However, since the commodity price peaked in late January, it has declined significantly. 

Along with it, many ASX gold shares have dropped too. 

According to VanEck, this kind of movement is typical of similar geopolitical events. 

Gold's March performance surprised many investors. Despite a sharp escalation in geopolitical tensions, gold prices pulled back after briefly retesting record highs. That kind of price action may seem counterintuitive, but it is not unusual in periods of crisis.

VanEck reinforced that gold and gold equities have come under pressure, but once the current period of volatility subsides, the same drivers that supported gold above US$5,000 remain in place.

With that in mind, here are three ASX gold shares generating positive outlooks from experts. 

Brightstar Resources Ltd (ASX: BTR)

Brightstar Resources is a gold development company. It is currently working on bringing its Sandstone and Goldfields projects in Western Australia into production. 

Recently, the team at Canaccord Genuity placed a $2.40 price target on this ASX gold stock. 

Analysts said its recent capital raise means the company should be "comfortably funded" through to first gold production.

From yesterday's closing price of $0.41, this price target indicates a big upside potential of more than 480%. 

Saturn Metals Ltd (ASX: STN)

This ASX gold stock is primarily focused on its 100% owned Apollo Hill Gold Project, located in Western Australia.

The stock price has doubled over the last 12 months. 

It is also drawing a positive outlook from Canaccord Genuity, driven by three shifts:

• Decades of management experience reduces risk
• WA offers ideal conditions
• Modern workflows assess heap leach viability earlier and more accurately

Subsequently, the broker has a speculative buy rating and a price target of $1 a share.

From yesterday's closing price of $0.56, this indicates a potential further gain of 78%. 

Evolution Mining Ltd (ASX: EVN)

Evolution Mining is another ASX gold stock with upside, this time, according to the team at Bell Potter. 

It is one of Australia's largest listed gold miners. The company engages in exploration, development, and production activities in both Australia and Canada.

The team at Bell Potter recently retained its buy rating on the ASX 200 gold stock with a price target of $16.45, following the company's quarterly report.

From yesterday's closing price of $14.45, this indicates a healthy 14% upside.

The broker is also forecasting an attractive 3.5% dividend yield over the period.

The post 3 ASX gold shares to buy after the recent pullback appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

We'll get to their exact share price target shortly, but firstly let's look at the company's recent announcements.

Funds locked in

Brightstar is working on bringing its Sandstone and Goldfields projects in Western Australia into production, and to that end, recently locked in $193 million in new capital from an equity raise and another US$120 million from a new debt facility.

The good news for the company is that this means they will be fully-funded right through to production at Goldfields and up to a final investment decision for Sandstone.

At the Goldfields project the company is expecting to pour its first gold in the June quarter of 2027.

The company said it expected that project to deliver 75,000 ounces of gold per year and generate $1 billion in free cash flow over six years.

At the Sandstone project the company is expecting make a final investment decision in late calendar 2027 or early 2028.

Regarding the capital raise, Brightstar Managing Director Alex Rovira said:

We are delighted to have successfully executed on this funding package, particularly in the context of the challenging market conditions over the past weeks. With both the equity and debt components now settled, Brightstar is in an exceptionally strong position to deliver major gold production growth from the Goldfields Project while in parallel unlocking the value of our Sandstone Gold Project through drilling and feasibility work streams. A strong balance sheet positions Brightstar favourably against the backdrop of difficult capital markets and ensures a material capital buffer and contingency for our development requirements and funding for Sandstone.

Shares looking cheap

The Canaccord analysts said the capital raise meant the company should be "comfortably funded" through to first gold production.

They have modelled the Sandstone project to generate an average 150,000 ounces per year at an all in sustaining cost of $3013 per ounce, over a 10 year mine life.

They added:

We model pre-production capex of $400m (prev. $250m) with spend commencing in JunQ'28. Brightsar has flagged it plans to utilise free cash flow generated from the Goldfields Hub, as well as refinanced debt, to fund development of Sandstone. We forecast Brightstar to have cash of about $258m at end MarQ'28 and forecast the Goldfields Hub to generate about $200m in pre-tax free cash flow from JunQ'28-JunQ'29.

Canaccord reduced their price target on Brightstar from $2.80 to $2.40, still multiples of the current share price of 40.5 cents. The company is valued at $444.6 million.

