Four ASX shares that have failed to follow the market higher today are listed below. Here's why they are falling:

Electro Optic Systems Holdings Ltd (ASX: EOS)

The EOS share price is down 2% to $9.30. This morning, this defence and space company announced the successful completion of its share purchase plan. Management advised that the plan was overwhelmingly supported, with EOS receiving valid applications of $95 million from 4,909 eligible shareholders. This was significantly higher than the original $25 million target. In light of the strong demand and in recognition of the ongoing support from retail shareholders, the board exercised its discretion to accept $40 million in applications. Combined with its $150 million institutional placement and $40 million strategic placement, EOS has raised a total of $230 million from investors.

Karoon Energy Ltd (ASX: KAR)

The Karoon Energy share price is down 2.5% to $2.00. Investors have been selling the energy producer's shares after oil prices sank overnight. Traders were selling oil after US President Donald Trump announced that he expects to sign a peace deal with Iran very shortly. This is expected to result in the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, bringing more oil supplies to market. The S&P/ASX 200 Energy index is down 1.6% at the time of writing.

REA Group Ltd (ASX: REA)

The REA Group share price is down almost 4% to $141.47. Investors have been selling this property listings company's shares this week following the release of two bearish broker notes. After Bell Potter downgraded the property listings company's shares to a sell rating (from buy), UBS has followed suit and cut its recommendation to neutral from buy with a reduced price target of $165 (from $213). UBS has concerns that recent property tax changes could weigh on listing volumes in the near term. Judging by its share price weakness, it seems that some investors agree with this view.

Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS)

The Woodside Energy share price is down 2% to $30.81. This follows the aforementioned pullback in oil prices overnight. This has overshadowed the release of an announcement this morning. Woodside revealed that it has exercised its right to acquire a further 10.67% interest in the Browse Joint Venture for up to US$400 million. This strengthens its position in Australia's largest undeveloped conventional gas resource.

The post Why EOS, Karoon Energy, REA Group, and Woodside shares are falling today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

After starting sharply lower this morning, the ASX 200 spent most of the day recovering and broke into positive territory for a brief moment this afternoon. But it was not to last, and the index ended up closing 0.23% lower at 8,633.2 points.

This tantalising day for ASX investors followed a much rougher night on Wall Street.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average Index (DJX: .DJI) was smashed, dropping a nasty 1.87%.

The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC) was hit even harder, falling 1.98%.

But let's get back to ASX shares now and take a look at what was going on amongst the various ASX sectors today.

Winners and losers

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

Indeed, Woodside shares fell a sharp 8.6% in the month just past, closing May trading for $30.66 apiece.

Santos shares fared the best among the big ASX 200 oil and gas stocks, sliding 2.4% in May to close on Friday trading for $7.81 each.

Rounding out the list, Beach Energy Ltd (ASX: BPT) shares slumped 8.5% in May to $1.08, while Karoon Energy Ltd (ASX: KAR) shares trailed the pack, sinking 10.5% over the month to close on Friday trading for $1.96 apiece.

Why did ASX 200 energy stocks tumble in May?

The common headwind battering all of the ASX 200 energy stocks in May was the big retrace in global energy prices.

As you're likely aware, oil and gas prices went through the roof in the weeks following the outbreak of the Iran war at the end of February. Indeed, Brent crude oil rocketed from US$72 per barrel on 27 February and was still trading for US$114 per barrel on 30 April.

That big lift saw investors piling into the likes of Woodside shares – which I should note remain up more than 29% year to date despite the May decline. And that's not including the 83.5 cents per share final fully franked dividend Woodside paid eligible stockholders on 27 March.

But with the United States and Iran actively engaged in peace negotiations in May, Brent crude oil fell almost 20% over the month to US$92 per barrel, according to data from Bloomberg. And investors reacted by trimming their positions in the big ASX 200 energy stocks.

Why did Santos shares outperform in May?

Santos shares – also still up 26.8% year to date without including the final dividend payout – lost significantly less than the other ASX 200 energy stocks over the month just past.

This outperformance over Beach, Karoon and Woodside shares may have been driven by a few positive updates from the company.

On 18 May, for example, Santos shares closed up 2.7% after the company announced the first oil production from its Pikka phase 1 projected, located in the US state of Alaska.

With first oil flowing, Santos said it was working to increase production to 20,000 barrels per day (bpd) over the following weeks.

"Alaska has a huge runway ahead of it which will underpin value-accretive production growth for Santos for the long term," Santos CEO Kevin Gallagher said.

"The Pikka phase 1 project has demonstrated Santos' capability to develop this world-class resource safely, responsibly and efficiently.," he added.

The post Why ASX 200 energy stocks like Woodside and Santos got hammered in May appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

This awful Thursday for the local markets follows a much rosier night over on Wall Street.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average Index (DJX: .DJI) fared decently, rising 0.36%.

The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC) was a little more tentative, inching up just 0.07%.

But let's get back to the unhappier market now and take a closer look at what was happening amongst the various ASX sectors today.

Winners and losers

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

Meanwhile, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) fell 1.3% to finish the week at 8,630.8 points.

The market turned pessimistic after changes to investment taxes were announced in the Federal Budget on Tuesday.

