the business within the last three months – nine were buy, two were hold, and two were sell.

At the time of writing, the average price target from those 13 analysts was $12.68, suggesting a possible rise of around 30% over the next 12 months from where it is at the time of writing.

The business recently released its FY26 fourth quarter update for the period ending June 2026. Uranium production was 12.3 million pounds for the quarter and 4.82 million pounds for the 2026 financial year. That compares to guidance of between 4.5 million pounds and 4.8 million pounds.

The average realised price was US$70.6 per pound, while the cost of production was US$51.6 per pound.

Paladin Energy also noted in that update that the LHM ramp-up has been successfully completed.

Bellevue Gold Ltd (ASX: BGL)

The other ASX I'll highlight in this article is Bellevue, an ASX gold share. The Bellevue gold project is one of the world's largest gold discoveries and the highest-grade gold development project in Australia.

The project is located 40km to the north-west of Leinster in the Goldfields region of Western Australia.

According to CMC Invest, there have been seven ratings on the business within the last three months. Of those seven ratings, six were buys, and one was a hold.

Among those seven experts, the average price target is $1.89 – that implies a possible rise of close to 50% over the next year from its current level.

The business recently announced its quarterly update for the three months to June 2026.  It revealed 41,643 ounces of gold produced. Annual production was around 144,000 ounces, which was above the midpoint of its guidance range.

Bellevue reported strong underlying free cash flow, before voluntary future hedge book pre-deliveries, of around $110 million. Cash and gold inventory rose to $206.4 million at the end of the quarter.

The post 2 ASX shares highly recommended to buy: Experts appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

After a shaky week that ended with a significant drop on Friday, investors came back from the weekend with some pep in their steps today. After staying comfortably in green territory all session, the ASX 200 ended up closing 1.39% higher. That leaves the index at a flat 8,894 points.

This happy start to the Australian trading week followed a mixed conclusion to the American week on Friday night (our time).

The Dow Jones Industrial Average Index (DJX: .DJI) overcame some jitters to close 0.46% higher.

However, the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC) went the other way, dropping down 0.64%.

But let's get back to this week and our local markets now and check out how today's gains filtered down into the various ASX sectors this session.

Winners and losers

Today's gains were almost universal, with only one sector missing out on a rise.

That unlucky sector (no prizes for guessing) was energy shares. The S&P/ASX 200 Energy Index (ASX: XEJ) was abandoned, crashing 2.99% lower.

It was a veritable party everywhere else, though.

Leading the celebrations were tech stocks, with the S&P/ASX 200 Information Technology Index (ASX: XIJ) rocketing 4.52% today.

Close behind that were gold shares. The All Ordinaries Gold Index (ASX: XGD) soared up a happy 3.89%.

Broader mining stocks didn't miss out either, illustrated by the S&P/ASX 200 Materials Index (ASX: XMJ)'s 2.42% surge.

Real estate investment trusts (REITs) also ran hot. The S&P/ASX 200 A-REIT Index (ASX: XPJ) roared up 1.68% this session.

Industrial stocks saw decent demand too, with the S&P/ASX 200 Industrials Index (ASX: XNJ) galloping 1.53% higher.

Healthcare shares lived up to their name this Monday. The S&P/ASX 200 Healthcare Index (ASX: XHJ) jumped 1.44% by the closing bell.

Communications stocks were right behind that, as you can tell from the S&P/ASX 200 Communication Services Index (ASX: XTJ)'s 1.41% leap.

Financial shares didn't miss out. The S&P/ASX 200 Financials Index (ASX: XFJ) advanced 1.19%.

Nor did consumer discretionary shares, with the S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Discretionary Index (ASX: XDJ) increasing its value by 0.81%.

Its consumer staples counterpart held up. The S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Staples Index (ASX: XSJ) enjoyed a 0.68% lift today.

Finally, utilities shares staged a late recovery to get across the line, evident by the S&P/ASX 200 Utilities Index (ASX: XUJ)'s 0.4% bounce.

Top 10 ASX 200 shares countdown

Today's chart-topper was gold stock Capricorn Metals Ltd (ASX: CMM). Capricorn shares had a blowout, exploding 15.13% higher to finish at $13.70 each. Most gold stocks did well, but Capricorn was boosted further by some pleasing market updates, which we examined here.