The post Could this ASX-listed gold mine developer really increase six-fold? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

Ampol Ltd (ASX: ALD)

The Ampol share price is up 1.5% to $33.52. Investors have been buying this fuel retailer's shares after releasing an update outlining changes to the Fuel Security Services Payment (FSSP) and on its fuel supply operations. The former has seen an increase in the collar from 6.4 cents per litre to 10.0 cents per litre. The company's CEO, Matt Halliday, said: "We welcome the adjustments made to the FSSP, which effectively increase the level at which payments under the scheme will commence. The important role Australian refineries play in supporting the resilience of our domestic fuel supply is being reinforced in the current global oil market environment. The amendments recognise the significant cost increases, and capital investment made, since the scheme began in 2021 and the importance of maintaining an economically viable domestic oil refining capability in Australia for the medium term by providing support when refiner margins do not cover the cost of production."

Atlantic Lithium Ltd (ASX: A11)

The Atlantic Lithium share price is up 11% to 35 cents. This morning, the lithium explorer announced the ratification of the mining lease of its flagship Ewoyaa Lithium Project by the Parliament of Ghana. It notes that this means the company can advance discussions relating to project funding and continue its progress towards a project final investment decision. Atlantic Lithium's CEO, Keith Muller, said: "We are delighted to have the full support of the Government as we work towards achieving first production of spodumene. Having already built itself to become a leading gold producer, Ghana has now taken a major step towards a new lithium future."

Brightstar Resources Ltd (ASX: BTR)

The Brightstar Resources share price is up 2% to 34.7 cents. This follows news that the gold developer has successfully completed its funding package. The company notes that this means it is now fully funded through to gold production at the Goldfields Project and the Sandstone Project final investment decision. Brightstar's managing director, Alex Rovira, commented: "We are delighted to have successfully executed on this funding package, particularly in the context of the challenging market conditions over the past weeks."

Premier Investments Ltd (ASX: PMV)

The Premier Investments share price is up almost 4% to $13.00. Investors have been buying the retailer's shares following the release of its half-year results. The company reported Premier Retail underlying EBIT of $119.3 million, which was in line with its guidance. This allowed the company's board to declare a fully franked interim dividend of 45 cents per share.

The post Why Ampol, Atlantic Lithium, Brightstar, and Premier Investments shares are rising today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

There will also be a "material capital allocation" to advance the company's Sandstone gold project through to a final investment decision, which is targeted for late calendar year 2027 or early 2028.

The company said on Friday in a statement to the ASX that the Goldfields project was expected to start producing gold in the June quarter of 2027, and was expected to generate 75,000 ounces a year of gold over six years, for $1 billion in free cash flow.

Brightstar would also receive further revenue through ore being produced from current underground mining operations, with 130,000 to 140,000 tonnes of ore to be produced at a grade of 1.8 to 2 grams per tonne of gold.

Soon to break ground

The company said the Goldfields project was almost ready to go.

Subject to the receipt of final approvals and the formal declaration of FID (final investment decision), all funds are now available to commence site development and construction at the Goldfields Project whilst maintaining a substantial capital allocation to accelerate exploration, feasibility studies and permitting activities at the Sandstone Project. The flexible debt funding structure included minimal financial covenants, no royalties or warrants and preserves full gold price upside for shareholders, whilst crucially allowing Brightstar to continue to allocate meaningful capital towards the Sandstone Project.

The capital raise was conducted at 50 cents per share, compared with the company's current share price of 35 cents, with the stock falling sharply from levels higher than 50 cents in early March.

Funded to grow

Brightstar Managing Director Alex Rovira said the company was "delighted" to have finalised the funding package, especially in light of the current market volatility.

With both the equity and debt components now settled, Brightstar is in an exceptionally strong position to deliver major gold production growth from the Goldfields Project while in parallel unlocking the value of our Sandstone Gold Project through drilling and feasibility work streams. A strong balance sheet positions Brightstar favourably against the backdrop of difficult capital markets and ensures a material capital buffer and contingency for our development requirements and funding for Sandstone. We thank our shareholders and bond investors for their strong support and look forward to providing regular updates on both projects as we advance towards gold production in mid-2027.

Brightstar is valued at $290.5 million.

The post After a major capital raise this ASX gold company is fully-funded through to production appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

Brightstar Resources Ltd (ASX: BTR)

The Brightstar Resources share price is down 4% to 41.7 cents. This appears to have been driven by the gold miner issuing almost 245 million new shares this morning. Last month, Brightstar Resources announced a strategic $180 million capital raising to fund a material increase in production. Brightstar's managing director, Alex Rovira, said: "To emerge with all the equity funding required to build our Goldfields Hub, as well as a substantial budget that enables accelerated pre-development activities at Sandstone and to fully fund Sandstone to FID, is an amazing opportunity for Brightstar that enables us to maintain the momentum of de-risking our portfolio of advanced gold projects."

EQ Resources Ltd (ASX: EQR)

The EQ Resources share price is down 6.5% to 29 cents. This is despite the tungsten producer releasing an investor presentation this morning. Within the presentation, management stated: "EQR is one of the largest producers of tungsten outside of restricted countries, with spot-priced offtake agreements in place, supplying Europe, North America and Asian markets."