The changes contributed to the largest one-day fall in history for Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA) shares on Wednesday.

Five of the 11 market sectors finished the week in the red.

Let's review.

What happened with ASX 200 energy shares last week?

The Brent Crude oil price shot 5.5% higher to US$107 per barrel last week as negotiations to end the Iran war stalled.

The Strait of Hormuz, through which about 20% of the world's gas and oil supply is shipped, remained effectively shut down.

On Friday, Trading Economics analysts said:

The key shipping route remains under a dual blockade that has emerged as a central obstacle in negotiations, with President Donald Trump saying the current ceasefire was on "massive life support" after dismissing Tehran's latest response to his peace proposal.

Meanwhile, the IEA reported that crude and fuel flows through the Strait of Hormuz dropped by around 4 million barrels per day in March and April, warning that the global oil market could stay materially undersupplied through October even if the conflict is resolved next month.

Meanwhile on the market, the Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS) share price rose 3.99% to close at $31.25 on Friday.

The Santos Ltd (ASX: STO) share price lifted 4.79% to $7.88.

The Ampol Ltd (ASX: ALD) share price rose 2.49% to $35.05.

The Viva Energy Group Ltd (ASX: VEA) share price lifted 2.7% to $2.28.

Karoon Energy Ltd (ASX: KAR) shares ascended 6.63% to close the week at $2.09.

Beach Energy Ltd (ASX: BPT) shares swung 2.31% higher to $1.11 apiece.

ASX 200 market sector snapshot

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

Over the five trading days:

The post ASX 200 energy shares rise as global oil shock drags on appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

This follows the US announcing it would escort commercial ships from nations uninvolved in the conflict through the critical waterway.

Iranian drones hit South Korean and United Arab Emirates (UAE) vessels, as well as the UAE's Fujairah oil terminal, causing a large fire.

ASX 200 energy shares are leading the market today, up 1.3%, due to the correlation between a rising Brent crude oil price and earnings.

However, the market is also aware that rising energy costs may lead to resurgent global inflation and higher interest rates.

This is contributing to a 0.6% fall for the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) as the market braces for the Reserve Bank's next interest rate decision at 2.30pm on Tuesday.

No end in sight

The Strait of Hormuz, through which about 20% of the world's gas and oil supply is shipped, remains effectively shut down.

The Brent crude oil price has lifted 12% over the past week. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude is up 9% to US$105 per barrel.

US gas prices have also lifted 10% over the week. US heating oil prices are up 4% and European gas prices have increased 9%.

Trading Economics analysts said Middle East tensions have intensified sharply over the past 24 hours.

They commented:

The US and Iran exchanged fire in the Strait of Hormuz, raising uncertainty over the durability of the four-week ceasefire.

US forces repelled Iranian attacks while escorting two US-flagged vessels through the strategic waterway, stating they had "defended all commercial ships" from drones and small boats deployed by Tehran.

CBA senior economist Ryan Felsman said the four-week-old ceasefire between the US and Iran was now in jeopardy.

Overnight, gold futures fell "as Middle East risks pushed the US dollar higher and kept inflation fears in focus", he said.

Interest rates in Australia

CBA expects the Reserve Bank to raise interest rates for a third consecutive month today.

Felsman said:

We expect the RBA to lift the cash rate 25bp at their meeting … to 4.35%. However, the decision will be finely balanced.

We anticipate another split vote with the softer March trimmed mean CPI print and recent falls in sentiment surveys strengthening the case to the leave the cash rate unchanged and wait to see how the data evolves.

Those arguing for a hike, by contrast, will focus on inflation being persistently too high, a labour market that remains too tight and rising cost pass through from the war in Iran

The market is pricing in a 74% chance of an interest rate rise today.

What's happening with ASX 200 energy shares?

At the time of writing, the Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS) share price is up 2.2% to $32.83.

The Santos Ltd (ASX: STO) share price is up 0.7% to $7.97.

The Ampol Ltd (ASX: ALD) share price is 1.5% higher at $35.80.

The Viva Energy Group Ltd (ASX: VEA) share price is up 1.7% to $2.46.

Karoon Energy Ltd (ASX: KAR) shares are up 2.9% to $2.14 apiece.

The Beach Energy Ltd (ASX: BPT) share price is 1.9% higher at $1.17.

The post Brent crude oil price rips to 4-year high amid missile strikes in Strait of Hormuz appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) rose 0.74% on Friday to finish the week at 8,729.8 points.

This equated to a weekly fall of 0.65%.

The market was pessimistic last week as negotiations between the US and Iran stalled and oil prices surged again.

Only three of the 11 market sectors finished the week in the green.

Let's review.

Global fuel shock drags on with no end in sight

Energy prices lifted again last week as the market anticipated continuing supply disruption as the war in Iran continued.

On Friday, Brent Crude was trading at US$111.85 per barrel, up 6% over the week.

West Texas Intermediate Crude was US$106.40 per barrel, up 12.3% for the week.

Also last week, US heating oil rose 5.6%, US gas prices lifted 5.5%, and European gas prices increased 4.3%.

The Strait of Hormuz, through which about 20% of the world's gas and oil supply is shipped, remains effectively shut down.