Here's the rest of today's best: 

Our top 10 shares countdown is a recurring end-of-day summary that shows which companies made big moves on the day. Check in at Fool.com.au after the weekday market closes to see which stocks make the countdown.

The post Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

After opening sharply lower and spending most of the session in red territory, the ASX 200 ended up staging a late afternoon recovery, closing with a minuscule 0.023% rise. That leaves the index at 8,793.3 points.

This bumpy day for ASX investors followed a rough start to the American trading week on Wall Street's boards last night.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average Index (DJX: .DJI) started the week on a sour note, falling 0.59%.

The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC) fared slightly better, though, dropping by 0.048%.

But let's return to the local markets now and take stock of what the various ASX sectors were up to this Tuesday.

Winners and losers

Despite the broader market's nominal lift, green sectors outnumbered red sectors this session.

Leading those red sectors were healthcare stocks. The S&P/ASX 200 Healthcare Index (ASX: XHJ) crashed 1.05% lower today.

Communications shares were on the nose as well, with the S&P/ASX 200 Communication Services Index (ASX: XTJ) tumbling 0.88%.

Consumer discretionary stocks weren't popular either. The S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Discretionary Index (ASX: XDJ) saw its value tank 0.83%.

We could say the same for financial shares, as you can verify by the S&P/ASX 200 Financials Index (ASX: XFJ)'s 0.71% dive.

Next up were industrial stocks. The S&P/ASX 200 Industrials Index (ASX: XNJ) had dipped 0.34% by the closing bell.

Our last losers were consumer staples shares, with the S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Staples Index (ASX: XSJ) slipping 0.08%.

Turning to the green sectors now, these were led by gold stocks. The All Ordinaries Gold Index (ASX: XGD) soared 3.64% higher this Tuesday.

Tech shares ran hot as well, evident from the S&P/ASX 200 Information Technology Index (ASX: XIJ)'s 3.26% surge.

Mining stocks were also in demand. The S&P/ASX 200 Materials Index (ASX: XMJ) jumped 1.33% today.

Real estate investment trusts (REITs) were next, with the S&P/ASX 200 A-REIT Index (ASX: XPJ) leaping 0.61%.

Then we had energy shares. The S&P/ASX 200 Energy Index (ASX: XEJ) saw a 0.4% increase this session.

Finally, utilities stocks got over the winner's line, illustrated by the S&P/ASX 200 Utilities Index (ASX: XUJ)'s 0.22% lift.

Top 10 ASX 200 shares countdown

Gold miner Minerals 260 Ltd (ASX: MI6) took out today's top spot. Minerals 260 shares spiked 7.69% higher this Tuesday to close at 64 cents apiece.

There wasn't any news out from the company, but most gold shares had a strong session.

Here's how the other winners landed their planes: 

Our top 10 shares countdown is a recurring end-of-day summary that shows which companies made big moves on the day. Check in at Fool.com.au after the weekday market closes to see which stocks make the countdown.

The post Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

The post Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

The post Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

As you may recall, on 28 January, the gold price created a stir by setting a new all-time high just north of US$5,420 per ounce. At the time, that saw the gold price up around 93% over the previous 12 months.

But since that high water mark, the gold price and ASX 200 gold stocks have come under heavy pressure.

On Friday, gold was fetching US$3,994 per ounce. That's down more than 26% since the end of January.

As for the Aussie gold miners, since market close on 29 January, the S&P/ASX All Ordinaries Gold Index (ASX: XGD) has tumbled 29%, materially underperforming the 1.8% losses posted by the ASX 200 over this same period.

Why is the gold price in free fall?

After its meteoric rise in 2025, the gold price has tumbled back to earth, in part due to expectations of higher interest rates in many major economies.

That's particularly relevant for the United States, with the US Federal Reserve now increasingly expected to lift interest rates rather than cut them to combat resurgent inflation in the world's top economy.

Gold, which pays no yield itself, tends to perform better in low or falling rate environments.

Commenting on the outlook for the gold price, and by connection ASX 200 gold stocks, Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA) head of commodities Vivek Dhar said (quoted by the Australian Financial Review):

A rebound in gold prices is now likely contingent on US inflation and labour market data weakening further. Our view that the Fed needs to raise the Fed Funds rate by 75 basis points from December, which the market is under-pricing, [and] suggests further headwinds to gold futures.

