Canaccord Genuity has just released a research report looking into the sectors which tend to do well, and those that tend to suffer as interest rates increase.

Interest rate increase all but certain

The broking house said in its report that expectations for an interest rate hike had increased sharply over the past few months due to persistently high inflation, exacerbated by rising oil prices due to the conflict in the Middle East.

CG added:

The RBA is now very likely to hike the cash rate by 25bps later this month, and markets are also pricing in one to two further hikes beyond September. While accumulating evidence of a slowing economy may allow the RBA to hold rates after September, the policy outlook is nevertheless materially more restrictive than envisaged this time last year.

The broking house said upward pressure on interest rates, a deteriorating consumer backdrop, a softer housing market and slowing economic growth all presented headwinds for Australian shares from a valuation and earnings perspective.

They added:

These pressures have contributed to a ~5% pullback in the ASX 200 since early August, with outsized declines across the rate-sensitive Retail (-18%) and Real Estate (-13%) sectors, as well as growth sectors such as IT (-14%).

CG said the sectors with the strongest negative correlations with interest rates included real estate, retail and information technology.

CG added:

Recent trading updates have pointed to a softening consumer backdrop, with names such as JB Hi-Fi Ltd (ASX: JBH) reporting negative top-line growth in early FY27. Wesfarmers Ltd (ASX: WES) has also shown a negative correlation with short-term rates, consistent with its exposure to discretionary household spending and its sensitivity to the housing market through its Bunnings franchise.

CG said online classifieds companies such as Seek Ltd (ASX: SEK) and REA Group Ltd (ASX: REA) have in the past shown strong negative correlations with rate increases, which, "partly reflects the degree of cyclicality in their earnings, being tied to job ads and property listings, respectively, as well as the valuation impact of higher long-term yields on growth-orientated companies''.

Infrastructure owners such as Transurban Group Ltd (ASX: TCL) and APA Group Ltd (ASX: APA) were also sensitive to rate increases due to their reliance on debt funding.

Small ray of hope in energy

On the positive side of the ledger, CG said energy stood out as the one sector with a clear positive correlation, "with changes in both short-end rates and longer-term yields over the past three years''.

The post Where to invest as interest rates charge higher appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

But you don't have to let it sit idly in the meantime.

Instead, you can invest your superannuation balance and generate a regular source of passive income for when you've stopped working.

But exactly how much passive income could a $800,000 superannuation balance generate each year?

Let's investigate.

How much passive income can I generate from an $800,000 superannuation balance?

To calculate the potential passive income from an $800,000 superannuation balance, you need to multiply your total balance by the dividend yield of your portfolio.

It's a simple calculation, but the problem is that the answer varies depending on the yield of the stocks you pick.

For example, a 3% yielding portfolio needs to be twice the size of one that yields 6% to earn the same passive income.

Which also means that as your dividend yield increases, the passive income you can earn from your $8000,000 superannuation balance climbs higher. 

Here's a breakdown by yield. These figures are based on cash dividends before tax or franking credits. 

What can I earn from a 3% to 4% yielding portfolio?

If your superannuation portfolio has a dividend yield of around 3%, your passive income will be around $24,000 per year, because $800,000 x 3% = $24,000.

If your portfolio yields closer to 4%, your passive income could be closer to $32,000 every year ($800,000 x 4% = $32,000).

Major miners like BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP) and Rio Tinto Ltd (ASX: RIO) yield around this level. As do banking giant Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA) and conglomerate Wesfarmers Ltd (ASX: WES).

What passive income can I earn if my superannuation portfolio yields 5% or 6%?

If your superannuation portfolio yields closer to 5%, you could earn $40,000 every year in dividend payments off the same superannuation balance ($800,000 x 5% = $40,000).

At a 6% yield, you could earn an annual passive income closer to $48,000.

Classic dividend stocks like APA Group (ASX: APA), Transurban Group (ASX: TCL), and JB Hi-Fi Ltd (ASX: JBH) all pay around this level.

What about a portfolio yielding much higher, around 7% or 8%?

But if your portfolio has a slightly higher dividend yield of around 7% or 8%, your passive income will go up again to around $56,000 or $64,000, respectively.

Again, it's possible to buy shares around this level, but there are fewer options.

Solvar Ltd (ASX: SVR), Waypoint REIT Ltd (ASX: WPR), and HomeCo Daily Needs REIT (ASX: HDN) all pay around this yield at the time of writing.

Is it possible to invest in ASX shares yielding 10% or higher?

It's possible, but generally, the higher the yield, the higher the volatility and risk associated with the stock. 

If high yield and high risk are what you're after, at a 10% yield, a $800,000 balance could earn around $80,000.

You could invest in ASX-listed stocks such as Tower Ltd (ASX: TWR) or Kina Securities Ltd (ASX: KSL). Another option is to invest your superannuation in a high-yielding exchange-traded fund (ETF), such as the VanEck MSCI International Value ETF (ASX: VLUE) or the VanEck Gold Miners ETF (ASX: GDX). These all yield 10% or more at the time of writing.

The post How much passive income can I earn off an $800,000 superannuation balance? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

With all of the above in mind, it's not surprising that some interest rate-sensitive ASX shares are down (close) to their 52-week lows.

Below are two of my favourites right now at a low point.

Centuria Industrial REIT (ASX: CIP)

Interest rates act like gravity on property prices – when rates go down, interest costs fall, and property values are likely to rise. The reverse is also true. With interest rates anticipated to rise this year, the market has pushed the Centuria Industrial REIT share price down 20% in the past year to a 52-week low.

This business owns a portfolio of industrial properties across Australia. I think it's appealing to be able to buy a slice of so many properties in just a single transaction.

Property values do change over time, and it's hard to know exactly what the ASX share's property portfolio is worth without actually going to sell it, which the business isn't going to do.

However, we can look at the REIT's distribution as a way to see how attractive it is.

The business grew its annual distribution by 3% in FY26 and expects to grow its payout by another 3% to 17.3 cents per unit. That's a forward distribution yield of 6.1%. To me, that's an excellent yield from a business like this.

When rates do eventually come down, I think this valuation could make it seem like a cheap ASX share.

JB Hi-Fi Ltd (ASX: JBH)

JB Hi-Fi is another name that has seen a sell-off. The JB Hi-Fi share price has dropped 44% in the past year, and it's now close to its 52-week low.

Inflation of living costs and higher interest rates are already causing headwinds, and investors are feeling negative. I think it's been heavily oversold.

For July 2026 (the first month of FY27), the business provided a sales update showing total sales dropped 0.5% for JB Hi-Fi Australia and declined 1.7% for The Good Guys. Positively, JB Hi-Fi New Zealand's sales growth was 20.9%.

At this stage, sales are only slightly down in Australia.

I believe JB Hi-Fi Australia is well-placed to serve customers with its scale benefits, very competitively priced products, a wide product range, a productive sales floor, and an expanding network of locations in Australia and New Zealand.  

Using the projection on CommSec, the JB Hi-Fi share price is valued at under 15 times FY27's estimated earnings, with earnings growth projected in FY28 and FY29. That makes it look like a cheap ASX share to me.