On Friday, Trading Economics analysts painted a grim picture as the US and Iran both dug in their heels:

President Donald Trump reaffirmed that the US would maintain its naval blockade of Iranian ports to intensify economic pressure.

Iran's supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei also dampened prospects for a deal, pledging not to relinquish the Islamic Republic's nuclear or missile capabilities and indicating that Tehran would retain control over the strait.

Economists have been warning that oil supply shocks have a long-tail impact that is yet to fully play out in Western economies.

The analysts added:

… several countries could soon face acute oil shortages, as the final shipments that departed the Persian Gulf have already arrived at their destinations.

US crude exports surged to record levels last week, with global buyers increasingly turning to American producers to offset disrupted Middle Eastern supply.

What happened with ASX 200 energy shares last week?

The Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS) share price rose 1.56% to close at $33.12 on Friday.

The Santos Ltd (ASX: STO) share price lifted 2.95% to $8.02.

The Ampol Ltd (ASX: ALD) share price ascended 4.74% to $35.82, after reaching a 52-week high of $36.04 on Friday.

The Viva Energy Group Ltd (ASX: VEA) share price rose 4.17% to $2.50.

Karoon Energy Ltd (ASX: KAR) shares fell 3.13% to close the week at $2.17.

Beach Energy Ltd (ASX: BPT) shares dropped 4.1% to $1.17 apiece.

ASX 200 coal shares also rose last week alongside a 3.8% lift in the thermal coal price.

The thermal coal price was US$134 per tonne on Friday, up almost 9% since the war began.

The Yancoal Australia Ltd (ASX: YAL) share price bounced 6.96% to close at $7.68 on Friday.

The Whitehaven Coal Ltd (ASX: WHC) share price increased 8.83% to $8.63.

New Hope Corporation Ltd (ASX: NHC) shares lifted 3.75% to $5.53 apiece.

ASX 200 market sector snapshot

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

Over the five trading days:

The post ASX 200 energy shares lead and market finally cracks 8-day losing streak appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Today marks the eighth consecutive day of falls for the Australian share market amid no signs of progress in the Middle East.

Investors are also still digesting yesterday's news that annual inflation increased up from 3.7% in February to 4.6% in March.

The spike was largely due to the war in Iran and a 33% monthly increase in automotive fuel prices. 

Meanwhile on the The Bull this week, two experts have shared their latest ratings and opinions on three ASX shares.

Let's check them out.

Minerals 260 Ltd (ASX: MI6)

The Minerals 260 share price is 72 cents, down 3.7% today but up a staggering 455% over 12 months.

Jonathan Tacadena from MPC Markets thinks there is more growth ahead for this ASX mining share. 

Tacadena said:

This miner recently signed a $220 million strategic funding agreement with gold royalty company Franco-Nevada Corporation to accelerate and de-risk the development of its 4.5 million ounce Bullabulling Gold project in Western Australia.

The agreement puts MI6 firmly in the developer category of gold companies.

With a maiden ore reserve and an updated mineral resource estimate due in mid 2026, we like the chances of a re-rating for MI6.

4DMedical Ltd (ASX: 4DX)

The 4DMedical share price is $4.19, down 1.2% today.

This ASX 200 healthcare share has leapfrogged 1,210% over 12 months.

Stuart Bromley from Medallion Financial Group says it's best to simply sit on this stock for now.

Bromley said:

4DX is a respiratory imaging technology company, with a strong regulatory moat in the United States.

In a relatively short time since the US Food and Drug Administration approved its CT:VQ product, US hospitals are adopting it, including the highly renowned Mayo Clinic.

Also, 4DX has been included in the S&P/ASX200 Index, which should generate more interest in the company.

Being in the ASX 200 means fundies managing popular index-tracking exchange-traded funds (ETFs) are consistently buying the stock.

Karoon Energy Ltd (ASX: KAR)

The Karoon Energy share price is $2.15, up 0.2% today and up 38% in the year to date (YTD).

Soaring oil and gas prices due to the Iran war have led to significant recent share price growth for this oil and gas explorer.

Karoon Energy shares have ripped from $1.54 on 27 February, just before the war began, to $2.15 today — an increase of 40%.

Bromley says ordinary investors should follow Medallion's lead and take profits on this ASX energy share. 

He said:

In our view, Karoon has benefited from increasing crude oil prices since the conflict in the Middle East started on February 28.

We believe these sorts of opportunities should be taken and we have locked in profits on Karoon.

Bromley pointed out that Karoon Energy reported a 19% fall in revenue, along with a 2% decline in net profit after tax (NPAT), for FY25.

The analyst also recommends that investors take profits on another ASX energy share — find out which one here.

The post Buy, hold, sell: Minerals 260, 4DMedical, Karoon Energy shares appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Closing at $2.14 apiece on Wednesday, Karoon Energy shares are now up 39% year to date.

And after ending yesterday at $7.77 each, Santos shares have gained 26% so far in 2026.

To put that performance into some better context, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is down 0.3% this calendar year.

Atop those capital gains, Santos also paid out a 14.5-cent per share unfranked interim dividend on 25 March. Santos stock trades on a partly franked trailing dividend yield of 4.5%.

