If you are, then it could be worth hearing about which ASX gold stocks analysts at Bell Potter are recommending to clients.

Here's what the broker is saying about two popular options:

Genesis Minerals Ltd (ASX: GMD)

This gold miner has caught the eye of Bell Potter. It thinks its shares are undervalued compared to peers, especially when you consider its strong long-term production growth outlook.

The broker has a buy rating and $9.90 price target on its shares. Based on its current share price of $6.54, this implies potential upside of 51% for investors over the next 12 months. It commented:

We remain positive on the outlook for gold, given the ongoing tensions in the Middle East which has seen the commodity recover from recent lows of ~US$4,130/oz up to spot of ~US$4,746/oz (+15% from the low, -7.9% MoM). The GDX appears to have outperformed the underlying commodity, with MoM decline of only -3.16% and a rally from the low in Mar-26 of ~23%. On a 12m forward EV/EBITDA basis GMD has contracted to ~6.2x NTM EBITDA vs its peak of ~8x in Sep-25. This places GMD slightly above Northern Star (NST, Buy TP$35) (5.1x NTM) but below Evolution (EVN, Buy TP$16.60) (7.1x NTM) in our mid-large cap gold coverage.

The upcoming (1QFY27) long-term guidance targeting 500kozpa is likely to focus on two aspects we believe: (1) development of Tower Hill and a standalone 3.5-4Mtpa mill which should offset higher cost processing at Leonora and (2) development for Lady Julie (MAU transaction) which would supplement the Laverton mill with higher grade tonnes.

Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST)

Another ASX gold stock that Bell Potter is positive on is Northern Star. While its performance has underwhelmed this year with two guidance downgrades, the broker believes management's recent buy-back is a big positive.

Bell Potter has a buy rating and $35.00 price target on the gold miner's shares. Based on its current share price of $24.48, this implies potential upside of 43% for investors.

NST announced the commencement of an on market Buy-back scheme of up to A$500m, representing ~1.6% of issued capital. The buy-back is separate from the dividend payout policy of 20-30% of cash earnings and will commence on the 23rd of April. The buy-back has minimal impact on our EPS estimates going forward, however the signalling of value in the underlying business is of more importance. As noted above, we see NST as hitting the bottom of production and earnings downgrades, with some margin compression to come from the impact of fuel prices.

The post 2 ASX gold stocks to buy next week appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

Genesis Minerals Ltd (ASX: GMD)

According to a note out of Bell Potter, its analysts have retained their buy rating and $9.90 price target on this gold miner's shares. The broker has been looking ahead to the release of its third-quarter update this month. While it is expecting a small decline in production compared to the last quarter, it is forecasting production ahead of consensus estimates. Outside this, the broker remains very positive on gold and believes Genesis Minerals would be a good way to gain exposure to it. This is especially the case given the discount its shares trade on compared to peers. The Genesis Minerals share price is trading at $6.54 this afternoon.

Goodman Group (ASX: GMG)

A note out of UBS reveals that its analysts have retained their buy rating and $33.92 price target on this industrial property company's shares. This follows news that Goodman has formed a joint venture with DataBank for its Los Angeles data centre. This will enable the launch of a new 32MW facility in the city, which is one of the most supply-constrained data centre markets in the United States. UBS is positive on the deal and believes it could generate strong profits. Overall, the broker highlights that this deal demonstrates Goodman's ability to secure partners and execute on its data centre strategy. The Goodman share price is fetching $27.89 at the time of writing.

Sigma Healthcare Ltd (ASX: SIG)

Analysts at Morgans have upgraded this pharmacy chain operator and wholesale distributor's shares to a buy rating with a $3.36 price target. According to the note, the broker believes Sigma is well-placed to deliver strong earnings growth over the medium term. This is expected to be underpinned by same store sales growth, store rollouts, and synergies from the Chemist Warehouse merger. And given recent share price weakness, it sees now as an opportune to invest. The Sigma Healthcare share price is trading at $2.72 today.

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

One ASX 200 gold stock that could be worth considering according to Bell Potter is Genesis Minerals Ltd (ASX: GMD).

In fact, the broker thinks this miner could be cheap at current levels. Let's see what it is saying about this stock.

What is the broker saying?

Bell Potter notes that it is expecting the ASX 200 gold stock to deliver production a touch ahead of consensus expectations in the third quarter.

And while this still means lower production quarter on quarter, this is due to downtime relating to a change of contractor at the Gwalia operation.

In addition, the broker is expecting only a minor impact to costs from higher diesel prices for this quarter. However, it sees potential for costs to rise in future quarters if availability issues remain. It explains:

We forecast 3Q production of ~70koz (VA 69.5koz) which implies a slight reduction on QoQ production (74koz). We had assumed some downtime/ interruptions in productivity at Gwalia due to the change over in contractors, resulting in a forecast that was more conservative. Elsewhere, we see a continuation in performance from 2Q, with total processed grade declining slightly (2.3g/t to 2.1g/t). Our internal modelling suggests a minor impact to AISC from rising diesel costs with diesel representing ~4% (A$108/oz) of AISC prior to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

Assuming a ~75% increase in diesel costs sees the impact jump to ~A$199/oz. Should availability issues persist, GMD will be impacted alongside the rest of the WA mining industry, however there may be some internal levers which GMD may be able to pull to minimize the impact, focusing on Gwalia and stockpiled material through the mill would be the starting point.

