The post Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today 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:

Costa Group Holdings Ltd (ASX: CGC)

The Costa share price is up 6.5% to $3.09. This morning, this horticulture company accepted a takeover approach from a consortium led by Paine Schwartz Partners (PSP). According to the release, the two parties have entered into a scheme implementation agreement for the acquisition of Costa by way of scheme of arrangement at $3.20 cash per share.

Nufarm Ltd (ASX: NUF)

The Nufarm share price is up 1.5% to $4.70. This appears to have been driven by a broker note out of Macquarie this morning. Its analysts have retained their outperform rating on the agricultural chemicals company's shares with a trimmed price target of $6.25. The broker believes the market is undervaluing the company's seed technology business.

Pilbara Minerals Ltd (ASX: PLS)

The Pilbara Minerals share price is up 5% to $4.19. This is despite there being no news out of the lithium giant. However, a number of lithium shares are rising on Friday. This could be a sign that some investors believe that recent weakness in the industry has created a buying opportunity.

Symbio Holdings Ltd (ASX: SYM)

The Symbio share price is up 18% to $2.65. Investors have been buying the cloud-based communication services provider's shares after it received an improved takeover offer from Superloop Ltd (ASX: SLC). Superloop's best and final offer is the equivalent of $2.91 per share, which is up from $2.85 per share previously.

The post Why Costa, Nufarm, Pilbara Minerals, and Symbio shares are charging higher appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

In morning trade, the horticulture company's shares are up 8% to $3.13.

Why is the Costa share price jumping?

Investors have been buying Costa's shares this morning after the company decided to accept the recently lowered takeover offer from a consortium led by Paine Schwartz Partners (PSP).

According to the release, the two parties have entered into a scheme implementation agreement for the acquisition of Costa by way of scheme of arrangement at $3.20 cash per share.

The scheme consideration values Costa's equity at approximately $1,496 million and an enterprise value of approximately $2,459 million.

In addition, the company highlights that the offer represents a premium of 43% to where the Costa share price was trading on 25 October 2022. This was the day before PSP acquired a 13.78% relevant interest in Costa. It is also an 18% premium to the closing share price on 30 June 2023 of $2.72. PSP's proposal was then made public on 4 July 2023.

Costa directors unanimously recommend the scheme

The release notes that Costa's board of directors unanimously considers the scheme to be in the best interests of shareholders. As a result, it recommends that Costa shareholders vote in favour of the scheme.

This is in the absence of a superior proposal and subject to an independent expert's report. Each Costa director intends to vote all of their shares in favour of the scheme, subject to those same qualifications.

Costa chair, Neil Chatfield, said:

The Board is committed at all times to acting in the best interests of shareholders and with this firmly in mind, carefully considered a range of factors in arriving at its recommendation. This included a number of different valuation scenarios, potential risks relating to the future execution of Costa's business growth plan, and the price at which Costa shares could trade over the medium to longer term if it continues as an independent listed company. Accordingly, the Costa Board has unanimously recommended that Costa shareholders vote in favour of the Scheme, subject to the various customary conditions.

And despite PSP reducing its offer from $3.50 per share to $3.20 per share, Chatfield believes shareholders are still getting a good deal. He adds:

The Scheme Consideration represents a premium of 43% to the closing share price on 25 October 2022 of $2.23, being the last close prior to PSP acquiring a 13.78% interest in Costa. While the Costa Board has confidence in the long term fundamentals of the company, the Scheme provides certainty for shareholders in an uncertain operating environment by delivering cash proceeds to shareholders at an attractive premium.

The post Costa share price ripens 8% after accepting lower offer 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:

Azure Minerals Ltd (ASX: AZS)

The Azure Minerals share price is down 12% to $2.50. Investors have been hitting the sell button following the release of disappointing drilling results from Target Area Two of the Andover Lithium Project in Western Australia. The results were vastly different from Target Area One, which have been extremely strong.

Costa Group Holdings Ltd (ASX: CGC)

The Costa share price is down 3.5% to $2.84. This has been driven by news that Paine Schwartz Partners (PSP) has reduced its takeover offer for the horticulture company. The private equity firm has revised its non-binding offer to $3.20 per share from $3.50 per share previously. PSP advised that this is its best and final offer.

Genesis Minerals Ltd (ASX: GMD)

The Genesis Minerals share price is down almost 7% to $1.53. This may be due to speculation that the gold miner is building a stake in Red 5 Limited (ASX: RED). Investors may not be keen on the move or have concerns that a capital raising may be coming to launch a full takeover. However, as things stand, Genesis Minerals has not confirmed whether it is the buyer of the ~11% stake in Red 5.

