Lithium was by far the best-performing commodity relevant to Australian miners in FY26.

That run followed a two-year slump between mid-2023 and mid-2025 when the global lithium market became oversupplied.

Supply/demand finally rebalanced at the start of FY26, driven in large part by the green energy transition.  

Lithium is a key component in rechargeable batteries for electric vehicles (EVs), energy storage systems, e-bikes, and smartphones.

In FY26, lithium spodumene skyrocketed from about US$600 per tonne in June 2025 to US$2,270 per tonne in June this year.

The price has since come off quite substantially, falling to US$1,505 per tonne today.

This reflects more supply coming online as many junior miners come out of care and maintenance to restart operations.

However, the 12-month outlook for the lithium spodumene price is very positive, according to the Federal Department of Resources.

Lithium price to soar 63% this year

The department has just released its five-year outlook for a large range of commodities.

The department says the lithium spodumene price averaged US$1,532 per tonne in FY26.

For FY27, the department predicts a sharp increase of 63% to US$2,499 per tonne.

As with many other commodities, the department projects a gradual decline back to an average US$1,684 per tonne in FY31.

According to the department's outlook report:

Australian mine output is forecast to grow by around 8.8% a year to 2031, supported by expansions at existing operations and the ramp-up of new projects.

Australia's lithium export earnings are forecast to increase from nearly $10 billion in 2025–26 to over $17 billion in 2026–27 driven by higher prices and increased export volumes.

These are expected to moderate to around $15 billion by 2030–31 ($14 billion in real terms) as prices ease from current levels.

This is important information for ASX lithium shares investors because commodity prices directly impact earnings and market valuations.

Global lithium consumption is projected to grow by more than 11% a year to FY31, primarily driven by the adoption of EVs and battery energy storage systems, while supply is expected to expand by 7.3% per year.

According to the report:

Global EV sales grew by 21% in 2025, led by China and the EU. By 2031, annual sales are projected to reach around 17 million vehicles in China and 6.6 million in the EU. Growth in the United States is expected to be more moderate following the expiry of EV tax credits.

EV penetration in China is projected to rise from 53% in 2025 to 81% in 2031, while the EU rate is forecast to reach 56%, supported by vehicle emissions standards. US penetration is projected to increase more modestly to 12%.

The report flagged a risk that sodium-ion and solid-state batteries may eventually compete with lithium-ion batteries in the market.

China has imposed a 2% consumption tax on lithium-ion batteries from 1 September 2026, rising to 4% from 1 September.

Sodium-ion and solid-state batteries will remain exempt until the end of 2028, potentially supporting their development and adoption.

Which ASX lithium shares should you buy?

Morgans reiterated its buy recommendation on PLS Group Ltd (ASX: PLS) shares this week.

The broker has a 12-month share price target of $3.70, implying almost 30% upside from here.

UBS upgraded Elevra Lithium Ltd (ASX: ELV) shares to a buy rating with a $9.10 target earlier this month.

This implies more than 140% potential upside over the next 12 months.

Bell Potter reiterated its buy recommendation on Liontown Resources Ltd (ASX: LTR) shares with a $1.60 target last week.

This indicates potential gains of 130% ahead.

Morgans upgraded Mineral Resources Ltd (ASX: MIN) to a buy rating with a $65 target last week.

This implies 45% potential upside from here.

Ord Minnett upgraded Core Lithium Ltd (ASX: CXO) shares to a buy call with a 34-cent target last week.

This suggests a potential 60% upside ahead.

The post Lithium price set to soar 63% in FY27. Here's why and the ASX shares to buy appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

After jumping 12% yesterday, the lithium miner has gone backwards on Thursday, falling 7.74% to 38.8 cents in morning trade.

The selling follows a string of company announcements released this morning, giving investors plenty to digest after the stock's recent rally.

Despite today's decline, Core shares have still gained approximately 269% over the past year following a remarkable recovery.

So, let's take a closer look at what's going on with Core Lithium?

Cash piles up, but losses continue

Core's FY26 annual report shows a significant improvement in the company's financial position, although there's still some work to do.

The lithium miner finished June with $181.8 million in cash, compared with just $23.5 million a year earlier.

Much of that improvement came from a $120 million share placement and funding arrangements with Glencore and InfraVia.

However, Core still reported a net loss of approximately $26 million, while operating cash outflows totalled $21.1 million.

The company also received approximately $62.2 million in additional funding after the financial year ended.

Finniss is back in business

The good news is that Core's flagship Finniss lithium operation is making progress following its restart.

Earlier this month, the company produced its first spodumene concentrate from the processing plant, meeting its September quarter target.

According to the release, the milestone was achieved within 6 months of the final investment decision (FID) in March.

Core has also completed upgrades to the processing plant, which are expected to increase annual throughput capacity by approximately 20% to 1.2 million tonnes.

Meanwhile, development continues at the BP33 underground mine, with first ore targeted for mid 2027.

The next milestone will be the first shipment of newly produced lithium concentrate, which Core expects during the December quarter.

What's behind Thursday's sell-off?

While the annual report contains some encouraging developments, lithium prices have been heading in the opposite direction of late.

According to Trading Economics, lithium carbonate was trading at approximately 135,200 Chinese yuan per tonne on Wednesday.

This is down 15.76% over the past month.

The recent pullback comes as more Aussie lithium mines return to production, with investors keeping a close eye on the potential increase in supply.

Following Core's recent share price rally, some investors may also be taking the opportunity to lock in profits.

I think Core Lithium's next test is getting Finniss running consistently and generating cash, particularly with lithium prices below their recent highs.