Novonix Ltd (ASX: NVX)

The Novonix share price is down almost 5% to 26.2 cents. This has been driven by news that the battery technology company's NASDAQ-traded shares could be delisted due to its weak share price. It advised: "The notice states that, for the previous 30 consecutive business days, the closing bid price of the Company's American Depositary Receipts (ADRs) listed on the Nasdaq has been below the minimum requirement of US$1.00 per ADR. In accordance with Nasdaq Listing Rules, the Company has 180 calendar days from the date of the notice to regain compliance (compliance period). To regain compliance, the closing bid price of the Company's ADR's must be at least US$1.00 per ADR for a minimum of 10 consecutive business days during the compliance period."

Pro Medicus Ltd (ASX: PME)

The Pro Medicus share price is down a further 2% to $125.40. This is despite there being no news out of the health imaging technology company. However, Pro Medicus' shares have been under pressure this year amid concerns over AI disruption. This has seen the Pro Medicus share price lose over 40% of its value since the turn of the year.

The post Why Brightstar, EQ Resources, Novonix, and Pro Medicus shares are falling today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

The outperforming miner in question is Brightstar Resources Ltd (ASX: BTR).

Brightstar shares closed yesterday trading for 43.50 cents. In early morning trade on Wednesday, shares are changing hands for 44.25 cents apiece, up 1.7%.

Here's what's catching investor interest.

ASX All Ords gold stock gains on results

The Brightstar share price is marching higher after the miner announced a promising batch of results from its ongoing diamond and reverse circulation (RC) drilling programs at its Sandstone Gold Project, located in Western Australia.

Sandstone hosts a current Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE) of 2.4 million ounces at 1.5 grams of gold per tonne (2.4Moz at 1.5g/t Au).

The ASX All Ords gold stock said its diamond and RC drilling campaign targeted infill and extensions to key deposits at the Sandstone Hub, including Two Mile Hill-Shillington, Whistler, and Lord Nelson.

Brightstar sounded particularly optimistic about the Two Mile Hill deposit, noting it presents a potential bulk-tonnage underground mining operation. This could provide a higher-grade ore contribution within the miner's proposed multi-ore source processing hub at Sandstone.

Among the top results at the deposit, the ASX All Ords gold stock reported an unconstrained intercept of 411.2 metres at 1.11g/t Au from 80 metres.

Two Mile Hill hosts a current MRE of 664koz at 1.6g/t Au, and it remains open at depth.

Brightstar has two RC rigs and two diamond drill rigs currently active at Sandstone.

The company said a Sandstone Mineral Resource upgrade is due in the June quarter, with the pre-feasibility study (PFS) targeted for delivery in the second half of calendar year 2026.

What did management say?

Commenting on the results helping boost the ASX All Ords gold stock today, Brightstar managing director Alex Rovira said, "The latest drill results from the Sandstone project clearly highlight how the potential scale is developing."

Rovira added:

The Two Mile Hill-Shillington deposit is shaping up to be a significant contributor to a future Sandstone operating hub. With high grades zones within a lower grade halo up to 400m wide, the drilling illustrates the substantial extent of the mineralisation delineated to date.

Looking ahead, Rovira concluded:

With the addition of further results from Whistler and Lord Nelson, work at the Sandstone Hub continues to progress. The latest results, including 31m @ 5.17g/t Au at the Whistler Deposit, will flow into the upcoming MRE updates, due later this year, and the ongoing pre-feasibility study workstreams.

The post ASX All Ords gold stock lifts off on exploration success appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

Brightstar Resources Ltd (ASX: BTR)

The Brightstar Resources share price is down 3.5% to 53 cents. This morning, this gold developer announced the successful completion of a fully subscribed US$120 million bond issue to support the development of its Goldfields Project in Western Australia. Brightstar's managing director, Alex Rovira, said: "We are extremely pleased to have secured this US$120 million Bond, which is a strong endorsement of the Goldfields Project, the robust Feasibility Study outcomes and Brightstar's broader Target200 production strategy of becoming a Western Australia +200,000oz per annum gold producer."

Endeavour Group Ltd (ASX: EDV)

The Endeavour share price is down 5% to $3.78. This has been driven by the release of the drinks giant's half-year results. The Dan Murphy's owner posted a 0.9% increase in group sales to $6.7 billion but a 6.7% decline in underlying net profit after tax to $278 million and a 17.1% decline in statutory net profit after tax to $247 million. Nevertheless, Endeavour's managing director and CEO, Jayne Hrdlicka, was pleased. She said: "We are pleased to report that the Group has delivered a first half earnings result that demonstrates the strength in our customer franchise as we restart top line growth in Retail. In a challenging market, our increased focus on value and price leadership has been embraced by our customers and is delivering both sales growth and market share gains."