The post 2 cheap ASX shares near 52-week lows I'd buy today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

The S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Discretionary Index (ASX: XDJ) is down 0.4% to 3,477 points in late morning trade.

This means the sector has now fallen almost 13% in 2026 and 23% over the past year.

It just shows how quickly sentiment towards retail stocks has changed this year.

And Morgan Stanley still sees plenty to worry about from here.

Why is Morgan Stanley still cautious?

According to The Australian, Morgan Stanley has taken another look at the retail sector following the latest reporting season.

And the broker is still cautious about FY27, even after the falls we've already seen across retail stocks.

Analyst Melinda Baxter and her colleagues said "discretionary stocks have de-rated, but earnings risks remain".

Consumer spending held up better than Morgan Stanley expected through FY26, but the broker still sees some risks ahead for households.

There are a few reasons for that.

The RBA has lifted the cash rate 3 times this year, taking it to 4.35%.

Many mortgage holders are now paying more on their loans than they were at the start of 2026.

Consumer confidence has taken another hit as well.

The Westpac-Melbourne Institute Consumer Sentiment Index fell 5.2% to 84.4 in September.

Westpac said petrol prices had moved back above $2 a litre, while concerns about another RBA rate hike were weighing on households.

The housing market has also started going backwards.

National home prices fell 0.2% in August, marking a fifth consecutive monthly decline from their March peak.

Morgan Stanley thinks all of this could make shoppers a little more careful about where they spend their money.

The broker expects consumers to focus more on value, replacement purchases and promotions as household budgets get tighter.

Which ASX shares does Morgan Stanley prefer?

Morgan Stanley isn't negative on every retailer, but it has still cut price targets across its discretionary retail coverage.

Wesfarmers Ltd (ASX: WES) was one of the few stocks to get some good news.

The Bunnings and Kmart owner was upgraded from underweight to equal-weight, with Morgan Stanley pointing to its more stable margins.

Wesfarmers shares are up 0.39% to $73.15 today.

Harvey Norman Holdings Ltd (ASX: HVN) went the other way.

Morgan Stanley downgraded the stock from equal-weight to underweight, pointing to its franchise model and exposure to the housing market.

Harvey Norman shares are down 0.96% to $4.13 in Friday trade.

The broker also remains cautious on JB Hi-Fi Ltd (ASX: JBH) and Super Retail Group Ltd (ASX: SUL).

Morgan Stanley has kept both stocks at underweight, with the shares trading at $65.77 and $12.37, respectively.

The post ASX retail shares are down 13% in 2026. Here's what Morgan Stanley is worried about appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

If you're an Aussie investor eyeing retail stocks for dependable dividends, JB Hi-Fi Ltd (ASX: JBH) and Harvey Norman Holdings Ltd (ASX: HVN) quickly spring to mind. Both are household names selling consumer electronics and home essentials—but they each go about it a little differently, and their financial profiles pack in some key differences too. Comparing JB Hi-Fi vs Harvey Norman shares can help you decide which might suit your portfolio if you're especially focused on dividend yield and income reliability. Let's dig in.

The case for JB Hi-Fi

JB Hi-Fi is a leading specialty retailer focused mainly on consumer electronics, electrical appliances and white goods across Australia and New Zealand. Trading via JB Hi-Fi, JB Hi-Fi Home, The Good Guys and e&s, the company operates stores in shopping centres and standalone sites, with a digital presence that's growing fast.

Notably, JB Hi-Fi offers:

• A market cap of $7.35 billion, making it significantly larger than Harvey Norman.
• A dividend yield of 5.16%, fully franked at 100%, with a history of special dividends.
• An earnings per share (EPS) of $4.467, reflecting robust underlying profitability.

JB Hi-Fi's payout record is impressive—not only has the yield stayed attractive, its dividends have been fully franked for years, regularly delivering both interim and final (plus the occasional special) payments.

The case for Harvey Norman

Harvey Norman is best known as the powerhouse franchisor behind over 270 Harvey Norman, Domayne and Joyce Mayne stores. Its footprint isn't limited to Australia; it stretches into New Zealand, Asia, and Europe. Uniquely, Harvey Norman also owns a hefty portfolio of properties that house many of its franchises, underpinning its balance sheet with hard assets.

Here's where Harvey Norman stands out:

• A higher dividend yield of 7.02%, also fully franked at 100%.
• A lower P/E ratio of 9.75—suggesting shares are cheaper on earnings.
• Earnings yield of 10.26%, outpacing JB Hi-Fi.

While Harvey Norman's market capitalisation ($5.25 billion) is smaller than JB Hi-Fi's, it more than makes up for it with higher yield and an extensive property portfolio, providing another layer of security for income-seeking investors.

Valuation comparison

Harvey Norman sports a much higher yield, a lower price-to-earnings ratio and greater earnings yield, but JB Hi-Fi's earnings and dividends per share are higher, reflecting JB Hi-Fi's higher share price and perhaps greater operational scale.

Recent share price performance

Looking at recent momentum (prices as of mid-September 2026), both stocks have had a rocky year.

JB Hi-Fi shares have fallen -28.6% year to date, currently trading at $67.19.

Harvey Norman fared even worse, down 38.4% year to date, with shares sitting at $4.21.

In the most recent trading days, both have shown mild recoveries, but the medium-term trend has been negative for both companies—not uncommon among big-box retail shares facing tough consumer spending environments.

Which is the better buy?

If I'm choosing purely on dividend yield, Harvey Norman is the standout at 7.02%—well above JB Hi-Fi's 5.16%. Both stocks offer fully franked dividends, which is excellent for Aussie income seekers. Harvey Norman also boasts a lower P/E and higher earnings yield, and its property ownership adds some ballast if retail trading turns rough.

On the other hand, JB Hi-Fi has demonstrated remarkable earnings power per share, a proven record of both ordinary and special dividends, and simply dwarfs Harvey Norman on a per-share dividend basis, even if its headline yield is lower due to a high share price.

Both companies have had a rough run lately, but Harvey Norman's share price has fallen more steeply—potentially making that big yield even more attractive, but also possibly reflecting some market concern.

If I had to place my chips, I'd lean toward Harvey Norman solely for the yield and value metrics, especially if I wanted maximum income right now. But for consistency, payout reliability, and a stronger track record of per-share earnings, my confidence would sway toward JB Hi-Fi over the long term. It's very close—and I couldn't fault an investor for favouring either, but for a high franked yield in today's market, my pick would be Harvey Norman.

The post JB Hi-Fi vs Harvey Norman: Which dividend stock wins? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

The ASX 200 started in red territory this morning and only got worse over the session. By the time trading ended, the index had lost 0.88% of its value and had settled at 8,672.5 points.

This rather terrible Tuesday for Australian investors came after a similarly downbeat night on Wall Street overnight to kick off the American trading week.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average Index (DJX: .DJI) did start strong, but ended up recording a 0.29% loss.

The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC) fared even worse, dropping 0.56%.