An ASX 200 gold stock offering compelling value

In light of the above, Bell Potter believes that Genesis Minerals shares offer "compelling value" at current prices.

This is especially the case give its positive view on the gold price outlook. It explains:

We remain positive on the outlook for gold, given the ongoing tensions in the Middle East which has seen the commodity recover from recent lows of ~US$4,130/oz up to spot of ~US$4,746/oz (+15% from the low, -7.9% MoM). The GDX appears to have outperformed the underlying commodity, with MoM decline of only -3.16% and a rally from the low in Mar-26 of ~23%. On a 12m forward EV/EBITDA basis GMD has contracted to ~6.2x NTM EBITDA vs its peak of ~8x in Sep-25.

This places GMD slightly above Northern Star (NST, Buy TP$35) (5.1x NTM) but below Evolution (EVN, Buy TP$16.60) (7.1x NTM) in our mid-large cap gold coverage. The upcoming (1QFY27) long-term guidance targeting 500kozpa is likely to focus on two aspects we believe: (1) development of Tower Hill and a standalone 3.5-4Mtpa mill which should offset higher cost processing at Leonora and (2) development for Lady Julie (MAU transaction) which would supplement the Laverton mill with higher grade tonnes.

According to the note, Bell Potter has put a buy rating and $9.90 price target on the ASX 200 gold stock.

Based on its current share price of $6.47, this implies potential upside of 53% for investors over the next 12 months.

The post Which cheap ASX 200 gold stock could rise over 50%? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Oil and gas prices soared while gold and other metals crumbled, impacting ASX 200 shares in different ways.

Shares in the energy sector surged 18.5% while the materials sector, which includes Australia's biggest miners, crumbled 14.1%.

Amid the upheaval for share prices, brokers reviewed their ratings and 12-month targets on a bunch of ASX stocks.

Here are some of the ASX 200 shares elevated to strong buy consensus status after last month's turmoil.

7 ASX 200 shares newly elevated to strong buy ratings

These ASX shares have just been upgraded to strong buy consensus ratings on the CommSec platform.

A consensus rating represents the average rating among analysts.

Genesis Minerals Ltd (ASX: GMD)

The Genesis Minerals share price dropped 20.7% in March alongside a steep fall in the gold price.

So far this month, the ASX 200 gold mining share is up 10.9% to $6.53 at yesterday's close.

MA Financial is among the brokers that have upgraded Genesis Minerals to a buy rating.

The broker has lifted its 12-month price target from $8.05 to $8.40.

Orica Ltd (ASX: ORI)

The Orica share price descended 17.9% in March.

So far this month, the ASX materials share is up 6.7% to $21.40.

Jefferies has reiterated its buy recommendation, but reduced its price target from $25.73 to $24.04.

Qantas Airways Ltd (ASX: QAN)

The Qantas share price fell 15.9% in March.

So far in April, the ASX 200 airline share has rebounded 8.6% to $9.09.

Jefferies has reiterated its buy rating with a price target of $12.80.

WiseTech Global Ltd (ASX: WTC)

The WiseTech Global share price declined 20% in March.

So far in April, the market's largest ASX 200 tech share is up just 1.6% to $38.62.

Morgan Stanley is buy-rated on Wisetech but has slashed its target from $100 to $70.

Xero Ltd (ASX: XRO)

The Xero share price descended 9.7% in March.

The tech share has fallen a further 2.3% in April to $73.41 at yesterday's close.

Morgan Stanley has reiterated its buy recommendation with a $130 target.

Yancoal Australia Ltd (ASX: YAL)

The Yancoal share price skyrocketed 41.5% in March, as power plants switched from gas to coal.

So far this month, the ASX 200 coal share has declined 10.3%.

Huatai Securities is buy-rated on Yancoal with a $14.40 share price target.

CAR Group Ltd (ASX: CAR)

The CAR Group share price fell 14% in March.

In April, the ASX 200 retail share is up 2.7% to $23.41.

Morgan Stanley reiterated its buy recommendation last week.

However, the broker reduced its 12-month target from $38 to $32.

The post 7 ASX 200 shares just upgraded to strong buy ratings appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

AMP Ltd (ASX: AMP)

While 2026 so far has been a series of bad news events for the AMP share price, it looks like the stock could shift course and begin soaring again over the next 12 months.

This week, AMP confirmed it will undertake an on-market buyback of up to $150 million of ordinary shares and Blair Vernon has officially stepped into the CEO role. Sentiment could well follow suit.

Analysts have a strong buy rating on AMP shares and tip a potential 33% upside to $1.75 per share, at the time of writing.

Capstone Copper Corp (ASX: CSC)

Capstone shares have crashed 40% over the past six weeks driven by rising operating costs and production disruptions. But I think rising copper prices could renew some investor confidence in the ASX copper company's shares.

Capstone has confirmed 2026 production guidance of 200,000 to 230,000 tonnes of copper at C1 cash costs of US$2.45 to US$2.75 per pound. It also expects largely stable production in 2026, with growth anticipated from Mantoverde Optimised from 2027.