Weebit Nano Ltd (ASX: WBT)

The Weebit Nano share price is down 8% to $3.89. This morning, this semiconductor company's shares officially joined the ASX 200 index. This makes it easier for institutional investors to short Weebit Nano. And given its lofty valuation and lack of revenue, this is looking like another Brainchip Holdings Ltd (ASX: BRN). Short sellers certainly did well from that one!

The post Why Azure Minerals, Costa, Genesis Minerals, and Weebit Nano shares are dropping today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

At the time of writing, the horticulture company's shares are down almost 4% to $2.83.

Why are Costa shares taking a hit?

Investors have soured on the company today after it released an update on its takeover approach from Paine Schwartz Partners (PSP).

As you may be aware, in July PSP tabled a non-binding $3.50 per share takeover offer for Costa. This was enough to give the private equity firm due diligence access.

However, last month, Costa released a pretty dismal trading update. It warned that there had been a deterioration in the outlook for later season quality across its citrus category with an earnings impact of approximately $30 million.

In light of this, it stated the following:

[PSP] has been advised of the latest trading conditions as part of due diligence. While it remains uncertain if a transaction with PSP will eventuate and at what price, discussions with PSP are continuing. We expect to be able to provide an update in relation to the transaction in mid/late September.

What's the latest?

Today's update reveals that PSP remains keen to acquire Costa. However, not at the original price that was offered.

According to the release, the private equity firm has put forward a revised non-binding offer of $3.20 per share, less any permitted dividend of up to 4 cents per share. This shaves $139 million from its original offer and values Costa at just under $1.5 billion.

It has also indicated that this offer is the best and final price at which the PSP-led consortium can deliver the proposed transaction.

Costa has responded to the news, stating:

The Costa Board, together with its financial and legal advisers, is considering the revised non-binding offer and is continuing to engage with PSP regarding the terms and conditions of the offer to enable the Costa Board to comprehensively assess whether the revised non-binding offer is in the best interest of shareholders. There continues to be no certainty that a binding offer will be received or that any transaction will eventuate. Costa shareholders do not need to take any action at this time.

The post Costa shares fall as takeover bid gets $139 million trim appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

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

Costa Group Holdings Ltd (ASX: CGC)

The Costa share price is down 12% to $2.92. This morning, this horticulture company revealed that it was pushing back the release of its half-year results. In addition, Costa warned that there has been a deterioration in the outlook for later season quality across its citrus category. This has sparked fears that its proposed takeover by Paine Schwartz Partners could collapse.

Insignia Financial Ltd (ASX: IFL)

The Insignia share price is down almost 11% to $2.60. Investors have been selling this financial services company's shares following the release of its full-year results. Insignia reported a 15% decline in underlying net profit after tax to $191 million and cut its final dividend by 21% to 9.3 cents per share.

Lovisa Holdings Ltd (ASX: LOV)

The Lovisa share price is down over 7% to $20.97. This follows the release of the fashion jewellery retailer's FY 2023 results. Lovisa's revenue rose 30% to $596.5 million and its net profit climbed 16.7% to $68.2 million for the 12 months. This fell short of the $614.8 million and $76.8 million, respectively, that Bell Potter was forecasting.

Ramsay Health Care Ltd (ASX: RHC)

The Ramsay share price is down 11% to $49.09. This morning, this private hospital operator released its FY 2023 results and reported an 11.6% lift in revenue to $15.3 billion and an 8.8% increase in net profit after tax to $298.1 million. Looking ahead, while management is guiding to mid-single-digit revenue growth in FY 2024, it has warned that inflationary pressures could weigh on its earnings.

The post Why Costa, Insignia, Lovisa, and Ramsay shares are sinking today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Shares in the fresh produce company closed yesterday trading for $3.32. In morning trade, shares were swapping hands for $2.72 apiece, down a painful 18%.

There looks to have been some bargain-hunting going on since then. At the time of writing, Costa shares have recovered to $2.88, down 13.3% for the day.

For some context, the benchmark index is up 0.3% at this same time.

So, why are investors hitting the sell button on this ASX 200 stock today?

What's happening with the ASX 200 stock?

The Costa share price is under heavy pressure today after the company reported on a delay in releasing its results for the first half calendar year spanning six months through to 2 July.