But let's get back to the local markets now and take stock of how the various ASX sectors handled today's difficult trading conditions.

Winners and losers

Despite today's pessimism, we still saw a few sectors make hay.

But first, it was gold shares that copped the worst of it. The All Ordinaries Gold Index (ASX: XGD) ended up crashing 3.08%.

Broader mining stocks had a rough one as well, with the S&P/ASX 200 Materials Index (ASX: XMJ) cratering 2.21%.

Continuing with the commodities theme, energy shares also had a shocker. The S&P/ASX 200 Energy Index (ASX: XEJ) tanked 1.62% this session.

Financial stocks had a day to forget as well, illustrated by the S&P/ASX 200 Financials Index (ASX: XFJ)'s 1.08% plunge.

Real estate investment trusts (REITs) fared a little better. The S&P/ASX 200 A-REIT Index (ASX: XPJ) still lost 0.59%, though.

Industrial shares were right behind that, with the S&P/ASX 200 Industrials Index (ASX: XNJ) sliding 0.43%.

Our last losers this Tuesday were utilities stocks. The S&P/ASX 200 Utilities Index (ASX: XUJ) ended up slipping down 0.12%.

Let's turn to the green sectors now. Leading the winners were healthcare shares, as you can see from the S&P/ASX 200 Healthcare Index (ASX: XHJ)'s 1.5% surge.

Consumer staples stocks held their value, too. The S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Staples Index (ASX: XSJ) jumped 0.88% this session.

Its consumer discretionary counterpart was just behind that, with the S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Discretionary Index (ASX: XDJ) leaping 0.87%.

Communications stocks were spared as well. The S&P/ASX 200 Communication Services Index (ASX: XTJ) advanced 0.32%.

Finally, tech shares managed to stay on the right side of the line, evident by the S&P/ASX 200 Information Technology Index (ASX: XIJ)'s 0.29% bump.

Top 10 ASX 200 shares countdown

Healthcare stock 4DMedical Ltd (ASX: 4DX) was our chart-topper this Tuesday. 4DMedical shares roared 8.72% higher this session to close at $3.74 each.

This came despite no fresh news or announcements from the company today.

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

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

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

I think the right sort of investment could be one that gives both pleasing passive income and the potential for long-term capital gains.

The two ASX shares I'm going to highlight both have pleasing track records of payouts and underlying earnings growth.  Let's dive in.

Centuria Industrial REIT (ASX: CIP)

This first business is a real estate investment trust (REIT) which is Australia's leading pure play industrial REIT.

Industrial properties in well-located areas are in high demand these days, driven by e-commerce adoption, data centres, increased demand for refrigerated space (for medicine and food), the onshoring of supply chains, and more.

The rising rental potential of the properties is boosting the reported rental income. FY26 saw strong like-for-like net operating income growth of 5.2%, The business also reported a 4% increase of the funds from operations (FFO) – the net rental income – to $114.1 million.

Impressively, the ASX blue-chip share experienced 30% positive re-leasing spreads during FY26. That means its newly signed rental leases are generating 30% more rent than the old lease, so it's seeing significant rental growth.

Considering the business has a weighted average lease expiry (WALE) of around seven years and the portfolio is on average 17% under-rented, I think there could be a solid level of rental growth in the next few years as other leases come up for renewal.

It expects to grow its FFO by up to 5.5% in FY27, and the distribution could grow by another 3% to 17.3 cents per unit. That would translate into a forward dividend yield of 6.1% at the time of writing.

JB Hi-Fi Ltd (ASX: JBH)

In my view, JB Hi-Fi is one of the leading ASX retail shares. The company sells a wide range of electronics, including phones, tablets, computers, wearables, and more.

The JB Hi-Fi share price has fallen by more than 40% in the past year, which has significantly boosted the dividend for prospective investors. It's true that economic conditions are weaker than they were a year ago, but I don't think that justifies such a sharp decline in the valuation.

ASX blue-chip share valuations are meant to take into account the long-term potential, not just shorter-term challenges.

In my view, this decline is an opportunistic time to buy into a business with a strong market position. It has the attributes to excel in all economic conditions – it has a very productive sales floor, low costs, very competitive product prices and so on.

In terms of the potential payout, the projection on Commsec suggests the business could pay an annual dividend of $3.35 in FY27. That translates into a grossed-up dividend yield of 7.4%, including franking credits. The forecasts currently suggest the payout could grow in FY28 and again in FY29, so this could be a great time to buy.

Overall, both ASX blue-chip shares offer compelling dividend yields.

The post 2 ASX blue-chip shares offering big dividend yields appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

The ASX 200 Index fell 1.68% to 8,762 points, its lowest level in six weeks.

Its 200-day moving average was sitting near 8,816 points before the open.

The index has now dropped through it, which is the sort of thing technical investors notice.

Why so many ASX 200 shares have broken trend

Three forces arrived at once.

Brent crude pushed to US$101.60 a barrel as tensions involving the United States and Iran escalated.

The US 10-year Treasury yield climbed to around 4.84%, its highest since 2023.

Markets now price roughly a 70% chance the Reserve Bank raises rates again on 29 September.

The selling was broad, with 153 shares falling against 36 rising at one point on Thursday.

Here are three stocks that have been particularly hard hit.

1. Judo Capital Holdings Ltd (ASX: JDO)

Judo trades at 99.5 cents against a 52-week range of 82 cents to $2.07.

The shares are down almost 40% over twelve months and have not recovered from June's guidance downgrade.

However, the FY26 result did not justify that. Statutory net profit rose 29% to $111.1 million and profit before tax climbed 34% to $168.1 million.

Deposits jumped 24% to $12.2 billion and now fund more than 70% of the balance sheet.

Chief executive Chris Bayliss addressed the credit issue directly.

FY26 has been another year of genuine momentum for Judo. While the increase in specific provisions late in the year was disappointing, the underlying performance of the Bank has remained strong, with record revenue, continued operating leverage, strong deposit growth and lending at the top end of guidance.

FY27 guidance calls for profit before tax of $210 million to $220 million.

2. JB Hi-Fi Ltd (ASX: JBH)

JB Hi-Fi is the most extreme case here.

JB Hi-Fi shares traded at $64.60 on Thursday, below their previous 52-week low of $65.45.

However, like Judo Capital, results remain strong.

FY26 revenue rose 4.8% to $11.06 billion and net profit after tax lifted 6% to $489.9 million.

The total ordinary dividend rose 22.5% to 337 cents per share, fully franked.

JB Hi-Fi ended the year with $206.5 million in net cash and no interest-bearing debt.

However, investors are selling due to potentially higher rates, which would encourage households to pull back spending on discretionary purchases.

3. Qantas Airways Ltd (ASX: QAN)

Qantas sits near $9, close to its 52-week low of $8.03.

Unlike the previous two, earnings have fallen in recent times.

FY26 underlying profit before tax fell $330 million to $2.06 billion.

Almost all of that came from one source, with the Middle East conflict producing a $420 million net impact through record fuel prices and route disruption.

Qantas Loyalty still lifted underlying earnings before interest and tax 12%.