Evolution Mining Ltd (ASX: EVN)

The Evolution Mining share price is down 3.5% to $16.26. Investors have been selling Evolution Mining and other gold miners today following a pullback in the gold price overnight. The precious metal tumbled amid concerns that the war in the Middle East could cause inflation to spike and send interest rates higher again. This would reduce demand for the safe haven asset. The S&P/ASX All Ordinaries Gold index is down 3.3% at the time of writing.

Woolworths Group Ltd (ASX: WOW)

The Woolworths share price is down 3.5% to $35.55. This has been driven by the supermarket giant's shares going ex-dividend this morning for its interim dividend. Last month, Woolworths released its half-year results and declared a fully franked 45 cents per share dividend. Eligible shareholders can now look forward to receiving this next month on 2 April.

The post Why Brightstar, Endeavour, Evolution Mining, and Woolworths shares are falling today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

Appen Ltd (ASX: APX)

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

Brightstar Resources Ltd (ASX: BTR)

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

Graincorp Ltd (ASX: GNC)

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

Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST)

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

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

Brightstar Resources shares closed yesterday trading for 52.5 cents. At the time of writing, shares are changing hands for 53.5 cents apiece, up 1.9%.

That sees shares in the Aussie gold miner up 44.6% since the stock plumbed one-year closing lows of 37 cents on 20 August.

Here's what's catching investor interest today.

ASX All Ords gold stock leaps on regulatory approval

Investors are bidding up Brightstar Resources shares today after the company announced that the Department of Mines, Petroleum and Exploration (DMPE) has given the green light to commence mining operations at the Lady Shenton project.

The project, located in Western Australia, is an important part of the Menzies Hub resource package that Brightstar Resources is developing within the Goldfields Hub.

The ASX All Ords gold stock said that, having already received approval for the Native Vegetation Clearing Permit, the Lady Shenton deposit (estimated at 352,000 ounces of gold graded at 1.4 grams of gold per tonne) is 'mine ready' for production.

Brightstar plans to haul the gold ore it mines from Lady Shenton to its proposed CIL gold recovery processing plant in Laverton.

What did management say?

Commenting on the regulatory approval helping to boost the ASX All Ords gold stock today, Brightstar Resources managing director Alex Rovira said, "We are pleased to receive approval for the Mining Development and Closure Proposal for the open pit development of the Lady Shenton mine in Menzies."

Rovira noted, "This signifies a key milestone for the development of our Menzies assets, which once in operation will represent the first mining to occur since the successful Selkirk mining JV in 2024."

He added:

Lady Shenton is now 'mine ready' and represents a low capex, high-margin deposit for Brightstar that complements the broader Goldfields Hub development. We look forward to releasing the updated DFS2.0 and providing a development update and timeline for the Menzies and Laverton Gold Projects this quarter.

Rovira noted that as an unhedged gold producer, Brightstar "remains well placed in a strong gold price environment".

The ASX All Ords gold stock owns and operates two underground mines, and is a near-term developer of the 1.6Moz at 1.6g/t Au Goldfields Hub. Brightstar Resources is targeting final investment decision (FID) in the March quarter.

Looking ahead, Rovira concluded:

With over 4 million ounces of Mineral Resources on granted mining leases, Brightstar has a strategic objective of developing both the Goldfields and Sandstone Projects in the coming years as part of our aspiration to be a multi-asset, mid-tier scale WA gold producer.

The post Up 45% since August, ASX All Ords gold stock jumps on key approval appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

Brightstar Resources Ltd (ASX: BTR)

The Brightstar Resources share price is down 8% to 52.2 cents. Investors have been selling this gold miner's shares following the release of a production revision. Brightstar revealed that it achieved production and sales of 4,652 ounces of gold in November. This is down from its unreconciled production update, which initially indicated total recovered gold production of 6,300 ounces. Brightstar's managing director, Alex Rovira, commented: "Whilst this is an unfortunate set-back to the November processing campaign, all stakeholders remain confident that optimal conditions in future processing will see a material lift in recoveries in line with historical processing data."

EVT Ltd (ASX: EVT)

The EVT share price is down 2% to $12.82. This morning, this hotel, cinema, restaurant, and resorts operator announced the acquisition of QT Auckland. It is a premium lifestyle hotel located in Auckland's Viaduct precinct. EVT has agreed to pay NZ$87.5 million (~A$76 million) to secure the asset. Management believes the acquisition secures long-term brand presence in a key strategic location and further strengthens its owned hotel portfolio. EVT also announced the sale of Rydges Geelong for $24.5 million. It was previously designated as a non-core asset.