The ASX 200 stock was meant to announce H1 results tomorrow, 25 August. Those will now be reported next Thursday, 31 August. Costa's investor briefing has also been rescheduled to next Thursday at 10am (AEST).

On the earnings front, the company advised that its unaudited half-year EBITDA-S before material items would be approximately $150 million.

(EBITDA-S represents earnings before interest, tax, depreciation, amortisation, fair value movements in biological assets (SGARA) and material items.)

Costa noted a "deterioration in the outlook for later season quality" across its citrus category. Management estimates that impact at some $30 million atop a "softening in consumer demand within the tomato category".

Both factors are expected to impact Costa's full-year results. However, the ASX 200 stock still forecasts its full-year EBITDA-S will come in higher than last year's earnings.

The company also noted that it has advised Paine Schwartz Partners (PSP) of the decline in trading conditions. Management said that "it remains uncertain if a transaction with PSP will eventuate and at what price".

However, discussions are continuing, and the company aims to update the market on the proposed takeover later in September.

In July, Costa announced it had received an unsolicited, confidential, non-binding indicative proposal from PSP to acquire all of the shares in the ASX 200 stock which it didn't already own by way of a scheme of arrangement.

PSP offered $3.50 per share, atop allowing shareholders to receive the interim dividend, valuing the company at some $1.4 billion.

Stay tuned.

Costa share price snapshot

Despite today's sizeable retrace, the ASX 200 stock remains up 8% over 12 months.

The post Here's why this ASX 200 stock just crashed 18% appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

However, the ASX 200 has also spent considerable time in red territory today after falling sharply after the market open this morning. But we have still seen a plethora of ASX 200 shares hit new 52-week highs this session. Let's discuss them.

7 ASX 200 shares at new 52-week highs today

Aristocrat Leisure Limited (ASX: ALL)

It was only on Tuesday that we reported Artistocrat's latest 52-week high. But here we are again, with another fresh high for this ASX 200 gaming share. Aristocrat stock is currently up 0.75% to $41.60 a share. But the company hit its new high of $41.70 earlier this morning. This rise puts Aristocrat's 2023 gains at an encouraging 35.8%.

Boral Limited (ASX: BLD)

Boral shares are on fire today. This building and construction materials company has gained a whopping 8.3% so far today and is sitting at $4.74, putting Boral at a year-to-date gain of 64.8%. Earlier this morning, Boral stock hit its now-current two-week high of $4.75. Investors clearly have this company's latest (and evidently well-received) earnings report to thank for this new high watermark.

Reece Ltd (ASX: REH)

ASX 200 plumbing supplies share Reee is another stock that has seen several new 52-week highs in recent weeks. Today brings another one. Right now, Reece shares are going for $20.20, up 0.52% for the day. This morning though, we saw the company top out at $20.28 a share, another new 52-week high. Today's gains put Reece shares up 46.3% this year so far.

Breville Group Ltd (ASX: BRG)

Breville is another ASX 200 share that just keeps the wins coming. Today, the company has hit another 52-week high, this time $23.92 a share. Breville remains just a little below that at present, up 0.97% for the day at $23.91. This adds to Breville's already-impressive winning streak in 2023, which now stands at 28%.

Orora Ltd (ASX: ORA)

The same can be said for packaging company Orora. Today, Orora shares hit a new annual high watermark of $3.67 a share just after market open. That extends this company's year-to-date winning streak to 28.5%. Right now, Orora shares are just below that new high, trading at $3.64 a share, up 0.41% for this session.

Costa Group Holdings Ltd (ASX: CGC)

ASX 200 produce share Costa Group is next up. Costa shares had a dreary start to the day, but spiked after lunchtime to record a new 52-week high of $3.39 a share. This new high is probably related to Costa's impending takeover. At present, the company has retreated from that high and is flat at $3.38. Still, investors will be happy with Costa's 23.2% rise in 2203 so far.

News Corporation (ASX: NWS)

News Corp is our final ASX 200 share to check out today. This media conglomerate has also had a bumpy day and is slightly up at $31.79 a share at the time of writing. Still, News Corp's new 52-week high of $31.85 that we saw this afternoon still counts. News Corp shares are now up 17.6% year to date in 2023 thus far.