Analysts tip the shares to jump 45% higher to $15.10 a piece, at the time of writing.

EVT Ltd (ASX: EVT)

EVT is an Australian provider of entertainment, hospitality, tourism, and leisure-related services in Australia, New Zealand, and Germany. The company announced it has completed $750 million in refinancing this week. 

The refinancing, together with EVT's non-core asset divestment program, is expected to give the business more financial flexibility and aid a business shift towards the hotel and accommodation sector.

Analysts tip a potential 20% upside to $15.90 a piece, at the time of writing.

Genesis Minerals Ltd (ASX: GMD)

The ASX gold stock's shares have tumbled nearly 27% over the past month after concerns about rising inflation and more interest rate hikes overshadowed gold's traditional safe-haven status.

The metal's price has tumbled from an all-time high on the 1st of March. But Genesis Minerals' has managed to maintain a strong revenue and earnings performance driven by increased production. I think as soon as gold comes back into favor, this ASX share will fly higher.

Analysts tip a potential 60% share price upside to $9.41, at the time of writing.

Newmont Corp (ASX: NEM)

Newmont is another ASX gold share which was oversold in March.

Declining gold prices have weighed heavily on the world's largest gold miner, with its share price down 19% over the course of the month. I think the stock could rebound sharply as the gold price recovers.

Analysts tip a potential 26% upside to $192.20 a piece, over the next 12 months. 

The post 5 ASX shares I'd buy with $10,000 this week appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

This optimistic session for the local markets followed a mixed start to the American trading week over on Wall Street in the early hours of this morning.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average Index (DJX: .DJI) managed to snatch a win from the jaws of defeat, rising by 0.11%.

The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC) wasn't so lucky, though, falling 0.73%.

But let's return to Australian shares now and take stock of how today's indecisiveness affected the various ASX sectors this session.

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

Gold shares have been on a multi-year tear due to a rapidly rising gold price creating exceptional earnings growth for ASX miners.

The gold price increased 65% in 2025, its greatest annual rise in more than four decades, and that came on top of a 27% gain in 2024.

The S&P/ASX All Ords Gold Index (ASX: XGD) rose 125% in 2025 and 16% in 2024, delivering investors some thrilling returns.

And then came the first real test for this magnificent period of growth.

How did 2026 begin?

The start of 2026 was amazing for ASX gold shares.

The gold price went crazy, rising 30% in less than a month on new year optimism and excitement.

The gold price soared from just over US$4,300 per ounce on 31 December to a record US$5,608 per ounce on 29 January.

ASX gold shares ascended strongly, rising 17.7% over these first few weeks of 2026.

Then came the steepest one-day fall for the gold price in more than a decade.

Gold plummeted 21% over just a few days to US$4,400 per ounce by 2 February.

The sell-off was triggered by the nomination of Kevin Warsh to be the next US Fed chair.

Warsh is known for his hawkish stance on interest rates, and investors worried he may not cut rates as fast as the market was hoping.

Higher-for-longer interest rates are a headwind for the gold price, given that gold is a non-yielding asset.

The Warsh nomination led to a fall in the gold price, followed by panic selling as investors sought to lock in their incredible gains.

ASX gold shares followed suit. The S&P/ASX All Ords Gold Index (ASX: XGD) fell 12.4% between 29 January and 2 February.

Despite the late-month sell-off, ASX gold shares managed an 11% net gain over the month of January.

ASX gold shares recover, then crash even harder

The gold price rebounded in February, rising to about US$5,300 per ounce by month's end.

ASX gold shares also rose by 4.7%.

Then came the war.

On 28 February (US time), Israel and the US attacked Iran, claiming they did so to destroy Iran's nuclear weapons capabilities.

That saw the gold price tank, and ASX gold shares went with it.

Trading Economics analysts say the gold price has experienced its worst monthly fall in March since October 2008, down about 13%.

ASX gold shares have followed the trend, diving 23.7% this month.

The analysts said:

The precious metal faced sustained pressure this month from an oil-driven inflation shock that pushed investors and policymakers toward a more hawkish stance on interest rates.

Meanwhile, Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell said long-term US inflation expectations appeared to remain anchored despite heightened uncertainties tied to the conflict.

He added that the central bank's policy stance is well positioned to allow officials to assess the economic impact of the Iran war.

1Q CY26 performance

The ASX All Ords Gold Index finished the first quarter down 10.1%.

Let's take a look at some specific ASX gold shares and their performance over the March quarter.

The market's largest ASX gold share, Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST) fell 16.7% over the quarter to close at $20.36 today.

The Evolution Mining Ltd (ASX: EVN) share price edged 0.5% lower over the quarter to $12.62 today.

Newmont Corporation CDI (ASX: NEM) shares managed a 0.3% gain over 1Q CY26 to $151.55 today.

The Greatland Resources Ltd (ASX: GGP) share price rose 7.4% over the quarter to $11.34 on Tuesday.

Ramelius Resources Ltd (ASX: RMS) shares declined 13.2% to close out the March quarter at $3.67.

Perseus Mining Ltd (ASX: PRU) shares weakened 8.7% over the quarter to finish at $5.15 today.

Genesis Minerals Ltd (ASX: GMD) shares decreased 19.3% over the quarter to $5.89 today.

