Will the market be able to build on this on Thursday? Here are five things to watch:

ASX 200 set to open flat

The Australian share market looks set for a subdued session on Thursday despite a relatively good night on Wall Street. According to the latest SPI futures, the ASX 200 is expected to open the day flat this morning. In late trade in the United States, the Dow Jones is down 0.25%, the S&P 500 is up 0.6% and the Nasdaq is 1.2% higher.

Buy Evolution Mining shares

Bell Potter thinks investors should be buying Evolution Mining Ltd (ASX: EVN) shares. This morning, the broker has retained its buy rating on the gold miner's shares with a trimmed price target of $16.45. It said: "EVN offers effectively unhedged gold and copper exposure via a portfolio of high quality, long-life assets in Tier 1 jurisdictions, overseen by a high-quality management team. EVN has stated its intention to pass growing free cash flows on to shareholders."

Oil prices mixed

ASX 200 energy shares Beach Energy Ltd (ASX: BPT) and Santos Ltd (ASX: STO) could have a subdued session on Thursday after oil prices traded mixed. According to Bloomberg, the WTI crude oil price is up 0.1% to US$91.30 a barrel and the Brent crude oil price is down 0.1% to US$88.12 a barrel. Traders appear to be waiting to see what happens with US-Iran peace talks.

Nufarm shares rated as a buy

Nufarm Ltd (ASX: NUF) shares could continue to rise after surging 11% on Wednesday. That's the view of analysts at Bell Potter, who have put a buy rating and $3.60 price target on the agricultural chemicals company's shares. It said: "NUF has provided a trading update, highlighting +16-19% YoY growth in 1H26 uEBITDA and a deleveraging of the balance sheet slightly ahead of expectations."

Gold price softens

ASX 200 gold shares including Newmont Corporation (ASX: NEM) and Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST) could have a soft session on Thursday after the gold price dropped overnight. According to CNBC, the gold futures price is down 0.65% to US$4,817.9 an ounce. Traders continue to wait for news from the US-Iran peace talks before making any major moves.

The post 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Thursday appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Will the market be able to build on this on Wednesday? Here are five things to watch:

ASX 200 to rise again

The Australian share market looks set to rise again on Wednesday following a strong night on Wall Street. According to the latest SPI futures, the ASX 200 is expected to open the day 47 points or 0.5% higher. In the United States, the Dow Jones rose 0.65%, the S&P 500 climbed 1.2%, and the Nasdaq jumped 1.95%.

Oil prices sink

ASX 200 energy shares such as Beach Energy Ltd (ASX: BPT) and Santos Ltd (ASX: STO) could have a poor session after oil prices sank overnight. According to Bloomberg, the WTI crude oil price is down 6.95% to US$92.20 a barrel and the Brent crude oil price is down 4.4% to US$88.85 a barrel. The catalyst for this was optimism that a US-Iran peace deal could be on the way.

Telix shares on watch

Telix Pharmaceuticals Ltd (ASX: TLX) shares will be on watch on Wednesday after the radiopharmaceuticals company announced a US$550 million convertible notes offering. The company's managing director and CEO, Dr. Christian Behrenbruch, said: "The refinance of the existing Convertible Bonds represents our proactive approach to capital management. The new Convertible Bonds will continue to provide the business with cost effective financing." Telix notes that the new convertible bonds represent attractive, low-cost financing and are non-dilutive until any potential future conversions occur. The initial conversion price will be at a premium to Telix's current share price.

Gold price rises

ASX 200 gold shares Newmont Corporation (ASX: NEM) and Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST) could have a good session on Wednesday after the gold price stormed higher overnight. According to CNBC, the gold futures price is up 2% to US$4,864.5 an ounce. This was driven by confirmation that a second round of US-Iran peace talks are taking place.

Mineral Resources shares downgraded

Morgans has downgraded Mineral Resources Ltd (ASX: MIN) shares this week. According to the note, the broker has reduced its rating to accumulate (from buy) and cut its price target to $67.00 (from $68.00). It said: "We have updated our 2H26 forecasts to reflect weather impacts in 3Q26, which we expect to have a modest effect on Onslow iron ore shipments, alongside minor increases to cost and capex assumptions driven by inflation in shipping and fuel."

The post 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Wednesday appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

In late morning trade on Monday, the ASX 200 is down 0.4%, while the S&P/ASX 200 Energy Index (ASX: XEJ) is up 2.8%.

Here's how these leading Australian oil and gas producers are tracking at this same time:

• Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS) shares are up 3.6%
• Santos Ltd (ASX: STO) shares are up 2.7%
• Beach Energy Ltd (ASX: BPT) shares are up 5.6%
• Karoon Energy Ltd (ASX: KAR) shares are up 6.0%

Now, here's why investors are flocking to the energy sector today.

ASX 200 energy stocks lift off on unsuccessful peace talks

Aussie investors went into the weekend with hopes, albeit faint ones, that peace talks between the US and Iran might lead to a rapid end to the war.

By market open this morning, investors knew that those talks had failed to reach an agreement. Investors also learned that a disappointed President Donald Trump said the US will now implement a blockade on all ships using Iranian ports. That blockade will reportedly commence on Monday night Aussie time.

With the potential loss of some two million barrels a day of Iranian oil that had still be passing through the Strait of Hormuz, global oil and gas prices rocketed on the news, offering a boost to ASX 200 energy stocks like Santos and Woodside shares today.