Monash IVF Group Ltd (ASX: MVF)

The Monash IVF share price is down 15% to 69.5 cents. This has been driven by news that the consortium comprising Genesis Capital Investment Management and Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Co Ltd (ASX: SOL) has withdrawn its non-binding indicative proposal. It was looking at a deal to acquire 100% of Monash IVF at $0.80 per share by way of a scheme of arrangement. No reasons were given for the withdrawal of the proposal. It only stated: "If there are material developments in the future, Monash IVF will inform shareholders as required under its continuous disclosure obligations."

Pro Medicus Ltd (ASX: PME)

The Pro Medicus share price is down almost 3% to $225.64. This is despite there being no news out the health imaging technology company. However, it is worth noting that the tech sector is under pressure today ahead of the Christmas break. This has seen the S&P ASX All Technology index drop 1.2% on Wednesday.

The post Why Brightstar, EVT, Monash IVF, and Pro Medicus shares are dropping today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

At the time of writing, the emerging gold producer's shares are trading at 51 cents, down 9.73%.

So, what did Brightstar announce, and why are investors selling today?

What was announced this morning?

According to the release, Brightstar said it has finalised the numbers from its November processing campaign at the Laverton Mill.

The final result showed 4,652 ounces of gold produced and sold.

This was lower than earlier estimates, which were based on initial, unreconciled data. Now that the final numbers are in, the company has confirmed that the earlier figures were too high.

In-turn, this has led investors to hit the sell button as they were expecting more gold than was ultimately produced.

What caused the change?

Brightstar said the lower result was due to weaker gold recovery during the campaign. The final recovery came in at 75%, compared to the 83% that had been reported earlier.

The company said it has since identified the issue. According to management, processing conditions were not optimal, which meant less gold was recovered from the ore than expected.

Brightstar said this was partly due to changes in the type of ore being processed, which affected how well the gold could be recovered.

Why investors sold the stock

Production revisions like this often-hurt confidence, especially for miners still proving their processing performance.

Even though Brightstar says the issue has been identified, the November campaign still underperformed expectations, and that's what the market is reacting to today.

What matters going forward

Brightstar said it remains confident and expects gold recoveries to return to above 90% once processing conditions are adjusted.

The company pointed out that previous campaigns achieved recoveries above 90%, including 91.3% in August, and that its mines have historically performed well.

It also noted that mining operations remain on track, with solid output from the Fish mine in recent weeks.

CEO commentary

Brightstar's Managing Director, Alex Rovira, said:

Whilst this is an unfortunate set-back to the November processing campaign, all stakeholders remain confident that optimal conditions in future processing will see a material lift in recoveries in line with historical processing data.

Our mining operations continue to perform in-line with our production outlook, with Fish exceeding budget for production in tonnes, grade and ounces, while costs are lower than budget.

Foolish takeaway

This looks like the market reacting to lower final production numbers rather than a change in Brightstar's long-term plans.

The company believes the problem has been fixed, but investors will want to see that improvement show up in the next processing campaign. Until then, the share price may remain under pressure.

The post ASX gold share sinks 10% on Xmas Eve update appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

Brightstar Resources Ltd (ASX: BTR)

The Brightstar Resources share price is up over 1% to 46 cents. This morning, this gold explorer released positive results from reverse circulation (RC) drilling at the Bull Oak and Havilah deposits, which are part of the Sandstone Hub. Brightstar's managing director, Alex Rovira, commented: "These results from our Sandstone Hub continue illustrate the significant potential growth to our existing MRE. All of these drillholes, at both Havilah and Bull Oak, targeted zones outside of the existing resource and confirmed significant mineralisation in these areas."

Immutep Ltd (ASX: IMM)

The Immutep share price is up 24% to 31.75 cents. Investors have been buying this late-stage immunotherapy company's shares following the release of a promising announcement after the market close on Monday. Immutep has entered into a strategic collaboration and exclusive licensing agreement with Dr. Reddy's Laboratories for the development and commercialisation of Eftilagimod Alfa (efti) in all countries outside North America, Europe, Japan, and Greater China. The agreement will see Immutep receive an upfront payment of US$20 million (~A$30.2 million). It will also be eligible to receive potential regulatory development and commercial milestone payments of up to US$349.5 million (~A$528.4 million), as well as double-digit royalties on commercial sales in these markets.

Pilbara Minerals Ltd (ASX: PLS)

The Pilbara Minerals share price is up 2% to $4.11. This may have been driven by a broker note out of Morgan Stanley. It notes that increasing use of energy storage systems due to the AI boom is driving demand for lithium. Given its strong organic growth opportunities, the broker feels that it is well-placed to benefit from any improvements in lithium prices.