Westgold Resources Ltd (ASX: WGX) shares fell 8.7% over the quarter to $5.89 today.

The Regis Resources Ltd (ASX: RRL) share price lost 12.8% to finish the March quarter at $6.65.

The post ASX gold shares tumble as bull run faces its first big test in 1Q CY26 appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

In early afternoon trade on Tuesday, the ASX 200 is up 0.4%, having given back earlier intraday gains of 1.6%.

The gold miners' strong rally is coming off the boil as well, though ASX gold shares are still outpacing the benchmark. At the time of writing, the S&P/ASX All Ordinaries Gold Index (ASX: XGD) is up 2.6% after having been up 5.3% in morning trade.

Here's how these ASX 200 gold stocks are performing at this same time:

• Northern Star shares are up 2.0% at $17.55
• Newmont Corp (ASX: NEM) shares are up 4.8% at $138.10
• Evolution Mining shares are up 3.1% at $11.86
• Ramelius Resources Ltd (ASX: RMS) shares are up 3.3% at $3.42
• Bellevue Gold Ltd (ASX: BGL) shares are up 0.4% at $1.26
• Genesis Minerals Ltd (ASX: GMD) shares are up 6.3% at $5.69
• Perseus Mining Ltd (ASX: PRU) shares are up 2.4% at $4.67
• Vault Minerals Ltd (ASX: VAU) shares are up 2.1% at $3.69
• Westgold Resources Ltd (ASX: WGX) shares are up 3.1% at $5.18
• Ora Banda Mining Ltd (ASX: OBM) shares are down 1.0% at $1.04

Boom!

With the exception of Ora Banda, here's why the Aussie gold miners are outperforming today.

ASX 200 gold stocks rally on Trump's Iran reprieve

After getting hammered throughout most of March following the outbreak of the Iran war on 28 February, ASX 200 gold stocks like Evolution Mining and Northern Star are rallying today amid hopes that the conflict could end sooner than later.

This comes after United States President Donald Trump extended his 48-hour deadline to begin bombing Iranian power plants if Iran doesn't fully reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

Trump offered a five-day reprieve, saying the US is in talks with Iran. An assertion that Iranian authorities have denied.

As you'll have noticed at the petrol station, the oil price has rocketed since the start of the war, with Iran all but closing the vital shipping route in retaliation.

Indeed, on Friday, Brent crude oil was trading north of US$112 per barrel, according to data from Bloomberg.

But the oil price plunged almost 11% overnight, briefly dipping below US$100 per barrel, and is currently trading at US$102.76 per barrel following Trump's comments.

And should the US succeed in reopening the Strait of Hormuz, which carries around 20% of the world's oil shipments, Trump predicted that the oil price would "drop like a rock".

Why is that important for ASX 200 gold stocks like Northern Star, Newmont, and Evolution Mining?

Mostly because soaring energy costs will rekindle global inflation and, in turn, lead to higher interest rates. And gold, which pays no yield itself, historically struggles in high or rising interest rate environments.

Stay tuned!

The post Why ASX 200 gold stocks like Northern Star and Evolution Mining are storming higher today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

In morning trade, the ASX 200 is down 1.6%.

But the gold miners are doing it much tougher today as witnessed by the 7.1% decline in the S&P/ASX All Ordinaries Gold Index (ASX: XGD).

Here's how some of the top ASX 200 gold stock are performing at this same time:

• Northern Star shares are down 7.0% at $19.48
• Newmont shares are down 4.9% at $147.69
• Evolution Mining Ltd (ASX: EVN) shares are down 7.0% at $12.56
• Ramelius Resources Ltd(ASX: RMS) shares are down 8.7% at $3.69
• Bellevue Gold Ltd (ASX: BGL) shares are down 9.4% at $1.46
• Genesis Minerals Ltd (ASX: GMD) shares are down 9.1% at $5.61
• Perseus Mining Ltd (ASX: PRU) shares are down 6.6% at $4.84
• Vault Minerals Ltd (ASX: VAU) shares are down 8.6% at $4.23
• Westgold Resources Ltd (ASX: WGX) shares are down 7.8% at $5.69
• Ora Banda Mining Ltd (ASX: OBM) shares are down 9.4% at $1.35

Ouch!

Here's what's got investors reaching for their sell buttons.

ASX 200 gold stocks in the crosshairs

After enjoying a tremendous run through to the beginning of March this year, ASX 200 gold stocks like Northern Star and Newmont have come under selling pressure amid a sizeable retrace in the record setting gold price.

On 2 March, gold was trading for US$5,322 per ounce. Today, that same ounce is trading for US$4,834, according to data from Bloomberg. That sees the gold price down more than 9% this month.

This comes as the oil price heads the other direction. Brent crude oil is trading or US$107 per barrel today, up 38% since 2 March.

And it matters for two reasons.

First, this divergence in the two commodity prices is driving a rotation from ASX 200 gold stocks into ASX 200 energy stocks.

Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS) shares, for example, are up 4.5% today, while rival Santos Ltd (ASX: STO) shares are up 2.8%.

The other reason the gold price – and gold miners like Newmont, Northern Star and Evolution Mining – are taking a steep hit is that fast rising energy prices look likely to fuel inflation.