Brent crude oil is up 7.7% overnight, currently trading back at US$102.54 per barrel.

What are the experts saying?

Commenting on the expected US blockade on vessels using Iranian ports, Mona Yacoubian, director of the Middle East Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, said (quoted by Bloomberg):

It strikes me that that is quite an ambitious endeavour, and it doesn't solve the problem of disruption… Experience suggests that the Iranians will not concede but will respond in kind.

Haris Khurshid, chief investment officer at Karobaar Capital, noted that investors may have been overly optimistic heading into the peace talks, which is pressuring the broader market today while lifting ASX 200 energy stocks.

"The market got ahead of itself on de-escalation," Khurshid said.

Prior to the blockade announcement, Dionissios Kontos, co-founder of Meyka AI, sounded a moderately positive note.

"The nuance is worth watching," Kontos said. "Iran's foreign ministry left the door open for further talks, so this isn't a full collapse, just prolonged uncertainty."

How have these ASX 200 energy stocks been tracking?

With the overnight surge in global energy prices, the Brent crude oil price is up 68.5% in 2026.

Here's how the above four ASX 200 energy stocks have performed year to date (compared to a 2.4% gain posted by the benchmark index):

• Woodside shares are up 45.7%
• Santos shares are up 31.8%
• Beach Energy shares are up 9.6%
• Karoon Energy shares are up 35.6%

The post How ASX 200 energy stocks like Woodside and Santos are surging in Monday's sinking market appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Will the market be able to build on this on Thursday? Here are five things to watch:

ASX 200 set to fall

The Australian share market looks set to fall on Thursday despite a good night on Wall Street. According to the latest SPI futures, the ASX 200 is expected to open the day 24 points or 0.25% lower this morning. In the United States, the Dow Jones rose 2.85%, the S&P 500 jumped 2.5% and the Nasdaq stormed 2.8% higher.

CSL shares given hold rating

Bell Potter still thinks it is too early to buy CSL Ltd (ASX: CSL) shares. This morning, the broker has retained its hold rating on the biotherapeutics giant's shares with a $155.00 price target (from $175.00). It said: "The current share price reflects a materially de-rated PE multiple of ~15x our FY27 NPAT forecast, bringing CSL in line with the global biopharma peer set which also trades at an avg PE of 15x. While CSL doesn't face the same extent of generic/biosimilar competition as these biopharma peers, it does have a lower growth outlook of ~2.5% revenue CAGR (3yr) per our forecast compared to >4% avg for global peers."

Oil prices sink

ASX 200 energy shares including Beach Energy Ltd (ASX: BPT) and Santos Ltd (ASX: STO) could have a subdued session on Thursday after oil prices crashed overnight. According to Bloomberg, the WTI crude oil price is down 14.6% to US$96.42 a barrel and the Brent crude oil price is down 12% to US$96.19 a barrel. This has been driven by the signing of a ceasefire agreement between the US and Iran.

Dividend payday

Today is payday for shareholders of a number of ASX 200 shares. This includes CSL, Capricorn Metals Ltd (ASX: CMM), Qube Holdings Ltd (ASX: QUB), Brambles Ltd (ASX: BXB), SGH Ltd (ASX: SGH), Atlas Arteria Group (ASX: ALX), and NRW Holdings Limited (ASX: NWH). CSL will be rewarding its shareholders with a $1.81 per share dividend later today.

Gold price lifts

ASX 200 gold shares Newmont Corporation (ASX: NEM) and Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST) could have a good session on Thursday after the gold price pushed higher overnight. According to CNBC, the gold futures price is up 1.3% to US$4,748.1 an ounce. Traders appear to believe that falling oil prices could limit interest rate hikes, which would be good news for the precious metal.

The post 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Thursday appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

He describes what he calls a "double-sided ceasefire" contingent on Iran opening the Strait of Hormuz to allow oil supplies to flow back through.

The latest update has renewed hopes that the two nations may be moving toward a ceasefire agreement to end the conflict.

The announcement saw the price of WTI crude oil plummet below US$95 per barrel this morning, down from over US$117 per barrel yesterday, according to Trading Economics data.

The prices for Brent oil, gasoline, and heating oil have also dropped significantly.

The latest market shift has acted as a tough headwind for ASX oil and gas or energy shares this morning, with many opening in the red.

These are the stocks to watch today.

Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS)

Woodside shares have crashed 10.7% this morning, to $31.97 a piece. Today's share price drop follows a steep share price rally during the first three months of 2026, which accelerated significantly since the conflict between the US and Iran ramped up in late February. 

Woodside shares spiked to a multi-year high of $34.93 at the close of the ASX on Tuesday, having jumped over 51% since the start of 2026.

Santos Ltd (ASX: STO)

Santos shares have dropped 6% in Wednesday morning trade, after news that a reprieve in global oil restrictions saw investors sell up their shares. The Australian oil and gas exportation and production company's shares are changing hands for $7.60 a piece at the time of writing.

Santos shares spiked to a four-year high of $8.08 at the close of the ASX yesterday afternoon, having jumped 31.5% since the markets opened on the 2nd of January.

Beach Energy Ltd (ASX: BPT)

Beach Energy shares are also suffering in early morning trade. At the time of writing, the Australian oil and gas exploration and production company's shares are down 7.1% to $1.21 a piece.

