At the time of writing, the benchmark index is up 0.12% to 9,031 points, after briefly climbing above 9,060 earlier this morning.

That follows Thursday's 0.46% gain, which snapped a 3-day losing streak and helped the market recover some of Wednesday's 0.97% fall.

The positive start is being seen across much of the market. At the latest check, 126 ASX 200 shares were trading higher, compared with 57 fallers and 17 unchanged.

So, what is driving the market higher today?

US markets set the tone

The biggest support came from Wall Street, where US stocks finished higher overnight.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average Index (DJX: .DJI) rose 1.18%, while the S&P 500 Index (SP: .INX) lifted 1.06% and the Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC) shot up 1.40%.

The rally came after US Federal Reserve Governor Christopher Waller said he would support keeping interest rates unchanged this month if upcoming data shows inflation is continuing to cool.

That saw markets reduce the chance of a September rate hike to around 50%, down from more than 63% a day earlier.

But investors will get another important piece of data tonight when the latest US jobs report is released.

Economists expect the US economy added around 56,000 jobs in August, with the unemployment rate holding at 4.1%.

Banks and gold stocks move higher

Back home, the major banks are helping push the market higher this morning.

Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA) shares are up 0.85% to $161.95, while ANZ Group Holdings Ltd (ASX: ANZ) is 0.97% higher at $38.38.

National Australia Bank Ltd (ASX: NAB) shares have gained 0.56% to $39.49, and Westpac Banking Corp (ASX: WBC) is up 0.63% to $35.13.

Gold miners are also having a strong morning after the gold price rose around 2.54% overnight to roughly US$4,480 an ounce.

Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST) shares are up 1.99% to $23.63, while Evolution Mining Ltd (ASX: EVN) has gained 1.50% to $15.24.

BHP and Rio Tinto weigh on ASX 200

Not everything is moving higher today, with weakness among the big miners holding the ASX 200 back.

BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP) shares are down 1.73% to $62.68, despite its US-listed shares pointing to a stronger start before the opening bell.

Rio Tinto Ltd (ASX: RIO) is also down 1% to $175.34, although Fortescue Ltd (ASX: FMG) is moving the other way, up 1.65% to $17.23.

The post What's driving the ASX 200 higher today? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Will the market be able to build on this on Friday and end the week on a high? Here are five things to watch:

ASX 200 expected to rise

The Australian share market looks set for a positive session on Friday following a strong night of trade in the United States. According to the latest SPI futures, the ASX 200 is expected to open 22 points or 0.25% higher this morning. On Wall Street, the Dow Jones was up 1.2%, the S&P 500 rose 1.1%, and the Nasdaq jumped 1.4%.

Oil prices rise

ASX 200 energy shares including Santos Ltd (ASX: STO) and Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS) could have a good finish to the week after oil prices rose again overnight. According to Bloomberg, the WTI crude oil price is up 0.8% to US$91.69 a barrel and the Brent crude oil price is up 0.2% to US$95.81 a barrel. Traders have been bidding oil prices higher this week following an escalation in Middle East tensions.

Shares going ex-dividend

Another group of ASX 200 shares will be going ex-dividend this morning and could trade lower. This includes auto retailer Eagers Automotive Ltd (ASX: APE), fuel retailers Ampol Ltd (ASX: ALD) and Viva Energy Group Ltd (ASX: VEA), and broadband provider Aussie Broadband Ltd (ASX: ABB). The latter will be paying a 3.6 cents per share fully franked dividend on 21 September.

Gold price jumps

ASX 200 gold shares Evolution Mining Ltd (ASX: EVN) and Newmont Corporation (ASX: NEM) could have a strong finish to the week after the gold price charged higher overnight. According to CNBC, the gold futures price is up 2.4% to US$4,520.1 an ounce. Softer US dollar and bond yields gave the precious metal a lift.

Buy Paladin Energy shares

The team at Bell Potter thinks investors should be buying Paladin Energy Ltd (ASX: PDN) shares. This morning, the broker has retained its buy rating and $14.80 price target on  the uranium producer's shares. It said: "We retain our Buy recommendation. We have a positive medium- to long-term outlook for the uranium market, supported by barriers to new supply and demand growth linked to electrification, energy security and AI-related power requirements. PDN has ~56% exposure to market prices out to 2030. Production at LH continues to improve with higher-grade mined ore feeding the processing plant. PDN continues to derisk its key growth project at Paterson Lake South in Canada's Athabasca Basin."

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

Hundreds of S&P/ASX All Ords Index (ASX: XAO) companies announced their next dividends during the EOFY reporting season.

We're helping you keep track of ex-dividend dates with an article every Friday.

Here is a sample of the ASX shares due to trade ex-dividend next week.

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

ASX shares with ex-dividend dates next week

Check out which ASX shares begin trading ex-dividend today.

The post 40 ASX shares with ex-dividend dates next week appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

At the time of writing, the benchmark index is down 1.38% to 8,941.9 points, with losses spread across most sectors.

There are 159 ASX 200 shares trading lower, compared with just 34 risers and 7 unchanged.

If the market closes around these levels, it would be the ASX 200's worst session since 28 May, when the index fell 1.43%.

So, what is weighing on the market today?

What's behind today's fall?

The weak start followed another poor session in the US.

The S&P 500 Index (SP: .INX) fell 0.7%, the Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC) dropped 1%, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJX: .DJI) lost 0.8%.

Oil prices and bond yields are both causing some headaches.

Brent crude surged 4.6% overnight to US$94.65 a barrel following another escalation in tensions between the US and Iran. It has since pushed above US$96 a barrel.