The Middle East conflict and its impact on global oil prices was cited by Fed officials yesterday when the US central bank opted to keep interest rates on hold. On Tuesday, the RBA also mentioned rising energy costs after it opted to increase interest rates in Australia.

And gold, which pays no yield itself and is priced in US dollars, tends to do better in a low or falling rate environment.

The bigger picture

Longer-term investors in most ASX 200 gold stocks should still be sitting on outsized gains.

Despite today's big retrace, the ASX All Ords Gold Index remains up 55.4% over 12 months.

The post Why are ASX 200 gold stocks like Northern Star and Newmont down so much today? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

The gold price rose to record highs, and along with it, many ASX gold shares. 

These companies also benefited from its position as a safe-haven asset.

Tariff fears, geopolitical uncertainty and global conflicts influenced investors decisions to push towards safe-haven assets like gold. 

Leading the way in 2025 were: 

• Pantoro Gold Ltd (ASX: PNR) rose 220%
• Resolute Mining Ltd (ASX: RSG) shares climbed 206%
• Regis Resources Ltd (ASX: RRL) share price roared 196% 
• Genesis Minerals Ltd (ASX: GMD) shares increased 194%
• Perseus Mining Ltd (ASX: PRU), up 121%

Among the largest gold mining companies: 

• Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST) rose by 73% in 2025.
• Evolution Mining Ltd (ASX: EVN) shares climbed 164%
• Newmont Corporation CDI (ASX: NEM) shares increased 152%.

What is happening in 2026?

According to Trading Economics, gold prices have climbed more than 16% year to date. 

Although the continuing conflict in the Middle East has influenced volatility.

Despite global gold prices rising, many of these red hot ASX gold shares have stumbled in 2026. 

Let's look how the best performing shares from last year are tracking so far in 2026. 

The only one in the positive at the time of writing is Resolute Mining Ltd (ASX: RSG) which is up 12.9%. 

The other four: 

• Pantoro Gold Ltd (ASX: PNR) down 26% 
• Regis Resources Ltd (ASX: RRL) down 7.4%
• Genesis Minerals Ltd (ASX: GMD) down almost 15%
• Perseus Mining Ltd (ASX: PRU) has fallen 7.4%

Among the largest gold mining companies, since the start of 2026, Evolution Mining Ltd (ASX: EVN) is up 7% and Newmont Corporation CDI (ASX: NEM) is up 3%, while Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST) is down 15%. 

What does this tell us?

There's more that influences gold miners and producers than just the global commodity price. 

Gold miners and producers are influenced not just by the global gold price but also by operational performance, including production costs, mine efficiency, and reserves. 

Exploration success and new discoveries can boost a miner's value, while project delays or cost overruns can hurt it. 

Regulatory, environmental, and political risks in mining jurisdictions can affect production and investor confidence. 

Finally, currency fluctuations, interest rates, and investor sentiment in equity markets also play a significant role in share price movements.

Global diversity with gold ASX ETFS

For investors looking to gain exposure to gold shares, without selecting specific companies, may benefit from more diverse gold ETFs. 

These funds can spread the risk across more than just Australian gold miners. 

Some options include: 

• Etfs Metal Securities Australia – Etfs Physical Gold (ASX: GOLD) – Tracks the price of physical gold with bullion held in London vaults.
• BetaShares Global Gold Miners ETF – Currency Hedged (ASX: MNRS) – comprises the largest global gold mining companies (ex-Australia), hedged into Australian dollars.
• VanEck Vectors Gold Miners ETF (ASX: GDX) – Provides exposure to a basket of global and Australian gold mining companies rather than the metal itself.

Alternatively, here are emerging ASX gold companies UBS has picked as winners. 

The post Which ASX gold shares have risen the most in 2026? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

After starting strong this morning, the ASX 200 took a brief dip into negative territory in afternoon trading. But investors' feet warmed back up by the time the markets closed, with the index lifting 0.36% to 8,614.3 points.

This happier trading session came after a bullish start to the American trading week in the early hours of this morning.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average Index (DJX: .DJI) rose by an optimistic 0.83%.

The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC) fared even better, gaining a solid 1.22%.

But let's return to the ASX now and take stock of how the various ASX sectors enjoyed (or not) today's renewed sense of optimism.

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

In late morning trade on Friday, the Northern Star share price is down 5.7% at $27.69. That sees Northern Star shares down 13.7% since Monday's close.

Evolution Mining shares are down 4.3% at the time of writing, changing hands for $15.05 apiece. This puts the Evolution Mining share price down 14.8% since Monday's close.

For some context, the ASX 200 is down 3.2% since the closing bell on Monday.

Here's how these other top ASX 200 gold stocks have performed over this same time:

• Newmont Corp (ASX: NEM) shares are down 11.5%
• Ramelius Resources Ltd(ASX: RMS) shares are down 10.0%
• Bellevue Gold Ltd (ASX: BGL) shares are down 11.7%
• Genesis Minerals Ltd (ASX: GMD) shares are down 9.0%
• Perseus Mining Ltd (ASX: PRU) shares are down 8.3%
• Vault Minerals Ltd (ASX: VAU) shares are down 13.2%
• Westgold Resources Ltd (ASX: WGX) shares are down 12.5%
• Ora Banda Mining Ltd (ASX: OBM) shares are down 3.2%

Why are ASX 200 gold stocks getting smashed despite gold's haven status?