The shares jumped over 20% in March alone, but after this morning's sell-off, they're trading 0.8% below where they were this time last year.

Ampol Ltd (ASX: ALD)

The Australian petroleum company is the largest transport energy distributor and retailer in Australia, with more than 1,800 Ampol-branded service stations across the country as of June 2025. Unsurprisingly, news that the US and Iran could be reaching a peace deal has resulted in a sharp drop in its share price.

At the time of writing, Ampol shares are down 4.2% to $32.03 each; however, they are still up 13.7% since the war escalated in late February.

Viva Energy Group Ltd (ASX: VEA)

Viva Energy Australia is a listed Australian company that owns the Geelong Oil Refinery and is licensed to retail Shell-branded fuels across Australia under a licence agreement. It also owns and retails fuel through Coles Express, OTR, Reddy Express, Liberty Oil, and Westside Petroleum-branded service stations. 

Like Ampol, its share price is suffering from downward pressure from lower oil prices this morning. At the time of writing, Viva shares have crashed 9.9% to $2.38. Viva shares have soared, however, over the past 5 weeks. Even after this morning's decline, the share price is 34.5% higher than in late February. 

The post ASX shares to watch as oil price crashes appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Will the market be able to build on this on Wednesday? Here are five things to watch:

ASX 200 to rise

The Australian share market looks set to rise again on Wednesday following a mixed night on Wall Street. According to the latest SPI futures, the ASX 200 is expected to open the day 18 points or 0.2% higher. In the United States, the Dow Jones dropped 0.2%, but the S&P 500 rose 0.1% and the Nasdaq climbed 0.1%.

Buy Telix shares

The team at Bell Potter thinks investors should be buying Telix Pharmaceuticals Ltd (ASX: TLX) shares following its first-quarter sales update. In response to the update, the broker has retained its buy rating and $19.00 price target on Telix's shares. It said: "The company continues to make good progress on multiple pipeline products. Short term news flow includes acceptance by the FDA of the resubmitted NDA for Pixclara and the amendment to the IND for TLX591 (prostate cancer Tx). We maintain our Buy rating. FY26 EBITDA is increased by ~US$21m to US$55.3m."

Oil prices fall

ASX 200 energy shares Beach Energy Ltd (ASX: BPT) and Santos Ltd (ASX: STO) could have a subdued session after oil prices pulled back overnight. According to Bloomberg, the WTI crude oil price is down 1.7% to US$110.41 a barrel and the Brent crude oil price is down 3.8% to US$105.27 a barrel. This was driven by optimism that a US-Iran peace deal could be on the way.

Gold price rises

ASX 200 gold shares including Newmont Corporation (ASX: NEM) and Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST) could have a good session on Wednesday after the gold price pushed higher overnight. According to CNBC, the gold futures price is up 1.1% to US$4,734.4 an ounce. Traders have been buying gold in response to Donald Trump's comments on Iran.

Dividend payday

A number of ASX 200 shares will be rewarding their shareholders with their latest dividends on Wednesday. This includes financial technology company Iress Ltd (ASX: IRE), gold miners Regis Resources Ltd (ASX: RRL) and Vault Minerals Ltd (ASX: VAU), media giant News Corporation (ASX: NWS), and private health insurer NIB Holdings Limited (ASX: NHF). The latter is paying a fully franked 13 cents per share interim dividend today.

The post 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Wednesday appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Will the market be able to build on this on Thursday? Here are five things to watch:

ASX 200 set to rise

The Australian share market looks set for another rise on Thursday following a good night on Wall Street. According to the latest SPI futures, the ASX 200 is expected to open the day 13 points or 0.15% higher this morning. In late trade in the United States, the Dow Jones is up 0.6%, the S&P 500 is up 0.9% and the Nasdaq is 1.25% higher.

Buy Harvey Norman shares

Harvey Norman Holdings Ltd (ASX: HVN) shares could be undervalued according to analysts at Bell Potter. This morning, the broker has retained its buy rating on the retail giant's shares with a reduced price target of $6.70. Based on its current share price of $4.87, this implies potential upside of 38%. It said: "Following the sharp sell-off in the name since Oct-25, HVN's 1-year forward P/E of ~13x (as per BPe) appears attractive considering the new store driven growth in international retailing (UK, Malaysia, Croatia), refit program in Australia and opportunities to grow their real estate portfolio as Australia's single largest owner in large format retail with a global portfolio of ~$4.6b."

Oil prices fall

ASX 200 energy shares Beach Energy Ltd (ASX: BPT) and Santos Ltd (ASX: STO) could have a subdued session on Thursday after oil prices dropped overnight. According to Bloomberg, the WTI crude oil price is down 1.6% to US$99.73 a barrel and the Brent crude oil price is down 2.8% to US$101.03 a barrel. This has been driven by optimism that a US-Iran peace deal is near.

Graincorp shares are fully valued

The team at Bell Potter has also been looking at Graincorp Ltd (ASX: GNC) shares. However, it thinks the grain exporter's shares are fully valued at current levels and has retained its hold rating and $6.80 price target. It said: "As the focus shifts to the upcoming crop, soil moisture profiles are in general the opposite of a year ago, being improved in the south and drier in the north. At this stage, the increasing shift in outlook towards an El Nino bias in 2HCY26 warrants consideration against potential yield outcomes."