That is adding to inflation concerns at a time when investors are already pricing in a greater chance of further interest rate rises.

The US 10-year Treasury yield has climbed to around 4.79%. This is the highest level since October 2023, while Australian 10-year yields have moved back to levels last seen in 2011.

Mining shares are being hit hard

The resources sector is doing plenty of the damage, with copper and gold prices falling.

BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP) shares are down 2.93% to $64.88 after copper prices dropped overnight.

Gold miners are also having a difficult session, with Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST) shares down 4.81% to $22.55 and Evolution Mining Ltd (ASX: EVN) shares falling 4.29% to $14.28.

PLS Group Ltd (ASX: PLS) shares have also tumbled by 4.20% to $5.25.

In addition, a number of companies are trading ex-dividend today, with those moves expected to shave around 31 points off the index.

A few shares heading the other way

Energy shares are one of the few areas holding up as oil prices rise

Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS) shares are up 2.02% to $33.36, and Santos Ltd (ASX: STO) shares have gained 1.21% to $8.38.

Telstra Group Ltd (ASX: TLS) is another standout, rising 1.94% to $4.72.

GDP beats expectations

Investors also got a new read on the economy this morning.

Our GDP grew 0.4% in the June quarter and 2.1% over the year, ahead of expectations for growth of 0.3% and 1.8%.

Even though it wasn't a huge beat, it's another result that could keep the interest rate discussion alive.

The post Why is the ASX 200 having its worst day in 3 months? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Aussie gold stocks have jumped 33.9% over the past month, lifting the sector's weight in the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) to around 6.1%.

The gold price has been doing a lot of the work. Spot gold is trading around US$4,456 an ounce at the time of writing, up almost 10% over the past month.

However, Morgan Stanley says the bigger story for miners could be the amount of cash they are set to generate.

Plenty more cash ahead

The broker expects the top 10 Australian gold miners to generate significantly more cash through to FY29.

If that plays out, companies could have more room to lift dividends, expand share buybacks, or strengthen their balance sheets.

Of course, a lot will depend on where the gold price goes next.

The market is currently pricing in a fairly big pullback, with consensus forecasts pointing to gold falling towards US$4,000 an ounce by FY29.

Morgan Stanley is more positive than that. Its commodities team expects gold to be around US$4,450 an ounce by late 2026 and believes it could trade above US$5,000 during 2027.

There are also some decent signs on the demand side.

According to The Australian, gold ETFs attracted around 70 tonnes across July and August, reversing the outflows seen in May and June.

Central banks have also stayed active, buying 345 tonnes in the first half of 2026, with China and Poland among the larger buyers.

If that demand holds up and gold prices stay around current levels, the cash flowing through the sector could remain pretty strong.

Northern Star is already returning cash

Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST) shares are up 0.68% to $23.60 at the time of writing and have gained around 18.6% over the past month.

Its FY26 result showed what a higher gold price can do, with revenue rising 19% to $7.62 billion and underlying EBITDA increasing 22% to $4.27 billion.

Northern Star declared a fully-franked final dividend of 30 cents per share and has also started a $500 million on-market share buyback, with $129 million completed by the FY26 result.

However, the company is still spending heavily, with FY27 capital investment expected to reach $2.55 billion to $2.94 billion as the KCGM expansion ramps up.

Evolution has taken it further

Evolution Mining Ltd (ASX: EVN) shares are up 0.24% to $14.915 and have climbed more than 32% over the past month.

The miner reported record FY26 group cash flow of $1.39 billion, up 76%, and increased its dividend payout target to around 60% of annual group cash flow.

That helped lift its full-year dividend to a record 41 cents per share.

Keep in mind that gold prices can still move quickly, particularly as interest rate expectations change.

But if Morgan Stanley is right, ASX gold miners could have a lot more cash to return to shareholders over the coming years.

The post ASX gold shares have surged 34% in a month. Morgan Stanley says this could come next appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Materials and mining stocks rose by a modest 2.5% over the week, according to CommSec data.

Meanwhile, the benchmark S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) closed out the week up 0.37% to 9,092.3 points on Friday.

Only four sectors finished in the green last week.

Let's review.

ASX materials and mining shares led the market

As earnings season continued last week, several ASX mining shares reached new record highs.

Among them was BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP), which reset its historical high at $68.77 per share on Wednesday.

BHP is not only the largest miner on the market, it's also the most valuable company of the entire ASX 200.

The BHP share price finished the week 3.28% higher at $67.30 per share.

The Fortescue Ltd (ASX: FMG) share price increased 1.8% to $18.07.

Rio Tinto Ltd (ASX: RIO) shares lifted 1.52% to $178.04.

Diversified ASX 200 miner, Mineral Resources Ltd (ASX: MIN), fell 1.25% to $65.46 per share.

The South32 Ltd (ASX: S32) share price leapt 7.36% to $5.25 on Friday.

Pure-play ASX copper share Sandfire Resources Ltd (ASX: SFR) surged 7.81% to $23.34 per share.

ASX gold share Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST) ascended 3.38% to $24.78.

Newmont Corporation CDI (ASX: NEM) shares rose 1.64% to $182.80.

The Evolution Mining Ltd (ASX: EVN) share price closed at $15.67, up 2.08%.

ASX 200 lithium stock PLS Group Ltd (ASX: PLS) jumped 5.72% to $5.36 per share.

The IGO Ltd (ASX: IGO) share price rose 2.63% to $8.58.

Lynas Rare Earths Ltd (ASX: LYC) shares edged 0.31% higher to $16.26.