Five ASX 200 gold stocks to weather the storm

A number of leading fund managers said they've reduced their holdings in smaller ASX gold explorers in favour of the larger gold producers.

"The gold price has taken an absolute beating. Now is not the time to be going for more speculative gold names, or those that are relatively high cost," Argonaut's David Franklyn said (quoted by the AFR).

Franklyn named ASX 200 gold stocks Genesis Minerals Ltd (ASX: GMD), Ramelius Resources Ltd (ASX: RMS), Greatland Resources Ltd (ASX: GGP), and Capricorn Metals Ltd (ASX: CMM) as miners that he's still optimistic on.

And while his fund has reduced its overall exposure to the gold sector, Acorn Capital portfolio manager Rick Squire expects Bellevue Gold Ltd (ASX: BGL) is well-positioned to outperform. That's partly due to the ASX 200 gold stock's lower reliance on ever more expensive diesel following its renewable energy investments.

According to Squire:

We're looking at companies that have the cash to withstand the dip or, if they are developers, are [at] least fully financed and are in that construction phase. With the gold pullback, there will be a change [in] investor sentiment around what projects are likely to get up and their ability to fund them.

The post 5 ASX 200 gold stocks to buy and hold amid the crashing gold price appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

It was a very happy return to trading indeed for the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) and most ASX shares this Monday. After a stellar end to last week's trading on Friday, investors came back from the weekend having lost none of their pizazz.

Perhaps reacting to some positive global geopolitical events over the weekend, the ASX 200 spent the entire session comfortably in the green and closed a happy 1.25% higher. That leaves the index at a flat 8.914 points – a near-two-month high.

This celebratory session on the local markets followed a similarly joyous day that closed the American trading week last Friday night (our time).

The Dow Jones Industrial Average Index (DJX: .DJI) was in a great mood, rising 0.7%.

The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC) wasn't quite as enthusiastic, but still gained 0.31%.

But let's get back to this week and ASX shares now and dive a little deeper into how the various ASX sectors fared this Monday.

Winners and losers

The post Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Over the month just past, the ASX 200 gained 0.8%.

Evolution Mining shares outpaced those gains, closing at $12.14 apiece on 29 May, up 2% for the month.

Newmont shares just trailed the benchmark index, gaining 0.6% in May to close the month trading for $151.27 each.

Northern Star shares were the laggards of the pack. Northern Star shares slumped 10.4% in May, finishing the month at $18.81.

All of the ASX 200 gold stocks faced some modest headwinds, with the gold price declining 1.6% from US$4,614 per ounce on 1 May to US$4,540 on 29 May, the last trading day of the month.

Still, at the close of the month, the gold price remained up more than 32% year on year.

Why did Northern Star shares underperform in May?

Northern Star shares have been under pressure since notching an all-time high of $31.73 in early March.

Among other issues, investors have been concerned over recent production downgrades along with rising cost forecasts.

The ASX 200 gold stock dropped another 2.1% on 21 May. That came after the miner announced that its managing director, Stuart Tonkin, will step down from his position in Q1 FY 2027, after 13 years with the company.

Turning our attention to today, you might have noticed that Northern Star shares are surging 10.7% to $20.49 apiece.

That big leg-up comes amid news (courtesy of The Australian Financial Review) that US hedge fund juggernaut Elliott Management is calling for a major overhaul at the beleaguered Aussie gold giant.

Elliot Management said it now holds more than $1 billion worth of Northern Star shares.

Elliot Management stated:

The market views Northern Star as a poor operator with a pattern of operational missteps and repeated failures to execute capital projects on time and on budget…

Northern Star owes it to its shareholders to promptly explore all strategic alternatives, including a sale of the company. We believe there would be significant strategic interest in Northern Star.

Stay tuned!

How did these other top ASX 200 gold stocks perform in May?