Gold price rises

ASX 200 gold shares Newmont Corporation (ASX: NEM) and Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST) could have a good session on Thursday after the gold price pushed higher overnight. According to CNBC, the gold futures price is up 2.4% to US$4,658.4 an ounce. A softer US dollar gave the precious metal a lift.

The post 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Thursday appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Indeed, from market close on 27 February through to the closing bell on 31 March, the S&P/ASX 200 Energy Index (ASX: XEJ) rocketed a jaw-dropping 18.5%.

Here's how these top Aussie oil and gas producers fared over the month just past:

• Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS) shares jumped 23.8%
• Santos Ltd (ASX: STO) shares gained 17.8%
• Beach Energy Ltd (ASX: BPT) shares gained 18.2%
• Karoon Energy Ltd (ASX: KAR) shares surged 32.9%

So, why were investors piling into the energy sector in March?

ASX 200 energy share leap on oil price surge

The massive outperformance for ASX 200 energy shares like Woodside and Karoon was driven by a surge in oil and gas prices following the US and Israeli attack on Iran.

On 27 February, Brent crude oil was trading for US$72.50 a barrel, according to data from Bloomberg. On 31 March that same barrel was fetching US$107.50, up more than 48% over the month.

That meteoric increase came as some 20% of the world's oil supply routes were upended by the war's essential closure of the Strait of Hormuz, with gas supplies also hit by attacks on Middle East LNG plants.

Atop hoping for share price gains, investors also look to have been buying the ASX 200 energy shares with hopes that surging profits will see them declare supersized dividends later this year.

What else happened with the Aussie energy giants in March?

Beach Energy, Santos and Woodside were among the ASX 200 energy shares to release significant announcements in March.

On 9 March, Beach and Santos announced that they had taken a Final Investment Decision (FID) to proceed with their joint venture Moomba Central Optimisation  (MCO) project, located in South Australia.

Commenting on the decision, which saw Santos shares close up 2.4% on the day and Beach Energy shares gain 1.3%, Beach Energy CEO Brett Woods said:

The MCO project will unlock significant value from the Cooper Basin asset, driven by efficiencies gained from the rationalisation of existing satellite facilities into a new centralised compression facility, and supporting future production growth from the Central Fields.

March also saw Woodside reveal its new CEO, after former CEO Meg O'Neill stepped down in December following four years in the top role.

On 18 March, the ASX 200 energy share reported that Liz Westcott was taking over as CEO and Managing Director, effective immediately.

Westcott had been serving as acting CEO since O'Neill stepped down in December. Before that she served as Woodside's Executive Vice President and COO, Australia.

The post How ASX 200 energy shares like Santos, Beach and Woodside surged in March's sinking market appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Will the market be able to build on this on Wednesday? Here are five things to watch:

ASX 200 to jump

The Australian share market looks set for a strong session on Wednesday following a very positive night on Wall Street. According to the latest SPI futures, the ASX 200 is expected to open the day 119 points or 1.4% higher. In late trade in the United States, the Dow Jones is up 2.3%, the S&P 500 is up 2.75% and the Nasdaq is 3.7% higher.

Buy Catapult shares

Bell Potter sees a lot of value in Catapult Sports Ltd (ASX: CAT) shares at current levels. This morning, the broker has reaffirmed its buy rating and $4.75 price target on the sports technology company's shares. It said: "The other key take-out from investor day is that the medium-term targets remain on track and the outlook remains positive. The key target is ACV of US$200m+ in "2-3 years" which in theory will be achieved by reaching 5k pro teams (vs c.4k now) and ACV per pro team of c.US$40k (vs c.US$30k now)."

Oil prices mixed

ASX 200 energy shares Beach Energy Ltd (ASX: BPT) and Santos Ltd (ASX: STO) will be on watch on Wednesday after a mixed night for oil prices. According to Bloomberg, the WTI crude oil price is down 0.85% to US$102.02 a barrel and the Brent crude oil price is up 4.9% to US$118.31 a barrel. While there is optimism that the Iran war could soon end, there is no guarantee that the Strait of Hormuz will reopen.

Gold price rises

ASX 200 gold shares Newmont Corporation (ASX: NEM) and Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST) could have a good session on Wednesday after the gold price stormed higher overnight. According to CNBC, the gold futures price is up 3.4% to US$4,680.7 an ounce. This was driven by optimism that the Iran war could be nearing an end.

AGL update

AGL Energy Limited (ASX: AGL) shares will be on watch today after the energy giant released an update on the Kwinana Gas Power Generation 2 (K2) Project. It is a 220 MW open-cycle, dual-fuel gas turbine power station to be co-located with the existing Kwinana Swift facility in Western Australia. AGL has reached a final investment decision to proceed with the project. AGL's CEO, Damien Nicks, said: "It marks another important milestone in AGL's strategy to develop new firming capacity to support the build out of renewables, and further expands the breadth and capacity of the company's flexible asset portfolio."

The post 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Wednesday appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Despite several stints in green territory this morning, the ASX 200 ended up closing in the red by the time trading wrapped up this afternoon, dropping 0.1%. That leaves the index at 8,525.7 points.

This miserly day for Australian investors follows a far more optimistic morning on Wall Street.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average Index (DJX: .DJI) was in fine form, rising by 0.66%.

The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC) did even better, gaining a rosy 0.77%.