Among the non-mining ASX 200 materials shares, BlueScope Steel Ltd (ASX: BSL) rose 1.48% to $30.86.

The James Hardie Industries plc (ASX: JHX) share price fell 3.31% to $41.42.

Orica Ltd (ASX: ORI) shares decreased 0.81% to $21.98.

Several mining shares are among 37 companies going ex-dividend next week.

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 mining shares outperform in final week of earnings season appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Will the market be able to bounce back from this on Friday and end the week on a high? Here are five things to watch:

ASX 200 expected to rise

The Australian share market looks set for a positive session on Friday following a strong night of trade in the United States. According to the latest SPI futures, the ASX 200 is expected to open 11 points higher this morning. On Wall Street, the Dow Jones was up 0.2%, the S&P 500 rose 0.7%, and the Nasdaq jumped 1.55%.

Oil prices rise

ASX 200 energy shares Santos Ltd (ASX: STO) and Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS)could have a good finish to the week after oil prices rose overnight. According to Bloomberg, the WTI crude oil price is up 1.55% to US$83.51 a barrel and the Brent crude oil price is up 1.9% to US$89.52 a barrel. This follows news that the White House has stated there are no US-Iran peace talks happening.

NextDC results

NextDC Ltd (ASX: NXT) shares will be on watch on Friday after the data centre operator released its FY 2026 results. The company reported a 16% increase in revenue to $405 million and a 15% lift in underlying EBITDA to $248.8 million. Both were ahead of management's guidance range for FY 2026. This was driven by a record 202% increase in contracted utilisation to 740.1MW.

Gold price edges higher

ASX 200 gold shares Evolution Mining Ltd (ASX: EVN) and Newmont Corporation (ASX: NEM) could have a decent finish to the week after the gold price edged higher overnight. According to CNBC, the gold futures price is up 0.1% to US$4,657.6 an ounce. This may have been driven by easing interest rate hike expectations.

Sigma Healthcare upgraded

Chemist Warehouse owner Sigma Healthcare Ltd (ASX: SIG) could be an ASX 200 share to buy according to Bell Potter. This morning, in response to its results, the broker has upgraded the company's shares to a buy rating with a $3.00 price target. It said: "The obvious overhang on the stock is the potential sell down by founders now that their 5.0bn share are out of escrow. Nevertheless the earnings outlook remains exceptionally strong with debt leverage falling and dividends likely to grow. Execution on the merger between the legacy Sigma and CWG appears to have been well executed by the highly skilled management team."

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

Here's why they've managed to leap higher despite this week's sliding market.

Evolution Mining Ltd (ASX: EVN)

In afternoon trade today, Evolution Mining shares are changing hands for $15.23, putting this ASX 200 stock up 15.3% for the week.

Among this week's tailwinds, the gold miner has benefited from a 3.5% increase in the gold price since last Friday. The yellow metal is currently fetching US$4,527 per ounce, according to data from Bloomberg.

Evolution shares also grabbed investor interest following the release of the miner's FY 2026 results on Wednesday.

Highlights included underlying earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) of $3.17 billion, up 44% year on year. And the ASX 200 gold stock notched a record statutory profit after tax of $1.48 billion, up 59% from FY 2025.

With profits soaring, management increased the final fully-franked dividend by 62% to 21 cents per share.

Regis Resources Ltd (ASX: RRL)

The second ASX 200 stock leaping higher in this week's sliding market is Regis Resources.

Shares in the gold miner are currently trading for $8.47 each, up 15.2% since last Friday's close.

Atop benefiting from the rising gold price over the week, Regis also released its FY 2026 results this morning, with shares up 3.9% in intraday trade today.

The financial year just past saw Regis sell 373,879 ounces of gold for an average price of $6,283 per ounce.

The company reported revenue of $2.35 billion, up 43% year on year. And net profit after tax (NPAT) leapt 181% to a new record $715 million.

The gold miner declared a fully-franked final dividend of 20 cents per share.

Which brings us to our top-performing stock of the week…

CSL Ltd (ASX: CSL)

Currently trading for $167.60, CSL shares are up 22.8% for the week.

Shares in the Aussie biotech giant closed up a whopping 17.3% on Tuesday following the release of CSL's FY 2026 results.

Investors were piling into the ASX 200 stock despite CSL reporting revenue of US$15.8 billion, down 1% from FY 2025. And on the bottom line, NPATA of US$3.1 billion was down 2%.

However, CSL shares look to have benefited from the positive outlook management forecast for FY 2027.

"FY26 has been a year of reset. We have taken decisive action and created a clear path to return to sustainable growth," CSL interim CEO Gordon Naylor said.

CSL expects steady revenue in FY 2027, while forecasting a 5% increase in underlying NPAT.

The post 3 ASX 200 stocks, including CSL, leaping 15% to 23% in this week's sliding market appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Will the market be able to build on this on Friday and end the week on a high? Here are five things to watch:

ASX 200 expected to fall

The Australian share market looks set for a subdued session on Friday following a poor night of trade in the United States. According to the latest SPI futures, the ASX 200 is expected to open 25 points or 0.3% lower this morning. On Wall Street, the Dow Jones was down 1.3%, the S&P 500 fell 0.9%, and the Nasdaq dropped 1%.

Oil prices jump

ASX 200 energy shares Santos Ltd (ASX: STO) and Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS) could have a good finish to the week after oil prices jumped overnight. According to Bloomberg, the WTI crude oil price is up 2.7% to US$88.15 a barrel and the Brent crude oil price is up 2% to US$93.45 a barrel. This was driven by renewed concerns around Middle East tensions.

