Meanwhile, the benchmark index edged 0.2% higher to close at 8,682.1 points on Friday.

ASX 200 tech shares were the surprise performer during a topsy-turvy week for the local bourse.

Tech shares are recovering from a 48% drop between 29 August 2025 and 30 March due to fears over artificial intelligence (AI).

Since then, the S&P/ASX 200 Information Technology Index (ASX: XIJ) has rallied 15% versus a 3% lift for the benchmark.

A changing of the guard helped push the tech sector higher amid turbulent trading on the ASX 200.

Communications and metals detection designer and manufacturer Codan Ltd (ASX: CDA) overtook logistics software provider WiseTech Global Ltd (ASX: WTC) as the sector's largest company by market capitalisation after a trading update last week.

Meanwhile, the ASX 200 had its worst one-day fall in six months on Thursday amid concerns over rising interest rates and bond yields trading at close to multi-decade highs.

The Reserve Bank of Australia raised the official cash rate by 0.25% to 4.6% on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, the 10-year US Treasury bond yield was 5.24% and Australia's was 5.33% on Friday.

Six of the 11 ASX 200 market sectors finished in the green last week.

Let's review.

ASX 200 tech shares led the market sectors last week

Let's take a look at how the biggest ASX 200 tech shares by market cap performed last week.

The Codan share price soared 29.09% to close at $67.45 on Friday after a trading update.

Codan's market valuation is now $12.3 billion.

The WiseTech share price ascended 6.7% to close at $33.43 with a valuation of $10.5 billion.

TechnologyOne Ltd (ASX: TNE) shares rose 4.2% to $30.52 apiece.

The Xero Ltd (ASX: XRO) share price edged 0.85% higher to $57.85.

The Nextdc Ltd (ASX: NXT) share price fell 4.19% to $10.74.

Megaport Ltd (ASX: MP1) shares soared 13.86% to $22.34 on news of $1 billion in new AI infrastructure contracts.

The Life360 Inc (ASX: 360) share price rose 5.59% to $20.40.

The Dicker Data Ltd (ASX: DDR) share price lifted 2.67% to $15.40 apiece.

The Data#3 Ltd (ASX: DTL) share price soared 22.61% to $13.61 on the back of a trading update.

The Bravura Solutions Ltd (ASX: BVS) share price rose 0.96% to $3.15.

ASX 200 market sector snapshot

Here's how the 11 market sectors stacked up last week, according to CommSec data.

Over the five trading days:

The post Tech shares shine while ASX 200 plunges to 4-month low appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

It was clear from market open that investors were feeling a renewed sense of optimism, with the ASX 200 opening in green territory and staying there all day. By the time the markets closed, the index had lifted 0.79% to 8,682.1 points as we head into the weekend.

This pleasant end to the Australian trading week followed a tentatively positive night over on the American markets.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average Index (DJX: .DJI) managed to record a slight rise of 0.04%.

The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC) fared almost identically, gaining 0.039%.

Let's return to the local markets now and take a closer look at how the different ASX sectors fared amid today's trading.

Winners and losers

There were only a couple of sectors that weren't lifted by the tide of optimism that we saw today.

The first, and worst, of those sectors was real estate investment trusts (REITs). The S&P/ASX 200 A-REIT Index (ASX: XPJ) was hit hard, slumping 1.63%.

Healthcare stocks were the other unlucky corner of the markets, with the S&P/ASX 200 Healthcare Index (ASX: XHJ) sliding 1.1%.

It was all smiles everywhere else, though.

Leading the charge higher this Friday were tech shares. The S&P/ASX 200 Information Technology Index (ASX: XIJ) certainly had a day to remember, rocketing by 4.45%.

Energy stocks also ran hot, evident from the S&P/ASX 200 Energy Index (ASX: XEJ)'s 1.48% surge.

Mining shares were in demand too. The S&P/ASX 200 Materials Index (ASX: XMJ) soared 1.14% today.

Next came consumer staples stocks, with the S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Staples Index (ASX: XSJ) shooting up 1.05%.

Financial shares were in that ballpark as well. The S&P/ASX 200 Financials Index (ASX: XFJ) galloped 1.03% higher.

Consumer discretionary stocks weren't left out, illustrated by the S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Discretionary Index (ASX: XDJ)'s 0.85% jump.

Nor were utilities shares. The S&P/ASX 200 Utilities Index (ASX: XUJ) lifted 0.73% this session.

Communications stocks proved popular, with the S&P/ASX 200 Communication Services Index (ASX: XTJ) adding 0.54% to its ledger.

Industrial shares put on a decent show. The S&P/ASX 200 Industrials Index (ASX: XNJ) advanced 0.45% today.

Finally, gold stocks held their value, as you can see by the All Ordinaries Gold Index (ASX: XGD)'s 0.45% bump.