But time to return to the local markets now and see how today's falls were distributed amongst the different ASX sectors today.

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

Will the market be able to build on this on Thursday? Here are five things to watch:

ASX 200 set to rise

The Australian share market looks set to rise again on Thursday following a good night on Wall Street. According to the latest SPI futures, the ASX 200 is expected to open the day 22 points or 0.25% higher this morning. In late trade in the United States, the Dow Jones is up 0.6%, the S&P 500 is up 0.55% and the Nasdaq is 0.75% higher.

Soul Patts shares on watch

Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Co Ltd (ASX: SOL) shares will be on watch on Thursday. That's because the investment house will be releasing its half-year results before the market open. These will be the company's first results since the transformational $14 billion merger with Brickworks. That deal was stated to be "cash flow and post-tax NAV accretion on a per share basis."

Oil prices fall

ASX 200 energy shares including Beach Energy Ltd (ASX: BPT) and Santos Ltd (ASX: STO) could have a subdued session on Thursday after oil prices fell overnight. According to Bloomberg, the WTI crude oil price is down 1.7% to US$90.81 a barrel and the Brent crude oil price is down 1.8% to US$102.57 a barrel. This has been driven by optimism that a US-Iran peace deal could be on the horizon.

Shares named as buys

The team at Wilsons has identified a number of shares that it thinks are buys after being oversold. They include Pinnacle Investment Management Group Ltd (ASX: PNI), Hub24 Ltd (ASX: HUB), and Cochlear Ltd (ASX: COH). It said: "Pinnacle (PNI) and HUB24 (HUB) trade below five-year average P/E multiples while retaining strong structural growth and offering meaningful leverage to an eventual equity market recovery. Cochlear (COH) trades at a decade-low P/E, with its Nexa product cycle supporting medium-term earnings acceleration."

Gold price rises

ASX 200 gold shares Newmont Corporation (ASX: NEM) and Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST) could have a good session on Thursday after the gold price pushed higher overnight. According to CNBC, the gold futures price is up 2.4% to US$4,508.8 an ounce. A pullback in oil prices has eased inflation and higher interest rate fears.

The post 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Thursday appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

The S&P/ASX 200 Energy Index (ASX: XEJ) is down 2.5% while the broader S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is up 1.75%.

Oil and gas prices are easing across the board today after the United States said it was continuing discussions with Iran to end the war.

Israeli media indicated that the US had proposed a one-month ceasefire to facilitate ongoing discussions for a diplomatic resolution.

The New York Times reported that the US had sent Iran a 15-point proposal via Pakistan, which had offered to act as an intermediary.

Trading Economics analysts commented:

These developments outweighed concerns over further Middle East escalation after President Donald Trump ordered the deployment of roughly 2,000 troops to the region, as the administration considered options to loosen Iran's control over the Strait of Hormuz.

The 2,000 troops are from the US Army's 82nd Airborne Division.

Iran continues to deny it has even engaged in negotiations with the US, and the Strait of Hormuz remains effectively shut.

This is disrupting 20% of the world's oil and gas supplies, which has led to rising fuel prices and some shortages.

In Australia, petrol prices are as high as 247.9 cents per litre in Sydney.

Scores of service stations across the nation have run out of either petrol or diesel, or both.

Nine of the top 10 fastest fallers on the ASX 200 today are energy shares.

Let's take a look.

ASX 200 energy shares slip on Wednesday

The worst-hit ASX 200 energy share today is Karoon Energy Ltd (ASX: KAR), down 6.7% to $1.92.

The market's biggest ASX 200 oil share, Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS), is down 3.5% to $33.50 per share.

The Santos Ltd (ASX: STO) share price is down 2.4% to $7.66.

Ampol Ltd (ASX: ALD) shares are down 2.8% to $32.88.

The Viva Energy Group Ltd (ASX: VEA) share price is down 2.5% to $2.39.

Beach Energy Ltd (ASX: BPT) shares are 5.1% lower at $1.25.

ASX 200 coal shares are also lower today.

The Yancoal Australia Ltd (ASX: YAL) share price is 5.3% lower at $7.86.

The Whitehaven Ltd (ASX: WHC) share price is down 4.6% to $8.89.

The New Hope Corporation Ltd (ASX: NHC) share price is $5.59, down 4.3%.

Why is the rest of the market rising?

The ASX 200 is rising strongly on hopes that the war in Iran will end soon, as well as new inflation data that surprised on the downside.

The Australian Bureau of Statistics reported that the Consumer Price Index (CPI) lifted 3.7% in the 12 months to February.

That's down 0.1% from the 12 months to January.

Markets were expecting 3.8% for February, so the data was a pleasant surprise for investors.

However, inflation remains well outside the Reserve Bank's target range of 2% to 3%, with its ultimate goal being to reach the mid-point.

Housing costs, which incorporate electricity prices, new homes, and rents, rose the most at 7.2% over the 12 months.

Electricity prices alone rose 37% over the period.

The post Why are ASX 200 energy shares tumbling today? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Will the market be able to build on this on Wednesday? Here are five things to watch:

ASX 200 to rise

The Australian share market looks set to rise again on Wednesday despite a poor night on Wall Street. According to the latest SPI futures, the ASX 200 is expected to open the day 67 points or 0.8% higher. In late trade in the United States, the Dow Jones is down 0.1%, the S&P 500 is down 0.35% and the Nasdaq is 0.8% lower.