Race Oncology Ltd (ASX: RAC)

The Race Oncology share price is up 8% to $2.89. This follows news that the oncology company has received and accepted an offer of a private placement from a supportive group of existing sophisticated shareholders. The company notes that the proceeds will fund the HARNESS-1 Phase 1a/b non-small cell lung cancer trial of RC220 in combination with Tagrisso. Race Oncology's CEO, Dr Daniel Tillett, commented: "Race Oncology is extremely grateful to the shareholders who approached us to ensure that the HARNESS-1 trial is started without delay. We are blessed to have such supportive shareholders who share our belief in the potential of RC220 to transform cancer patients' lives."

The post Why Brightstar Resources, Immutep, Pilbara Minerals, and Race Oncology shares are roaring higher appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

The potentially explosive Aussie gold miner in question is Brightstar Resources Ltd (ASX: BTR).

Brightstar shares are up 2.3% in late morning trade on Monday, changing hands for 45 cents apiece. Despite that boost, the Brightstar share price is still down 33.8% since this time last year.

But looking to the year ahead, the team at Taylor Collison expect a much better performance from the ASX All Ords gold stock.

Here's why.

ASX All Ords gold stock ramping up production

The gold price has retraced from its record highs notched in late October. But at US$4,015 per ounce today, the gold price remains up 53% year to date. And that should offer strong tailwinds for Brightstar shares as the junior miner moves to rapidly increase production levels.

The ASX All Ords gold stock reported its first-quarter (Q1 FY 2026) results on 31 October.

"Brightstar's September quarter marked another operational step-up as Fish and Second Fortune moved toward steady-state production," Taylor Collison's David Grant noted, following those results.

"The annualised September month production of 2.8koz is tracking at the top end of the 29-34kozpa guidance, positioning the Company to continue to build up the cash balance to lower external funding needs at Laverton, Menzies and Sandstone," he added.

Grant noted that Brightstar's September quarter production increased to 7,000 ounces of gold. That included 3,600 ounces from the ASX All Ords gold stock's Fish project and 3,400 ounces from its Second Fortune project.

"Fish achieved targeted production output during the month of September, contributing 2.8koz for the month," Grant said. "We think this demonstrates both mines' ability to perform at the upper end of the group guidance (29-34koz), exceeding our modelled ~29koz FY26 estimate."

Grant sounded an optimistic note on progress at Brightstar's Fish project.

"The ramp-up at Fish progressed ahead of schedule and under budget, confirming orebody continuity and steady productivity," he said.

Addressing Brightstar's higher costs, Grant said:

Although BTR's costs are high relative to peers, we expect the unit costs to continue trending lower as development spend tapers and fixed mining/processing costs are spread across higher production volumes.

Connecting the dots, Taylor Collison has a speculative buy rating on the ASX All Ords gold stock with a price target of $1.27 a share.

That represents a potential upside of 182.2% from current levels.

The post This ASX All Ords gold stock is tipped to rocket 182%! Here's why appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

Brightstar Resources Ltd (ASX: BTR)

The Brightstar Resources share price is down 10% to 48.5 cents. Investors have been selling this gold explorer's shares after it announced plans to acquire Aurumin Ltd (ASX: AUN). The two parties have entered into a scheme implementation deed which will see Brightstar acquire 100% of Aurumin's issued capital at a 21% premium of 9.9 cents per share. Brightstar's managing director, Alex Rovira, said: "This is a compelling transaction for all stakeholders, and we believe that combining Aurumin and Brightstar represents a unique opportunity to build a Western Australian gold business of genuine scale with demonstrable upside that also de-risks future development activities and operations at Sandstone."

Eagers Automotive Ltd (ASX: APE)

The Eagers Automotive share price is down 2.5% to $19.09. This appears to have been driven by a broker note out of UBS this morning. According to the note, the broker has downgraded the auto retailer's shares to a sell rating but with an improved price target $16.50. This implies potential downside of 13.5% from current levels. It made the move on valuation ground and in response to concerns over its expansion overseas.

Regis Resources Ltd (ASX: RRL)

The Regis Resources share price is down almost 4% to $4.30. This morning, this lithium miner released its fourth quarter and full year update. It revealed that group FY 2025 production of came in at 373,000 ounces, which is towards the top end of the guidance range. Its all-in sustaining costs (AISC) of $2,531 per ounce was in the bottom half of its guidance range. It is possible that its guidance for FY 2026 has disappointed investors. Production and costs are expected to be largely flat year on year.

Westpac Banking Corp (ASX: WBC)

The Westpac Banking share price almost 4% to $33.05. This is despite there being no news out of the banking giant today. However, it is worth highlighting that most ASX bank stocks are falling today and weighing heavily on the local share market. It seems that investors could finally be locking in gains and rotating into other areas of the market.