Telix shares downgraded

Telix Pharmaceuticals Ltd (ASX: TLX) shares will be on watch on Friday after being downgraded by analysts at Bell Potter. This morning, the broker has cut its rating on the radiopharmaceutical company's shares to hold (from buy) with a $19.00 price target. It said: "The pivotal moment is in a few days time for Pixclara with this event alone to dominate short term share price performance. We expect approval but without great conviction. FY26 earnings adjustments are modest. We retain our PT $19.00 and downgrade to Hold following the recent share price increase."

Gold price rises

ASX 200 gold shares Evolution Mining Ltd (ASX: EVN) and Newmont Corporation (ASX: NEM) could have a decent finish to the week after the gold price rose overnight. According to CNBC, the gold futures price is up 0.65% to US$4,574.8 an ounce. This appears to have been driven by easing interest rate hike expectations.

Temple & Webster downgraded

Bell Potter has downgraded Temple & Webster Group Ltd (ASX: TPW) shares despite their heavy decline over the past 12 months. This morning, the broker has cut its rating on the online retailer's shares to hold with a reduced price target of $4.50. It said: "While the share trades towards 3-year lows, we see multiple risks related to the revenue recovery from current levels over the next few months in this current macroeconomic context, competitive landscape and following TPW's 4Q26 profit optimisation initiatives."

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

After opening in the green this morning, the ASX 200 spent the entire day in positive territory. Despite some bumpiness, the index ended up closing 0.33% higher at 9,083.8 points.

This happy session for ASX shares followed a similarly optimistic night over on Wall Street.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average Index (DJX: .DJI) was in a good mood, managing to rise 0.22%.

The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC) fared similarly, gaining 0.16%.

But let's get back to today and our local markets for a closer look at what was going on amongst the various ASX sectors this session.

Winners and losers

Despite today's good mood across the broader market, there were still a few sectors that went backwards.

Leading those losers were financial stocks. The S&P/ASX 200 Financials Index (ASX: XFJ) was hit hard today, tanking by 1.93%.

Consumer staples shares were left out in the cold as well, with the S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Staples Index (ASX: XSJ) sinking 1.17%.

Industrial stocks were also unlucky. The S&P/ASX 200 Industrials Index (ASX: XNJ) slumped 1.05% this session.

Communications shares didn't find many buyers either, illustrated by the S&P/ASX 200 Communication Services Index (ASX: XTJ)'s 0.71% dive.

Next came consumer discretionary stocks. The S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Discretionary Index (ASX: XDJ) copped a 0.27% slide this Thursday.

Our last losers this session were utilities shares, with the S&P/ASX 200 Utilities Index (ASX: XUJ) getting a 0.05% reduction.

Let's get to the winners now, though. Leading the green sectors today were gold stocks. The All Ordinaries Gold Index (ASX: XGD) had an absolute blowout, rocketing up a huge 8.39%.

Broader mining shares were also on fire, as you can see by the S&P/ASX 200 Materials Index (ASX: XMJ)'s 3.52% surge.

Tech stocks had a day to remember, too. The S&P/ASX 200 Information Technology Index (ASX: XIJ) had roared 2.54% higher by the closing bell.

Healthcare shares lived up to their name as well, with the S&P/ASX 200 Healthcare Index (ASX: XHJ) lifting 1.39%.

Energy stocks enjoyed another positive session. The S&P/ASX 200 Energy Index (ASX: XEJ) put on another 0.45%.

Finally, real estate investment trusts (REITs) got over the line, evident by the S&P/ASX 200 A-REIT Index (ASX: XPJ)'s 0.13% jump.

Top 10 ASX 200 shares countdown

It's very rare that we see ten ASX 200 shares all gain more than 10% in one day, but here we are. Today's winner did much better than 10%, though. Zip Co Ltd (ASX: ZIP) shares exploded 18.22% higher this session to finish at $3.05 each.

This followed the financial stock's latest earnings, which clearly made an impression.

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.

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

ASX 200 expected to rise

It looks set to be a good session for Australian investors on Thursday following a positive night on Wall Street. According to the latest SPI futures, the ASX 200 is expected to open the day 28 points or 0.3% higher this morning. In the United States, the Dow Jones rose 0.2%, the S&P 500 climbed 0.2% and the Nasdaq pushed 0.15% higher.

ASX 200 result releases

Earnings season is going into overdrive on Thursday with a very large number of ASX 200 shares due to release their results. This includes Goodman Group (ASX: GMG), Medibank Private Ltd (ASX: MPL), Megaport Ltd (ASX: MP1), Super Retail Group Ltd (ASX: SUL), and Zip Co Ltd (ASX: ZIP).

Oil prices rise

ASX 200 energy shares including Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS) and Santos Ltd (ASX: STO) could have a good session after oil prices rose overnight. According to Bloomberg, the WTI crude oil price is up 0.85% to US$85.65 a barrel and the Brent crude oil price is up 0.5% to US$91.49 a barrel. This was driven by an escalation in Middle East tensions.

Buy Evolution Mining shares

Evolution Mining Ltd (ASX: EVN) shares are in the buy zone according to analysts at Bell Potter. This morning, in response to the gold miner's record results, the broker has retained its buy rating with an improved price target of $15.55. It said: "EVN offers fully unhedged gold and copper exposure via a portfolio of high quality, long-life assets in Tier 1 jurisdictions, overseen by a high-quality management team. EVN has demonstrated its intention to increase shareholder returns and gold price exposure."