Buy Life360 shares

Bell Potter sees significant value in Life360 Inc. (ASX: 360) shares at current levels. According to the note, the broker has retained its buy rating on the family safety technology company's shares with a trimmed price target of $37.75. This implies potential upside of 94% for investors. It said: "We see the release of the Q1 result on 12th May as a potential catalyst given the company has already lowered expectations and the potential of a small beat in adjusted EBITDA."

Oil prices rebound

ASX 200 energy shares Beach Energy Ltd (ASX: BPT) and Santos Ltd (ASX: STO) could have a good session on Wednesday after oil prices rebounded overnight. According to Bloomberg, the WTI crude oil price is up 4% to US$91.68 a barrel and the Brent crude oil price is up 3.6% to US$103.53 a barrel. Traders were buying oil after optimism faded over a de-escalation in the US-Iran war.

Gold price eases

ASX 200 gold shares Newmont Corporation (ASX: NEM) and Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST) could have a subdued session on Wednesday after the gold price traded lower overnight. According to CNBC, the gold futures price is down 0.2% to US$4,399 an ounce. A stronger US dollar and rate hike concerns have weighed on the gold price.

ASX 200 shares going ex-dividend

A number of ASX 200 shares are going ex-dividend this morning and could trade lower. This includes diversified mining services company Perenti Ltd (ASX: PRN), toll road operator Atlas Arteria Group (ASX: ALX) and travel agent Flight Centre Travel Group Ltd (ASX: FLT). Perenti is paying shareholders a 3.3 cents per share dividend on 9 April, Atlas Arteria is paying 20 cents per share on the same day, and Flight Centre is paying 12 cents per share on 16 April.

The post 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Wednesday appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Shares in the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) energy stock closed yesterday trading for $34.79. In late morning trade on Tuesday, shares are changing hands for $33.77 each, down 2.9%.

For some context, the ASX 200 is up 1% at this same time.

But it's not just the Woodside share price that's underperforming today.

Here's how these other top ASX 200 energy stocks are tracking this morning:

• Santos Ltd (ASX: STO) shares are down 2.7% at $7.83 each
• Beach Energy Ltd (ASX: BPT) shares are down 1.6% at $1.27 each
• Karoon Energy Ltd (ASX: KAR) shares are down 3.4% at $1.99 each

So, what's going on?

Why is the Woodside share price tumbling?

The ASX 200 is rallying, and the Woodside share price is falling, after United States President Donald Trump dialled back the pressure on Iran overnight.

As you're likely aware, Trump is intent on reopening the critical Strait of Hormuz shipping route. Iran's virtual closure of the strait, which accounts for about 20% of the world's oil shipping traffic, has sent energy prices soaring in March.

After initially giving Iran 48 hours to fully reopen Hormuz or face the bombing of its power stations, Trump delayed that option by five days. The US president said that Iranian officials are wanting to make a deal, news that Iran has so far denied.

Nonetheless, global oil prices plunged overnight on hopes of a possible resolution to the conflict. And that's clearly feeding through to the selling pressure on the Woodside share price today.

Brent crude is currently trading for US$99.94 per barrel. That's down 10.9% in 24 hours, and down from a peak of almost US$120 per barrel last week, according to data from Bloomberg.

Should the oil price indeed "fall like a rock" upon the successful reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, as Trump indicated, ASX energy shares could come back to earth following their remarkable recent rally.

But plunging oil prices could see a significant rally in many ASX 200 stocks. That includes energy-intensive companies like Qantas Airways Ltd (ASX: QAN). Indeed, shares in the flying kangaroo are up 4.3% today, trading for $8.50 apiece.

How have ASX 200 energy shares tracked in March?

Monday, 2 March, marked the first day of trading on the ASX since the start of the Iran war.

Since market close on 2 March, the ASX 200 has dropped a sharp 8.2%.

Here's how these ASX 200 energy shares have performed over that same time (including today's intraday retrace):

• Woodside shares are up 12.0%
• Santos shares are up 7.7%
• Karoon Energy shares are up 10.5%
• Beach Energy shares are up 10.3%

Stay tuned!

The post Why is the Woodside share price getting smashed on Tuesday? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

It's a question worthy of careful consideration before you pile in.

The logic behind owning oil stocks during a time like this isn't unreasonable. Energy is a genuine necessity. Economies run on oil and gas regardless of what stocks markets happen to be doing. On top of that, the US-Iran war is pushing oil prices, and therefore ASX oil stocks, higher while other corners of the markets are getting hammered.

Energy shares surge as markets drop

As tensions in the Middle East continue to escalate, it is clear that the world is on the cusp of a severe energy crisis. So, it makes sense that many investors might assume that companies that own huge reserves of oil and gas are a safe harbour to park their capital in right now.

We've already seen massive gains in the ASX's energy sector. Our largest listed energy stock, Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS), has risen by more than 27% over the past month. Santos Ltd (ASX: STO) is up 18.7%, while Beach Energy Ltd (ASX: BPT) has leapt 16.85%. One of the most lucrative investments has been the BetaShares Crude Oil Index Complex ETF (ASX: OOO). This exchange-traded fund (ETF) has rocketed 56% since this time last month.

Given that the ASX 200 has fallen by a nasty 7.44% over the same period, it is obvious that these stocks have indeed protected many investors' portfolios from this downturn.