In times of global uncertainty, investors often turn to gold as a relatively safe store of wealth.

And, indeed, on Monday, the gold price spiked to US$5,322 per ounce following the United States and Israel's military strikes on Iran. This, in turn, saw most ASX 200 gold stocks post outsized gains on Monday.

But over the following days, the gold price went into reverse.

The yellow metal is currently fetching US$5,094 per ounce, down 4.3% over the past four days.

"Gold's sell-off this week is a reminder to investors that even with rising demand for safe havens, the ultimate safe haven asset isn't immune if market forces work against it," Josh Gilbert, market analyst at eToro, said.

One of those market forces is the rapidly changing outlook for the prospect of interest rate cuts from the US Federal Reserve, the Reserve Bank of Australia, and a host of other prominent central banks.

That's because the sharp spike in oil prices (Brent crude is up 18% this week, trading at US$85.40 per barrel) is likely to fuel inflation worldwide. And gold tends to underperform in high or rising rate environments.

Fewer (or no) further interest rate cuts from the US Fed will also aid the already strengthening US dollar. And with the gold price in US dollars, that throws up additional headwinds for the yellow metal, as well as ASX 200 gold stocks.

According to Gilbert:

We're seeing similarities to what we saw in 2022. When Russia invaded Ukraine, oil prices surged, inflation spiked globally, and the Fed responded by hiking rates aggressively, which strengthened the dollar and sent gold lower for much of that year…

The physical gold market is also facing real disruption. The UAE, one of the world's most important regions for the global gold trade, closed its airspace over the weekend.

There are other forces pressuring the gold price as well.

As we've seen during other market pullbacks, traders have been selling off their gold holdings to meet margin calls, adding more gold supply to the market just as demand is dipping.

"This hints strongly at 'good for bad' activity in markets, where traders need to cover loss-making positions elsewhere by booking profits on their hitherto profitable trades," National Australia Bank Ltd (ASX: NAB) head of FX strategy Ray Attrill said (quoted by The Australian Financial Review).

Now what?

As for what's ahead for the likes of Northern Star and Evolution Mining, it's worth noting that the vast majority of ASX gold shares are still well into the green over the longer term.

S&P/ASX All Ordinaries Gold Index (ASX: XGD) – which also contains some smaller miners outside of ASX 200 gold stocks – remains up 95.7% since this time last year.

"The structural case for gold hasn't changed," Gilbert said.

He noted:

Central banks have been buying at a historic pace for three consecutive years, concerns around fiscal deficits remain firmly in place, and the geopolitical backdrop is arguably more uncertain now than at any point this year. Gold is still up almost 20% year to date, and with the conflict in the Middle East not seemingly letting up for now, buyers may not be gone for too long.

The post If gold is a safe haven, why are ASX 200 gold stocks like Northern Star and Evolution Mining getting smashed this week? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Resolute Mining Ltd (ASX: RSG)

With a 279.75% annual increase over the past 12 months, at the time of writing, Resolute Mining shares are the fifth strongest performers on the ASX 200 Index. Its gains far outpace the index, which has risen 9.94% over the same period.

In early morning trade on Thursday, the ASX 200 mining stock is down 1.64% and changing hands at $1.50 a piece. Despite today's drop, the shares are still 22.45% higher for the year to date.

The gold producers' shares have shot higher over the past year on the back of record-high gold prices and a significant increase in the company's gold production figures. 

And analysts are bullish that it'll continue over the next year, too. They have a consensus buy rating on the ASX 200 mining stock with a maximum target price of $2.47. That implies the shares could jump another 64.23% in the next 12 months.

Predictive Discovery Ltd (ASX: PDI)

Predictive Discovery is another strong performer over the past 12 months. Its shares have stormed 185.82% higher, making it the eighth strongest annual performer on the ASX 200 Index.

At the time of writing on Thursday morning, the shares are down 1.8% at $0.9575 per share. For the year to date, they're 30.27% higher.

The company is another gold miner that has enjoyed reaping the benefits of the surging gold price. Its production numbers are expected to increase this year as well, with the miner actively developing gold deposits in Guinea's Siguiri Basin.

Analysts have a consensus buy rating on the ASX 200 mining stock. The maximum target price is $1.70 per share, which implies a potential 78.57% upside at the time of writing.

Genesis Minerals Ltd (ASX: GMD)

Genesis is another ASX 200 gold mining company to storm higher over the past year. Its shares are now 135.17% higher over the past 12 months.

At the time of writing, the stock is trading 1.52% lower at $7.455 a piece. However, it's still 1.99% higher for the year to date.

The company recently posted a strong half-year FY26 result and also announced it has signed an agreement to acquire Magnetic Resources NL (ASX: MAU) for $639 million. 

Analysts are mostly bullish on the stock, with 10 out of 13 holding a buy or strong buy rating. The maximum target price is $13, which implies a potential 75.56% upside at the time of writing. 

The post 3 ASX 200 mining stocks tipped to jump over 60% in the next 12 months appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

That leaves the index right on yet another record high of 9,200.9 points.

This volatile start to the trading week for Australian investors follows a decidedly negative finish to the American trading week on Saturday morning (our time).