The post Why are Core Lithium shares crashing 8% on Thursday? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Over the last year, the All Ordinaries Index (ASX: XAO) has slipped 2.1%, with the All Ords having dropped 4% in the past month.

Here's how the performance from these top ASX lithium shares compares:

• Liontown Resources Ltd (ASX: LTR) are up 12.2% in a year and down 22.3% in a month.
• Pls Group Ltd (ASX: PLS) shares – formerly Pilbara Minerals – are up 85.2% in a year and down 17.9% in a month.
• IGO Ltd (ASX: IGO) shares are up 40.7% in a year and down 17.4% in a month.
• Core Lithium Ltd (ASX: CXO) shares are up 224.6% in a year and down 6.1% in a month.
• Mineral Resources Ltd (ASX: MIN) shares are up 41.7% in a year and down 19.0% in a month.

The common headwind battering all of the miners over the last month is the sharp retrace in global lithium prices.

While the lithium carbonate price remains up 79% since this time last year, it's fallen 34% from its mid-May multi-year highs. And that fall accelerated in recent weeks, with the lithium price slumping 17% since 1 September.

A lot of that decline has come after global and Australian miners ramped up their production amid higher lithium prices, which looks to have quickly led to an oversupply situation.

But ASX lithium shares, and their stockholders, could have more to worry about than just an oversupply of lithium.

Indeed, investors would do well to keep one eye on sodium, an element widely available across the globe.

Will sodium batteries put more pressure on ASX lithium shares?

Lithium batteries aren't the only way to store large amounts of energy.

Indeed, in potentially concerning news for ASX lithium shares, Chinese battery manufacturing giant CATL expects that sodium-based batteries could take a big slice of market share from lithium batteries.

Addressing the Australian Financial Review Asia Summit, CATL Australia chairman John Kwon said sodium-ion battery costs will likely be on par with lithium-ion batteries early in 2027.

While Kwon said lithium batteries would remain a superior choice for EVs, sodium batteries could be better for data centre power storage. He noted that sodium batteries aren't as sensitive to temperature as lithium batteries. And they can be recharged more often.

"Sodium-ion is now moving from development towards commercial deployment," Kwon said (quoted by the AFR).

He added:

Sodium-ion is an important development because it creates another pathway for scaling battery deployment using widely available raw materials and adding flexibility to global supply chains.

And ASX lithium shares could be facing that fresh competition soon, with Kwon forecasting that sodium batteries should be commercially available in Australia by mid-2027.

The post Could this evolving development smash ASX lithium shares like Liontown, Mineral Resources and PLS? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

And both stocks are well-known for making some big daily moves. Sometimes higher. Sometimes lower.

But only one of them has raced ahead of the 24.5% three-year gains posted by the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO), as at 10 September, while the other has struggled to regain some sharp losses.

So which ASX share was the better buy?

Core Lithium shares playing catch up

Spoiler alert, it wasn't Core Lithium shares.

Three years ago, you may have been tempted to buy shares in the ASX All Ords lithium stock after the share price had crashed 76% over the prior 12 months.

On 8 September 2023, this saw the lithium miner trading for 37 cents a share.

So, for $10,000 you could have bought 27,027 Core Lithium shares.

In Thursday afternoon trade, those same shares were swapping hands for 38 cents apiece, up 2.7% in three years.

Meaning the 27,027 shares you bought three years ago for $10,000 are now worth $10,270.

Not a loss. But far from a gangbuster result either.

Investing $10,000 in DroneShield shares

Unlike Core Lithium shares, 8 September 2023 would have been an opportune time to snap up some DroneShield shares.

Three years ago, the ASX 200 drone defence stock was trading for 29 cents a share.

So, for $10,000 you could have picked up 34,482 shares.

On Thursday, the stock was trading for $1.69 a share, up an impressive 482.8% in three years.

And the 34,482 DroneShield shares you bought three years ago for $10,000 are now worth $58,275.

What's been happening in 2026?

While DroneShield is the clear winner over our three-year time frame, 2026 has delivered markedly different results.

Indeed, at the recent share prices, DroneShield shares have tumbled more than 49% year to date, while Core Lithium shares have surged more than 31% in 2026.

That strong performance from Core Lithium will see the stock return to the S&P/ASX 300 Index (ASX: XKO) commencing on 21 September as part of the S&P Dow Jones Indices September quarterly rebalance.

Investors have been piling back into Core Lithium shares as lithium prices recovered from their 2025 lows. That recovery has also seen the beaten down miner advance its previously mothballed Finniss Lithium Operation, located in the Northern Territory, back towards production.

Commenting on the project in July, managing director Paul Brown said:

Core is in a very strong operational and financial position, with the foundations in place to continue executing to plan and ample funding to advance Finniss to steady state production in 2028.

The post $10,000 invested in DroneShield and Core Lithium shares 3 years ago is now worth… appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

The lithium stock is up another 7.58% to 35.5 cents on Tuesday, taking its gain in 2026 to almost 30%.

However, the rebound has been much bigger over the past 12 months.

Core Lithium shares have climbed around 238% over that time, recovering from a 52-week low of just 9.7 cents. They also recently traded as high as 40 cents.

And today, there is another reason for shareholders to get excited.

Finniss is back in action

According to the release, Core Lithium has produced its first spodumene concentrate from the recommissioned Finniss processing plant in the Northern Territory.

The milestone was reached within 6 months of the final investment decision (FID) and in line with the company's September-quarter target.

The plant is still going through commissioning and optimisation, so there is more work to do before production settles into a steady rhythm. The next big milestone is the first shipment of newly produced spodumene concentrate, which is targeted for the December quarter.

Core Lithium has also used the restart to make several upgrades to the plant, including changes to the crushing circuit and screen refurbishments.