And Karoon Energy paid its fully-franked 3.1 cent per share final dividend on 31 March. Karoon Energy shares trade on a partly franked 2.6% trailing dividend yield.

But after this strong outperformance, Medallion Financial Group's Stuart Bromley believes investors would do well to take profits on these two ASX 200 energy stocks (courtesy of The Bull).

Here's why.

Time to sell Santos shares?

"Santos is a global energy company," Bromley said. "It has operations across Australia, Papua New Guinea, Timor-Leste and the United States."

Looking at the company's calendar year 2025 results, he noted:

Total revenue from ordinary activities fell by 8% in full year 2025 when compared to the prior corresponding period. The fall in revenue was due to lower realised prices. Net profit after tax was down 33%.

As for 2026, Bromley said, "The share price has risen from $5.92 on January 7 to trade at $7.61 on April 23."

Which leads to his sell recommendation on Santos shares.

"We would be inclined to lock in gains given volatile and uncertain energy prices emanating from the conflict in the Middle East," Bromley concluded.

Time to lock in profits on Karoon Energy shares?

Atop from recommending taking profits on Santos shares, Bromley also has a sell recommendation on Karoon Energy shares.

"Karoon is an oil and gas explorer and producer," he said. "It has assets in Australia, the United States and Brazil."

As for Karoon Energy's 2025 results, Bromley noted, "Revenue from ordinary activities was down 19% in full year 2025 when compared to the prior corresponding period. Net profit after tax was down 2%."

Bromley's sell recommendation is based on similar logic to his concerns over Santos' rapid year-to-date share price gains.

Commenting on Karoon Energy, he concluded:

The shares have risen from $1.54 on February 27 to trade at $2.16 on April 23. In our view, Karoon has benefited from increasing crude oil prices since the conflict in the Middle East started on February 28.

We believe these sorts of opportunities should be taken and we have locked in profits on Karoon.

Trading at US$111 per barrel on Wednesday, the Brent crude oil price has surged more than 53% since the start of the Iran war at the end of February.

The post Sell alert! Why this expert is calling time on Karoon Energy and Santos shares appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

At the time of writing, shares are up 1.15% to $2.155. The stock has now climbed around 40% in 2026, supported by stronger energy prices.

Here's a closer look at what the company reported.

Production falls but stronger oil prices support revenue

For the 3 months ending 31 March, Karoon's latest quarter was softer on the production side.

Total output fell across both the Bauna and Who Dat assets, with group production down about 19% compared to the previous quarter.

This was mainly due to planned maintenance at Bauna and disruption at Who Dat following a riser issue.

Sales volumes also dropped, reflecting both lower production and shipment timing. Still, revenue held up better than volumes might suggest.

Karoon reported oil and gas sales revenue of US$128.2 million, which was driven by higher realised prices across the portfolio.

Average realised oil prices lifted to around US$71 per barrel at Bauna and US$65.92 per barrel at Who Dat.

Maintenance work and outages hit output

A large part of the quarter came down to maintenance work and a few disruptions.

At Bauna, a scheduled shutdown and maintenance program reduced output, although work is progressing as planned.

At Who Dat, a riser issue led to a temporary loss of production, with around 15,000 barrels per day affected at the peak.

Repairs are underway, with the company expecting a staged return to production through mid-2026.

There is also a sidetrack well planned to help lift output again.

Cash position still holding up well

Karoon finished the quarter with US$169.4 million in cash and total liquidity of US$452.7 million.

Net debt came in at US$180.6 million.

The company also paid a final dividend of 3.1 US cents per share and kept its share buyback running during the quarter.

Full-year outlook stays the same

Despite the softer quarter, full-year guidance remains unchanged.

Karoon is still targeting production of 8.1 to 9.2 million barrels of oil equivalent for 2026.

Who Dat production is expected to sit toward the lower end of that range, reflecting the earlier disruption.

Capital expenditure guidance has been lifted slightly to cover extra work tied to the sidetrack well.

What investors are watching next

While production took a hit this quarter, pricing has helped keep Karoon's revenue steady.

The next step is seeing if output can recover as maintenance wraps up and Who Dat comes back online.

If volumes improve while oil prices stay firm, momentum could build again.

The post Up 40% this year, this ASX energy stock is still climbing today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

ASX 200 set to fall

The Australian share market looks set to fall on Tuesday following a mixed start to the week in the US. According to the latest SPI futures, the ASX 200 is poised to open the day 55 points or 0.6% lower. On Wall Street, the Dow Jones was down 0.1%, but the S&P 500 rose 0.1% and the Nasdaq pushed 0.2% higher.

Oil prices charge higher

It could be a good session for ASX 200 energy shares Karoon Energy Ltd (ASX: KAR) and Santos Ltd (ASX: STO) after oil prices charged higher overnight. According to Bloomberg, the WTI crude oil price is up 2.35% to US$96.65 a barrel and the Brent crude oil price is up 2.75% to US$108.23 a barrel. This was driven by the unravelling of US-Iran peace talks.