Moving away from the biggest three, here's how these other leading ASX 200 gold stocks stacked up in May amid the 1.6% retrace in the gold price:

• Ramelius Resources Ltd (ASX: RMS) shares fell 4.2%
• Bellevue Gold Ltd (ASX: BGL) shares gained 2.0%
• Genesis Minerals Ltd (ASX: GMD) shares gained 0.9%
• Perseus Mining Ltd (ASX: PRU) shares fell 4.8%
• Vault Minerals Ltd (ASX: VAU) shares fell 6.5%
• Westgold Resources Ltd (ASX: WGX) shares fell 4.1%
• Ora Banda Mining Ltd (ASX: OBM) shares gained 3.8%
• Greatland Resources Ltd (ASX: GGP) shares gained 2.1%

The post Buying ASX 200 gold stocks? Here's how Evolution Mining, Newmont and Northern Star shares stacked up in May appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

During afternoon trade, Bellevue Gold shares climbed 2.5% to $1.55.

The rally continues an impressive run for shareholders. The ASX gold stock is now up roughly 75% over the past 12 months. By comparison, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) has gained just 3% over the same period.

So, what exactly did the ASX gold stock announce?

High-grade ore source

Bellevue Gold revealed that it has delivered first ore from the Deacon North underground mine at its Bellevue Gold Project in Western Australia.

Importantly, management of the ASX gold stock said the milestone was achieved on schedule. That matters because Deacon North has the potential to become a major high-grade ore source for the company as production ramps up through FY26 and FY27.

The company also confirmed that all major mining areas at the Bellevue Gold Mine are now in production. Mining operations at Deacon Main and Viago are already established and tracking in line with FY26 guidance.

Management said growing ore contributions from Deacon Main, Viago, and now Deacon North are expected to drive production growth across the next two financial years.

Operational setbacks, cost pressures

Investors appear to like what they are seeing.

The market has been watching the ASX gold stock closely, following earlier operational setbacks and cost pressures. Hitting key development milestones on time could help rebuild investor confidence in the company's execution capabilities.

Higher-grade ore production is also critical. If Bellevue can successfully increase access to high-grade material, it could help lift gold production, improve margins, lower unit costs, and strengthen free cash flow.

Electromagnetic surveys for next phase drilling

The ASX gold stock also flagged more exploration activity ahead.

Bellevue Gold said it has completed the first surface drilling program, while a second phase drilling program is already underway. The company expects that work to continue through the June quarter and into FY27.

At the same time, downhole electromagnetic surveys are beginning to refine exploration targeting and support the next phase of drilling activity.

Management also revealed that it expects a sixth underground diamond rig to arrive on site during the June 2026 quarter. The rig will then begin underground exploration drilling in FY27.

What next for the ASX gold stock?

Today's announcement builds on Bellevue Gold's stronger March quarter update released last month.

During the quarter, the company produced 40,745 ounces of gold while lowering costs and generating a record underlying free cash flow of roughly $158 million.

Management of the ASX gold stock also reaffirmed FY26 guidance, which was another positive sign for investors looking for greater operational consistency.

Gold prices remain near historically elevated levels, which is also helping sentiment toward ASX gold shares more broadly.

For Bellevue Gold, however, the focus increasingly appears to be shifting toward operational delivery. And right now, the market seems pleased with the progress.

The post Guess which ASX gold stock is edging higher today on drilling news appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Long-term body of work

The company said in a statement to the ASX that the contract would run for four years with the option to extend for another year.

The company said further:

The award follows a competitive tender process and marks the commencement of a new operating relationship between Barminco and Bellevue. The Bellevue Gold Project is a long-life, high-quality underground gold operation in a well-established mining jurisdiction and represents an important addition to Barminco's Australian portfolio. Under the agreed scope of works Barminco will provide all underground mining services to support the ongoing development and production activities.

Perenti said the contract would require about $75 million of growth capital to be spent.

Perenti Managing Director Mark Norwell said:

We are excited to partner with Bellevue as we focus on delivering enduring value four our clioents, our people, the communities in which we work and ultimately our shareholders. This contract award reinforces Barminco as a global leader in underground mining, further strengthening Barminco's underground mining portfolio and earnings in Australia. This award supports our strategy to deliver sustainable cash generation and future earnings growth.