The post 7 ASX 200 shares dodging the doldrums to crack new 52-week highs appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Four ASX 200 shares that climbed more than most during the month are listed below. Here's why they smashed the market in July:

Megaport Ltd (ASX: MP1)

The Megaport share price was the best performer on the ASX 200 index in July with a 41% gain. Investors were scrambling to buy this network-as-a-service company's shares after it upgraded its guidance for FY 2023. Megaport now expects its normalised EBITDA for FY 2023 to be in the range of $19 million to $21 million. This compares to its previous guidance range of $16 million to $18 million. Management also expects its FY 2024 EBITDA to be higher than prior guidance.

Flight Centre Travel Group Ltd (ASX: FLT)

The Flight Centre share price was some way behind as the next best performer on the ASX 200 with a gain of 23%. This was driven by news that the travel agent giant has upgraded its earnings guidance for FY 2023. Flight Centre now expects underlying EBITDA between $295 million and $305 million. This is up from between $270 million and $290 million previously.

Costa Group Holdings Ltd (ASX: CGC)

The Costa share price was close behind with a gain of 22% in July. The catalyst for this was news that the horticulture company received a $3.50 per share non-binding takeover offer from Paine Schwartz Partners. Further due diligence and negotiations on a potential scheme implementation agreement are continuing.

Block Inc (ASX: SQ2)

The Block share price was on form last month and charged 21% higher. This was driven by improving sentiment on Wall Street after inflation cooled and appeared to suggest that the rate hike cycle was coming to an end. Despite this gain, the payments company's shares are still only up 9% over the last 12 months.

The post These were the best-performing ASX 200 shares in July appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

For readers who aren't sure about what the company does, it describes itself as Australia's "leading grower, packer and marketer of fresh fruit and vegetables". Costa grows food in five categories: berries, mushrooms, glasshouse tomatoes, citrus, and avocados.

Let's check what sent the Costa share price higher on Tuesday.

Takeover offer

Yesterday, the company acknowledged there had been media speculation about a proposal from private equity group Paine Schwartz Partners (PSP) to acquire Costa.

PSP actually made the offer on 31 May 2023, which was a confidential, non-binding offer of $3.50 cash per share. Costa shareholders would also be entitled to an interim dividend of up to 4 cents per share. After a four-week period of initial due diligence, PSP has reconfirmed its indicative offer.

In October 2022, PSP bought a 13.78% stake in Costa for $2.60 per share. Costa and PSP talked in April about a potential approach at a range of between $3.20 to $3.30 per share.

There was media speculation that Costa and PSP were "hopeful of an agreed deal in coming days" but further due diligence and negotiations about an agreement are expected to continue through July, according to Costa.

What to make of this deal?

The offer is close to a 30% premium of where the Costa share price was on 30 June 2023, so it's a solid price compared to recent levels.

However, it's more than 25% lower than where the company's share price was in May 2021, as we can see on the chart below.

For investors who have been around for a while, that would represent a sizeable decline. Though, there's no 'rule' that says that PSP has to offer a price as high as where it was a couple of years ago.

According to reporting by The Australian, there has been a suggestion that the offer undervalues Costa. Still, Wilson analyst James Ferrier thinks that PSP's offer will be supported:

While Costa has invested in significant expansion of its productive asset base over the past five years, incremental return on capital has disappointed.

If one assumed that return on capital can and will improve to target levels, then PSP's indicative bid price arguably undervalues Costa.

Meantime, Belinda Moore from Morgans said in a research note:

We view Paine Schwartz's $3.50 indicative takeover proposal as a great outcome for Costa shareholders, given the execution risk involved in delivering its growth projects and targeted returns over the next few years. Also, Costa's earnings are just too volatile for the listed market.

Foolish takeaway

Despite the huge jump in the Costa share price in the past week, at its current share price, the company is valued at 18x FY25's estimated earnings. As well, the company's earnings are expected to increase. Time will tell whether the takeover offer is acceptable to shareholders or not.

The post Is the Costa takeover a 'great outcome' for shareholders or not? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

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

Costa Group Holdings Ltd (ASX: CGC)

The Costa share price is up 11% to $3.31. Investors have been buying this horticulture company's shares after it confirmed the receipt of a $3.50 per share non-binding takeover offer from Paine Schwartz Partners. Further due diligence and negotiations on a potential scheme implementation agreement are expected to continue through July.

Gold Road Resources Ltd (ASX: GOR)

The Gold Road share price is up over 3% to $1.59. This morning, Goldman Sachs initiated coverage on the gold miner with a buy rating and a $1.85 price target. It said: "GOR remains undervalued in our view, trading at ~0.9x NAV on our LT gold price of US$1,700/oz, or pricing ~US$1,560/oz gold (peer average ~1x NAV and ~US$1,700/oz), and near-term FCF yields of c. 10% in CY24/25 remain attractive vs. peers and support upside to the outlook for capital returns."