But what about the future?

Is it too late to buy ASX oil stocks?

Well, I can't give you a definitive answer on that. There is arguably a good chance that ASX oil stocks will continue to outperform the broader market for as long as this energy crisis lasts.

But there are a few caveats to keep in mind before you rush out and buy Woodside, Beach or Santos shares. Firstly, prolonged energy shocks have often caused recessions in the past, most notably during the 1970s and '80s. Global recessions typically see demand for energy fall off a cliff, and prices with it. If energy prices end up collapsing thanks to a global downturn, the share prices of ASX oil stocks will not be safe. To illustrate, Woodside shares lost more than 50% of their value between May and December of 2008.

Energy stocks are not recession proof companies, or even recession resistant. Indeed, past energy shocks have only been balanced out by demand collapsing. Now, I don't know if that's what's in store in 2026. But history tells us it is a possibility that cannot be discounted.

Zooming out though, I think investors are better off not even trying to play these games. As Warren Buffett says, "If you aren't thinking about owning a stock for ten years, don't even think about owning it for ten minutes". The best companies survive the bad times and thrive during the good. If investors focus on finding those companies instead of trying to time the perfect oil stock trade, they will probably be better off when this crisis is in the rear-view mirror.

The post Will ASX oil stocks protect your portfolio from a market crash in 2026? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Four ASX shares that are avoiding the market weakness today are listed below. Here's why they are rising:

Beach Energy Ltd (ASX: BPT)

The Beach Energy share price is up 1.5% to $1.29. Investors have been buying the energy producer's shares following a rise in oil prices on Friday. Traders have been bidding oil prices higher this month in response to supply concerns caused by the conflict in the Middle East. Following today's move, Beach Energy shares are now up almost 20% since this time last month.

Block Inc (ASX: XYZ)

The Block share price is up almost 2% to $84.39. This follows the outperformance of its shares on the NYSE in the United States on Friday night. Unlike many tech stocks, this payments company's shares pushed higher on Wall Street. Last week, analysts at Truist Securities upgraded Block's NYSE shares to a buy rating (from hold) with an improved price target of $77.00 (from $72.00). This equates to a price target of approximately A$109 for its ASX listed shares, which implies potential upside of almost 30% for investors.

Life360 Inc. (ASX: 360)

The Life360 share price is up almost 4% to $18.78. As with Block shares, Life360's shares on Wall Street outperformed on Friday night and are playing catchup on Monday. A number of brokers are likely to be supportive of this buying. For example, last week, Morgan Stanley put an outperform rating and $30.00 price target on its shares. This implies potential upside of approximately 60% for investors from current levels.

Medibank Private Ltd (ASX: MPL)

The Medibank Private share price is up 3% to $4.33. This appears to have been driven by a broker note out of Ord Minnett. According to the note, the broker has retained its accumulate rating on the private health insurer's shares with a $5.10 price target. This suggests that Medibank's shares could rise 18% from current levels. The broker believes that the company is well-placed to benefit from higher interest rates and premium increases.

The post Why Beach Energy, Block, Life360, and Medibank shares are rising today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

It was a shockingly painful day for investors, with the ASX 200 opening sharply lower and staying that way all session. By the time trading wrapped up, the index had plunged by a painful 1.65% down to 8,497.8 points.

This horrid Thursday session for Australian investors comes after a similarly dire morning on Wall Street.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average Index (DJX: .DJI) was slammed, dropping 1.63%.

Things were only slightly better for the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC), which fell 1.46%.

But let's grit our teeth and return to the local markets now for an autopsy of today's trading, so we can see which of the various ASX sectors were hardest hit today.

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

Five of the largest energy stocks on the market followed suit, soaring to set new multi-year price milestones today.

This followed a spike in oil prices after both Israel and Iran launched fresh missile attacks on energy infrastructure assets.

This pushed the Brent crude oil price 4% higher to US$112 per barrel today.

Iran hit a Qatari facility housing the world's largest LNG export plant, while Israel attacked Iran's South Pars gas field.

ASX 200 energy shares soar while broader market falls

The benchmark S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) fell 1.65% as investors worried about the possibility of a longer-than-expected war.

An entrenched conflict would keep oil prices high, which would flow through to higher costs across many industries.

The Brent crude oil price has streaked 55% over the past 30 days, with the war effectively shutting down the Strait of Hormuz.

More than 20% of the world's global oil and gas exports, mainly from Iran, Iraq, Qatar, and the UAE, pass through the strait.

Meanwhile, ASX 200 energy shares soared today.

New multi-year highs for energy giants

ASX 200 oil & gas giant Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS) rose 6.6% to a two-and-a-half-year high of $33.65 today.

The Santos Ltd (ASX: STO) share price lifted 3.7% to a 52-week peak of $8.06.

The Ampol Ltd (ASX: ALD) share price reached an 18-month high of $33.65 today.

The Viva Energy Group Ltd (ASX: VEA) share price streaked 18% to a 52-week high of $2.49.

There was no price-sensitive news from Viva Energy today; however, it did announce a date for its AGM — 21 May.

ASX 200 coal share, New Hope Corporation Ltd (ASX: NHC) lifted 5.5% to a two-and-a-half-year high of $5.54.

ASX 200 coal shares have been rising as gas supply disruptions force power plants around the world to switch to coal.