Barminco also operates other mines in Western Australia, including the nearby Gold Fields-owned Agnew Mine, Regis Resources Ltd (ASX: RRL)'s Duketon underground mines, Ramelius Resources Ltd (ASX: RMS)'s Dalgaranga mine, and AngloGold Ashanti's Sunrise Dam Mine.

Bellevue Managing Director Darren Stralow said:

This was a highly competitive process, as shown by the strength of the tenders and the final result. Barminco presented an extremely attractive proposal across safety, operational capability, and technical expertise, positioning Bellevue strongly for the next phase of operational delivery and growth. Their depth of underground mining experience and global scale will further support Bellevue as the operation continues to mature and optimise.  

Building on a solid base

Perenti has solidly grown its revenue over the past four years, from $2.43 billion in FY22 to $3.48 billion in FY25.

Guidance for the current year is revenue of $3.45 to $3.55 billion, EBIT of $335 to $350 million, and free cash flow of more than $170 million.

In a recent investor presentation, the company said that in addition to its Australian operations, it was expanding in the US, growing from zero projects in FY19 to eight currently.

The company also recently announced that Dr Vanessa Torres will commence as the new Managing Director on June 1, having previously worked at South32 Ltd (ASX: S32).

Perenti shares were 3.5% higher at $2.10 in early trade. The company is valued at $1.89 billion.

The post Which ASX 200 mining services provider is charging higher on a big contract win? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

In early trade, the ASX mining stock is down 2% to $6.05.

This follows the release of an announcement before the market open.

What did the ASX mining stock announce?

This morning, the mining and mining services company announced a major contract win.

The first contract is a $274 million contract from Core Lithium Ltd (ASX: CXO) to undertake all underground development and production activities at the Finniss Lithium Project in the Northern Territory.

The ASX mining stock notes that the contract has a minimum three-year term, with a two-year extension option, and is expected to generate steady-state annual revenue of $120 million.

The scope of work includes surface infrastructure and portal establishment at the BP33 mine and associated underground mining activities.

The company's managing director, Bill Beament, said:

We are delighted to secure the Core Lithium contract, which again reflects the skills and depth of our first-class mining services team. We are also very pleased to add a lithium project of this quality and scale to our mining services portfolio, given its long mine life and strong fundamentals. We are currently preparing tenders for mining services opportunities and receiving extremely positive feedback from potential clients about the strength of our team and our approach to mining and contracting.

What else was announced?

The ASX mining stock separately announced that its contract with Bellevue Gold Ltd (ASX: BGL) will come to an end shortly.

It notes that completion of this contract will coincide with the scheduled start of underground mining at Core Lithium's Finniss Lithium Project.

Management highlights that the demobilisation of the electrical infrastructure, fixed plant and mobile mining fleet at Bellevue Gold will release ~$50 million worth of capital that is scheduled to be redeployed throughout the Develop business.

As part of the demobilisation, Develop intends to retain the personnel it employed at Bellevue. It points out that this team includes some of the most skilled and experienced underground miners in Australia.

Beament commented:

We are operating in a very favourable contracting market and therefore it is important that we strike the right balance between delivering value for our clients and returns for our shareholders. We have built a world-class underground mining team and it is imperative that we protect margins, not only for our shareholders but also to ensure that we can continue to invest in the best people and the latest equipment for the benefit of our clients.

This means being selective in the contracts we take on and the terms on which we deliver our services. Our new contract with Core Lithium is ideally suited to our key strengths and will see us relocate highly experienced people from our Bellevue site to the Finniss project.

The post ASX mining stock drops despite big lithium news appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

This tough Tuesday session for Australian investors follows a more optimistic start to the American trading week last night (our time).

The Dow Jones Industrial Average Index (DJX: .DJI) managed to keep its head above water, rising 0.19%.

The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC) was slightly more downbeat, gaining 0.1%.

Let's return to the local markets now and take stock of how today's drop affected the various ASX sectors this session.

Winners and losers

The post Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

The world is waiting for Iran's response to a US proposal to end the war and re-open the Strait of Hormuz.

The Strait of Hormuz is a key shipping channel for Middle Eastern oil and gas, with about 20% of the world's supply transported through it.

For now, the Strait remains effectively closed for a tenth week amid fresh clashes between the US and Iran overnight.

Meanwhile, brokers have indicated continuing confidence in several ASX 200 shares by reaffirming their buy ratings this week.