Top 10 ASX 200 shares countdown

High-flying tech Stock Elsight Ltd (ASX: ELS) took out today's top spot on the index charts. Elsight shares exploded 12.95% higher this session to finish the week at $5.32 each. That was despite no fresh news or announcements from the company recently.

Here's the rest of today's best:

Enjoy the weekend!

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

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

The ASX 200 opened deep in red territory, and just kept on falling. By the time the markets closed, the index had shed a nasty 1.99% and was left at just 8,614.4 points.

This awful day for the Australian markets came after a more nuanced night up on the US exchanges.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average Index (DJX: .DJI) was also hit hard last night, dropping 0.86%.

However, the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC) went the other way, recording a rise of 0.24%.

But let's grit our teeth and get back to ASX shares now for a post-mortem of how the various ASX sectors coped with this Thursday's tough trading conditions.

Winners and losers

No corners of the market were safe from today's selling.

The best place to be was in tech shares. The S&P/ASX 200 Information Technology Index (ASX: XIJ) was relatively unscathed, 'only' slipping by 0.62%.

Communications stocks fared decently (at least by comparison) too, with the S&P/ASX 200 Communication Services Index (ASX: XTJ) sliding 0.85%.

Utilities shares came next. The S&P/ASX 200 Utilities Index (ASX: XUJ) dipped 0.91% today.

Consumer discretionary stocks suffered triple-digit losses, illustrated by the S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Discretionary Index (ASX: XDJ)'s 1.18% dive.

Industrial shares saw stepped-up selling pressure, though. The S&P/ASX 200 Industrials Index (ASX: XNJ) sank a horrid 1.75% this session.

Mining stocks were worse again, with the S&P/ASX 200 Materials Index (ASX: XMJ) retreating 1.88%.

Gold shares were no safe haven. The All Ordinaries Gold Index (ASX: XGD) was sent home 2.09% lighter.

Financial stocks found themselves in a similar boat, as you can tell by the S&P/ASX 200 Financials Index (ASX: XFJ)'s 2.13% slump.

Healthcare shares didn't exactly live up to their name this Thursday. The S&P/ASX 200 Healthcare Index (ASX: XHJ) ended up sinking 2.49%.

Real estate investment trusts (REITs) reversed the goodwill we saw yesterday, with the S&P/ASX 200 A-REIT Index (ASX: XPJ) receiving a 2.51% cut.

Consumer staples stocks did not hold their value. The S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Staples Index (ASX: XSJ) crateted a nasty 2.55% by the closing bell.

Finally, energy shares took the brunt of the selling this session, evidenced by the S&P/ASX 200 Energy Index (ASX: XEJ)'s 3.03% plunge.

Top 10 ASX 200 shares countdown

Coming out on top of quite an uncompetitive field today was data company Data #3 Ltd (ASX: DTL). Data#3 shares rocketed 13.68% higher this session to close at $12.63 each.

This massive surge was prompted by a well-received trading update this afternoon.

Here's how the other top ASX stocks tied up at the dock:

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

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

By the time trading wrapped up, the index had lost 0.72%, closing at a flat 8,702 points.

This rough day for the ASX followed a similarly bearish session over on the US markets.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average Index (DJX: .DJI) was not in favour, losing 0.68% of its value.

The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC) was even worse, diving 1.13%.

But let's return to the local markets now and dig a little deeper into what was happening with the different ASX sectors today.

Winners and losers

Only a handful of sectors came out unscathed in today's trading.

But first, it was gold stocks that were hit the hardest. The All Ordinaries Gold Index (ASX: XGD) was smashed, tanking 2.25%.

Real estate investment trusts (REITs) were punished too, with the S&P/ASX 200 A-REIT Index (ASX: XPJ) plunging 1.95%.

We could say the same for mining shares. The S&P/ASX 200 Materials Index (ASX: XMJ) cratered by 1.46% this session.

Communications stocks weren't popular either, evident from the S&P/ASX 200 Communication Services Index (ASX: XTJ)'s 1.07% tumble.

Financial shares weren't riding to the rescue. The S&P/ASX 200 Financials Index (ASX: XFJ) had 1.07% shaved from its value.

Industrial stocks were our last losers of the day, with the S&P/ASX 200 Industrials Index (ASX: XNJ) dipping 0.2%.

Turning to the green sectors now, it was energy shares that were treated the most kindly. The S&P/ASX 200 Energy Index (ASX: XEJ) saw its value surge 1.17% this Thursday.

Consumer staples stocks held their value too, illustrated by the S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Staples Index (ASX: XSJ)'s 0.36% rise.

Utilities shares were also in that ballpark. The S&P/ASX 200 Utilities Index (ASX: XUJ) jumped 0.29% today.

Tech stocks were right behind, with the S&P/ASX 200 Information Technology Index (ASX: XIJ) advancing 0.25%.