Buy Iperionx shares

Bell Potter thinks investors should be buying Iperionx Ltd (ASX: IPX) shares if they have a high tolerance for risk. This morning, the broker has retained its speculative buy rating on the titanium production technology company's shares with an $8.25 price target. It said: "IPX has the potential to disrupt the incumbent titanium supply chain through materially lowering production costs and manufacturing waste. The company will incrementally expand capacity and progress commercial relationships with aerospace, automotive, luxury goods and government end users."

Gold price falls

ASX 200 gold shares including Evolution Mining Ltd (ASX: EVN) and Ramelius Resources Ltd (ASX: RMS) could have a poor session on Tuesday after the gold price pulled back overnight. According to CNBC, the gold futures price is down 0.95% to US$4,695.7 an ounce. This was driven by inflation and rate hike concerns due to high oil prices.

Buy Judo shares

Morgans thinks that Judo Capital Holdings Ltd (ASX: JDO) shares could be a great option in the banking sector right now. This morning, the broker has upgraded Judo Capital's shares to a buy rating and is predicting a return of almost 50%. It said: "JDO provided a 3Q26 trading update, which included reaffirming its FY26 earnings guidance range albeit now expected to be at the bottom end of the range given it conservatively topped up its expected loan loss provision. We view JDO's recent share price weakness as a buying opportunity for a stock with high growth potential, increasing the margin of safety for the investment. Upgrade from ACCUMULATE to BUY. Potential TSR at current prices is c.49%."

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

Four ASX shares that are falling more than most today are listed below. Here's why they are dropping:

Cochlear Ltd (ASX: COH)

The Cochlear share price is down 2.5% to $94.92. This hearing solutions company's shares have been sold off recently following the release of a disappointing trading update. Cochlear downgraded its FY 2026 underlying net profit guidance range to $290 million to $330 million. Previously it was guiding to underlying net profit of $435 million to $460 million. Management advised that softer trading in developed markets is being driven by hospital capacity constraints and a decline in referrals from the hearing aid channel.

Karoon Energy Ltd (ASX: KAR)

The Karoon Energy share price is down 2.5% to $2.18. This is despite there being no news out of the energy producer. However, as we covered here, Karoon Energy shares were named as a sell this morning by Medallion Financial Group. It said: "In our view, Karoon has benefited from increasing crude oil prices since the conflict in the Middle East started on February 28. We believe these sorts of opportunities should be taken and we have locked in profits on Karoon."

Origin Energy Ltd (ASX: ORG)

The Origin Energy share price is down 2.5% to $12.46. This morning, this energy giant released its quarterly report. Origin revealed that March quarter production was lower compared to the prior quarter. This was primarily reflecting two fewer days in the quarter and natural field decline. It also advised that Integrated Gas revenue was down $247 million compared to the prior quarter at $1,855 million. This reflects lower realised LNG prices. Origin Energy's CEO, Frank Calabria, said: "Global commodity markets have experienced significant volatility this quarter, with the conflict in the Middle East affecting oil and LNG supply. Changes in oil prices have a lagged effect on Australia Pacific LNG's long term export contracts, and we do not expect this to flow through to results until FY27."

WiseTech Global Ltd (ASX: WTC)

The WiseTech Global share price is down 3% to $43.09. Investors have been selling this logistics solutions technology company's shares despite there being no news out of it. However, this may have been driven by broad weakness in the tech sector. This has seen the S&P/ASX All Technology Index drop 0.7% on Monday.

The post Why Cochlear, Karoon Energy, Origin Energy, and WiseTech shares are falling today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

So, with that in mind, let's see which shares analysts are tipping as sells this week, courtesy of The Bull.

Here's what they are bearish on:

Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA)

Morgans has named this big four bank as an ASX 200 share to sell this week.

This bearish stance is based on valuation grounds, with the broker suggesting that better value can be found elsewhere in the market. It explains:

CBA is Australia's strongest major bank, with a leading retail franchise and consistent profitability. However, the market fully recognises these strengths. The shares were recently trading at a significant premium, leaving limited upside as interest rate benefits fade and competition increases.

While the business remains high quality, future returns are likely to be more modest, in our view. With the company's valuation pricing in a lot of good news, we see better value elsewhere, supporting a sell view.

Karoon Energy Ltd (ASX: KAR)

Medallion Financial Group has named this energy producer as a sell.

It believes investors should be locking in profits after a strong run following a surge in oil prices due to the conflict in the Middle East. It said:

Karoon is an oil and gas explorer and producer. It has assets in Australia, the United States and Brazil. Revenue from ordinary activities was down 19 per cent in full year 2025 when compared to the prior corresponding period. Net profit after tax was down 2 per cent. The shares have risen from $1.54 on February 27 to trade at $2.16 on April 23.

In our view, Karoon has benefited from increasing crude oil prices since the conflict in the Middle East started on February 28. We believe these sorts of opportunities should be taken and we have locked in profits on Karoon.

Santos Ltd (ASX: STO)

The team at Medallion Financial Group also thinks investors should be doing the same with Santos shares following a similarly strong gain.