Oil at US$101 is the obvious problem, and it is why this one is among the cheapest ASX 200 shares on an earnings multiple.

Foolish takeaway

I would rather buy a profitable business experiencing a temporary share price downturn than a stock everyone already likes.

The catch is that such stocks can stay below trend for a very long time.

The post Top 3 ASX 200 shares now below their 200-day moving average appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Here's what has happened, and what brokers tip next.

Charter Hall shares

The diversified property funds manager's shares have fallen 2% to an annual low of $18.03 at the time of writing. The latest decline means the shares have now crashed 24% over the past month and they're 27% lower for the year-to-date.

There hasn't been any price sensitive announcement out of the company this week. Instead it looks like it has been hit by a series of headwinds, including higher-than-expected inflation figures and a weakening property market. Concerns about further interest rate hikes are also putting pressure on property-related stocks across the sector.

Even the company's robust FY26 result announcement late last month didn't do enough to reignite investor confidence. Management announced a 26.8% increase in operating earnings, gross property transactions of $17.1 billion and the launch of multiple new funds and partnerships.

The experts are still bullish that there will be some upside ahead. Market Index data shows that the majority have a strong buy rating on Charter Hall shares. The $24.14 average target price implies around a 33% upside ahead, at the time of writing.

GPT Group shares

As one of Australia's largest listed property trusts, GPT is facing the same headwinds as Charter Hall shares this week.

The company, which owns and manages a portfolio of Australian office, logistics, and retail assets, with funds under management of more than $36 billion, is highly sensitive to shifts in property market sentiment.

Its shares are also down around 2% today, to an annual low of $4.41 each. Over the past month the shares have crashed 16%, and they're now 20% lower for the year-to-date.

The company also posted a solid first-half FY26 result last month, including a statutory net profit after tax of $400.1 million for the half year, and a reported investment portfolio occupancy of 97.6%.

Experts are also bullish about the share price outlook over the next 12 months. Market Index data shows the majority have a strong buy rating on GPT Group shares, and the $5.33 average target price implies an upside of around 19%, at the time of writing,

JB Hi-Fi shares

JB Hi-Fi shares are also down around 2% in Thursday lunchtime trade, and changing hands at a two-year low of $64.70 at the time of writing. Over the past month, the shares have fallen 23%, and they're 33% lower year-to-date.

Consumer discretionary stocks like JB Hi-Fi have come under pressure recently amid market concerns about higher interest rates, inflation, and weaker consumer confidence.

And it looks like the company's FY26 results in late August further dampened confidence. Management posted record revenue of $11.06 billion, up 4.8% from FY25. Meanwhile, EBIT increased 5.8% to $734.4 million. On the bottom line, the company reported a net profit after tax (NPAT) of $489.9 million, up 6% year-on-year. After delivering higher profit, management declared a final fully franked dividend of $1.27 per share.

But looking ahead, JB Hi-Fi said it expects a variable trading environment in the short term but notes ongoing resilience among its brands and flagged that the company saw a slight dip in sales in July. 

Investors were clearly spooked, and analysts also seem on the fence about the share price outlook. Market Index data shows broker ratings are split between a buy and a hold. However, after the latest selloff, the $79.34 average target price now implies 21% potential upside.

The post JB Hi-Fi, GPT Group, Charter Hall shares hit 52-week low: Is there any chance of a rebound? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Australians have decided that interest rates are going up again.

The index lost a flat 1% on Tuesday to finish at 8,920.8 points.

That leaves the market back below 9,000 points and more than 3% below where it traded in mid-August.

What fell on the ASX 200

The damage was not spread evenly across the market.

Consumer discretionary shares were the worst sector by a wide margin, falling 1.88%.

Technology shares dropped 1.76% and financials lost 1.63%.

Listed property fell 1.46%.

Utilities were the only sector to post a meaningful gain, rising 0.59%.

Looking more deeply into this, that pattern seems like a textbook interest rate reaction.

Investors sold anything that depends on household spending and bought the things that behave like bonds.

Consumer sentiment did the damage

The trigger arrived before the market opened.

The Westpac-Melbourne Institute Index of Consumer Sentiment fell 5.2% in September to 84.4.

Any reading below 100 means pessimists outnumber optimists, so 84.4 is a weak result.

The report itself was blunt about the cause.

The fall takes sentiment back towards the deeply pessimistic levels seen earlier in the year. Both fuel prices and interest rates again look to be driving the move.

Nearly two-thirds of consumers now expect mortgage rates to rise within twelve months.

Assessments of family finances dropped 9.2%, and among homeowners the fall was 13%.

Westpac then moved its own forecast to a November rate rise, joining ANZ and CommBank.

That followed June quarter national accounts showing the economy growing 0.4% for the quarter and 2.1% over the year.

JB Hi-Fi and Harvey Norman are wearing it

Two retailers show what all of this looks like at the company level.

JB Hi-Fi Ltd (ASX: JBH) shares fell 2.25% on Tuesday to $66.07.

That is a fresh 52-week low, and the shares are now down 42.8% over twelve months.

Harvey Norman Holdings Ltd (ASX: HVN) shares closed flat at $4.32.

They are just above a 52-week low of $4.15 and are down 41.3% over the year.

The FY26 results do not explain those falls

Despite this sell-off, both companies actually posted reasonably strong results.

JB Hi-Fi lifted FY26 revenue 4.8% to $11.06 billion and net profit after tax 6% to $489.9 million.

Earnings before interest and tax rose 5.8% to $734.4 million.

The total dividend jumped 22.5% to 337 cents per share fully franked, and the company finished the year with $206.5 million of net cash and no interest-bearing debt.

For its part, Harvey Norman grew total system sales 3.1% to $9.64 billion and statutory profit before tax 4.9% to $790.29 million.

Its fully franked dividend rose 3.8% to 27.5 cents per share.

Chair Gerry Harvey said of the results:

FY26 delivered growth in operating earnings, continued international expansion and strong franchise profitability. With total assets approaching $9 billion, net assets approaching $5 billion, substantial property ownership and low gearing, we remain well positioned to deliver long-term sustainable growth for our shareholders.

Foolish takeaway

A 1% fall is not a crash, and the ASX 200 remains only modestly below its August level.

What changed on Tuesday was the assumptions behind the market.

Investors had been pricing in a pause, and they are now pricing in a hike.

The post Why the ASX 200 just hit a 6-week low appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

For some Aussies, retiring early could be appealing because it could mean enjoying more of life, calling it quits before the body can't do the physical work any more, or just getting away from the desk and out into 'life'.

Whatever the motivation for wanting to unlock $80,000 of annual passive income, reaching that goal could be very compelling.

Use compounding to build wealth

I think that every investor should keep the power of compounding in mind for long-term wealth creation.

One of the smartest people ever to live, Albert Einstein, once reportedly said:

Compound interest is the eighth wonder of the world. He who understands it, earns it; he who doesn't, pays it.

By using compounding, we can invest in ASX shares that grow in value on their own. We don't need to contribute any further money ourselves to see that growth in value.