Let's take a look.

Zip Co Ltd (ASX: ZIP)

The Zip share price is $2.57, down 2.7% today.

Over the past 12 months, this ASX 200 financial share has risen 40%.

That sounds impressive, but it hides the fact that Zip shares have weakened 23% in the calendar year to date.

UBS remains confident that Zip shares will rebound.

The broker renewed its buy rating this week with a 12-month price target of $3.10.

This suggests a potential 20% upside ahead.

JB Hi-Fi Ltd (ASX: JBH)

The JB Hi-Fi share price is $73.87, down 0.8% today.

Over the past six months, this ASX 200 retail share has fallen 25%.

Morgans renewed its accumulate rating on JB Hi-Fi shares with a lowered target of $82.90 this week.

This suggests a potential 12% upside ahead.

Morgans said:

JBH provided a solid 3Q26 sales trading update, showing the ongoing resilience in demand for its product categories.

Management did caution going into one of the key trading periods (EOFY), that they were seeing supplier component costs increases, stock availability shortages and ongoing heightened competitive activity.

We see this as likely reflecting potential margin pressure in the 4Q.

Bellevue Gold Ltd (ASX: BGL)

The Bellevue Gold share price is $1.55, down 2.2% on Friday.

Over the past month, this ASX 200 gold mining share has fallen 17%.

UBS renewed its buy rating on Bellevue Gold shares this week.

The broker shaved its 12-month price target to $2, suggesting a 28% upside ahead.

CSL Ltd (ASX: CSL)

The CSL share price is $120.61, down 1.2%, after hitting a 9-year low of $119.61 today.

CSL shares have halved in value over the past 12 months.

UBS renewed its buy rating on CSL shares today with a reduced price target of $205.

This indicates a potential 68% upside ahead.

Flight Centre Travel Group Ltd (ASX: FLT)

The Flight Centre share price is $10.73, down 1.5% today.

This ASX 200 travel share is struggling in 2026, down 29% in the calendar year to date.

Morgans remains confident of a turnaround though.

The broker renewed its buy rating on Flight Centre shares this week.

However, it slashed its 12-month price target from $18.05 to $14.55.

This still suggests a potential 35% capital gain ahead. 

Morgans said:

Surprisingly, FLT has maintained its FY26 earnings guidance. It noted that the conflict is creating near-term uncertainty and temporarily disrupting international travel patterns. It is having a more significant impact on Leisure (April profit was down ~A$10m on the pcp).

While the reiteration of guidance was better than feared, our concern is that following its key trading period (May-June), FLT will likely need to revise guidance as we expect leisure demand will remain weak.

If it wasn't for this conflict, FLT would have had a great year given its results for the first nine months were strong. 

Polynovo Ltd (ASX: PNV) 

The Polynovo share price is $1.01, down 2.7% today.

This ASX 200 healthcare share has lost almost a third of its valuation over the past 12 months.

Morgans maintained its buy rating on Polynovo shares this week.

The broker lowered its price target from $1.83 to $1.56, which still implies a great potential upside of 54%.

Morgans commented:

We have reviewed our FY26 and FY27 forecasts and conclude the company is set to deliver a strong 2H26 and continue that growth trajectory into FY27.

PNV is one of the most shorted stocks on the ASX. If PNV can demonstrate a growing profit profile the short position could be reduced materially. 

Magellan Financial Group Ltd (ASX: MFG)

The Magellan share price is $8.92, down 1.8% today.

Over the past month, this ASX 200 financial share has fallen 10.5%.

Morgans renewed its buy rating on Magellan shares today.

The broker trimmed its 12-month price target from $11.99 to $11.19.

This suggests a potential 24% upside ahead.

Neuren Pharmaceuticals Ltd (ASX: NEU)

The Neuren Pharmaceuticals share price is $12.86, down 1.5% on Friday.

This ASX 200 healthcare share has fallen 32% in the calendar year to date.

However, Bell Potter is confident that the stock price will come back.

The broker renewed its buy rating today with a 12-month price target of $22.

This implies a near-70% capital gain ahead.