Healthcare shares tied that result. The S&P/ASX 200 Healthcare Index (ASX: XHJ) also added 0.125% to its value.

Finally, consumer discretionary stocks managed to stay above water, as you can see by the S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Discretionary Index (ASX: XDJ)'s 0.09% bump.

Top 10 ASX 200 shares countdown

Our Thursday winner was retail stock Premier Investments Ltd (ASX: PMV). Premier shares rocketed 7.08% higher today, finishing up at $11.95 each.

This big move came after the company reported its full-year results, which clearly impressed the market.

Here's how the other top stocks landed their planes:

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

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

We're helping you monitor ex-dividend dates with an article every Friday.

Here are some of the ASX shares due to trade ex-dividend next week.

To be eligible for the dividend, you must own the ASX share before its ex-dividend date.

ASX shares going ex-dividend next week

Check out which ASX shares go ex-dividend today.

The post 33 ASX shares going ex-dividend next week appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

After yesterday's rise kicked off the trading week on a positive note, investors built on that momentum today. The ASX 200 opened higher this morning and stayed in green territory all day, closing with a gain of 0.68%. That leaves the index at 9,164.6 points.

This terrific Tuesday for the local markets came after a mixed start to the American trading week on Wall Street overnight.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average Index (DJX: .DJI) was in an accommodating mood, rising 0.26%.

However, the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC) had a more Garfield-esque Monday, closing 0.76% lower.

Let's get back to the ASX now and take stock of how the different ASX sectors fared this session.

Winners and losers

Today's market rises were near-universal, with only two sectors missing out.

The first, and worst, of those sectors was energy stocks. The S&P/ASX 200 Energy Index (ASX: XEJ) gave up an early lead to finish down 0.78% today.

The other red sector was real estate investment trusts (REITs), with the S&P/ASX 200 A-REIT Index (ASX: XPJ) sinking 0.16%.

Let's get to the happier sectors now. Leading the charge were tech shares. The S&P/ASX 200 Information Technology Index (ASX: XIJ) had a blowout, rocketing up 2.25%.

Consumer staples stocks ran hot as well, illustrated by the S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Staples Index (ASX: XSJ)'s 2.11% surge.

Healthcare stocks were also popular. The S&P/ASX 200 Healthcare Index (ASX: XHJ) soared 1.4% higher this Tuesday.

Financial shares joined the party, with the S&P/ASX 200 Financials Index (ASX: XFJ) shooting up 0.94%.

Consumer discretionary stocks were also at the festivities. The S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Discretionary Index (ASX: XDJ) galloped up 0.91% today.

Next came utilities shares, as you can see by the S&P/ASX 200 Utilities Index (ASX: XUJ)'s 0.59% jump.

Industrial stocks were right behind that. The S&P/ASX 200 Industrials Index (ASX: XNJ) added 0.58% to its total this session.

Communications shares had a day to remember as well, with the S&P/ASX 200 Communication Services Index (ASX: XTJ) advancing 0.4%.

Gold stocks didn't miss out. The All Ordinaries Gold Index (ASX: XGD) enjoyed a 0.34% lift today.

Finally, mining shares managed to find buyers, evidenced by the S&P/ASX 200 Materials Index (ASX: XMJ)'s 0.3% bump.

Top 10 ASX 200 shares countdown

Defence company Electro Optic Systems Holdings Ltd (ASX: EOS) was our top performer this Tuesday. Electro Optic shares exploded 23.02% higher today to close at $10.58 each.

This astonishing showing followed the company's latest earnings, which were obviously a delight for the market.

Here's how the other top stocks tied up at the dock:

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

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

After a sour trading week last week, investors seem to have come back from the weekend with a little extra pep in the proverbial step, with the ASX 200 opening higher and staying in positive territory all day today. By the time the markets closed, the index had gained 0.49% to 9,103.1 points.

This happy start to the week's trading for the ASX followed a similarly buzzy end to the American trading week on Friday night (our time).

The Dow Jones Industrial Average Index (DJX: .DJI) was in very fine form indeed, rising 0.98%.

The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC) wasn't quite as bubbly, but still gained 0.43%.

But let's return to this week and our local markets now for a closer look at what was happening amongst the various ASX sectors this session.

Winners and losers

Despite the market's rise this Monday, a few sectors still missed out on gains.

Leading those losers were consumer staples shares. The S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Staples Index (ASX: XSJ) was left out in the cold today, shrinking 0.95%.

Financial stocks also had a rough one, with the S&P/ASX 200 Financials Index (ASX: XFJ) sinking 0.72%.

Utilities shares were shunned, too. The S&P/ASX 200 Utilities Index (ASX: XUJ) slid 0.48% lower this session.

Our last losers were communications stocks, as you can see from the S&P/ASX 200 Communication Services Index (ASX: XTJ)'s 0.44% slip.