Let's look at two scenarios of how that could play out for someone.

Imagine someone is 20 right now and they manage to save $750 per month to invest in ASX shares. That translates into an annual investment total of $9,000. If we assume the portfolio returns an average of 10%, the portfolio would be worth $1.48 million after 30 years.

In another example, let's consider someone who starts five years later at 25, so they can earn more and they can save $1,500 per month. If the portfolio returned the same 10% per year, it would grow to be worth an incredible $1.77 million.

Which ASX shares investors could buy for passive income to retire

If we go with the two example portfolios above, a $1.48 million portfolio would require a dividend yield of 5.4% to make $80,000 of annual passive income. Meanwhile, the $1.77 million portfolio would require a dividend yield of 4.5%.

There are a wide variety of investments that we can make to generate high passive income.

I'll run through some businesses and other types of businesses that could be great options for a portfolio dividend yield of around 5%.

Firstly, I'll highlight investment businesses such as Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Co. Ltd (ASX: SOL), Australian Foundation Investment Co Ltd (ASX: AFI), Australian United Investment Company Ltd (ASX: AUI), Future Generation Australia Ltd (ASX: FGX), PM Capital Global Opportunities Fund Ltd (ASX: PGF) and L1 Long Short Fund Ltd (ASX: LSF).

There are operating businesses like Telstra Group Ltd (ASX: TLS), Wesfarmers Ltd (ASX: WES), Lovisa Holdings Ltd (ASX: LOV), Medibank Private Ltd (ASX: MPL) and JB Hi-Fi Ltd (ASX: JBH) that could all be compelling options.

Other top options for passive income include Charter Hall Long WALE REIT (ASX: CLW), Centuria Industrial REIT (ASX: CIP), Dexus Industria REIT (ASX: DXI), Rural Funds Group (ASX: RFF) and WCM Quality Global Growth Fund (ASX: WCMQ).

I think investors wanting to retire with $80,000 of annual passive income would be well-served by the above names, as well as other ASX shares that could deliver strong growth.

The post How much do I need to retire on $80,000 a year at 50? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Remember, the exchange rate really prices the value of our currency, which naturally has far-reaching consequences across our economy. There are countless factors that pay into what one currency trades at compared to another. I won't pretend to know everything that has caused our dollar to appreciate by close to 5% over the past two months or so. But there's little doubt that inflation (and interest rate) expectations, the ongoing wars in the Middle East and Europe, as well as concerns about the mounting levels of debt in the United States, are all playing a part.

What moves a dollar?

So what does a higher dollar mean for ASX investors, aside from the odd case of a healthy bout of nationalistic pride?

Well, at a simple level, the primary outcome from an increase in the value of the Aussie dollar is that exporting goods or services becomes cheaper for consumers and companies, while importing becomes more expensive. To illustrate, let's say an agricultural company has to buy fertiliser every month for US$100 a bag. Back in July, that bag would have cost roughly $144.50. Today, that same bag would only set the buyer back by $138.90.

However, let's say that a bushel of wheat that could be grown using that fertiliser costs US$700. Back in July, our company would have received over $1,000 in our local currency. Today, they would get just over $972.

Which ASX shares prosper from a higher Aussie dollar?

A higher Aussie dollar benefits companies that import more goods or services than they export, and punishes companies that export more than they import.

As such, it's clear that the biggest losers from a higher Aussie dollar are our major exporters. Namely, our largest mining stocks. The likes of BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP), Rio Tinto Ltd (ASX: RIO), Fortescue Ltd (ASX: FMG), Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS), and Northern Star Ltd (ASX: NST) are arguably some of the companies most exposed. So to are companies that report their earnings in US dollars. That includes CSL Ltd (ASX: CSL) and WiseTech Global Ltd (ASX: WTC).

Conversely, net importers will be lining up to enjoy the benefits of a higher Aussie dollar. That might be Ampol Ltd (ASX: ALD), which imports petroleum products to refine or on-sell. It could be Wesfarmers Ltd (ASX: WES), which receives a huge amount of its stock for Bunnings and OfficeWorks from overseas. Ditto with JB Hi-Fi Ltd (ASX: JBH) or Harvey Norman Holdings Ltd (ASX: HVN). It could even give Coles Group Ltd (ASX: COL) and Woolworths Group Ltd (ASX: WOW) a bit of a margin boost on any food or drinks that are grown or manufactured beyond our shores.

Not all companies are winners or losers, though. Changes in our currency would have little to no impact on the earnings of something like Telstra Group Ltd (ASX: TLS) or Transurban Group (ASX: TCL).

Changes in the Aussie dollar can have a tangible impact on one's ASX share portfolio. Keep that in mind if you're wondering why one of your investments has been a bit of a laggard of late, or has jumped in value with no other obvious catalysts.

The post These ASX shares benefit from a high Aussie dollar appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

The Australian economy grew 0.4% in the June quarter.

Annual growth came in at 2.1%.

Both figures were above what economists expected.

Stronger growth is good for company earnings and yet somewhat awkward for anyone hoping interest rates stay where they are.

What the GDP numbers actually said

The details are important here.

Household spending rose 0.4% in the June quarter, which is steady without being strong.

The household saving ratio edged up to 6.5% from 6.4%.

GDP per capita increased 0.8% across the 2025-26 financial year.

Grace Kim, the ABS head of national accounts, was measured about the result.

Economic growth remained subdued in the June quarter as households continued to behave cautiously. While increased spending and business investment occurred in pockets of the economy, imports supported much of the growth, moderating its contribution to overall GDP growth.

Why stronger growth is bad news for some ASX shares

The Reserve Bank has been waiting for evidence that the economy can absorb tighter policy, and this is it.

ANZ Group Holdings Ltd (ASX: ANZ) already expects the Reserve Bank to lift the cash rate by 25 basis points to 4.60% in November, citing persistent inflation and resilient household spending.

Australia's 10-year government bond yield has climbed to around 5.19%, its highest level in 15 years.

Higher discount rates compress the present value of every future dollar a company earns.

That is why long-duration ASX shares have struggled even as the growth data improved.

The banks are caught in the middle

Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA) is the clearest example of the tension.

A stronger economy means fewer bad loans, and CBA's 90-day arrears sit at just 0.73%.

A higher cash rate also widens deposit margins, which feeds directly into the 2.05% net interest margin reported in FY26.

The offset is credit growth, since home loan applications have fallen roughly 15% since the May Federal Budget.

At 24.36 times earnings and a 3.18% yield, very little of the good news is still available cheaply.

ANZ offers the same exposure on 19 times earnings with a 4.45% yield.

As a result of all of this, brokers unsurprisingly remain split on which of the major banks deserves to carry the sector premium from here.

Retail is where the real risk sits

JB Hi-Fi Ltd (ASX: JBH) is a slightly different narrative.

The company's FY26 revenue rose 4.8% to $11,064.0 million, and net profit after tax climbed 6% to $489.9 million.

The total ordinary dividend increased 22.5% to 337 cents per share.

JB Hi-Fi Australia and The Good Guys both recorded a slight dip in sales during July.