The post 8 ASX 200 shares with renewed buy ratings this week appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

In late morning trade on Thursday, Evolution Mining shares are up 3.8% at $12.79; Newmont shares are up 2.5% at $159.67, and Northern Star shares are up 2.2% at $21.25 apiece.

For some context, the ASX 200 is up 0.7%.

And, as witnessed by the 3.5% intraday gains posted by the S&P/ASX All Ordinaries Gold Index (ASX: XGD), it's not just Evolution, Newmont, and Northern Star shares that have their shine back today.

Here's how these other top ASX 200 gold stocks are tracking at this same time:

• Ramelius Resources Ltd (ASX: RMS) shares are up 5.0% at $3.59
• Bellevue Gold Ltd (ASX: BGL) shares are up 2.7% at $1.60
• Genesis Minerals Ltd (ASX: GMD) shares are up 4.2% at $6.15
• Perseus Mining Ltd (ASX: PRU) shares are up 2.4% at $5.56
• Vault Minerals Ltd (ASX: VAU) shares are up 5.1% at $4.68
• Westgold Resources Ltd (ASX: WGX) shares are up 5.0% at $5.72
• Ora Banda Mining Ltd (ASX: OBM) shares are up 4.1% at $1.33

So, why are the big Aussie gold miners back to outperforming today?

ASX 200 gold stocks jump on Iran peace talk hopes

While each company has its own unique strengths and challenges, the common thread lifting all the above ASX 200 gold stocks looks to be renewed hopes of a peace deal between the United States and Iran.

Overnight news reports indicate that Iran is currently reviewing the latest proposal from the US in an effort to end the conflict.

The gold price jumped more than 3.5% on that news to top US$4,700 per ounce. The yellow metal has retraced a touch since then, trading for US$4,694 per ounce at the time of writing, according to data from Bloomberg.

Despite its haven appeal, gold – and by connection ASX 200 gold stocks – came under heavy selling pressure following the outbreak of the Middle East conflict. Indeed, on 27 February, bullion was fetching US$5,279 per ounce.

One of the biggest headwinds facing gold following the outbreak of the war has been the global surge in energy prices.

Why is that of particular importance to the gold price?

Well, as the RBA reminded investors this week, rocketing energy costs are in turn stoking inflation and leading to rising interest rates. And gold, which pays no yield itself, tends to perform better in a low or falling rate environment.

The post How ASX 200 gold stocks like Newmont, Evolution Mining and Northern Star shares have their shine back today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Despite a brief foray into positive territory this morning, the ASX 200 couldn't quite hold it together and closed with a 0.37% loss. That leaves the index at 8,697.1 points.

This Garfield-esque start to the Australian trading week follows a mixed end to the American trading week on Friday night (our time).

The Dow Jones Industrial Average Index (DJX: .DJI) gave up an early lead to close 0.31% lower.

The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC) was more upbeat, though, rising a confident 0.89%.

But let's get back to this week and our local markets now by taking a deeper dive into how today's trading affected the various ASX sectors this session.

Winners and losers

The post Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Goodman Group (ASX: GMG)

Goodman shares are trading 2.7% higher at $28.32 at the time of writing on Tuesday afternoon. After tumbling over 19% between mid-February and late-March, the shares have recovered 10.8% of their value over the past two weeks. The shares are still 8.2% lower for the year to date, but they're 0.7% above this time last year.

Goodman shares faced headwinds amid concerns about Australia's interest rate direction, high borrowing costs, and overall investor uncertainty. 

There is also broad weakness across the property sector, and the slump in investor confidence has flowed through to the company's latest earnings results. 

But it doesn't look like the downturn is here to stay.

Brokers rate the ASX 200 shares as a strong buy and tip an average target price of $35.34 over the next 12 months. At the time of writing, that implies a potential 35.51% upside. 

AMP Ltd (ASX: AMP)

AMP shares are up 0.36% at the time of writing on Tuesday, to $1.40 a piece. The latest uptick means the shares are now 14.4% higher over the past month and 27% higher than just one year ago. 

AMP shares crashed over 26% off the back of a disappointing financial results announcement in February. Meanwhile, ongoing geopolitical tensions and concerns that surging oil prices will push Australia's inflation data higher have weighed heavily on financial stocks like AMP over the past month.