Sayona Mining Ltd (ASX: SYA)

The Sayona Mining share price is up 5.5% to 19.5 cents. This follows the news that the lithium miner has achieved a new production milestone at the NAL operation. More than 30,000 tonnes of spodumene (lithium) concentrate has been produced ahead of target.

Silver Lake Resources Ltd (ASX: SLR)

The Silver Lake share price is up 5% to $1.09. This morning, this gold miner released its fourth-quarter update. Silver Lake advised that it delivered record quarterly sales of 83,540 ounces of gold. In addition, its all in sustaining costs (AISC) for the fourth quarter are yet to be finalised but are expected to decrease to the lowest level for the year.

The post Why Costa, Gold Road, Sayona Mining, and Silver Lake shares are storming higher appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

At the time of writing, the horticulture company's shares are up 10% to $3.28.

Why is the Costa share price rising?

Investors have been bidding the Costa share price higher today after the company confirmed speculation that it has received a takeover approach.

According to the release, on 31 May, Costa received an unsolicited, confidential, non-binding indicative proposal from Paine Schwartz Partners to acquire all of the issued shares in Costa which it does not already own by way of a scheme of arrangement.

Under the indicative proposal, Costa shareholders would receive a cash consideration of $3.50 per share. In addition, shareholders would be entitled to any interim dividend up to 4 cents per share that is declared in relation to the six-month period which ended on 2 July.

This values Costa at approximately $1.4 billion.

What's the latest?

The release confirms that following a four-week period of initial due diligence, Paine Schwartz Partners has provided reconfirmation of the indicative proposal this morning.

The indicative proposal is subject to a number of conditions, including satisfactory completion of due diligence, execution of a binding scheme implementation agreement, and approval of the Paine Schwartz Partners investment committee.

Paine Schwartz Partners has also indicated that it has received approval from the Foreign Investment Review Board to acquire up to 100% of the shares in Costa. However, it notes that such approval may be required to be refreshed upon the finalisation of any co-investors.

And while media speculation suggested that Costa and Paine Schwartz Partners were hopeful that a deal would be reached this week, the company doesn't appear to expect such a swift conclusion. It explained that further due diligence and negotiations on a potential scheme implementation agreement are expected to continue through July.

It also warned that there is no certainty that the indicative proposal will result in a binding offer or that any transaction will eventuate.

The Costa share price is up now up 12% over the last 12 months.

The post Costa share price jumps 10% on $1.4b takeover news appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

Back in June 2018, five years ago, this agricultural company and produce grower was asking over $7.80 a share. Today, it languishes at $2.76 a share as we speak. That's down more than 60% from those glorious highs we saw back in 2018. Take a look for yourself below:

So it's fair to say that investors have been suffering for a long time. In addition to those five-year losses, the Costa share price is also down 6.76% over the past 12 months. Saying that, it is also up a slight 0.73% year to date in 2023 so far. 

Costa has been battling a variety of issues over the past few years, including severe weather, inflation and access to export markets. These probably explain why its share price has been so entrenched on struggle street.

Back in February, investors were disappointed with the company's full-year earnings for FY2022. Although these included an 11.2% rise in revenue, Costa reported a 10% drop in statutory net profit after tax (NPAT) to $47 million.

But after such a tumultuous five years, could Costa shares finally be poised for a comeback?

Is this ASX 200 stock ready to rebound?

Well, that's certainly the view of one ASX expert. As reported in the Australian Financial Review (AFR) last week, Alan Kwan has recently given his views on Costa shares. Kwan is a portfolio manager at Australian Eagle Asset Management.

Kwan was asked which stock in the Australian Eagle Long Short Fund was the most undervalued by the markets. He named the Costa share price.

According to Kwan, Costa has "decent upside". He noted that the company "has doubled its area under plantation since its initial public offering (IPO) and yet is still trading at close to its IPO price in 2015".

Kwan also points to Costa's international markets as providing a path to higher earnings (particularly from the blueberry markets in China and Morocco). He anticipates that weather will "be less of an issue in Australia in the near term as it recovers from weather impacted citrus earnings in the NSW Riverina area".

So no doubt Costa shareholders will be delighted with this level of conviction from one ASX fund manager. But we'll have to wait and see what happens with Costa shares over the coming 12 months and beyond.