The post Why Brightstar, Eagers Automotive, Regis Resources, and Westpac shares are sinking appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

The fast-rising Aussie gold miner in question is Brightstar Resources Ltd (ASX: BTR).

Brightstar shares closed yesterday trading for 54.5 cents. In late morning trade on Thursday, shares are changing hands for 64.0 cents apiece, up 17.4%.

Here's what's catching investor interest today.

ASX All Ords gold stock surges on production update

Brightstar shares are shining bright today after the ASX All Ords gold stock released a promising production update.

The miner reported that ore processing has now commenced for the second processing campaign under the Ore Purchase Agreement it has with Genesis Minerals Ltd (ASX: GMD).

That's expected to conclude later this month.

Brightstar has now delivered 55,000 tonnes of total ore at 2 grams of gold per tonne to the Genesis Minerals' Laverton Mill ROM pad for processing in the May parcel.

The ore was sourced from Brightstar's high-grade Second Fortune underground mine alongside existing lower-grade stockpiles from its Laverton Hub.

The company said that mining continues at its Fish underground mine, with management expecting the gold mine to be a contributor to future processing campaigns starting in June.

Also likely spurring investor interest in the All Ords ASX gold stock today, the miner said its consolidated Laverton and Menzies Definitive Feasibility Study (DFS) is almost done, with delivery target in the second half of calendar year 2025.

The DFS underpins Brightstar's goal of producing 200,000-plus ounces of gold per year within five years. The miner is preparing to mobilise three more drill rigs for extensional drilling across Menzies, Laverton, and Sandstone in the coming weeks.

Under the OPA with Genesis, Brightstar will deliver, sell, and process up to 500,000 tonnes of ore through the Laverton Mill from its Laverton Hub across 2025 and into the first quarter of calendar year 2026.

What did management say?

Commenting on the progress boosting the ASX All Ords gold stock today, Brightstar managing director Alex Rovira said, "It is great to see the commencement of processing for the second parcel of ore under our Ore Purchase Agreement with Genesis."

Rovira added:

Mining operations at Second Fortune continue to ramp up successfully following the resumption of stoping in December, successfully delivering high-grade tonnes into the OPA.

The Fish underground mine is advancing well, with mining of first ore on track for June which is set to add high-grade Fish tonnes into future processing campaigns under the OPA.

Turning to the company's finances, Rovira said:

Brightstar has been undertaking a debt financing process with the Company engaging with a number of 'Big 4' domestic banks and non-bank natural resource specialist financers for the financing of the Menzies and Laverton operations, with demonstrable support indicating a strongly financeable project.

Rovira concluded:

With ongoing gold production and cash flow, a second high-grade gold mine coming into first ore shortly, a DFS nearing completion and multiple drilling rigs in the field ramping up exploration, it's an exciting time for Brightstar as we advance our portfolio of projects across the WA goldfields.

With today's intraday gains factored in, shares in the ASX All Ords gold stock are up 49% since this time last year.

The post Guess which ASX All Ords gold stock just rocketed 17% on its growth outlook appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

Brightstar Resources Ltd (ASX: BTR)

The Brightstar Resources share price is up 15% to 63 cents. This morning, the gold company announced that the second processing campaign under the Ore Purchase Agreement (OPA) with Genesis Minerals Ltd (ASX: GMD) has commenced and is expected to conclude later this month. Brightstar has delivered 55kt @ +2.0g/t Au to Genesis' Laverton Mill. This is from ore sourced from the high-grade Second Fortune underground mine and existing lower-grade stockpiles from Brightstar's Laverton Hub.

Insurance Australia Group Ltd (ASX: IAG)

The IAG share price is up 4% to $8.78. Investors have been buying this insurance giant's shares after it announced a $1.35 billion deal with the Royal Automobile Club of Western Australia (RAC). IAG will be acquiring 100% of RAC Insurance (RACI) for $400 million and will then be paying a further $950 million for the long-term distribution and brand licensing rights. In other news, IAG revealed that it could be destined to upgrade its earnings guidance for FY 2025 if perils remain as they are. This follows a much better than expected period in April.

Lendlease Group (ASX: LLC)

The Lendlease share price is up over 2% to $5.61. This morning, Lendlease revealed that it is in late-stage negotiations in the United Kingdom with The Crown Estate to enter a 50/50 joint venture. This is for six development projects within Lendlease's UK development portfolio. If successful, it expects the joint venture to release longer-dated capital at or slightly above book value, halve its future funding obligations, accelerate master planning with Government clients, and generate future fee income.