Gold price jumps

It could be a very positive session for ASX 200 gold shares Newmont Corporation (ASX: NEM) and Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST) on Thursday after the gold price jumped overnight. According to CNBC, the gold futures price is up 3.6% to US$4,581.1 an ounce. This was driven by a heavy decline in US bond yields and the US dollar.

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

As reported by James Mickleboro, the gold miner reported record FY26 profit and increased its dividend, backed by strong gold and copper output.

Other key results included: 

• Statutory profit after tax rose 59% to $1,475 million
• Underlying EBITDA increased 44% to $3,171 million with 57% margin
• Group cash flow jumped 76% to $1,389 million
• Final fully franked dividend of 21 cents per share, up 62%
• Total FY26 dividend of 41 cps, returning ~$833 million to shareholders. 

What did management say?

Commenting on the results, Evolution Mining's Managing Director and CEO, Lawrie Conway, said:

Our record results reflect the quality of our assets and, above all, the efforts of the entire Evolution team. We are delivering on our commitment to shareholders. The record financial performance is on the back of safe, consistent and reliable operational delivery, complemented by our disciplined approach to cost and capital management. Our high-margin business is generating significant cash flow with a record Group cash flow of nearly $1.4 billion.

It was a subdued response from investors, with the ASX 200 stock rising just over 0.2% on the back of the announcement. 

However, Evolution Mining shares have risen 73% over the last 12 months. 

In good news for prospective investors, Bell Potter sees more upside for this ASX 200 stock. 

Here's what the broker had to say. 

FY26 financial results sets fresh records

The team at Bell Potter said this ASX 200 stock delivered a record FY26 result, with revenue of A$5.56bn, underlying EBITDA of A$3.17bn and net profit of A$1.56bn, despite falling short of Bell Potter's forecasts. 

The strong operational performance, combined with largely unhedged gold exposure, drove record earnings and free cash flow, while net gearing improved to 0% as EVN moved to A$19m of net cash. 

Management also increased its dividend payout target from ~50% to ~60% of group cash flow, supporting a total FY26 distribution of 41cps and signalling a greater focus on shareholder returns. 

FY27 guidance of 660-730koz of gold and 63-70kt of copper at AISC of A$1,795-1,995/oz was broadly in line with expectations, with higher growth capital reflecting investment in projects Bell Potter views as high-return and highly competitive for capital.

Buy recommendation in tact 

Based on this guidance, the team at Bell Potter retained its buy recommendation on this ASX 200 stock. 

It also increased its price target to $15.55 (previously $15.10). 

From yesterday's closing price, this indicates a further upside of almost 14%. 

EVN offers fully unhedged gold and copper exposure via a portfolio of high quality, long-life assets in Tier 1 jurisdictions, overseen by a high-quality management team. EVN has demonstrated its intention to increase shareholder returns and gold price exposure. Our NPV-based valuation lifts 3%, to $15.55/sh. We retain our Buy recommendation.

The post Why this ASX 200 stock is a buy after posting record results appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Two of the big-name ASX shares are charging higher today, while one is trailing the 0.4% losses posted by the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) as we head into the Wednesday lunch hour.

Here's what's catching investor interest.

Santos shares lift on growth outlook

Santos shares are jumping higher today.

At the time of writing, shares in the ASX 200 oil and gas stock are trading for $8.37 apiece, up 3.2%.

This follows the release of Santos half year results (H1 2026).

On the positive side of the ledger, the company reported a 2% year-on-year boost in sales revenue to US$2.62 billion.

Production volumes were up as well, with sales volumes increasing by 1.7% to 48 million barrels of oil equivalent (mboe).

And investors appear to be eyeing the forecast future growth and shrugging off the 19% decline in Santos' half-year statutory net profit after tax (NPAT), which fell to US$355 million.

As for that growth that could support Santos shares longer-term, the company revealed that Barossa has reached 97% of planned rates since the end of June. And in Alaska, the company's Pikka Phase 1 project achieved first oil. Management expects the project to hit plateau production in the third quarter of 2026.

Santos CEO Kevin Gallagher noted:

The first half marked an important step forward for Santos. We brought the Pikka project online safely and continued to progress Barossa through commissioning towards steady-state production, while the base business continued to perform strongly.

Whitehaven Coal shares slide on revenue decline

Unlike Santos shares, Whitehaven shares are slipping following the release of the ASX 200 coal stock's full-year FY 2026 results.

At time of writing, the Whitehaven share price is down 1.8% at $7.62.

For the 12 months the company reported revenue of $5.40 billion, down 7% from FY 2025.

And underlying earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) of $1.25 billion were down 8%.

On the bottom line, Whitehaven's full year NPAT declined by 29% to $227 million, impacted in part by lower coal prices.

Still, management declared a fully franked final dividend of 6 cents per share, in line with last year's payout.

Which brings us to…

Evolution Mining shares jump on record profits

Joining Whitehaven and Santos shares in making waves today, we find ASX 200 gold stock Evolution Mining.

Evolution Mining shares are up 1.1% at time of writing, changing hands for $13.80 apiece.

Investors are bidding up the gold stock following the release of Evolution's own FY 2026 results.

Amid a rising gold price environment and its own operational successes, the miner reported a 44% year-on-year increase in underlying EBITDA to $3.17 billion. And cash flow surged 76% to a record high of $1.39 billion.

Evolution Mining also achieved an all-time high statutory profit after tax of $1.48 billion, up 59% from FY 2025.

This saw management boost the final fully franked dividend to 21 cents per share, up 62% from last year's payout.