The company expects those improvements to support better recoveries and lift plant throughput by around 20% to 1.2 million tonnes a year.

Managing director Paul Brown said producing first concentrate was "another significant milestone" in the staged restart and pointed to the speed of the recommissioning work completed so far.

A lot has changed in 12 months

After such a big run, Core Lithium shares are in a very different place from a year ago.

At 35.5 cents today, the company is valued at roughly $1.15 billion and the share price is only around 11% below its recent 52-week high of 40 cents.

There has also been plenty of volatility along the way. The shares fell 9.2% last Wednesday and closed Monday at 33 cents before bouncing again today.

The Finniss restart is good news, but investors have already sent the shares much higher.

What happens next?

The next step is getting Finniss from first concentrate into steady production and, ultimately, shipments.

Ore from the Grants open pit is being used during the restart, while work on the BP33 underground mine is continuing at the same time.

After the huge rise in the share price, valuation is also definitely worth keeping an eye on.

TipRanks shows two analyst ratings from the past 3 months, with an average 12-month price target of 28 cents. That's around 21% below where Core Lithium shares are trading today.

The post Core Lithium shares jump 8% after a milestone investors have waited months for appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Two of the popular ASX shares are racing ahead of the 0.2% gains posted by the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) in late morning trade today, while the other is falling hard.

Here's what's catching investor interest.

Life360 shares tumble on margin erosion

Life360 shares are under heavy selling pressure today, down 13.4% at $25.52 apiece.

This follows the release of the ASX 200 location sharing software developer's second-quarter (Q2 2026) results.

Investor expectations look to have been high, with the share price tumbling despite Life360 reporting a 38% year-on-year increase in total revenue to US$159 million. And adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) were up 53% to US$31.1 million.

The company also reported a 16% year-on-year increase in its global monthly active users to 102.4 million.

But Life360 shares may be getting sold down today, with Q2 2026 net income of US$5.1 million down 17.8% from Q2 2025. And the net income margin fell to 3%, down from 6% a year earlier.

Looking ahead, Life360 CEO Lauren Antonoff said:

With the Life360 Ads Platform integration largely complete, we're now focused on building awareness and commercial momentum. In Q3, we're furthering our commitment to serve all life stages — from pet parents to kids and aging adults — reinforcing our position as the platform that makes everyday family life better.

Newmont shares jump on joint venture agreement

Unlike Life360 shares, Newmont shares are enjoying a strong day of outperformance.

At time of writing, shares in the ASX 200 gold stock are up 5.1%, changing hands for $167.58 apiece.

Investors are reacting positively to news that Newmont and Barrick Mining Corporation have reached an agreement to resolve the disputes relating to their Nevada Gold Mines joint venture.

Under the agreement, Newmont will pay Barrick US$1.95 billion in consideration for tenements previously excluded from the Nevada Gold Mines joint venture, including Barrick's Fourmile and Newmont's Fiberline and Mike developments.

Which brings us to…

Core Lithium shares surge on drill results

Joining Newmont and Life360 shares in turning heads today is Core Lithium.

At time of writing, shares in the ASX All Ords lithium stock are up 8.2%, trading for 33 cents apiece.

This follows the release of promising drill results from the miner's BP33 project, located within its Finniss Lithium Operation in the Northern Territory.

Highlights from the extensional drilling included 34.08 metres at 2.09% lithium oxide (Li₂O) from 578.70 metres. Drilling at the project remains ongoing.

"These initial results from BP33 are highly encouraging and reinforce our confidence in the quality and continuity of the orebody," Core Lithium managing director Paul Brown said.

The post Why Core Lithium, Newmont and Life360 shares are turning heads on Tuesday appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

What did Core Lithium report?

• Extensional drilling at BP33 returned 34.08 metres at 2.09% Li₂O from 578.70 metres, including several higher-grade intervals.
• The hole (NMRD100) also intersected 3.43 metres at 2.44% Li₂O from 616.50 metres.
• NMRD100 targeted potential extensions beyond the existing BP33 Mineral Resource Estimate of 10.5Mt at 1.53% Li₂O.
• Drilling continues at BP33, with four further holes planned for down-dip and along-strike extensions.
• Assay confirms high-grade spodumene mineralisation, supporting scale and quality of BP33 deposit.

What else do investors need to know?

The latest drilling results build on previous findings at BP33, where an earlier hole (NMRD085) intersected 90.17 metres at 1.80% Li₂O outside the current resource estimate. The new results point to strong continuity and further upside potential for future resource upgrades.

Core Lithium is also ramping up exploration at the nearby Blackbeard prospect, with up to 12,150 metres of planned drilling. An additional diamond rig will accelerate the program, and results are expected in the coming months. Success at Blackbeard could provide future feed for the Finniss Lithium Operation.

What did Core Lithium management say?

Managing Director Paul Brown said:

These initial results from BP33 are highly encouraging and reinforce our confidence in the quality and continuity of the orebody. BP33 is a unique deposit, characterised by a large, continuous, uniform, sub-vertical pegmatite with consistent grade, minimal internal zoning and favourable geometry for underground mining. As the long-life, low-cost production base at Finniss, these results further strengthen our confidence in the continuity and scale of the orebody, while continuing to demonstrate the potential for mineralisation beyond the current Mineral Resource footprint. With additional drilling underway, we look forward to further improving our understanding of the deposit and its long-term development potential. Exploration drilling at Blackbeard is also underway, with up to 12,150 metres planned. An additional diamond drilling rig is on the way and will accelerate the program. Results from the Blackbeard campaign are expected over the coming months, with the potential to provide a future ore feed to Finniss.

What's next for Core Lithium?