Consumer confidence fell 2.6 points to 74.9 in the latest ANZ-Roy Morgan survey.

A November rate rise would land directly on the mortgage holders who buy televisions and laptops.

Which ASX shares benefit from faster growth

Miners, energy producers and insurers all earn more when activity holds up and inflation runs a little warm.

The losers are the ASX shares valued on distant cash flows and the retailers most exposed to household budgets.

Foolish takeaway

A 0.4% quarter is not a boom.

However, it is more than enough to keep a November rate rise firmly on the table.

CBA looks fully priced for the good news, ANZ looks like better value on the same theme, and JB Hi-Fi looks cheap for understandable reasons.

I would not rebuild a portfolio around a single quarter of national accounts.

But I would take very seriously what the bond market is now saying about the cost of money.

The post Australia's economy just grew faster than expected. What does this mean for ASX shares? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Underneath that flat number, some large companies were taken apart.

Five ASX 200 shares fell between 17% and 23%.

What makes three of these companies interesting is that they were still able to grow revenue.

The market was not punishing failure so much as repricing expectations.

Why these ASX 200 shares fell so hard

All three stocks reported in August and all three fell heavily on the day.

None of them missed on revenue.

Each was marked down on what came next, whether that was a cautious start to FY27, a margin moving the wrong way, or costs growing faster than the top line.

That is a very different problem from a broken business, which is why they are worth a second look.

1. JB Hi-Fi (ASX: JBH)

JB Hi-Fi closed Monday at $66.57, down 42.58% over twelve months and within a few cents of its 52-week low of $66.02.

The FY26 result delivered record revenue of $11.06 billion, up 4.8%, with net profit after tax rising 6% to $489.9 million.

The shares then suffered their worst day on record, falling 12.3%, and ended August down 18.3%.

The damage came from a single line in the trading update.

Comparable sales for JB Hi-Fi Australia fell 1.4% in July.

That is the first real sign the consumer is cracking, and with home values falling and a rate rise possibly ahead, it is a fair thing to worry about.

The offset is the valuation, with the shares now on a price-to-earnings ratio of 15.02 and a fully franked yield of 5.02%.

2. Life360 Inc (ASX: 360)

Life360 fell 21% across August and closed Monday at $20.17.

The twelve-month decline is 55.77%, which is brutal for a company still growing this quickly.

Second-quarter revenue rose 38% to US$159 million and adjusted EBITDA jumped 53% to US$31.1 million.

The catch sat below those numbers.

Net income fell 17.8% to US$5.1 million, and the net income margin halved to 3% from 6%.

Investors had been paying for a business that was supposed to scale into profitability, and the margin went backwards instead.

At $20.17 against a 52-week high of $55.87, a great deal of optimism has already been stripped out of the price.

3. Generation Development Group Ltd (ASX: GDG)

Generation Development Group was August's worst performer, falling 22.6%, and it continued to decline on Monday, closing at $3.06.

That is a fresh 52-week low and a decline of 51.43% across the year.

FY26 revenue rose 23% to $178.7 million and funds under management jumped 37% to $46.5 billion.

Underlying net profit after tax climbed 21% to $40.7 million.

Statutory net profit fell 10% to $31.9 million, because operating expenses grew 26% and comfortably outpaced revenue.

The risk in buying beaten-down ASX 200 shares

Cheap shares can get cheaper, and all three have proven this fact repeatedly.

Investors sometimes falling into the value trap, buying cheap businesses without assessing the reasons why they are cheap.

Foolish takeaway

Of the three, JB Hi-Fi has the clearest valuation support and the most obvious risk sitting right in front of it.

Life360 has the strongest growth and the least proven path to profitability.

Generation Development owns the best asset in a $46.5 billion funds book but has the worst cost discipline.

I would want to see one more result from each before committing capital.

For patient investors, August produced a list of beaten-down ASX 200 shares that are cheaper than they were. The question remains whether they can recover.

The post Top 3 beaten-down ASX 200 shares from August worth a second look appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Below, we look at five large-cap ASX companies that investors would have done well to avoid in August.

Centuria Capital Group (ASX: CNI)

Centuria Capital shares tumbled 17% in the month just past, closing out August trading at $1.22 apiece.

The real estate funds manager reported its FY 2026 results on 27 August.

The company reported operating earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) of $182.5 million and a 12.9% year-on-year increase in operating net profit after tax (NPAT) to $113.8 million.

But amid sticky inflation and potential further interest rate hikes, the ASX 200 share just closed out a month to forget.

Charter Hall Group (ASX: CHC)

Charter Hall shares were also best avoided in August.

Shares in the Aussie property investment and funds manager fell 17.2% over the month to close at $19.32 each.

Charter Hall released its FY 2026 results on 21 August.

Shares closed down 6.3% on the day, despite the company reporting operating earnings of $488.1 million. Operating earnings per security (OEPS) post-tax of 103.2 cents were up 26.8% from FY 2025.

But Charter Hall could also face headwinds if the Aussie property market struggles with higher interest rates for longer.

JB Hi-Fi Ltd (ASX: JBH)

The third ASX 200 share that had a month to forget is electronics retailer JB Hi-Fi.

JB Hi-Fi shares closed on 31 August trading for $66.90 each, down 18.3% for the month.

JB Hi-Fi shares plunged 12.3% on 17 August after the company reported its FY 2026 results.

On the positive side of the ledger, JB Hi-Fi achieved record revenue of $11.06 billion, up 4.8% year on year. And on the bottom line, the company reported a net profit after tax (NPAT) of $489.9 million, up 6%.

But investors were pressuring JB Hi-Fi shares amid concerns that FY 2027 could be a tougher year. Indeed, the company reported a 1.4% decline in comparable sales growth for JB Hi-Fi Australia for July.

Life360 Inc (ASX: 360)

Life360 shares also got walloped in August, falling 21% to end the month trading for $20.25 each.

Shares in the location-sharing software developer crashed by 19.4% on 11 August after the company released its second-quarter (Q2 2026) results.

Positively, Life360 achieved a 38% year-on-year increase in revenue to US$159 million. And adjusted EBITDA of US$31.1 million were up 53%.

However, the company's second-quarter net income of US$5.1 million was down 17.8% from Q2 2025, while Life360's net income margin (NIM) fell to 3%, down from 6% a year earlier.

Generation Development Group Ltd (ASX: GDG)

The fifth ASX 200 share to get heavily sold down in August is diversified financial services business Generation Development.

Generation Development shares tumbled 22.6% to close out the month trading for $3.18 apiece.

Shares closed down 15.4% on 27 August following the release of the company's FY 2026 results.

On the plus side, the company achieved a 23% year-on-year increase in revenue to $178.7 million, with funds under management (FUM) rising 37% to $46.5 billion.

And Generation development reported underlying NPAT of $40.7 million, up 21% from FY 2025.

However, statutory NPAT fell 10% year on year to $31.9 million. And costs increased faster than revenue, with the company reporting a 26% increase in its operating expenses.