The post Why Evolution Mining, Whitehaven and Santos shares are creating a buzz on Wednesday appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

What did Evolution Mining report?

• Statutory profit after tax rose 59% to $1,475 million
• Underlying EBITDA increased 44% to $3,171 million with 57% margin
• Group cash flow jumped 76% to $1,389 million
• Final fully franked dividend of 21 cents per share, up 62%
• Total FY26 dividend of 41 cps, returning ~$833 million to shareholders
• Operating mine cash flow up 48% to $3,394 million

What else do investors need to know?

Evolution Mining's strong financial performance was underpinned by consistent operations across its portfolio and disciplined cost control, delivering a net cash position at year end. The company continued to reinvest, spending $1,089 million on capital across multiple projects while repaying $280 million in debt and distributing $668 million in dividends.

The board has improved its dividend payout policy, now targeting 60% of annual group cash flow, up from 50% previously. Evolution finished the year with total liquidity of $1,873 million and no repayments due on debt facilities until FY29. The company also achieved a 19% cut in Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions versus FY20.

What did Evolution Mining management say?

Commenting on the results, Evolution Mining's managing director and CEO, Lawrie Conway, said:

Our record results reflect the quality of our assets and, above all, the efforts of the entire Evolution team. We are delivering on our commitment to shareholders. The record financial performance is on the back of safe, consistent and reliable operational delivery, complemented by our disciplined approach to cost and capital management. Our high-margin business is generating significant cash flow with a record Group cash flow of nearly $1.4 billion.

The updated dividend policy with a new payout rate targeting 60% of annual group cash flow is sector leading. Our record final dividend of 21 cents per share will return ~$427 million to shareholders and bring the full year dividend to 41 cents, equal to $833 million.

We are set to continue our safe, reliable performance in FY27 with guidance expected to sustain our high-margin, high-cash generation position. This will further build our balance sheet flexibility as we continue to invest in high-return organic growth projects and deliver high returns to our shareholders.

What's next for Evolution Mining?

For FY27, Evolution is guiding for gold production between 660,000 and 730,000 ounces and copper output of 63,000 to 70,000 tonnes, with all-in sustaining costs between $1,795 and $1,995 per ounce. Major capital investment remains focused on organic growth and new project developments across Cowal, Ernest Henry and Northparkes.

The business anticipates maintaining high margins and strong cash flows, supporting both ongoing dividends and flexibility for further investment. With continued focus on safety, cost discipline, and climate targets, Evolution aims to sustain its returns and strong balance sheet position.

Evolution Mining share price snapshot

The Evolution Mining share price is up a whopping 73% over the past 12 months, vastly outperforming the S&P/ASX 200 index (ASX: XJO) and its 2% gain.

View Original Announcement

The post Evolution Mining smashes records with FY26 profit and dividend surge appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

ASX 200 to fall

The Australian share market looks set for a poor session on Wednesday following a disappointing night on Wall Street. According to the latest SPI futures, the ASX 200 is expected to open the day 18 points or 0.2% lower. In the United States, the Dow Jones fell 0.2%, the S&P 500 dropped 0.7%, and the Nasdaq tumbled 1.3%.

Oil prices rise again

ASX 200 energy shares Beach Energy Ltd (ASX: BPT) and Santos Ltd (ASX: STO) could have another positive session on Wednesday after oil prices rose again overnight. According to Bloomberg, the WTI crude oil price is up 0.8% to US$85.20 a barrel and the Brent crude oil price is up 0.3% to US$91.14 a barrel. Fading US-Iran peace deal hopes were behind this.

CSL shares rated hold

In response to its results on Tuesday, Bell Potter has retained its hold rating on CSL Ltd (ASX: CSL) shares with an improved price target of $150.00 (from $120.00). It said: "Based on the new underlying NPAT metric, CSL trades on a PE multiple of ~19x FY26 and ~18x FY27 earnings, with flat revenue growth and low-to-mid single digit earnings growth expected for FY27. While the result today suggests the worst (by way of earnings declines) is in the rear-view for CSL, we find it difficult to justify a greater premium than is now being attributed relative to global biopharma peers."

Gold price tumbles

ASX 200 gold shares such as Westgold Resources Ltd (ASX: WGX) and Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST) could have a poor session on Wednesday after the gold price tumbled. According to CNBC, the gold futures price is down 1.8% to US$4,394 an ounce. Traders were selling gold after bond yields surged to their highest levels in decades.

More ASX 200 results

Another group of ASX 200 shares are releasing their results on Wednesday and will be on watch. This includes gold miner Evolution Mining Ltd (ASX: EVN), mineral sands producer Iluka Resources Ltd (ASX: ILU), lotteries company Lottery Corporation Ltd (ASX: TLC), energy giant Santos, and coal miner Whitehaven Coal Ltd (ASX: WHC).

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

The ASX 200 gold stock opened the week up 5% to $13.89, taking its monthly gain to an impressive 33%. Evolution Mining shares are now up 11% year to date and 76% over the past 12 months.

So, what could tomorrow's results reveal – and is there still more upside?

A record year sets the bar high

Investors already have a good idea of what to expect after Evolution Mining's June quarter update. The miner produced 180,000 ounces of gold and 19,000 tonnes of copper during the quarter at an all-in sustaining cost (AISC) of $1,706 per ounce.

For FY26, Evolution Mining shares delivered 715,000 ounces of gold and 66,000 tonnes of copper, meeting its production and cost guidance. Full-year AISC came in at just $1,717 per ounce. That helped generate a record $3.39 billion in operating mine cash flow.

The question now is whether Evolution can build on that performance in FY27.