Investors can look out for further drilling updates from both BP33 and Blackbeard as Core Lithium pursues resource growth and project development at the Finniss operation. The company is focused on identifying new mineralisation to support a long mine life and low-cost production base.

With its ongoing exploration program and a strong pipeline of drilling, Core Lithium is working to maintain momentum and unlock new value for shareholders. The additional planned holes at BP33 will target further extensions that could lead to future resource increases.

Core Lithium share price snapshot

Over the past 12 months, Core Lithium shares have risen 154%, outperforming the All Ordinaries Index (ASX: XAO), which has risen 3% over the same period.

View Original Announcement

The post Core Lithium drilling uncovers more high-grade lithium at BP33 appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

At the time of writing, the ASX lithium stock is up around 9% to 26 cents a piece.

Today's increase means the shares are now up 114% higher than 12 months ago.

But, thanks to a share price crash in March this year, the shares are still trying to claw back losses shed in 2026. For the year to date, the shares are down around 9%, at the time of writing.

Why is the ASX lithium stock climbing higher again today?

There isn't any price-sensitive news out of the company this week to explain the latest share price rally.

It looks like the shares are rising on the back of an upswing in investor interest in the ASX lithium explorer and developer. Core Lithium shares were also sold off heavily over recent weeks, so a bounce-back is likely, with investors buying back in for cheap.

The lithium sector has been in the spotlight over the past week after news that a wave of mine restarts in China will tip the market back into oversupply next year. Trading Economics data shows that Lithium carbonate prices have fallen below CNY145,000 this month, their lowest in five months.

But it looks like Core Lithium shares are unfazed by the latest update. In fact, the share price is quickly travelling in the other direction.

Fact is, prices are still hugely higher than the CNY90,000 levels seen in January this year, and demand is still booming. EV sales continue to increase globally, and grid-scale battery storage is growing rapidly. Both markets are heavily reliant on lithium supply.

The successful restart of Core Lithium's flagship Finniss operation in the Northern Territory is also likely to be attracting attention.

Late last month, the company announced that its underground decline development has now started at the BP33 deposit. This is a major step for Finniss, which sits about 88 kilometres by sealed road from Darwin Port.

The company said BP33 is expected to provide a long-life, low-cost underground production base, with a mine life of more than 10 years. It also remains open at depth, which means there could be room to extend the operation over time.

The underground development will run alongside the current open-pit mining at Grants.

Are Core Lithium shares a buy, sell, or hold?

According to the experts, there could be a huge upside ahead over the next 12 months.

TradingView data shows that three out of four analysts have a buy or strong buy rating on the shares.

The average target price of 39.5 cents implies a 53% upside at the time of writing. But some think the lithium shares have the potential to rocket 169% higher to 70 cents each over the next 12 months. 

The post Why is this ASX lithium stock racing 9% higher today? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

This comes after the company released a new update from its Finniss Lithium Project in the Northern Territory.

At the time of writing, the Core Lithium share price is down 2.62% to 29.7 cents.

Despite today's fall, the lithium stock is still up 8% since the start of 2026 and has rocketed 238% over the past 12 months.

Let's take a closer look at what was in today's announcement.

Underground work begins at BP33

In a statement to the ASX, Core Lithium said underground decline development has now started at the BP33 deposit.

This is a major step for Finniss, which sits about 88 kilometres by sealed road from Darwin Port.

The company said BP33 is expected to provide a long-life, low-cost underground production base, with a mine life of more than 10 years. It also remains open at depth, which means there could be room to extend the operation over time.

The underground development will run alongside the current open-pit mining at Grants.

Core Lithium expects Grants to deliver around 780,000 to 790,000 tonnes of ore and 130,000 to 140,000 tonnes of spodumene concentrate.

Ore from Grants is expected to be processed during the September quarter, with shipments to continue soon after and run through 2027.

First shipment leaves Darwin

The update also included some progress on shipments.

Core Lithium confirmed that its Finniss logistics chain is now fully operational after the first shipment of lithium fines and spodumene concentrate left Darwin Port.

The shipment included 20,000 tonnes of lithium fines and 5,000 tonnes of spodumene concentrate.

The company expects to receive payment before the end of the June quarter, giving it another cash inflow while activity at Finniss ramps up.

Managing Director Paul Brown said the start of underground development at BP33 was a major milestone for the company.

He also said the first shipment showed that Core Lithium's port and logistics network was now operating as planned.

Core Lithium still has work to do

Core Lithium has had a difficult few years, along with much of the lithium sector, after spodumene prices dropped from their highs.

Today's update is a step in the right direction, with BP33 moving underground and the first shipment leaving Darwin Port.

However, the company now needs to keep the momentum going at Finniss if the share price run is to continue.

The post This ASX lithium stock just reached a key milestone. Why is it down? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

New public offer on the way

The company said in a statement to the ASX that the new company would hold exploration assets in the Northern Territory and South Australia, and a new public offer of shares would be launched to fund the company.

Core said further:

A prospectus for the issue of Shares to fund working capital and acquisition costs for the Assets is expected to be lodged with ASIC next month. Axiant is targeting a listing in July or August 2026, subject to market conditions and the satisfaction of ASX listing requirements.  

Core Lithium's Chair Greg English will retire from his role, and take up the chair role at the new company.

The company said regarding Mr English:

His tenure marks a highly successful 16 year term at Core as Chair, overseeing early exploration initiatives and in 2021, the commencement of open pit mining and ore processing at Core's Finniss project. More recently, he has supported Core's recent re-start study for the recommencement of open-pit mining and the development of underground mining of the BP33 deposit at Finniss, and the completion of a $307m funding package, announced on 18 March 2026. Under Greg's leadership, Core has grown from a micro-cap South Australian based exploration company into Australia's newest Lithium producer with the recommencement of mining announced on 20 May 2026.