Turning to the green sectors now, it was mining shares that fronted the winners. The S&P/ASX 200 Materials Index (ASX: XMJ) roared 2.43% higher this Monday.

Gold stocks ran hot as well, with the All Ordinaries Gold Index (ASX: XGD) soaring up 1.71%.

Tech shares also had a day to remember. The S&P/ASX 200 Information Technology Index (ASX: XIJ) enjoyed a 0.96% surge.

Healthcare stocks were in demand as well, evidenced by the S&P/ASX 200 Healthcare Index (ASX: XHJ)'s 0.62% lift.

Energy shares were next. The S&P/ASX 200 Energy Index (ASX: XEJ) jumped 0.47% today.

Then came real estate investment trusts (REITs), with the S&P/ASX 200 A-REIT Index (ASX: XPJ) adding 0.12% to its total.

Industrial stocks managed a win. The S&P/ASX 200 Industrials Index (ASX: XNJ) put on another 0.1% this session.

Finally, consumer discretionary shares got over the line, illustrated by the S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Discretionary Index (ASX: XDJ)'s 0.09% bump.

Top 10 ASX 200 shares countdown

Beating out some stiff competition to take out top spot on the index this Monday was tech stock Data#3 Ltd (ASX: DTL). Data#3 shares rocketed 17.85% higher today to finish at $11.09 each.

This huge gain followed the company releasing its latest earnings, which clearly had a lot going for them.

Here's the rest of today's best:

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

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

What did Data#3 Ltd report?

• Revenue up 6.3% to $917.4 million
• Net profit after tax (NPAT) up 13.1% to $54.5 million
• Gross sales and other revenue up 12.7% to $3.39 billion
• Basic earnings per share up 13.0% to 35.16 cents
• Total fully franked dividends up 13.0% to 31.75 cents per share
• Final dividend of 18.25 cents per share declared

What else do investors need to know?

Data#3 delivered another record performance in FY26, building on its long history of consistent growth in both sales and earnings. The company improved its financial position thanks to strong cash flow and a disciplined approach to managing costs.

Demand remained resilient, particularly in public sector and infrastructure solutions, despite some customers delaying technology spending decisions. Recurring gross sales, especially through Software Solutions and Managed Services, now account for 70% of total gross sales.

The company completed a board renewal process at the start of the financial year, adding new directors Diana Eilert and Laurence Baynham. The business also received multiple partner and industry awards, including recognition as Microsoft Country Partner of the Year and HP Amplify Impact Partner of the Year.

What did Data#3 Ltd management say?

Brad Colledge, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer said:

Data#3 is pleased to report another strong financial result for FY26, with record gross sales of $3.4 billion and earnings before tax up 14% to $78.8 million. This performance reinforces our agility and the continued strength of our people, strategy and business model. Our disciplined focus on cost management and ongoing alignment of our cost base to market demand also saw improved operating leverage and net profit margins this financial year.

What's next for Data#3 Ltd?

Looking forward, Data#3 aims to accelerate growth in AI, cyber security, cloud, data, and managed services. The company will continue investing in its AI Practice, modernising infrastructure offerings, and expanding managed security services, including launching a new Sovereign Security Operations Centre.

With its strong customer base, vendor partnerships, and solid balance sheet, management remains confident Data#3 can deliver sustainable earnings growth. The FY27 plan places further focus on advisory and managed services, improving operational efficiency, and responding to the changing landscape in digital transformation and compliance needs.

Data#3 Limited share price snapshot

Over the past 12 months, the Data#3 share price has outperformed the S&P/ASX 200 index (ASX: XJO) with a 14% gain, reflecting the company's robust financial performance and ongoing demand for technology solutions in the Australian market.

View Original Announcement

The post Data#3 posts double-digit profit growth in FY26 earnings appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

The software giant reported revenue of US$90 billion for the June quarter, up 18% year over year.

Net income climbed 31% to US$35.8 billion.

Microsoft Cloud revenue reached US$59.3 billion, a 27% increase, while Azure growth accelerated to 43% from 40% in the prior quarter.

So what does any of this have to do with the Australian share market?

The answer runs through the physical infrastructure that every hyperscaler has to use.

What Microsoft actually reported

In the case of Microsoft, the headline number that matters most for ASX investors is not revenue at all. It is capital expenditure.

Microsoft spent US$41 billion on capex and finance leases in the June quarter alone, a jump of roughly 69% year over year.

The company expects to spend more than US$50 billion in the September quarter.

Chief financial officer Amy Hood told analysts:

We expect FY27 capital expenditures will grow year-over-year given demand signals across our portfolio.

Commercial remaining performance obligations, effectively contracted revenue not yet recognised, jumped 84% to US$678 billion.

Azure passed US$100 billion in annual revenue for the first time, and Microsoft 365 Copilot surpassed 30 million paid seats.