It has named the energy giant as a sell, especially given uncertain energy prices. Medallion said:

Santos is a global energy company. It has operations across Australia, Papua New Guinea, Timor-Leste and the United States. Total revenue from ordinary activities fell by 8 per cent in full year 2025 when compared to the prior corresponding period. The fall in revenue was due to lower realised prices. Net profit after tax was down 33 per cent. The share price has risen from $5.92 on January 7 to trade at $7.61 on April 23. We would be inclined to lock in gains given volatile and uncertain energy prices emanating from the conflict in the Middle East.

The post Experts name 3 ASX 200 shares to sell now appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

The benchmark S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is down 0.34%, while the S&P/ASX 200 Energy Index (ASX: XEJ) is up 1.3%.

The only other market sector in the green today is utilities.

ASX 200 utilities shares are up 1.1%, indicating the appeal of defensive shares amid the ongoing global energy shock.

A second round of negotiations between the US and Iran in Islamabad is expected to begin within days.

However, investors appear unconvinced that a resolution is near.

This lack of confidence is reflected in the ASX 200's fourth consecutive day in the red.

ASX 200 shares are down 2.2% since Monday's close.

Energy commodity prices up 15% to 18% this week

We've also seen a sharp increase in energy commodity prices this week.

The Brent Crude oil price has lifted 17.6% this week to US$106.31 per barrel, at the time of writing.

The WTI Crude oil price has also risen 17.3% to US$96.91 per barrel.

Also this week, US heating oil is up 18.1%, US gas prices are up 15.7%, and European gas prices are up 15.1%.

The price spike reflects continued supply disruption, with the Strait of Hormuz remaining effectively shut down.

The scale of the price increase likely also reflects market pessimism that the conflict will be resolved quickly.

Trading Economics analysts said the stalled US-Iran talks and military activities in the Strait were raising anxiety over fuel supply.

Reports indicated that President Donald Trump's Truth Social posts, along with his decision to maintain a naval blockade of Iranian ports, have complicated prospects for renewed negotiations with Tehran.

In a post on Thursday, Trump said he had ordered the US Navy to "shoot and kill" vessels laying mines in the strait, while US forces also boarded a supertanker carrying Iranian oil in the Indian Ocean.

The ceasefire has been extended indefinitely, with the US claiming it is awaiting a revised peace proposal from Iran.

The US blockade of Iranian ports continues, which means Iran cannot export any of its own oil to its biggest buyer, China.

The effective shutdown of the Strait of Hormuz has disrupted 20% of the world's oil and gas exports.

How are ASX 200 energy shares performing today?

At the time of writing:

The Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS) share price is up 1.9% on Friday to $32.38.

The Santos Ltd (ASX: STO) share price is $7.83, up 1.5% today.

Karoon Energy Ltd (ASX: KAR) shares are 1.6% higher at $2.24, after reaching a two-year high of $2.26 in earlier trading.

The Ampol Ltd (ASX: ALD) share price is 2.1% higher at $34.19.

The Viva Energy Group Ltd (ASX: VEA) share price is up 2.3% to $2.40.

Beach Energy Ltd (ASX: BPT) shares are up 1% to $1.23.

The post ASX 200 energy shares lift as pessimism over Iran war deepens appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

This disappointing session on the local markets comes despite a far rosier night over on the American boards.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average Index (DJX: .DJI) was playing nice, rising 0.69%.

The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC) did even better, gaining 1.64%.

But let's get back to the ASX now and check out how today's market losses affected the different ASX sectors.

Winners and losers

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

Will the market be able to build on this on Tuesday? Here are five things to watch:

ASX 200 set to rise

The Australian share market looks set for a positive session on Tuesday despite a poor start to the week in the US. According to the latest SPI futures, the ASX 200 is poised to open the day 28 points or 0.3% higher. On Wall Street, the Dow Jones was down slightly, the S&P 500 fell 0.25%, and the Nasdaq dropped 0.25%.

Oil prices rise

It could be a good session for ASX 200 energy shares Karoon Energy Ltd (ASX: KAR) and Santos Ltd (ASX: STO) after oil prices stormed higher overnight. According to Bloomberg, the WTI crude oil price is up 5.8% to US$88.73 a barrel and the Brent crude oil price is up 5.3% to US$86.95 a barrel. Rising tensions in the Strait of Hormuz sent oil prices charging higher.

Buy WiseTech shares

The team at Bell Potter remains bullish on WiseTech Global Ltd (ASX: WTC) shares. This morning, the broker has retained its buy rating on the logistics solutions technology company's shares with a trimmed price target of $78.85 (from $83.75). It said: "We note that WiseTech is currently trading at >30% discount to Technology One on an EV/EBITDA basis in both FY26 and FY27. While we believe some sort of discount is now warranted, we believe the current discount is excessive given WiseTech has greater forecast earnings growth over the medium term and also a similar strong competitive moat due to 30 years of proprietary data, deeply embedded software and high switching costs."

Gold price falls

ASX 200 gold shares Evolution Mining Ltd (ASX: EVN) and Ramelius Resources Ltd (ASX: RMS) could have a subdued session on Tuesday after the gold price pulled back overnight. According to CNBC, the gold futures price is down 0.9% to US$4,835.2 an ounce. US-Iran tensions and a stronger US dollar put pressure on the gold price.