Current non-Executive Director Malcolm McComas will take over as the Chair of Core Lithium.

Mr English said he was proud to leave the company in a strong position.

He added:

The new team, the assets and the outstanding growth opportunity reflects improved commodity prices for spodumene, and also the strength of our new financial partners. So, after many years of rewarding challenges, I have decided to step down.

Stockpile driving cash flow

Core Lithium earlier this week announced the second sale of lithium fines from its Finniss mine, following an initial sale in April.

The company said total revenue from lithium sales this year was about $28.5 million.

The company added:

The transaction represents the second sale from the Finniss lithium fines stockpile, following Core's April 2026 announcement of an initial 20kt sale to Glencore. The sale represents a further step in Core's strategy to monetise existing stockpiled material and generate cash flow while mining, processing and development activities at Finniss progress.

The company said it continued to explore pathways to sell its remaining stockpile of 30,000 tonnes of fines.

Core Lithium shares were 1% lower at 23.75 cents on Thursday, but are up 161% over a year.

The post What's Core Lithium's big news today? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

At the time of writing, the ASX lithium stock is up 4% to 26.5 cents.

Why is this ASX lithium stock rising?

Investors have been bidding Core Lithium shares higher today after it made a big announcement.

According to the release, the company has entered into a binding sale and purchase agreement with Glencore International (LSE: GLEN) for the sale of 25,000 tonnes of lithium fines from the Finniss Lithium Operation.

Management highlights that the transaction represents the second sale from the Finniss lithium fines stockpile, following the announcement in April of an initial 20,000 tonnes sale to Glencore.

It believes the sale represents a further step in Core Lithium's strategy to monetise existing stockpiled material and generate cash flow while mining, processing, and development activities at Finniss progress.

What are the terms?

The ASX lithium stock advised that pricing under the agreement reflects prevailing lithium fines market conditions at the time of sale.

Net proceeds are subject to final grade adjustments and transport costs. However, it has a base price of ~US$270 per tonne (A$375 per tonne) CIF based on indicative Li₂O content. The shipment is expected to occur in June 2026 through Darwin Port.

Management notes that the agreement is otherwise unconditional and subject to customary terms for a transaction of this nature.

What's next?

The company highlights that this second fines sale builds on its February sale of its spodumene concentrate stockpile and the initial fines sale announced in April 2026.

It feels these transactions demonstrate the value of its existing Finniss logistics chain and its strategic partnership with Glencore in providing market access and execution certainty. Management continues to explore pathways for the sale of the remaining ~30kt fines stockpile.

Operations update

More good news is that the company continues to make progress across Finniss with mining underway at the Grants open pit and development at BP33 progressing in parallel.

Pleasingly, development activities continue on schedule with box cut remediation underway and ground support for the portal face location nearing completion in preparation for the portal cut.

Bulk earthworks for the non-process infrastructure (NPI) are progressing, with the pad for the power station complete. In addition, underground decline development remains on track to commence in July.

As a result, the ASX lithium stock believes it is well positioned to progress the development of Finniss as a long-life lithium operation.

Commenting on news, Core Lithium's managing director, Paul Brown, said:

This second sale of lithium fines further strengthens Core's liquidity position as we ramp up operations at Finniss. During 2026 we have generated ~$28.5 million from the sales of lithium stockpiles at Finniss.

This additional liquidity provides Core with greater financial flexibility as we progress mining activities, advance development activities at BP33 and the restart of processing operations. We will continue to assess opportunities to realise further value from the remaining fines stockpile.

The post Guess the ASX lithium stock racing higher on big news appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Shares in the All Ordinaries Index (ASX: XAO) lithium stock closed yesterday trading for 31.5 cents. In early morning trade on Wednesday, shares are changing hands for 32.5 cents apiece, up 3.2%.

For some context, the All Ords is down 0.4% at this same time.

This outperformance follows a big announcement from the miner this morning.

Here's what we know.

Core Lithium shares jump as mining resumes at Finniss

Investors are bidding up the ASX lithium stock after the miner reported that mining operations have recommenced at the Finniss Lithium Operation, located in the Northern Territory.

Core's flagship Finniss project was placed into care and maintenance in January 2024. That followed the global lithium price crash, which made mining at Finniss unprofitable and sent Core Lithium shares into a tailspin at the time.

But with global lithium prices having rocketed over the past year, blasting and excavation works have kicked off at Grants open pit, situated within Finniss.

Core Lithium is engaged in a staged return to production. With the recommencement of mining operations, management said that the company is on track for near-term production and cash flow generation.

Finniss is expected to re-enter the spodumene market (a lithium bearing ore) in the near term, with the company targeting the first spodumene concentrate shipment in the December quarter.

What did management say?

Commenting on the Finniss restart that's helping to boost Core Lithium shares today, managing director Paul Brown said, "The commencement of mining at Grants marks the start of Finniss returning to production, with first ore expected to be processed in the September quarter and first shipment targeted for the December quarter."

Brown added:

In less than three months since FID, we have secured funding, awarded key mining contracts and transitioned to active mining, demonstrating disciplined execution.

Grants provides a low-risk, near-term ore source to underpin early production and cashflow, while BP33 continues to progress as the long-term foundation of the operation. Our focus remains on safe, reliable execution and delivering Finniss back into production on schedule and on budget.

With today's intraday gains factored in, Core Lithium shares are up a whopping 249.5% since this time last year, smashing the 2.5% one-year returns delivered by the All Ords.

But the ASX lithium stock has a long way to go yet before retaking the highs set back in November 2022, when shares were trading for $1.67 apiece.