This is pushing up the thermal coal price, with Newcastle futures rising 20% over the past 30 days to US$139.35 per tonne.

This is the highest thermal coal price since November 2024.

What about other energy stocks?

While not reaching new 52-week highs, many other ASX 200 energy shares rose strongly today.

Yancoal Australia Ltd (ASX: YAL) shares lifted 9.7% to an intraday high of $8.25, just short of their new 52-week high of $8.27 set last week.

The Karoon Energy Ltd (ASX: KAR) share price increased 5.2% to an intraday peak of $2.01.

The Beach Energy Ltd (ASX: BPT) share price rose 4.8% to an intraday high of $1.30.

The post 5 ASX 200 energy shares smash multi-year highs after oil price spike appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Will the market be able to build on this on Thursday? Here are five things to watch:

ASX 200 set to sink

The Australian share market looks set to fall on Thursday following a poor night on Wall Street. According to the latest SPI futures, the ASX 200 is expected to open the day 138 points or 1.6% lower this morning. In late trade in the United States, the Dow Jones is down 1.7%, the S&P 500 is down 1.3% and the Nasdaq is 1.4% lower.

Core Lithium shares on watch

Core Lithium Ltd (ASX: CXO) shares will be on watch on Thursday. That's because the lithium miner has raised $120 million to support the restart of the Finniss Lithium Project. The company notes that the restart repositions Finniss as a lower cost, long-life, brownfield lithium operation with a shorter path to nameplate production of 214ktpa. Unit operating costs are expected to be A$762 per tonne. This compares favourably to the current spodumene concentrate spot price of US$2,200 per tonne.

Oil prices rise

ASX 200 energy shares Beach Energy Ltd (ASX: BPT) and Santos Ltd (ASX: STO) could have a good session on Thursday after oil prices rose overnight. According to Bloomberg, the WTI crude oil price is up 1.7% to US$97.88 a barrel and the Brent crude oil price is up 5.3% to US$108.89 a barrel. Oil prices charged higher after Iran threatened to strike oil facilities in Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE.

Shares going ex-dividend

A number of ASX 200 shares are going ex-dividend today and could trade lower. This includes infant formula company A2 Milk Company Ltd (ASX: A2M), hearing solutions company Cochlear Ltd (ASX: COH), transport services provider Kelsian Group Ltd (ASX: KLS), telco Spark New Zealand Ltd (ASX: SPK), and coal miner Yancoal Australia Ltd (ASX: YAL). The latter will be paying its shareholders a fully franked 12.2 cents per share dividend next month on 15 April.

Gold price sinks

ASX 200 gold shares including Newmont Corporation (ASX: NEM) and Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST) could have a poor session on Thursday after the gold price tumbled overnight. According to CNBC, the gold futures price is down 3.1% to US$4,853.3 an ounce. Traders were selling the precious metal after the US Federal Reserve kept interest rates on hold.

The post 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Thursday appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Will the market be able to build on this on Wednesday? Here are five things to watch:

ASX 200 set to rise

The Australian share market looks set to rise again on Wednesday following a good night on Wall Street. According to the latest SPI futures, the ASX 200 is expected to open the day 9 points or 0.1% higher. In late trade in the United States, the Dow Jones is up 0.2%, the S&P 500 is up 0.3% and the Nasdaq is 0.5% higher.

Oil prices rise

ASX 200 energy shares including Beach Energy Ltd (ASX: BPT) and Santos Ltd (ASX: STO) could have a good session on Wednesday after oil prices pushed higher overnight. According to Bloomberg, the WTI crude oil price is up 2.5% to US$95.85 a barrel and the Brent crude oil price is up 3% to US$103.26 a barrel. This was driven by concerns over the lack of support for US plans to escort tankers through the Strait of Hormuz.

Buy Clarity shares

The team at Bell Potter thinks Clarity Pharmaceuticals Ltd (ASX: CU6) shares are good value at current levels. This morning, the broker has retained its speculative buy rating and $6.40 price target on the radiopharmaceuticals company's shares. It said: "The stage is now set for a readout from the approval study for 64Cu-SAR-bisPSMA (AMPLIFY) which has now ceased accepting new patient consents and is practically fully enrolled (n=220). The Co-PSMA data along with data from COBRA and anticipated findings from AMPLIFY will form the basis of submission of a new drug application to be submitted to the FDA."

Gold price flat

ASX 200 gold shares such as Newmont Corporation (ASX: NEM) and Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST) could have a subdued session on Wednesday after the gold price traded flat overnight. According to CNBC, the gold futures price is trading at US$5,003.8 an ounce. Traders appear undecided where gold is going next and are waiting for the upcoming US Federal Reserve meeting.

New Hope shares upgraded

New Hope Corporation Ltd (ASX: NHC) shares have been upgraded by analysts at Bell Potter. This morning, the broker has taken its sell rating off the coal miner's shares after lifting them to a hold rating with a $4.50 price target. It said: "We upgrade to a Hold recommendation and apply a 5% premium to our sum of the parts valuation with energy security concerns exacerbated by recent geopolitical issues. NHC's low-cost operations will continue to underpin margins through the coal price cycle, funding capital expenditure commitments and supporting shareholder returns. Beyond ramp-up of New Acland Stage 3, we see a limited organic production growth pipeline and believe NHC may participate in industry consolidation."

The post 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Wednesday appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.