Rio Tinto Q1 update

Rio Tinto Ltd (ASX: RIO) shares will be on watch on the ASX 200 on Tuesday when the mining giant releases its first-quarter update. According to a note out of Morgans, its analysts are expecting Pilbara iron ore shipments of approximately 71.3Mt. This will be down 20% quarter on quarter and short of the consensus estimate of 77.8Mt. Elsewhere, a mixed result is expected for Rio Tinto's copper operations.

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

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

ASX 200 set to jump

The Australian share market looks set for a strong session on Tuesday following a positive start to the week in the US. According to the latest SPI futures, the ASX 200 is poised to open the day 122 points or 1.35% higher. On Wall Street, the Dow Jones was up 0.6%, the S&P 500 rose 1%, and the Nasdaq pushed 1.2% higher.

Oil prices rise

It could be a good session for ASX 200 energy shares Karoon Energy Ltd (ASX: KAR) and Santos Ltd (ASX: STO) after oil prices rose overnight. According to Bloomberg, the WTI crude oil price is up 1.5% to US$98.00 a barrel and the Brent crude oil price is up 3.4% to US$98.39 a barrel. Traders were buying oil after the US blockaded Iranian ports.

Buy Pro Medicus shares

The team at Bell Potter remains bullish on Pro Medicus Ltd (ASX: PME) shares following the announcement of a new contract renewal. In response, the broker has retained its buy rating and $226.00 price target. It said: "Longer term, the outlook remains strong with PME FY27 exam revenues expected to benefit from full period benefit of implementations in the current half including the two largest cohorts of the Trinity Health contract plus the Big Bang implementation at U. Colorado covering radiology and cardiology"

Gold price falls

ASX 200 gold shares such as Evolution Mining Ltd (ASX: EVN) and Ramelius Resources Ltd (ASX: RMS) could have a relatively subdued session on Tuesday after the gold price fell overnight. According to CNBC, the gold futures price is down 0.5% to US$4,763.3 an ounce. A stronger US dollar put pressure on the precious metal.

Hold A2 Milk shares

On Monday, A2 Milk Company Ltd (ASX: A2M) shares crashed 13% following a guidance downgrade. This morning, Bell Potter has responded by retaining its hold rating with a reduced price target of $8.35 (from $9.55). It said: "While some of the issues are likely to be temporary in nature (such as elevated air freight) they may well persist into 1Q27e as in-market inventory levels are restored. The deterioration in FY26e margin expectations, when supply chain issues were flagged by SM1 in Feb'26 and are now below Aug'25 guidance levels on a higher revenue base is somewhat concerning, given returning ingredient COG inflation."

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

In late morning trade on Monday, the ASX 200 is down 0.4%, while the S&P/ASX 200 Energy Index (ASX: XEJ) is up 2.8%.

Here's how these leading Australian oil and gas producers are tracking at this same time:

• Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS) shares are up 3.6%
• Santos Ltd (ASX: STO) shares are up 2.7%
• Beach Energy Ltd (ASX: BPT) shares are up 5.6%
• Karoon Energy Ltd (ASX: KAR) shares are up 6.0%

Now, here's why investors are flocking to the energy sector today.

ASX 200 energy stocks lift off on unsuccessful peace talks

Aussie investors went into the weekend with hopes, albeit faint ones, that peace talks between the US and Iran might lead to a rapid end to the war.

By market open this morning, investors knew that those talks had failed to reach an agreement. Investors also learned that a disappointed President Donald Trump said the US will now implement a blockade on all ships using Iranian ports. That blockade will reportedly commence on Monday night Aussie time.

With the potential loss of some two million barrels a day of Iranian oil that had still be passing through the Strait of Hormuz, global oil and gas prices rocketed on the news, offering a boost to ASX 200 energy stocks like Santos and Woodside shares today.

Brent crude oil is up 7.7% overnight, currently trading back at US$102.54 per barrel.

What are the experts saying?

Commenting on the expected US blockade on vessels using Iranian ports, Mona Yacoubian, director of the Middle East Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, said (quoted by Bloomberg):

It strikes me that that is quite an ambitious endeavour, and it doesn't solve the problem of disruption… Experience suggests that the Iranians will not concede but will respond in kind.

Haris Khurshid, chief investment officer at Karobaar Capital, noted that investors may have been overly optimistic heading into the peace talks, which is pressuring the broader market today while lifting ASX 200 energy stocks.

"The market got ahead of itself on de-escalation," Khurshid said.

Prior to the blockade announcement, Dionissios Kontos, co-founder of Meyka AI, sounded a moderately positive note.

"The nuance is worth watching," Kontos said. "Iran's foreign ministry left the door open for further talks, so this isn't a full collapse, just prolonged uncertainty."

How have these ASX 200 energy stocks been tracking?

With the overnight surge in global energy prices, the Brent crude oil price is up 68.5% in 2026.

Here's how the above four ASX 200 energy stocks have performed year to date (compared to a 2.4% gain posted by the benchmark index):

• Woodside shares are up 45.7%
• Santos shares are up 31.8%
• Beach Energy shares are up 9.6%
• Karoon Energy shares are up 35.6%

The post How ASX 200 energy stocks like Woodside and Santos are surging in Monday's sinking market appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

This follows a substantial sell-off for ASX 200 energy shares yesterday.