The post Up 250% in a year, Core Lithium shares surging again today on big Finniss news appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

The investment team of the listed investment company (LIC) WAM Active Ltd (ASX: WAA) have outlined two ASX stocks that look like appealing investments with their outlooks and the current valuations.

Miners may not have the strongest economic moats on the ASX, but they do have the ability to deliver big returns when resource prices increase and/or when projects are found and developed.

Let's dig into why the experts at WAM like these two ASX mining shares.

Solstice Minerals Ltd (ASX: SLS)

The fund manager said that Solstice Minerals is advancing the Nanadie copper-gold project near Meekatharra in Western Australia.

WAM noted that, in April, the company released visual results of deeper drilling below earlier high-grade copper hits.

The fund manager said these results suggest the mineral system extends well below the current resource, highlighting the deposit's potential scale.

In the near-term, WAM thinks that there is potential upside for the Solstice Minerals share price as "drilling helps define a larger resource, while laboratory results confirming grade and continuity build confidence in a pathway towards an approximate 250 million tonne deposit." The fund manager said this suggests the ASX mining share is undervalued relative to its peers on comparable multiples.

WAM said that it remains bullish on copper, supported by the energy transition and electrification themes.

Core Lithium Ltd (ASX: CXO)

The other ASX mining share that the experts highlighted was Core Lithium, which ones 100% of the Finniss lithium project in the Northern Territory. It also has exploration exposure across the Northern Territory and South Australia in base metals, rare earths and gold.

WAM noted that the share price rallied in April on two supportive developments.

First, a 20,000 tonne sale of fine-particle ore ready for shipment to Glencore's international trading arm at approximately $405 per tonne, together with the earlier sale from its lithium concentrate stockpile, generating approximately $18 million to support the Finniss restart.

The fund manager said that while the transactions were modest in dollar value, they suggested demand and sentiment had improved enough to support a restart.

While the transactions were modest in dollar value, they suggested demand and sentiment had improved enough to support a restart.

Broader optimism across the lithium sector also strengthened during the month as supply discipline took hold and lithium prices increased.

The experts then explained why they're excited about the business:

We remain bullish on lithium, supported by strong demand from battery energy storage systems and electric vehicles, with battery lithium intensity growing at more than 30% per annum.

Core Lithium offers strong exposure to a recovery in lithium prices as it works towards a relatively low-risk restart in the second half of 2026, and we expect the supply response to be more disciplined this cycle.

The post Experts rate these 2 ASX mining shares as compelling buys appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

During the Wednesday lunch hour, two of the big-name ASX stocks are charging ahead of the 0.2% losses posted by the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) at the time of writing, while one is getting pummelled.

Here's what's grabbing investor interest.

Fortescue shares lift on legal news

Fortescue shares are up 2.3%, changing hands for $22.41 apiece.

The ASX 200 mining giant is making headlines after announcing, after market close on Tuesday, that the Federal Court had reached a decision regarding the Native Title Compensation Claim lodged by the Yindjibarndi Ngurra Aboriginal Corporation RNTBC.

The court found that Fortescue was liable to pay compensation for actions relating to the Solomon Hub, located in the Pilbara region of Western Australia.

Fortescue will pay $150 million for cultural losses and around $100,000 for economic losses.

"Fortescue accepts that the Yindjibarndi People are entitled to compensation," the miner stated following the court decision.

Core Lithium shares jump on Finniss restart progress

Like Fortescue shares, Core Lithium is also enjoying a strong day of outperformance.

Shares in the resurgent ASX All Ords lithium stock are up a sharp 9% at the time of writing, trading for 36.5 cents each.

Core Lithium shares are making waves after the miner reported another big step towards restarting its flagship Finniss lithium project, located in the Northern Territory.

The miner halted operations at Finniss in January 2024 after global lithium prices crashed. In March this year, management announced a formal restart was underway.

Today, investors learned that Core Lithium has awarded a major underground mining contract at Finniss to Develop Global Ltd (ASX: DVP). Valued at $274 million, the contract spans three years of mining services.

First works are scheduled to commence in July.

Which brings us to…

CBA shares tank on Q3 profit decline

Joining Core Lithium and Fortescue shares in making waves today, CBA released its March quarter results (Q3 FY 2026) this morning.

And investors are reacting less than favourably, with CBA shares down a steep 9.7% at the time of writing, swapping hands for $154.96 apiece.

That selling pressure looks to be driven on two fronts.

First, the ASX 200 bank stock reported an unaudited cash net profit after tax (NPAT) of around $2.7 billion. That's down 1% on CommBank's first-half (H1 FY 2026) cash NPAT.

CBA shares also look to be catching headwinds from ongoing uncertainty stemming from the Iran war.

"Conflict in the Middle East is disrupting critical supply chains and contributing to global uncertainty," CommBank CEO Matt Comyn said.

Comyn noted:

Notwithstanding an already strong level of provisioning, we have chosen to further top up our collective provisions in the quarter to reflect heightened macroeconomic risks.

The post Why CBA, Core Lithium and Fortescue shares are making waves on Wednesday appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

At the time of writing, the Core Lithium share price is up 4.48% to 35 cents.

It marks another strong session for a stock that has already staged a huge recovery. Core Lithium shares are now up around 25% in 2026 and 372% over the past year.

Here's what the company announced.

A major mining contract lands

According to the release, Core has awarded the BP33 underground mining contract at Finniss to Develop Global Ltd (ASX: DVP).

The contract is worth about $274 million and covers 3 years of mining services at BP33. Core also has the option to extend the deal by another year.

The work includes drill and blast, load and haul, decline development, production, and ground support.

Mobilisation is expected to begin in June 2026, with works due to start in July 2026.