The post The five worst-performing ASX 200 shares in August unmasked appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

As the chart below shows, the JB Hi-Fi share price has dropped by 42% in the past year.

Not many large ASX businesses have fallen that much in a relatively short amount of time. However, I think this ASX dividend stock could be a buying opportunity for contrarian and opportunistic investors.

It pays to be optimistic

I can understand why the market is pessimistic about the short-term outlook of the business.

Higher interest rates can cause uncertainty and less spending by households. However, I don't expect interest rates to remain this high forever, so pessimism could turn into optimism. Perhaps as early as next year.

In my view, JB Hi-Fi's earnings are more defensive than investors are giving it credit for. Households always need appliances and also certain electronics such as phones and computers are seen as essential for living these days, whether that's work, education, entertainment or communication.

In FY26, the ASX dividend stock reported that underlying operating profit (EBIT) grew 3.8%, while underlying earnings per share (EPS) climbed by 2.9%. With EPS of $4.48, it was able to fund an annual dividend per share of $3.37. That was despite the difficult trading conditions amid the Middle East conflict and elevated inflation and interest rates.

According to the forecast on Commsec, the business is only expected to see a slight decline of EPS to $4.46 in FY27. That translates into a forward price/earnings (P/E) ratio of just 15, which I think is low for this business.

The company is expanding its store network, continuing to work on being as efficient and profitable as possible, and providing good customer service.

Compelling dividend yield

When a share price falls, it pushes up the prospective dividend yield for investors. For example, if a business had a dividend yield of 5% and the share price drops 20%, the dividend yield becomes 6%.

According to the projection on Commsec, JB Hi-Fi is forecast to pay an annual dividend per share of $3.35 in FY27. That translates into a potential dividend yield of 5% excluding franking credits and 7.1% including franking credits.

That's a great dividend yield for a large, stable business like JB Hi-Fi, in my view. If there is a good time to invest in this ASX dividend stock, I think now is a great time. But, there are other shares that could be even better value.

The post 1 ASX dividend stock down 42% I'd buy right now appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

National home values fell 0.7% in July, according to Cotality, marking the sharpest monthly decline since December 2022. Sydney and Melbourne led the falls, but the downturn also spread to Brisbane and Adelaide.

More importantly for retailers, values across the most expensive quarter of the housing market dropped 3.2% over the three months to July.

That could have consequences well beyond the property sector.

How the wealth effect works

The wealth effect describes the tendency for households to spend more when their assets rise in value.

Homeowners do not need to sell their property or withdraw equity to feel richer. A rising valuation can provide the psychological permission to upgrade the television, replace the lounge, renovate the kitchen, or book an overseas holiday.

Research from the Reserve Bank of Australia found a positive and persistent relationship between household wealth and consumption. The effect was strongest across motor vehicles, durable goods, and other discretionary purchases.

The RBA estimated that a permanent 1% increase in housing wealth lifted the long-term level of consumption by around 0.16%.

However, the relationship can work in reverse.

Falling property prices do not necessarily create an immediate financial problem for homeowners. But they can weaken confidence and encourage households to defer purchases that are not essential.

That puts furniture, electronics, appliances, and other big-ticket categories near the front line.

Two quality ASX retailers under pressure

That backdrop helps explain the recent weakness in two long-term retail winners.

JB Hi-Fi Ltd (ASX: JBH) suffered its worst single-session decline on record earlier this month. The JB Hi-Fi share price crashed 12.3%, despite the company reporting record FY26 sales of over $11 billion and a 6% increase in statutory net profit to $489.9 million.

The concern was not the year just completed. It was the direction of current trading.

Comparable sales at JB Hi-Fi Australia declined 0.8% during the fourth quarter before falling another 1.4% in July. Comparable sales also declined at The Good Guys.

Management noted that customers were increasingly seeking value and concentrating their spending around major promotional events. That could place pressure on margins if deeper discounting is required to maintain sales volumes.

Furniture retailer Nick Scali Ltd (ASX: NCK) is exposed to a similar dynamic. The Nick Scali share price is down more than 35% over the past 12 months, at the time of writing.

Yet its FY26 results hardly resembled a business in distress. Group revenue increased 4.3% to $516.7 million, while net profit after tax rose 22% to $75.7 million on an underlying comparison.

The warning was again in the outlook. Written sales orders across Australia and New Zealand were flat during the first five weeks of FY27, following softer trading during the second half.

What should investors watch?

A weaker housing market does not automatically make JB Hi-Fi or Nick Scali poor businesses.

Both companies have strong brands, experienced management teams, healthy balance sheets, and long records of rewarding shareholders. Quality retailers can also use difficult conditions to win market share from weaker competitors.

Australia's strong employment market and rising household incomes could provide another important cushion. The RBA has previously found that falling wealth is less damaging to consumption if jobs and income growth remain firm.

Still, investors may want to watch comparable sales, store traffic, inventory levels, gross margins, and the depth of promotional activity over the coming months.

The wealth effect helped support discretionary spending while Australian property prices climbed. If that effect is now reversing, retailers selling the purchases that households can postpone may feel the pressure first.

For long-term investors, the key question is whether recent share price declines reflect temporary weakness in the consumer cycle or something more permanent in the underlying businesses.

The post Are falling house prices hurting ASX retail shares? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Some tend to perform better when the Aussie dollar is weaker against the US dollar and other foreign currencies. And some are prone to outperform amid a stronger Australian dollar.

Now, as you're probably aware, the Aussie dollar is trading near a three-month high against the greenback.

On Tuesday afternoon it was worth 71.48 US cents. That's up 7.0% since 16 January, when the exchange rate stood at just 66.81 cents.

We'll look at which ASX 200 shares may catch tailwinds from the stronger domestic currency, and which might face headwinds, below.

But first…

What's driving the Aussie dollar higher?

The recent strength of the Australian dollar versus US currency has been driven on several fronts.

First, global currency markets appear to have gotten the jitters, with public debt in the world's biggest economy now topping US$40 trillion.

Then there are the efforts underway by the world's number two economy to strengthen its own currency, which could further support the Aussie dollar and change the market dynamics for certain ASX 200 shares.

According to National Australia Bank Ltd (ASX: NAB) senior FX strategist Rodrigo Catril (quoted by The Australian Financial Review):

We shouldn't forget that when it comes to currencies and the yuan, the Aussie has the strongest correlation to it. And the People's Bank of China has made very clear that they want to see a stronger currency.

Catril added that the ongoing war with Iran and further increases in US public debt could see the Australian keep climbing to US 72 cents.

Now one last item of importance here. Namely, that currency moves are notoriously difficult to call, so a retrace is always possible in the weeks or months ahead.

With that said…

Which ASX 200 shares could be impacted by a stronger Aussie dollar?

Keeping in mind that a range of other factors could impact the performance of these ASX 200 shares – positively or negatively – more than any changes in the AUD exchange rate with the greenback, the first company I'd avoid buying amid a strengthening Aussie dollar is BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP).

Now there's a lot to like about BHP shares, particularly the mining giant's fast growing copper exposure.