The Dow Jones Industrial Average Index (DJX: .DJI) finished its week on a low note, sinking 1.05%.

The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC) was in a similar boat, dropping 0.92%.

But let's return to this week and the local markets now with a look at how the different ASX sectors handled today's temperamental trading conditions.

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

In morning trade on Tuesday, Northern Star shares are up 4.4% to $30.57 each. Evolution Mining shares are close behind, up 4% today at $16.20 apiece.

For some context, the ASX 200 is up 0.2% at this same time while the S&P/ASX All Ordinaries Gold Index (ASX: XGD) – which also contains some smaller gold miners outside of the ASX 200 – is up 2.5%.

Here's how these other top ASX 200 gold stocks are performing on Tuesday:

• Newmont Corp (ASX: NEM) shares are up 0.7%
• Ramelius Resources Ltd(ASX: RMS) shares are up 3.7%
• Bellevue Gold Ltd (ASX: BGL) shares are up 0.8%
• Genesis Minerals Ltd (ASX: GMD) shares are up 1.3%
• Perseus Mining Ltd (ASX: PRU) shares are up 1.2%
• Vault Minerals Ltd (ASX: VAU) shares are up 2.6%
• Westgold Resources Ltd (ASX: WGX) shares are up 2.7%
• Ora Banda Mining Ltd (ASX: OBM) shares are up 1.3%

Here's what's catching ASX investor interest today.

Why are ASX 200 gold stocks smashing the benchmark today?

Investors are piling into Aussie gold miners like Evolution Mining and Northern Star shares today amid renewed concerns over US President Donald Trump's global tariff plans.

With the US Supreme Court striking down Trump's earlier nation-by-nation tariffs as exceeding his authority, Trump now aims to level a potential 15% tariff on every nation for up to 150 days.

That's played into gold's haven status, with the yellow metal jumping early this morning to US$5,248 per ounce. At the time of writing, gold is fetching US$5,481 per ounce. This sees the gold price up 12.5% from the recent lows on 2 February and up a blistering 80% since this time last year.

And, as you'd expect, with higher gold prices, ASX 200 gold stocks tend to deliver juicier profits, which is driving investor interest in Aussie miners today.

What the experts are saying about the gold price

Commenting on the resurgent gold price that's sending Northern Star and Evolution Mining shares soaring today, Bloomberg markets strategist Mark Cranfield said:

Gold's strength amid a lower positioning from hedge funds shows that there's further position upside. The Commodity Futures Trading Commission data shows that the net-long position for gold futures have fallen to the lowest level in nearly a year.

Vasu Menon, strategist at Oversea-Chinese Banking Corp, also has a bullish medium-term outlook for the gold price. But he cautioned about short-term volatility, which could also see some price swings in ASX 200 gold stocks.

According to Menon:

There are enough structural factors in favour of gold in the medium term. In the short term, however, expect gold prices to be volatile after the sharp gains in recent months given still-unfolding developments with US trade policy, and the situation in Iran.

The post Why are ASX 200 gold stocks like Evolution Mining and Northern Star shares going gangbusters on Tuesday? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

After a strong start at market open, the ASX 200 fell into negative territory mid-morning and never recovered, closing down a hefty 0.61%. That leaves the index at a flat 9,026 points.

This painful start to the trading week for the Australian markets comes after a far rosier end to the American trading week on Saturday morning (our time).

The Dow Jones Industrial Average Index (DJX: .DJI) was in fine form, cruising 0.47% higher.

The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC) did one better, gaining 0.9%.

But let's get back to this week and the local markets now, though, for a deeper dive into what was happening amongst the various ASX sectors this session.

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

Three top ASX shares that leading brokers have named as buys this week are listed below. Here's why they are bullish on them:

Genesis Minerals Ltd (ASX: GMD)

According to a note out of Bell Potter, its analysts have retained its buy rating and $9.90 price target on this gold miner's shares. This follows the release of a solid half-year result last week. In addition, it highlights that the company has signed an agreement to acquire Magnetic Resources NL (ASX: MAU) for $639 million. The broker believes this deal puts the company on a path to growing production to 500,000 ounces per annum, which is almost double its current production. Overall, the broker is a big fan of the company and points out that it is a high-quality gold producer with expanding production underpinned by a large mineral resource portfolio in a rising gold price environment. The Genesis Minerals share price is trading at $7.20 on Monday.

Guzman Y Gomez Ltd (ASX: GYG)

A note out of Macquarie reveals that its analysts have retained their outperform rating on this quick service restaurant operator's shares with a trimmed price target of $27.30. This follows the release of a half-year result that fell short of consensus estimates due to another poor performance in the United States market. Macquarie believes the long-term outlook for the Australian business is positive but concedes that there is uncertainty for the US business. But it isn't overly concerned, noting that management has the option for closing the business if the losses continue. As a result, it feels that recent share price weakness has created a buying opportunity for investors. The Guzman Y Gomez share price is fetching $19.25 at the time of writing.

Megaport Ltd (ASX: MP1)

Analysts at Morgans have retained their buy rating on this network-as-a-service provider's shares with a trimmed price target of $15.50. According to the note, the broker was pleased with Megaport's performance in the first half. It highlights that its EBITDA was ahead of both consensus and its own expectations. In addition, although management has reaffirmed its guidance for FY 2026, it thinks that this could be conservative given its lower than expected costs. The Megaport share price is trading at $8.06 on Monday afternoon.