Why BP33 is getting attention

BP33 is a key deposit within Core's Finniss Lithium Operation in the Northern Territory.

The company said BP33 underpins a lower-cost, long-life production base, with more than 10 years of mine life and further exploration upside.

Core also said the contract followed a competitive tender process. Develop was selected because of its underground mining experience, technical capability, and alignment with Core's delivery targets.

The project is expected to progress alongside open pit mining at the Grants deposit.

Core said first spodumene concentrate remains targeted for the December quarter of 2026. First BP33 ore is expected in mid-2027, with ramp-up to nameplate production planned by mid-2028.

Finniss restart gathers pace

Core's Finniss project has been through a difficult period, largely due to weaker lithium prices and pressure across the battery materials sector.

But that backdrop is now looking much healthier. Trading Economics shows lithium carbonate prices in China have climbed strongly in 2026, supported by tighter supply and stronger demand.

The price is sitting at CNY 200,000 per tonne, up more than 200% over the past year.

While that doesn't remove the risks around Finniss, it helps explain why investors are taking another look at Core.

Today's underground contract follows the company's final investment decision (FID) and funding package announced earlier this year.

Foolish takeaway

Core Lithium has come a long way from last year's lows.

The once beaten-down stock touched 7.6 cents in June last year. It is now trading at 35 cents, helped by improving lithium sentiment and a clearer restart plan at Finniss.

The post Core Lithium shares jump again after a major Finniss milestone appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

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

What did the ASX mining stock announce?

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

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

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

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

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

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

What else was announced?

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

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

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

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

Beament commented:

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

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

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

While the share price was seesawing in the morning, it is holding steady during mid-afternoon trade.

At the time of writing, Core Lithium shares are up 4.69% to 33.5 cents.

That comes after a strong run. The stock has lifted about 42% over the past month and is up roughly 380% over the past year.

Let's take a closer look at what just landed.

Core Lithium locks in lithium fines sale

Core Lithium has entered a deal to sell 20,000 tonnes of lithium fines from its Finniss operation in the Northern Territory.

The company signed a binding agreement with Glencore International AG, with pricing set at around US$290 per tonne, or roughly $405 per tonne.

That puts total proceeds near US$5.8 million, or about $8 million, with funds expected to come through this quarter.

The material is coming from an existing fines stockpile at Finniss, meaning this is not tied to new production.

The shipment will go through Darwin Port using the project's established logistics chain.

Core also noted it is still working through options for the remaining 55,000 tonnes of fines sitting in stockpiles.

Another step in rebuilding cash flow

This follows an earlier spodumene concentrate sale announced in February, as the company looks to generate cash while broader operations remain paused.

Management has been focused on keeping Finniss ready while waiting for stronger lithium market conditions.

Selling stockpiled material gives Core a way to bring in cash without ramping up full mining operations.

It also helps support liquidity alongside its funded restart plan.

The pricing is based on current lithium fines conditions, with final adjustments to come after the assay results.

Foolish bottom line

Core is gradually clearing inventory and pulling in cash while it waits for better pricing conditions across the lithium market.

Lithium carbonate prices have been trending higher in recent months, which has helped lift sentiment across the sector.

From here, attention turns to how much of the remaining stockpile can be sold, and at what price.

But the bigger question revolves around timing for a full restart at Finniss, and whether current lithium prices are enough to support that move.

Core is effectively turning stockpiles into funding while keeping the operation ready.

I would be watching two things closely. How quickly the remaining fines are sold, and whether conditions are strong enough to bring Finniss back online.

The post This $1 billion ASX lithium stock is in the spotlight today. Here's why appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Two of the popular ASX shares are outperforming the 0.6% losses posted by the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) as we head into the lunch hour, while one is trailing that performance.

Here's why these stocks are making headlines today.

Santos shares lift on quarterly revenue boost

Santos shares are up 2.4% at time of writing, changing hands for $7.62 apiece.

This outperformance follows the release of the ASX 200 energy stock's March quarter update (Q1 2026).

Over the three months, Santos produced 22.5 million barrels of oil equivalent (mmboe), up 1% from Q4 2025. And sales revenue was up by 3% to US$1.27 billion.

The company's free cash flow from operations of US$383 million was in line with Q4 2025. And management reaffirmed Santos' full-year 2026 production and cost guidance.

Commenting on the progress of the company's major projects intended to support Santos shares longer-term, CEO Kevin Gallagher said:

The Pikka phase 1 oil project is now mechanically complete with commissioning activities progressing well and first sales oil expected in the coming weeks.

The Barossa project has had a few challenges during commissioning. Pleasingly we have now replaced the dry gas seals on the compressors and the FPSO is expected to commence ramping up as we complete the flushing and cleaning of the heat exchanger trains.

The Quokka-1 appraisal well was a resounding success, confirming a high-quality resource that reinforces the strength of our Alaska portfolio.

Ampol shares gain on acquisition news

Ampol shares are also in the green today, up 1.2% at $33.20 each.

Investors are bidding up the Aussie fuel supplier following an update on Ampol's proposed acquisition of fuel and convenience store operator EG Australia.

Ampol reported that it has submitted a formal remedy offer with the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC).

In a move to address competition concerns and achieve regulatory approval for the acquisition, Ampol has increased the number of sites proposed for divestment to 41, up from the prior 37.

The ASX 200 energy stock expects a phase 2 determination from the ACCC by 5 June .

Core Lithium shares sinking on Finniss update

Joining Ampol and Santos shares in the headlines today we find Core Lithium.

After initially trading higher this morning, shares in the ASX All Ords lithium stock are down 6.2% at time of writing, swapping hands for 34.7 cents apiece.