But since bottoming close to a 52-week low in mid-March, they've finally started rebounding. AMP recently confirmed it will undertake an on-market buyback of up to $150 million of ordinary shares, and Blair Vernon has officially stepped into the CEO role. Sentiment could well follow suit.

Brokers have a strong buy rating on the ASX 200 shares and tip a potential 36.19% upside to $1.75 per share, at the time of writing.

Bellevue Gold Ltd (ASX: BGL)

Bellevue Gold shares are also down slightly today, by 0.75% to $1.72 per share. Many ASX gold stocks crashed in mid-March thanks to a sizable retreat in gold prices, and Bellevue wasn't immune. 

After dropping to a four-month low in late March, the shares have climbed 37.7% higher at the time of writing. But the gold miner's shares are also up an enormous 91.3% from just one year ago.

Brokers seem to think they can keep climbing higher, too. They have a strong buy rating on the ASX 200 shares and tip a 35.3% upside to $2.07 per share over the next 12 months.

The post 3 ASX 200 shares tipped to climb another 35% appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

By the time trading wrapped up, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) had gained a pleasing 1.85%. That lifts the index up to 8,534.3 points.

This happy Wednesday for the local markets comes despite a far more bearish morning over on Wall Street.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average Index (DJX: .DJI) couldn't quite stick the landing, dropping 0.18%

The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC) fared even worse, falling by 0.84%.

But let's get back to the ASX now and dig into what was going on amongst the various ASX sectors today.

The post Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

In early afternoon trade on Tuesday, the ASX 200 is up 0.4%, having given back earlier intraday gains of 1.6%.

The gold miners' strong rally is coming off the boil as well, though ASX gold shares are still outpacing the benchmark. At the time of writing, the S&P/ASX All Ordinaries Gold Index (ASX: XGD) is up 2.6% after having been up 5.3% in morning trade.

Here's how these ASX 200 gold stocks are performing at this same time:

• Northern Star shares are up 2.0% at $17.55
• Newmont Corp (ASX: NEM) shares are up 4.8% at $138.10
• Evolution Mining shares are up 3.1% at $11.86
• Ramelius Resources Ltd (ASX: RMS) shares are up 3.3% at $3.42
• Bellevue Gold Ltd (ASX: BGL) shares are up 0.4% at $1.26
• Genesis Minerals Ltd (ASX: GMD) shares are up 6.3% at $5.69
• Perseus Mining Ltd (ASX: PRU) shares are up 2.4% at $4.67
• Vault Minerals Ltd (ASX: VAU) shares are up 2.1% at $3.69
• Westgold Resources Ltd (ASX: WGX) shares are up 3.1% at $5.18
• Ora Banda Mining Ltd (ASX: OBM) shares are down 1.0% at $1.04

Boom!

With the exception of Ora Banda, here's why the Aussie gold miners are outperforming today.

ASX 200 gold stocks rally on Trump's Iran reprieve

After getting hammered throughout most of March following the outbreak of the Iran war on 28 February, ASX 200 gold stocks like Evolution Mining and Northern Star are rallying today amid hopes that the conflict could end sooner than later.

This comes after United States President Donald Trump extended his 48-hour deadline to begin bombing Iranian power plants if Iran doesn't fully reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

Trump offered a five-day reprieve, saying the US is in talks with Iran. An assertion that Iranian authorities have denied.

As you'll have noticed at the petrol station, the oil price has rocketed since the start of the war, with Iran all but closing the vital shipping route in retaliation.

Indeed, on Friday, Brent crude oil was trading north of US$112 per barrel, according to data from Bloomberg.

But the oil price plunged almost 11% overnight, briefly dipping below US$100 per barrel, and is currently trading at US$102.76 per barrel following Trump's comments.

And should the US succeed in reopening the Strait of Hormuz, which carries around 20% of the world's oil shipments, Trump predicted that the oil price would "drop like a rock".

Why is that important for ASX 200 gold stocks like Northern Star, Newmont, and Evolution Mining?

Mostly because soaring energy costs will rekindle global inflation and, in turn, lead to higher interest rates. And gold, which pays no yield itself, historically struggles in high or rising interest rate environments.

Stay tuned!

The post Why ASX 200 gold stocks like Northern Star and Evolution Mining are storming higher today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.