What Microsoft's capex bill means for ASX shares

Hyperscaler capital expenditure has to land somewhere physical.

It funds buildings, power connections, cooling systems, and fibre.

That is the demand curve two ASX 200 shares sit directly on, and both have re-rated hard on the thesis over the past year.

NextDC Ltd (ASX: NXT) is the local pure-play data centre operator.

The company is carrying roughly $5 billion of forecast FY27 capital expenditure to build out capacity for AI workloads.

A recent agreement with a frontier AI lab underlined its ability to win the largest contracts on offer.

Goodman Group (ASX: GMG) plays a different role in the same story.

Data centres now account for 73% of its development pipeline, which was on track to reach $18 billion by June 2026.

Its edge is a secured power bank of 6.4 gigawatts across 16 cities, assembled over years, and difficult for a newcomer to replicate.

Securing grid connections has become the real bottleneck in this industry, and Goodman has positioned itself very nicely to benefit from this need.

Megaport Ltd (ASX: MP1) sits in the middle, providing the connectivity layer between enterprise customers and platforms like Azure.

Data#3 and the direct Microsoft earnings link

Data#3 Ltd (ASX: DTL) has the most literal exposure of the group.

The company resells Microsoft licences, Azure capacity, and Microsoft 365 Copilot to Australian enterprise and government customers.

That is a double-edged relationship.

Data#3 grew first-half FY26 gross sales 9.2% to $1.5 billion, with net profit before tax up 4.5% to $33.5 million.

But margins in its Software Solutions division were squeezed by changes to Microsoft's partner incentive program.

Management does not expect those vendor changes to materially dent the group's FY26 numbers.

Rising Azure consumption is a tailwind for volumes, while vendor concentration remains the standing risk.

Data#3 reports its FY26 result in August, and investors will want to see whether the incentive headwind has washed through.

Foolish Takeaway for Microsoft earnings

Microsoft's earnings were a reminder that AI infrastructure spending is still accelerating rather than plateauing.

For NextDC and Goodman Group, that spending is effectively the whole thesis.

For Data#3, the benefits are more nuanced, since the same vendor that drives its growth also sets its margins.

The obvious risk is that hyperscalers eventually decide the returns do not justify the capital outlay.

Alphabet recent capex guidance was met with a sharp share price fall, which shows the market's patience is not infinite.

For now, though, the money is still being committed, and Australian infrastructure is on the receiving end.

The post What do Microsoft's strong earnings mean for these ASX shares? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

The downturn led to technology being the second-worst performer of the 11 market sectors in FY26.

The S&P/ASX 200 Information Technology Index (ASX: XIJ) fell 37.22% and delivered total negative returns of 36.97%. 

Tech investors had much on their minds last financial year.  

Firstly, they became worried that high share price valuations and massive artificial intelligence (AI) investment in the US may create an AI bubble. 

Some experts likened the AI boom to the internet boom of the late 1990s. They warned that excessive investor enthusiasm could lead to a dot-com-style correction.

That fear spread throughout the sector quickly, with ASX 200 tech shares peaking in September and entering a bear market just two months later.

A bear market is defined as a 20% (or more) fall from the most recent high point.

There were also fears that AI may decimate software-as-a-service (SaaS) providers after Anthropic released a new legal plug-in for its agentic AI assistant, Claude, in early 2026. 

Within a week, shares in Thomson Reuters, whose SaaS platforms Westlaw and Practical Law serve legal professionals, had lost a fifth of its valuation. 

The SaaS concern hit ASX 200 tech shares hard given four of our six largest companies by market capitalisation are SaaS providers.

Wisetech shares weighed the sector down 

WiseTech Global Ltd (ASX: WTC), which was previously the market's largest listed tech company, was also a significant drag on the sector in FY26. 

Investors were disappointed with Wisetech's FY25 earnings, released in August, and governance issues became a big distraction. 

Wisetech went on to become the worst performer of the entire ASX 200 in FY26, dropping 70% in value. 

The company lost its status as the sector's largest stock by market cap to Xero Ltd (ASX: XRO) in May. 

A strong turnaround for ASX 200 and US tech shares began on 31 March. Since then, ASX 200 tech shares have rebounded by almost 20%. 

Here are the three winners of the tech sector last financial year. 

1. Codan Ltd (ASX: CDA)

Electronics solutions provider Codan delivered the best capital growth among ASX 200 tech shares in FY26.

The Codan share price skyrocketed 119.49% to finish the year at $44.14.

Codan designs and manufactures electronics solutions, including communications equipment and metal detectors, for government, corporate, NGO, and consumer clients worldwide. 

The company reported a 55% increase in net profit after tax (NPAT) to $71.2 million for 1H FY26.

2. Megaport Ltd (ASX: MP1) 

Megaport provides cloud and data centre connectivity services through a global network-as-a-service (NaaS) platform.