However, most of the commodities that BHP digs up and sells are denominated in US dollars, while the company reports in Aussie dollars. So, a rising AUD could crimp BHP's international earnings.

For similar reasons I'd avoid gold mining giant Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST) in this setting. That's because gold is priced in US dollars, so a stronger AUD could also reduce Northern Star's revenue and profit margins.

Turning to the first ASX 200 share that could benefit from a rising AUD we find Qantas Airways Ltd (ASX: QAN).

First a rising AUD could boost international travel demand from Aussie travellers. Second, much of Qantas' costs – think jet fuel and aircraft parts and purchases – are priced in US dollars. So, a strong Aussie dollar could increase Qantas' profit margins and earnings.

Which brings us to the second ASX 200 share I'd buy amid a strength Australian currency, JB Hi Fi Ltd (ASX: JBH).

That's because JB Hi-Fi imports a lot of its merchandise, often priced in US dollars or other foreign currencies. As the Aussie dollar rises, those purchase prices will come down, supporting JB Hi-Fi's margins and earnings.

The post 2 ASX 200 shares I'd buy and 2 I'd avoid amid a surging Aussie dollar appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

As have their shareholders.

With just a few hours of trade left before Friday's closing bell, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is down 0.7% for the week, with all three of these ASX 200 stocks suffering far bigger falls.

Here's what caught investor attention this week.

JB Hi-Fi shares sink on growth outlook

At time of writing, JB Hi-Fi shares are trading for $69.25 apiece, down 15.3% since last Friday's close.

Investors were reaching for their sell buttons on Monday following the release of JB Hi-Fi's FY 2026 results, sending the ASX 200 electronics retailer down 12.3% on the day.

That came despite the company reporting all-time high revenue of $11.06 billion, up 4.8% year on year.

And on the bottom line, JB Hi-Fi achieved a net profit after tax (NPAT) of $490 million, up 6% from FY 2025.

But JB Hi-Fi shares may have come under pressure, with the final fully-franked dividend of $1.27 per share down 38% from last year's final payout.

Investors also appear to have been concerned with a 1.4% decline in comparable sales growth for JB Hi-Fi Australia for the month of July (the first month of FY 2027).

Lendlease shares fall on full-year loss

Getting walloped alongside JB Hi-Fi shares this week, Lendlease shares are down 14.2% since last Friday's close, currently trading for $2.77 apiece.

The ASX 200 international property developer also reported its FY 2026 results on Monday, with shares closing down 11.2% on the day.

While the company's Investments, Development and Construction (IDC) segment reported earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) of $542 million, at the top end of guidance, investors were selling Lendlease shares amid the material one-off impairments in the company's Capital Release Unit (CRU).

On the bottom line, Lendlease reported a statutory loss after tax of $749 million for the 12-month period.

Megaport shares tumble on mixed results

Joining Lendlease and JB Hi-Fi shares in the doghouse this week, we find Megaport.

At the time of writing, Megaport shares are changing hands for $18.41 each, down 14.3% for the week.

The ASX 200 network services company has closed in the red every day this week, with shares tumbling 5.1% on Thursday on the heels of Megaport's own FY 2026 results release.

Some of that selling may come down to profit taking. On Wednesday, the day before the results release, Megaport shares had gained around 79% since 2 January.

Indeed, the company reported $312 million in full-year revenue, up 37% from FY 2025. And EBITDA of $77 million was up by 24%.

However, on the bottom line, Megaport's statutory net loss climbed from $300,000 in FY 2025 to $39 million in FY 2026, which clearly didn't escape investors' notice.

The post Why Megaport, Lendlease and JB Hi-Fi shares all crashed 14% to 15% this week appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

As the earnings season continues, more companies are announcing their next dividends.

We'll help you keep track of ex-dividend dates with an article every Friday over the next two months.

Here are the ASX 200 shares going ex-dividend next week.

ASX shares with ex-dividend dates ahead

Insurance Australia Group Ltd (ASX: IAG)

This ASX 200 financial share will pay an 80% franked dividend of 20 cents per share on 28 September.

IAG shares go ex-dividend on Monday, 24 August.

QBE Insurance Ltd (ASX: QBE)

QBE will pay a 30% franked dividend of 33 cents per share on 2 October.

The ex-dividend date is Monday, 24 August.

Santos Ltd (ASX: STO)

This ASX 200 energy share will pay an unfranked dividend of 11.6 US cents per share on 23 September.

Santos shares go ex-dividend on Monday, 24 August.

Amotiv Ltd (ASX: AOV)

This ASX 200 retail stock will pay a 100% franked dividend of 23 cents per share on 15 September.

Amotiv shares go ex-dividend on Tuesday, 25 August.

Deterra Royalties Ltd (ASX: DRR)

This ASX 200 materials share will pay a 100% franked dividend of 10.8 cents per share on 22 September.

The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, 25 August.

AGL Energy Ltd (ASX: AGL)

This ASX 200 utilities stock will pay a 100% franked dividend of 26 cents per share on 24 September.

AGL shares go ex-dividend on Tuesday, 25 August.

Challenger Ltd (ASX: CGF)

This ASX 200 financial stock will pay a fully-franked dividend of 17.5 cents per share on 17 September.

Challenger shares go ex-dividend on Tuesday, 25 August.

Telstra Group Ltd (ASX: TLS)

This ASX 200 telco will pay a 90% franked dividend of 10.5 cents per share on 24 September.

The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, 26 August.

Lottery Corporation Ltd (ASX: TLC)

This ASX 200 consumer discretionary share will pay a 100% franked dividend of 8.5 cents per share on 24 September.

Lottery Corp shares go ex-dividend on Wednesday, 26 August.

JB Hi-Fi Ltd (ASX: JBH)

This ASX 200 retail share will pay a 100% franked dividend of $1.27 per share on 11 September.

JB Hi-Fi shares go ex-dividend on Thursday, 27 August.

SRG Global Ltd (ASX: SRG)

This ASX 200 industrial stock will pay a 100% franked dividend of 4 cents per share on 11 September.

The ex-dividend date is Thursday, 27 August.

Ebos Group Ltd (ASX: EBO)

This ASX 200 healthcare share will pay a 97% franked dividend of 63.7 NZD cents per share on 18 September.

Ebos shares go ex-dividend on Thursday, 27 August.

REA Group Ltd (ASX: REA)

This ASX 200 communications share will pay a fully-franked dividend of $1.73 per share on 11 September.

The ex-dividend date is Thursday, 27 August.

Beach Energy Ltd (ASX: BPT)

This ASX 200 energy stock will pay a fully-franked dividend of 2 cents per share on 30 September.

The ex-dividend date is Friday, 28 August.

Orora Ltd (ASX: ORA)

This ASX 200 materials stock will pay an unfranked dividend of 4 cents per share on 6 October.

The ex-dividend date is Friday, 28 August.

Iress Ltd (ASX: IRE)

This ASX 200 tech stock will pay a 100% franked dividend of 14 cents per share on 28 September.

The ex-dividend date is Friday, 28 August.

The post 16 ASX 200 shares with ex-dividend dates next week appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.