Xero Ltd (ASX: XRO)

The Xero share price is up 2.5% to $178.49. Investors have been buying this cloud accounting platform provider's shares after it released its full year results. Xero reported a 23% (20% in constant currency) increase in operating revenue to NZ$2.1 billion. And with the company's free cash flow generation increasing 20% to NZ$506.7 million, which represents a free cash flow margin of 24.1%, Xero remains in the Rule of 40 club. The Rule of 40 is the sum of annual revenue growth percentage in constant currency and free cash flow margin percentage.

The post Why Brightstar, IAG, Lendlease, and Xero shares are pushing higher today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

As you're likely aware, the outsized gains many of the Aussie gold miners have been posting since the end of February have been fuelled by a fast-rising gold price.

It was only back on 15 February, that an ounce of gold was trading for US$1,992 per ounce. Which was already near historic highs.

Over the weeks that followed, the yellow metal surged to set a series of new all-time highs, topping US$2,392 per ounce on Friday.

At the time of writing on Monday, that same ounce is worth $US2,378.

As for the performance of ASX gold shares, the S&P/ASX All Ordinaries Gold Index (ASX: XGD) has rocketed 27.3% since the closing bell on 28 February. That's even more remarkable as over this same period the All Ordinaries Index (ASX: XAO) is down 0.3%.

So, with these big gains already in the bag, is it too late to go prospecting for multi-bagger gold stocks?

Not according to Collins St Asset Management chief investment officer Vasilios Piperoglou.

Targeting multi-bagger gains from small-cap ASX gold shares

As The Australian Financial Review reports, Collins St made some outsized returns from their early investment in uranium and late by backing offshore oil services stocks.

But Piperoglou believes the opportunity presented by ASX gold shares, particularly in the small-cap space, could outshine those previous successes.

"With gold stocks, the way the asymmetry is playing out currently, I think there is a greater potential in this than the other two," he said. "We're seeing the very early signs of the start of a gold bull market."

And Piperoglou doesn't believe ASX investors will have to wait around for years for some of the top junior gold miners to double, or more, in value. The kind of multi-bagger we all like to have in our portfolios.

"At some stage, investors are going to get smacked in the face," he said. "There will be a moment within months, not years, where people wake up and these quality small-caps will multi-bag."

The small-cap ASX gold shares currently owned by the Collins St value fund include:

• Barton Gold Holdings Ltd (ASX: BGD)
• Brightstar Resources Ltd (ASX: BTR)
• Tesoro Gold Ltd (ASX: TSO)
• Great Boulder Resources Ltd (ASX: GBR)
• Meeka Metals Ltd (ASX: MEK)
• Odyssey Gold Ltd (ASX: ODY)

The fund also holds two larger ASX gold miners, both with market caps north of $1 billion. Namely Ramelius Resources Ltd (ASX: RMS) and Westgold Resources Ltd (ASX: WGX).

The post Buying ASX gold shares? Here's where this top fundie sees 'multi-bagger' gains on offer appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Here's our take on why they have soared today…

Graphite explorer Triton Minerals Ltd (ASX: TON) is up 19.5% at 46 cents. Earlier this week Triton reported that it had issues 2.6 million shares at a deemed issue price of 61 cents, and 5 million options, exercisable at 70 cents which expire in 3 years' time. The securities were issued as part consideration to acquire an 80% interest in a number of graphite projects. Triton now has 3 prospective graphite projects in the same region.

Intrepid Mines Limited (Australia) (ASX: IAU) shares have soared 10.6%, after the company announced a merger with Blackthorn Resources Limited (ASX: BTR). The combined company will then have a world class copper project in Zambia, named Kitumba, as well as more than $80 million in cash, post-merger.

Adslot Ltd (ASX: ADJ), an internet technology and marketing company has seen its shares rise 14.3% today, despite no announcements from the company. In the past month, shares in Adslot have climbed 60%, partly as a result of a flurry of agreements with some very large companies, including one with Microsoft (PDF), Nielsen Online Ratings and Starcom MediaVest Group (SMG). Investors may also be speculating that Adslot could be a takeover target for a larger tech firm.

Ausdrill Limited (ASX: ASL) shares have soared 13.5%. Yesterday, the mining services company reported an underlying net profit of $29.1 million for 2014, down 68% compared to the previous year. The company appears to be focusing on the right issues, including paying off $71 million of debt, (but still has $400m of net debt) and says it expects an improved earnings result in 2015.

With net tangible assets of $2.37 per share, Ausdrill looks very cheap. The problem is that as Qantas Airways Limited (ASX: QAN) shareholders found out today with the airline's $2.6 billion writedown – book value doesn't always equal market value.

The post 4 ASX-listed stocks rocketing ahead more than 10% today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.