The Megaport share price ripped 49.45% to finish FY26 at $21.58. 

In June, Megaport announced it had won four new AI infrastructure contracts worth $458.9 million.

The new work required significant capex, so Megaport ran a fully underwritten $827.3 million entitlement offer at $14.30 per share.

3. Data#3 Ltd (ASX: DTL)

Data#3 is an information and communications technology (ICT) provider. 

The Data#3 share price rose 29.43% to $9.85 on 30 June. 

Data#3 reported a 9% lift in gross sales to $1.54 billion for 1H FY26. Statutory revenue increased 8% to $423 million.

The NPAT was 3.7% higher at $23 million. 

The post ASX 200 tech shares tanked in FY26, but there were 3 winners appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

As the new financial year begins, brokers are running their rulers over several ASX shares and adjusting their ratings and 12-month price targets. 

Let's take a look at some downgrades from the experts this week. 

JB Hi-Fi Ltd (ASX: JBH)

The JB Hi-Fi share price is $76,45, down 2.2% today and down 32% over 12 months. 

UBS downgraded the ASX consumer discretionary share to a hold rating on Tuesday. 

The broker shaved its 12-month price target from $85 to $83.

This suggest a potential 8% upside ahead.

Evolution Mining Ltd (ASX: EVN)

The Evolution Mining share price is $11.80, up 2.1% today and up 51% over 12 months. 

UBS downgraded the ASX 200 gold share to a hold rating on Tuesday.

The broker cut its 12-month price target from $14 to $12.60.

This implies a potential 7% upside ahead.

Whitehaven Coal Ltd (ASX: WHC)

The Whitehaven Coal share price is $7.50, up 0.2% on Thursday and up 34% over 12 months. 

UBS downgraded the ASX coal share to a hold rating on Tuesday. 

The broker lowered its 12-month price target from $9.10 to $8.70.

This indicates possible capital gains of 16% over the next year. 

Judo Capital Holdings Ltd (ASX: JDO)

The Judo share price is 90 cents, down 1.4% today and down 44% over 12 months. 

UBS downgraded Judo shares to a hold rating on Monday.

The broker has a 12-month target price of $1.05, indicating a potential 17% upside over FY27. 

Data#3 Ltd (ASX: DTL)

The Data#3 share price is $9.54, up 1.2% today and 25% higher over 12 months. 

Morgan Stanley downgraded the ASX tech share to a hold rating with a $10 target on Wednesday. 

This suggests potential capital growth of 5% over the next year. 

South32 Ltd (ASX: S32)

The South32 share price is $4.23, down 1.2% today and up 36% over 12 months. 

Morgans downgraded its rating on the ASX 200 mining share from accumulate to hold.

The broker cut its price target from $5 to $4.50, suggesting a potential 6% upside ahead.

Morgans said: 

S32 has agreed to sell its entire ali business for total consideration of US$5.6bn (US$4.1bn upfront), and transfer of US$1.2bn closure/rehab liabilities.

Our view on S32's aluminium sale is genuinely mixed. It leaves S32 a simpler and, in important respects, a better business, but also a smaller and less valuable one.

We reduce our valuation on S32's ali assets to in line with the agreed Alcoa deal… As a result we update our rating to HOLD (from Accumulate).

Turaco Gold Ltd (ASX: TCG)

The Turaco Gold share price is 48 cents, up 6.7% today and up 4% over 12 months. 

Morgans downgraded the ASX gold share from a buy to a speculative buy rating this week.

The broker slashed its 12-month price target from $2.19 to $1.18.

This still implies a potential 145% upside ahead.

The post 7 ASX shares downgraded by brokers this week appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

After some morning wobbles, the ASX 200 spent most of the session in green territory, and ended up closing with a happy 0.69% rise. That leaves the index at 8,717.7 points.

This pleasant Wednesday session for Australian investors comes after a mixed return to trading for the American markets last night, following Monday's public holiday.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average Index (DJX: .DJI) gave up some initial optimism to close down 0.23%.

However, the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC) fared better, gaining a solid 1.19%.

But let's return to the local markets now and look a little closer at what was happening with the different ASX sectors this hump day.

Winners and losers

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

After a shaky and volatile session that saw the index whipsaw quite a lot, the ASX 200 ended up closing 0.078% lower by the time the markets closed up shop. That leaves the index at 8,786.5 points as we head into the weekend.

This inglorious end to the trading week for ASX investors follows a red night up on Wall Street.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average Index (DJX: .DJI) wasn't in a good mood, shedding 0.36%.

The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC) fared worse, though, dropping by 0.89%.

But let's return to the local markets now and see how the various ASX sectors ended their respective weeks today.

Winners and losers

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

In order to receive a dividend, you must own the ASX share before its ex-dividend date.