This follows Core Lithium's own quarterly update, in which the miner detailed the progress being made on its Finniss Lithium Project restart program.

"The March quarter was a defining period for Core, with Final Investment Decision approval and a fully committed Funding Package secured to restart Finniss," Core Lithium managing director Paul Brown said.

The post Why is everyone talking about Core Lithium, Ampol and Santos shares on Thursday? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Shares in the All Ordinaries Index (ASX: XAO) lithium miner closed yesterday trading for 37.0 cents. In early morning trade on Thursday, shares are changing hands for 37.5 cents apiece, up 1.4%.

For some context, the All Ords is down 0.4% at this same time.

Core Lithium shares are now up 443.5% since this time last year, smashing the 11.2% gains delivered by the benchmark index over this same period.

Today's outperformance follows the release of Core Lithium's March quarter update.

Here's what investors are mulling over.

Core Lithium shares rise on Finniss restart details

The highlight for the three months to 31 March, was the company's formal approval of the Final Investment Decision (FID) for the restart of operations at its Finniss Lithium Project, located in the Northern Territory.

The miner's flagship Finniss project was placed into care and maintenance back in January 2024. That came after global lithium prices crashed, making mining unprofitable and sending Core Lithium shares sharply lower.

Management noted that approval of the FID was proceeded by a comprehensive restart plan, updated mine planning, Front-End Engineering and Design (FEED) work, and refined operating strategies. The new plan aims to reposition Finniss as a lower‑cost, long‑life lithium operation.

The ASX lithium miner said it used a "conservative" long‑term spodumene concentrate price assumption of US$1,500 per tonne CIF for the FID. That's well below the current spot price of around US$2,500 per tonne CIF.

Management is expecting strong returns with a three-year payback, a pre‑tax net present value (NPV) of $1.1 billion, and free cash flow generation of $1.7 billion. Additionally, Core Lithium noted that Finniss has an estimated 20-year mine life and 214,000 tonnes per year spodumene concentrate (6%) equivalent (SC6) nameplate production capacity.

And Core Lithium is well-funded for the restart, having secured fully funded $290 million in the March quarter, comprised of strategic partner funding and an institutional equity raise.

As at 31 March, the miner has a cash balance of $91.6 million.

What did management say?

Commenting on the quarterly progress helping lift Core Lithium shares today, managing director Paul Brown said, "The March quarter was a defining period for Core, with Final Investment Decision approval and a fully committed Funding Package secured to restart Finniss."

Brown added:

Work is now underway at Finniss, with the open pit mining contract awarded at Grants and BP33 box cut activities progressing in parallel. Our staged restart strategy is disciplined, low risk and capital efficient, with first ore from Grants targeted in the June quarter and first spodumene concentrate production from the DMS plant targeted in the September quarter.

The post Up 444% in a year, what's moving Core Lithium shares today? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Four of the fastest rising 10 stocks on the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) today are lithium shares.

The best performer is diversified miner Mineral Resources Ltd (ASX: MIN), up 6.1% to $62.97 per share.

Next is lithium and nickel producer IGO Ltd (ASX: IGO), up 5.7% to $9.23 per share.

The Liontown Ltd (ASX: LTR) share price is 5.3% higher on Friday at $2.18.

The market's largest pure-play lithium company, PLS Group Ltd (ASX: PLS), cracked a new record at $6.14 today.

The PLS Group share price is currently $6.01, up 5.3%.

Among the smaller players outside the ASX 200, Elevra Lithium Ltd (ASX: ELV) shares hit a 52-week high of $10.39.

The Elevra Lithium share price is currently $10.31, up 11.9%.

Core Lithium Ltd (ASX: CXO) shares are up 9.4% to 37 cents apiece.

Lake Resources NL (ASX: LKE) shares are 7.6% higher at 9.9 cents.

What's driving ASX lithium shares higher?

Experts say the Iran war and ensuing global oil shock are reminding us of the value of electric vehicles (EV).

The lithium carbonate price has risen 9% this week and is up 43% year to date (YTD), according to Trading Economics data.

Analysts at Trading Economics say lithium prices are rising on a bullish future outlook.

Chinese EV manufacturer BYD announced it expects to sell more EVs this year due to the oil shock.

BYD has raised its 2026 sales forecast to 1.5 million units, up from the January estimate of 1.3 million units.

The analysts said:

The surge in crude oil and product prices since the start of March supported the outlook for larger economies to favor new energy vehicles, which use batteries that take lithium as a major input.

Demand also remained supported by Chinese investment in power infrastructure, recently exemplified by the announcement of higher power storage spending.

This was combined with Beijing stating it would double national EV charging capacity to 180 gigawatts by 2027, supporting lithium-rich energy storage systems.

In the meantime, Zimbabwe suspended exports of lithium concentrates and other raw materials to stimulate refining in the country.

Oil shock a tailwind for lithium prices

Lithium prices were already rebounding from a painful two-year downward spiral before the war in Iran began.

We have seen a rapid turnaround in lithium prices from mid-2025.

Supply/demand rebalanced after a long period of oversupply last year.

We also saw the impact of the green energy transition finally bleed through to markets in 2025.

Other commodity prices joined lithium in an upward surge in 2025 as the world began building new power infrastructure at scale.

The lithium carbonate price lifted to a two-year high of about US$26,200 per tonne in January.

It endured a short, sharp fall to just below US$20,000 in early February as part of a broader metals and minerals rout.

Today, the lithium carbonate price is US$24,850, representing a 43% year-to-date gain.

Lithium spodumene is up from about US$600 per tonne in June 2025 to US$2,415 per tonne today.

The post ASX lithium shares rally as oil shock highlights EV appeal appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.