The post Down 60% in 5 years, could this beaten-up ASX 200 stock be poised for a comeback? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) has closed after another positive session this Wednesday. Following the ASX 200's late return to trading this week (thanks to the King's Birthday holiday), the index ended up adding a healthy 0.32% to finish the day at 7,161.7 points. This follows yesterday's gain of 0.2%.

Again, the performance of the US markets overnight probably helped boost the optimism of ASX investors. The Dow Jones Industrial Average Index (DJX: .DJI) ended up rising by 0.43% last night (our time). As tends to be the case, the Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC) nearly doubled that return with a 0.83% spike.

The S&P 500 Index (SP: .INX) climbed higher as well, gaining 0.69%.

Unlike yesterday's tech-driven gains, today's upward climb was propelled by mining shares. The S&P/ASX 200 Materials Index (ASX: XMJ) was one of the top indexes this Wednesday, rising by a pleasing 2.49%.

ASX financials shares also had a strong day, with the S&P/ASX 200 Financials Index (ASX: XFJ) climbing by 0.9%.

In contrast, the S&P/ASX 200 Information Technology Index (ASX: XIJ) was a laggard, dropping by 1.44%.

But that was better than the S&P/ASX 200 Health Care Index (ASX: XHJ, which plunged by a nasty 4.82%, probably thanks to the woes of the CSL Limited (ASX: CSL) share price.

So, with all of that under the belt, let's now check out the top ten ASX 200 share performers of today's session.

Top 10 ASX 200 shares countdown

Today saw the mining stock Mineral Resources Ltd (ASX: MIN) nab the top spot on the ASX 200. This diversified mining share rose a little over 5% today, despite no news from the company.

However, this rise could have been influenced by yesterday's sell-off following some awful news at the Onslow Iron project. Some broker love that we discussed today probably didn't hurt either.

Here's a look at the other ASX 200 shares that topped out the markets this Wednesday with the largest gains:

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

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

It followed a mixed session on Wall Street overnight. The Dow Jones Industrial Average Index (DJX: .DJI) lifted 0.3% in Wednesday's session, while the S&P 500 Index (SP: .INX) fell 0.4%, and the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC) dropped 1.3%.

Back home, tech stocks didn't do any better. The S&P/ASX 200 Information Technology Index (ASX: XIJ) plunged 3.8%.

The S&P/ASX 200 Real Estate Index (ASX: XRE) also suffered, falling 2.5%, while, on a more positive note, the S&P/ASX 200 Materials Index (ASX: XMJ) rose 0.6%.

Out in front of all the ASX 200's sectors today was the S&P/ASX 200 Energy Index (ASX: XEJ). It rose 1.3% alongside oil prices.

The Brent crude oil lifted 0.9% to US$76.95 a barrel overnight while US Nymex oil added 1.1% to reach US$72.53 a barrel.

So, with all that in mind, let's dive into the 10 top-performing ASX 200 shares of Thursday's session.

Top 10 ASX 200 shares countdown

Taking out today's top spot is the New Hope Corporation Limited (ASX: NHC) share price. The coal producer's stock gained 8.6% despite no news having been released by the company.

These shares made today's biggest gains:

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

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

Three broker buy ratings that you might want to know more about are summarised below. Here's why brokers think these ASX shares are in the buy zone:

Chalice Mining Ltd (ASX: CHN)

According to a note out of Bell Potter, its analysts have retained their speculative buy rating and $12.00 price target on this mineral exploration company's shares. This follows the completion of a $70 million placement. Bell Potter was pleased with the company's decision to strengthen its balance sheet and sees significant potential from its Gonneville deposits. The broker also sees the latter as an attractive option for mining giants to get a piece of. The Chalice Mining share price is trading at $7.09 today.

Costa Group Holdings Ltd (ASX: CGC)

Another note out of Bell Potter reveals that its analysts have retained their buy rating and $3.00 price target on this horticulture company's shares. Bell Potter was pleased with the company's annual general meeting update and believes it points to a very strong performance this year. The Costa share price is fetching $2.63 this afternoon.

Treasury Wine Estates Ltd (ASX: TWE)

Analysts at Goldman Sachs have retained their buy rating on this wine giant's shares with a trimmed $14.20 price target. While Goldman was a touch disappointed with the company's FY 2023 guidance, it believes the selloff has been overdone. So much so, the broker feels the share price weakness has created an opportunity to further accumulate a stock that has a long-term moat. The Treasury Wine share price is trading at $11.72 on Friday.

The post Brokers name 3 ASX shares to buy now appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.