As we've reported, some of the biggest dividend increases among ASX mining shares this season came from the gold miners.

Next week, two of them go ex-dividend.

Ramelius Resources Ltd (ASX: RMS) shares will pay a fully-franked interim dividend of 3 cents per share on 15 April.

This exceeds the company's commitment to pay a minimum annual dividend of 2 cents per share for FY26.

Ramelius Resources reported a 13% increase in EBITDA to $347.7 million but a 6% fall in net profit after tax (NPAT) to $160 million.

The ASX gold share goes ex-dividend on Monday.

Capricorn Metals Ltd (ASX: CMM) shares will pay a maiden fully franked interim dividend of 5 cents per share.

The gold miner reported a 130% jump in underlying NPAT to $144.8 million for 1H FY26.

The ASX gold share also goes ex-dividend on Monday.

Here is a sample of the other ASX All Ords shares with ex-dividend dates next week.

ASX shares about to go ex-dividend

The post 26 ASX shares with ex-dividend dates next week appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Thanks largely to shocks on global energy markets rolling through the world's economy, investors hit the sell button hard this session, sending the ASX 200 down by a horrific 2.85%. That leaves the index at just 8,599 points after it finished at 8,851 points last Friday.

This depressing start to the Australian trading week comes after a tough end to the American week on Saturday morning (our time).

The Dow Jones Industrial Average Index (DJX: .DJI) suffered a sizeable drop of 0.95%.

The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC) was hit even harder, falling by 1.59%.

But let's grit our teeth and return to this week and our local markets now for an autopsy of the various ASX sectors' performance this Monday.

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

While gross sales reached record levels, the market appeared focused on margin pressure and ongoing headwinds in parts of the Services segment.

What did Data#3 report?

Data#3 reported gross sales of $1.54 billion for the half year to 31 December 2025, up 9% on the prior corresponding period.

Statutory revenue increased 8% to $423 million, while gross profit edged up 0.3% to $144 million.

Net profit before tax rose 4.5% to $33.5 million, and net profit after tax increased 3.7% to $23 million. Basic earnings per share lifted 3.6% to 14.95 cents.

The board declared a fully-franked interim dividend of 13.50 cents per share, up 3%, representing a payout ratio of 90.3%.

What else do investors need to know?

The key issue this half was margin pressure in Software Solutions.

Gross margin on sales declined to 9%, down from 10% in the prior period, primarily due to Microsoft incentive program changes that took effect from 1 January 2025.

While Software gross sales rose 8.9% to $1.1 billion, gross profit from that segment fell 4.6%, and profit declined 9.4%.

In contrast, Infrastructure Solutions delivered strong growth. Gross sales increased 17.6% to $275.2 million, with management profit more than doubling as operating leverage improved.

Services delivered mixed results, with Managed Services and Consulting growing, but Project Services and recruitment remaining challenged amid softer economic conditions.

The balance sheet remains strong, with no borrowings and closing cash of $125.4 million.

What did management say?

Managing Director Brad Colledge said the first-half performance was in line with expectations and highlighted ongoing cost discipline and automation initiatives.

He noted that the Microsoft incentive changes were most impactful in the first half, but mitigation strategies are in place, and Software's gross profit is expected to return to growth in the second half.

What's next for Data#3?

The company did not provide specific FY26 guidance but reiterated that earnings are typically skewed toward the second half, with sales peaking in May and June.

Management expects Infrastructure Solutions to remain strong, driven by Windows 11 device refresh cycles and AI-related demand, while Software gross profit is forecast to be consistent with FY25 for the full year.

Share price snapshot

Despite steady profit growth and a rising dividend, the 6% share price fall suggests investors were hoping for stronger margin expansion.

For now, the market appears to be weighing short-term Software margin pressure against the company's longer-term positioning in AI, cloud, and infrastructure growth themes.

Data #3 shares are up 8% over the last 12 months.

The post Data#3 shares fall 6% despite steady profit growth appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Meanwhile, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) rose 1.84% to finish at 9,081.4 points on Friday.

As earnings season continued, strong results and higher oil prices pushed the ASX 200 to a new record of 9,118.3 points on Thursday.

That beat the previous record of 9,115.2 points set on 21 October.

Eight of the 11 market sectors finished the week in the green.

Let's recap.

ASX tech shares led the market last week

Last week was a welcome bright spot for ASX 200 tech shares, which are in the midst of a prolonged rout.

And boy, is it ugly.

The S&P/ASX 200 Information Technology Index (ASX: XIJ) has fallen by more than 40% over the past six months.

We took a deep dive into the issues plaguing the sector last week.

In a nutshell, there's fear in the market over artificial intelligence (AI).

Investors are worried about high tech stock valuations, extraordinary AI capex, and whether AI could white-ant SaaS companies.

Perhaps a rebound is now underway, given last week's 6.55% increase for the tech sector.