On Wednesday, the S&P/ASX 200 Energy Index (ASX: XEJ) dropped 7.3% after the US and Iran agreed to a two-week ceasefire.

The rest of the market celebrated the news, with the benchmark S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) finishing the session 2.8% higher.

Today, we've seen a reversal of trends.

ASX 200 energy shares are up 2.4% while the ASX 200 is down 0.05%.

Oil prices have also rebounded today after a sharp fall yesterday.

Brent Crude is currently up 2.7% to US$97.35 per barrel.

Why are ASX 200 energy shares leading the market today?

There is uncertainty in the market as investors wonder how fresh Israeli strikes on Lebanon will impact the ceasefire.

Meanwhile, the Strait of Hormuz remains largely obstructed.

As part of the ceasefire deal, Iran agreed to allow safe passage of shipping through the Strait, coordinated by its armed forces.

On Thursday, Trading Economics analysts said:

Iranian media reported that oil tanker traffic through the strait had been suspended following the attacks, amid disputes between Tehran and the American-Israeli side over whether the truce extends to Lebanon.

A senior Iranian official also stated that three provisions of the ceasefire agreement have already been breached.

Meanwhile, US Vice President JD Vance said there are indications the strait may begin reopening as he leads a US delegation to Islamabad for direct talks with Iran this weekend.

The Strait of Hormuz is not technically closed.

However, shipping companies have chosen not to sail through it for fear of Iranian attacks and a lack of insurance coverage.

About 20% of global crude oil and gas is shipped via the Strait.

The war has triggered the worst oil shock since the 1970s.

ASX 200 energy shares whipsaw on ceasefire tensions

Let's take a look at what's happened with the market's largest ASX 200 energy shares over the past two days.

On Wednesday, the Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS) share price plummeted 10.4% to close at $32.06.

Today, Woodside shares have regained 3.8% to $33.29, at the time of writing.

Yesterday, the Santos Ltd (ASX: STO) share price fell 4.6% to $7.76. Today, Santos shares are 2.5% higher at $7.95.

The Karoon Energy Ltd (ASX: KAR) share price dropped 13.4% to $1.90 on Wednesday.

Today, Karoon Energy shares are $1.98, up 4.3%.

Ampol Ltd (ASX: ALD) shares fell 4.2% yesterday to $32.12, but today they're up 3.6% to $33.26.

The Viva Energy Group Ltd (ASX: VEA) share price tanked 9.1% to $2.42 yesterday.

Today, Viva Energy shares are $2.49 apiece, up 2.7%.

ASX 200 coal share Yancoal Australia Ltd (ASX: YAL) fell 9.8% to $7.49 on Wednesday.

Today, Yancoal shares are in the red again, down 0.1% to $7.48.

The New Hope Corporation Ltd (ASX: NHC) share price dropped 9.6% to $5.30 yesterday.

On Thursday, New Hope shares are slightly higher, up 0.2% to $5.31.

The post ASX 200 energy shares whipsaw amid fragile ceasefire appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

ASX 200 set to open flat

The Australian share market looks set to open flat on Tuesday despite a decent start to the week in the US. According to the latest SPI futures, the ASX 200 is poised to open the week right where it ended the last one. In late trade on Wall Street, the Dow Jones is up 0.35%, the S&P 500 is up 0.45%, and the Nasdaq is 0.55% higher.

Oil prices rise

It could be a good session for ASX 200 energy shares Karoon Energy Ltd (ASX: KAR) and Santos Ltd (ASX: STO) after oil prices rose again overnight. According to Bloomberg, the WTI crude oil price is up 0.8% to US$112.44 a barrel and the Brent crude oil price is up 0.3% to US$109.35 a barrel. Oil prices pushed higher after Donald Trump reiterated threats to bomb Iranian infrastructure.

Lovisa given hold rating

The Lovisa Holdings Ltd (ASX: LOV) share price is close to fair value according to analysts at Bell Potter. This morning, the broker has retained its hold rating on the fashion jewellery retailer's shares with a heavily reduced price target of $24.00 (from $33.50). It said: "We highly rate LOV's strong gross margin outlook, long term store opportunity upside, further prospects arising from changes in the competitive dynamics in US/UK/South Africa, together with strong execution and leadership. On the flipside, we see elevated risks within the core Australian market with a fast-growing competitor and factor in further declines in comparable store sales for the region."

Gold price edges higher

ASX 200 gold shares Evolution Mining Ltd (ASX: EVN) and Ramelius Resources Ltd (ASX: RMS) could have a positive session on Tuesday after the gold price edged higher overnight. According to CNBC, the gold futures price is up 0.1% to US$4,684.1 an ounce. Traders were buying gold as Trump's deadline for Iran neared.

Nufarm named as a buy

The team at Bell Potter has named Nufarm Ltd (ASX: NUF) shares as a buy with a $3.60 price target. This implies potential upside of over 70% for investors. Commenting on the agricultural chemicals company, it said: "We are now beginning to enter the most material selling windows for NUF and the majority of markets look supportive of reasonable demand levels of crop protection products."

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