What should investors watch?

The biggest issue could be costs.

Evolution's FY27 outlook is expected to point to higher capital expenditure than previously anticipated, while inflationary pressures could push AISC higher. That matters because higher costs could squeeze cash flow, particularly if gold prices moderate from their current elevated levels.

Investors will therefore be looking closely at FY27 production guidance, AISC expectations, capital expenditure and free cash flow.

The company also has another growth opportunity to discuss. Evolution announced in July that it would acquire Carnaby Resources Ltd (ASX: CNB) in an all-share deal valuing the copper and gold miner at around $213 million.

The acquisition could strengthen Evolution's copper exposure, but investors will want to know how management plans to integrate the asset and whether it can generate attractive returns.

What do brokers think?

Broker sentiment is mixed on Evolution Mining shares.

TradingView data shows nine of 20 analysts have a buy or strong buy rating on Evolution Mining shares, while eight have a hold rating. The average price target sits around 3% below the current share price.

However, the bullish case hasn't disappeared.

JPMorgan maintained its buy rating after reviewing the mining company's latest update, although it trimmed its 12-month price target from $14.30 to $14.10. That implies potential upside of around 2% from current levels.

More bullish analysts see considerably more upside, with the highest target sitting at $18.95, suggesting a potential gain of 36% over the next 12 months.

Can the mining stock keep climbing?

After a 76% gain over 12 months, expectations are clearly elevated. The FY26 numbers should demonstrate the strength of Evolution's business, but the real market-moving information could be its FY27 outlook.

If management can deliver convincing production growth while keeping costs and capital spending under control, the gold rally could have further to run.

But with Evolution Mining shares already trading near broker targets, investors may need a genuinely strong FY27 outlook to keep this rally going.

The post Evolution Mining shares are up 76%. Could results spark another surge? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

It seems the weekend wasn't enough to bring some optimism to investors' minds, with the ASX 200 opening sharply lower this morning and staying in red territory all day. By the time trading wrapped up, the index had lost 0.46% and finished at 9,073.2 points.

This cold-water start to the week's trading for the Australian markets comes after a similarly gloomy end to the American trading week on Friday night (our time).

The Dow Jones Industrial Average Index (DJX: .DJI) wasn't getting any Friday cheer, dropping 0.2%.

The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC) fared slightly worse, falling 0.28%.

But let's return to this week and our local markets now and dig a little deeper into how today's pessimism spilled over into the different ASX sectors today.

Winners and losers

Despite the market's drop, we had a handful of sectors that managed to come out ahead.

But first, it was consumer discretionary stocks that bore the brunt of the selling. The S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Discretionary Index (ASX: XDJ) was smashed this session, plunging a flat 3%.

Financial shares were hit hard too, with the S&P/ASX 200 Financials Index (ASX: XFJ) cratering 1.76%.

We could say something similar for real estate investment trusts (REITs). The S&P/ASX 200 A-REIT Index (ASX: XPJ) saw its value tank by 1.04% this Monday.

Healthcare stocks weren't much better, illustrated by the S&P/ASX 200 Healthcare Index (ASX: XHJ)'s 0.85% dive.

Utilities shares weren't exempt from investors' bad mood. The S&P/ASX 200 Utilities Index (ASX: XUJ) saw its total cut by 0.65%.

Nor were tech stocks, with the S&P/ASX 200 Information Technology Index (ASX: XIJ) sinking 0.54%.

Industrial shares were also dragged lower. The S&P/ASX 200 Industrials Index (ASX: XNJ) ended the day 0.31% behind where it started.

Our last losers this Monday were consumer staples stocks, as you can see from the S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Staples Index (ASX: XSJ)'s 0.24% dip.

Turning to the more exciting sectors now, it was gold shares that were at the front of the pack. The All Ordinaries Gold Index (ASX: XGD) enjoyed a 3.77% surge today.

Broader mining stocks ran hot too, with the S&P/ASX 200 Materials Index (ASX: XMJ) shooting 1.76% higher.

Energy shares continued the commodities theme for the winners. The S&P/ASX 200 Energy Index (ASX: XEJ) was lifted 0.93% by investors this Monday.

Finally, communications stocks got out unscathed, evident by the S&P/ASX 200 Communication Services Index (ASX: XTJ)'s 0.2% bump.

Top 10 ASX 200 shares countdown

Taking out the top spot this Monday was biotech company Mesoblast Ltd (ASX: MSB). Mesoblast shares exploded 10.86% higher today to close at $2.45 each.

This came after the company released some big news regarding one of its drug trials.

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.

Will the market be able to bounce back from this on Friday and end the week on a high? Here are five things to watch:

ASX 200 expected to fall

The Australian share market looks set for a poor session on Friday despite a positive night of trade in the United States. According to the latest SPI futures, the ASX 200 is expected to open 35 points or 0.4% lower this morning. In late trade on Wall Street, the Dow Jones is up 0.1%, the S&P 500 is 0.75% higher, and the Nasdaq is up 1%.

Oil prices fall

ASX 200 energy shares Santos Ltd (ASX: STO) and Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS)could have a poor finish to the week after oil prices fell overnight. According to Bloomberg, the WTI crude oil price is down 2.8% to US$80.94 a barrel and the Brent crude oil price is down 2.45% to US$86.83 a barrel. This was driven by concerns over falling demand.