Let's take a look at what happened in the sector last week.

WiseTech Global Ltd (ASX: WTC) shares lifted 10.51% to finish at $47.10 ahead of the company's earnings release on Wednesday.

The Xero Ltd (ASX: XRO) share price rose 5.51% to $77.54.

NextDC Limited (ASX: NXT) shares slipped 0.71% to $13.92.

TechnologyOne Ltd (ASX: TNE) shares soared 22.71% to $24.74, with investors reassured by upgraded FY26 guidance at last week's AGM.

Shares in electronics solutions provider Codan Ltd (ASX: CDA) lifted 1.37% to $34.69.

Life360 Inc (ASX: 360) shares increased 8.27% to $23.84.

The Megaport Ltd (ASX: MP1) share price tumbled 9.98% after the company reported an underlying net loss of $3.3 million for 1H FY26.

The Dicker Data Ltd (ASX: DDR) share price rose 7.32% to $10.41 ahead of its earning report on Thursday.

Macquarie Technology Group Ltd (ASX: MAQ) shares rose 5.4% to $67.19.

The Data#3 Ltd (ASX: DTL) share price lifted 4.24% to $9.10 ahead of the IT solutions provider's earnings release on Monday.

Objective Corporation Ltd (ASX: OCL) shares increased 6.4% to $14.

The Iress Ltd (ASX: IRE) share price edged 0.43% higher to $7.05 ahead of the financial technology company's report on Wednesday.

The Catapult Sports Ltd (ASX: CAT) share price rose 5.72% to $3.51.

Hansen Technologies Ltd (ASX: HSN) soared 16.29% to $5.14 after the company reported a 389.1% lift in net profit for 1H FY26.

Hansen is one of a large group of ASX 200 shares going ex-dividend next week. The tech stock will pay a dividend of 5 cents per share.

Shares in hotel bookings management platform provider, Siteminder Ltd (ASX: SDR) rose 4.62% to $3.62.

The Weebit Nano Ltd (ASX: WBT) share price fell 0.2% to $4.90.

Shares in wealth management software company Bravura Solutions Ltd (ASX: BVS) fell 7.45% to $1.93.

ASX 200 market sector snapshot

Here's how the 11 market sectors stacked up last week, according to CommSec data.

Over the five trading days:

The post ASX 200 tech shares lead market sectors with a 7% bounce back appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

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

Fear of a potential artificial intelligence (AI) bubble contributed to tech stocks entering bear market territory in November.

A bear market is one in which shares drop by 20% or more from their most recent peak.

The S&P/ASX 200 Information Technology Index (ASX: XIJ) finished the year down 21.04%.

The total return, including dividends, was 20.80%.

This made ASX 200 tech shares the second-worst performer of the 11 market sectors for 2025.

Tech shares vastly underperformed the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO), which rose 6.8% and delivered total returns of 10.32%.

Amid the carnage, which ASX 200 tech shares came out best for capital gains?

And what ratings have these tech shares attracted from analysts for 2026?

Let's find out.

Which ASX 200 tech shares triumphed amid sector ruin?

1. Codan Ltd (ASX: CDA)

Electronics solutions provider Codan delivered the best capital growth among ASX 200 tech shares last year.

The Codan share price soared 77% to finish the year at $28.43.

Codan designs and manufactures electronics solutions for government, corporate, NGO, and consumer clients worldwide.

Petra Capital has a hold rating on Codan with a 12-month share price target of $32.70.

Canaccord Genuity has a buy rating with a $37.54 target.

2. Megaport Ltd (ASX: MP1)

The Megaport share price ripped 65% to $12.17 in 2025.

Megaport provides cloud and data centre connectivity services through a global network-as-a-service (NaaS) platform.

Macquarie has an outperform rating on Megaport with a share price target of $21.70.

Citi has a buy rating and a target of $16.30.

3. Life360 Inc (ASX: 360)

The Life360 share price leapt 49% to close at $33.53 on 31 December.

Life360 owns the popular family location app.

Bell Potter has a buy rating and a $52.50 price target on Life360 shares.

Morgan Stanley has an overweight rating and $58.50 price target.

4. Data#3 Ltd (ASX: DTL)

Shares in this IT services provider ascended 41% to close at $9.01 apiece on 31 December.

Macquarie has downgraded its rating on this ASX 200 tech share to neutral but lifted its target from $9.15 to $9.85.

Morgan Stanley gives Data#3 shares a buy rating with a $9.50 target.

5. Catapult Sports Ltd (ASX: CAT)

The Catapult Sports share price lifted 12% to finish the year at $4.15.

Bell Potter has a buy rating on Catapult shares with a 12-month target of $6.50.

Morgans also gives the sports performance analytics company a buy rating with a target of $6.25.

The post Top 5 ASX 200 tech shares for growth in 2025 appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.