The post Leading brokers name 3 ASX shares to buy today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

That's because if Bell Potter is on the money with its recommendation, this gold miner's shares could provide big returns over the next 12 months.

Which ASX 200 gold stock?

The gold stock that Bell Potter is bullish on is Genesis Minerals Ltd (ASX: GMD). It is a gold miner focused on the prolific Leonora District in Western Australia.

Bell Potter was pleased with its half-year results, noting that its revenue and earnings were largely in line with expectations. It said:

Highlights of GMD's 1HFY26 financial result include: Revenue of A$820m, a 142% increase vs PcP (BPe A$814m & VA A$814m); COGS were A$371m, an 85% increase vs PcP, as production ramped up across the two production centres. Costs were mildly ahead of our estimates and consensus after adjusting for depreciation and amortisation; EBITDA in the first half was A$430m (BPe A$441m, VA A$430m). NPAT was A$238m, a 4x increase on the PcP of $59.8m, driven by a higher achieved gold price and increased production. The result was largely in line with our estimate and ~2% below consensus.

The other big news is that the ASX 200 gold stock has signed an agreement to acquire Magnetic Resources NL (ASX: MAU) for $639 million. Bell Potter points out that this deal puts the company on a production pathway to 500,000 ounces per annum. This compares to its current guidance for FY 2026 of 260,000 ounces to 290,000 ounces. The broker said:

The acquisition adds 2.2Moz in Resources (acquisition cost A$290/oz Resource). The acquisition brings potentially higher-grade inventories into the Laverton mill (~20km away), helping lift production and supplementing lower grade ounces from Jupiter. The long-term growth guidance update has been pushed back, with management now targeting 1QFY27 (previously 2HFY26). A statement was made on mill expansion capacity targets of between 3.5-4.0Mtpa at Tower Hill, whether this supplements the existing Leonora mill (1.4Mtpa) or replaces it is uncertain.

Time to buy

According to the note, the broker has retained its buy rating and $9.90 price target on the ASX 200 gold stock.

Based on its current share price of $6.87, this implies potential upside of 44% for investors over the next 12 months.

Commenting on its buy recommendation, Bell Potter said:

We maintain our TP of $9.90 and Buy recommendation. We believe GMD to be a high-quality gold producer, expanding production underpinned by a large Mineral Resource portfolio (21.0Moz pending completion of MAU transaction), into a rising gold price environment.

The post Why this growing ASX 200 gold stock could rise 40% appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

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

A2 Milk Company Ltd (ASX: A2M)

The A2 Milk share price is up 4.5% to $8.90. Investors have been buying this infant formula company's shares following the release of its half-year results. A2 Milk delivered a strong first-half performance and upgraded its guidance for FY 2026. With respect to the latter, management now expects revenue growth in the mid double-digit percentage range (from low double-digits) compared to FY 2025 continuing operations. A2 Milk's managing director and CEO, David Bortolussi, said: "Our upgraded outlook means we are now on track to achieve our $2 billion medium term sales ambition in FY26, a full year ahead of plan. This is testament to the execution of our team and the strength of the a2 brand."

Aurizon Holdings Ltd (ASX: AZJ)

The Aurizon Holdings share price is up 6% to $3.81. This has been driven by the release of the rail freight operator's half-year results this morning. Aurizon reported a 16% increase in net profit after tax to $237 million. This allowed the company to increase its 90%-franked interim dividend by 36% to 12.5 cents per share. Aurizon's managing director and CEO, Andrew Harding, said: "Today's results underscore the strength of Aurizon's two largest business units, Network and Coal and the continued growth of Bulk and Containerised Freight."

JB Hi-Fi Ltd (ASX: JBH)

The JB Hi-Fi share price is up almost 7% to $81.81. The catalyst for this has been the release of the retail giant's half-year results. JB Hi-Fi revealed a 7.3% increase in total sales to $6.1 billion and a 7.1% lift in net profit after tax to $305.8 million. Management advised that its focus on value supported its performance. JB Hi-Fi's CEO, Nick Wells, said: "We are pleased to report record sales and strong earnings for HY26, as we built on the momentum of the previous year. In a retail environment where customers are seeking value, our brands continue to resonate strongly and our teams continue to execute to a high standard."

Magnetic Resources NL (ASX: MAU)

The Magnetic Resources share price is up 27% to $2.03. This follows news that the gold explorer has received and accepted a takeover offer from Genesis Minerals Ltd (ASX: GMD). Magnetic shareholders will receive $1.40 cash and 0.0873 new Genesis shares for every share they own. This implies a value of $2.00 per share and values Magnetic Resources at ~$639 million. Genesis executive chair, Raleigh Finlayson, said: "This transaction creates substantial value for both groups of shareholders, delivering genuine synergies while combining the right assets with the right people. Magnetic's Lady Julie Gold Project will add more than 2Moz at an attractive high grade to Genesis' Laverton inventory, further bolstering the mine life and production outlook."

The post Why A2 Milk, Aurizon, JB Hi-Fi, and Magnetic Resources shares are storming higher today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.