Telstra shares given hold rating

Telstra Group Ltd (ASX: TLS) shares are a hold according to the team at Bell Potter. This morning, in response to the telco giant's FY 2026 result, the broker has retained its hold rating with a trimmed price target of $4.80 (from $5.10). It commented: "We have lowered the multiple we apply in our PE ratio valuation from 23.75x to 22.5x given the slightly disappointing guidance. We have also reduced the multiple we apply to the Mobile business in our sum-of-the-parts valuation from 8x to 7.75x given the potential threat/risk of increased competition, particularly if the ACCC declares one or more wholesale mobile services post the recently announced enquiry."

Gold price falls

ASX 200 gold shares including Evolution Mining Ltd (ASX: EVN) and Newmont Corporation (ASX: NEM) could have a soft finish to the week after the gold price fell overnight. According to CNBC, the gold futures price is down 1.2% to US$4,413.6 an ounce. This appears to have been driven by profit-taking from traders following a strong run.

QBE results

Insurance giant QBE Insurance Group Ltd (ASX: QBE) will be on watch on Friday when it releases its half-year results for FY 2026. QBE is guiding to a combined operating ratio of around 92.5% for FY 2026. It expects this to be supported by constant currency gross written premium growth in the mid-single digits.

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

While there are a number of ways you can go about that, my preference is to invest in quality ASX dividend stocks.

When it comes to those stocks, I prefer ASX shares that pay fully franked dividends. This gives me credit for the 30% in corporate taxes the companies I've invested in have already paid to the ATO on their profits.

With that in mind, an ASX dividend stock trading at a fully franked 5% yield is equivalent to a grossed-up yield of 7.1%.

So, you can see how that can make a big difference to that superannuation boosting passive income stream we're after.

I also lean towards ASX stocks that have a track record of making reliable dividend payouts. And companies that I believe will see their share price and dividend payouts go up over time.

Now, before we dig in, do keep in mind that the dividend yields you generally see quoted are trailing yields Future yields may be higher or lower depending on a range of company specific and macroeconomic factors.

With that said…

Three ASX dividend stocks for a $5,000 a year superannuation lift

The first company I'd look at for that welcome superannuation lift is Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS).

The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) stock ticks all of the key passive income boxes I mentioned above.

Over the last 12 months Woodside paid out two fully franked dividends totalling $1.653 per share.

At the recent Woodside share price of $31.54, that sees Woodside trading on a fully franked trailing dividend yield of 5.2%.

Next up, and with a littler diversification in mind, we have ASX 200 bank stock Westpac Banking Corp (ASX: WBC).

If you'd held Westpac shares over the last year, you would have received two fully franked dividends totalling $1.54 a share. At the recent Westpac share price of $38.73, the big four Aussie bank trades on a fully franked trailing dividend yield of 4.0%.

Which brings to our third superannuation boosting passive income stock, Evolution Mining Ltd (ASX: EVN).

With gold prices surging, Evolution Mining just lifted its interim dividend payout by a whopping 186%. And I expect this trend could have legs.

Taking into account the smaller final dividend payout, Evolution Mining has delivered 33 cents a share in fully franked dividends over the past year. At the recent share price of $13.27, the ASX 200 miner trades on a fully franked trailing dividend yield of 2.5%.

To the maths

Assuming I invest an equal amount in all three of the above ASX 200 dividend stocks, just how much will I need to lift my superannuation income by $5,000 a year?

Well, as they deliver an average yield of 3.9%, you'd need to invest $128,205 today.

Or you can always invest a smaller amount on a regular basis, and you'll reach that passive income goal in good time.

The post 3 ASX dividend stocks I'd buy for a $5,000 annual superannuation income boost appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Will the market be able to build on this on Friday and end the week on a high? Here are five things to watch:

ASX 200 expected to open flat

The Australian share market looks set for a subdued session on Friday following a poor night of trade in the United States. According to the latest SPI futures, the ASX 200 is expected to open flat this morning. In late trade on Wall Street, the Dow Jones is down 0.9%, the S&P 500 is down 0.2%, and the Nasdaq is 0.1% lower.

Oil prices jump

ASX 200 energy shares Santos Ltd (ASX: STO) and Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS) could have a good finish to the week after oil prices jumped overnight. According to Bloomberg, the WTI crude oil price is up 3.9% to US$78.12 a barrel and the Brent crude oil price is up 4.9% to US$83.32 a barrel. This follows news that Iran has published a restrictive draft plan for the Strait of Hormuz. 

Beach Energy shares given hold rating

Beach Energy Ltd (ASX: BPT) shares are a hold according to analysts at Bell Potter. This morning, in response to a mixed FY 2026 result, the broker has retained its hold rating and 95 cents price target on the energy producer's shares. It said: "BPT is focused on shifting from a production replacement cycle to building a longer term sustainable reserves position. The company is guiding to modest production growth in FY27 and relatively stable capex, enabling positive free cash flow and maintaining balance sheet strength for growth initiatives and potentially dividends. We are positive on BPT's exposure to Australian east coast gas markets (around half of sales volumes) and cautious with respect to global oil markets."

Gold price eases

ASX 200 gold shares Evolution Mining Ltd (ASX: EVN) and Newmont Corporation (ASX: NEM) could have a subdued finish to the week after the gold price eased overnight. According to CNBC, the gold futures price is down 0.2% to US$4,295.8 an ounce. This may have been driven by profit taking after strong gains this week.

ASX 200 results

Another group of ASX 200 shares will be releasing their results this morning and will be worth watching. This includes James Hardie Industries PLC (ASX: JHX), Nick Scali Limited (ASX: NCK), and ResMed Inc. (ASX: RMD). The latter is expected to report FY 2026 revenue of US$5.65 billion and earnings per share of US$11.12.

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