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.

Trump's declaration that the war with Iran would go on for another "two to three weeks" was enough to start the selling. By the time the markets closed up for the Easter break, the ASX 200 had slumped by a nasty 1.06%. That fall leaves the index at 8,579.5 points as we head into the long weekend.

This volatile session for Australian investors follows a far more optimistic morning up on the American markets (let's see what happens tomorrow over there).

The Dow Jones Industrial Average Index (DJX: .DJI) had a comfortable time of it, rising by 0.48%.

Meanwhile, the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC) was even more enthusiastic, gaining 1.16%.

But let's return to the local markets now and check out how the various ASX sectors dealt with today's whipsawing trading conditions.

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

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

Dateline Resources Ltd (ASX: DTR)

The Dateline Resources share price is down almost 4% to 43.75 cents. This morning, this gold developer completed a $50 million placement to leading institutional investors. These funds were raised at a discount of 40 cents per new share. Dateline's managing director, Stephen Baghdadi, commented: "This raise drew strong support from high-quality institutional investors, a clear endorsement of what Colosseum represents. We're not standing still. Enabling works are already underway and we're pushing ahead on multiple fronts to make sure the project is ready to move into production quickly when the time comes."

Karoon Energy Ltd (ASX: KAR)

The Karoon Energy share price is down 3% to $2.00. This is despite there being no news out of the energy producer. However, given there is optimism that the Middle East conflict could soon come to an end, it is possible that investors are expecting oil and gas prices to retreat in the near term.

Lindian Resources Ltd (ASX: LIN)

The Lindian Resources share price is down 13% to 77.2 cents. This has also been driven by a capital raising today. The rare earths developer revealed that it has received firm commitments to raise approximately $100 million via a single tranche placement to institutional investors and strategic critical minerals funds. These funds are being raised at a 15.25% discount of 75 cents per new share. Lindian Resources' executive chair, Robert Martin, commented: "We are very pleased with the strong level of institutional support received for this Placement, including significant participation from high quality existing and new investors, reflecting Lindian's growing global profile and the strategic importance of Kangankunde as one of the next rare earths producers to supply emerging global supply chains."

PEXA Group Ltd (ASX: PXA)

The PEXA share price is down almost 17% to $12.68. This morning, the team at UBS downgraded the property settlement company's shares to a neutral rating (from buy) and cut its price target to $15.70 (from $17.50). The broker made the move on the belief that risks are skewed to the downside at present.

The post Why Dateline, Karoon Energy, Lindian, and PEXA shares are falling today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Indeed, from market close on 27 February through to the closing bell on 31 March, the S&P/ASX 200 Energy Index (ASX: XEJ) rocketed a jaw-dropping 18.5%.

Here's how these top Aussie oil and gas producers fared over the month just past:

• Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS) shares jumped 23.8%
• Santos Ltd (ASX: STO) shares gained 17.8%
• Beach Energy Ltd (ASX: BPT) shares gained 18.2%
• Karoon Energy Ltd (ASX: KAR) shares surged 32.9%

So, why were investors piling into the energy sector in March?

ASX 200 energy share leap on oil price surge

The massive outperformance for ASX 200 energy shares like Woodside and Karoon was driven by a surge in oil and gas prices following the US and Israeli attack on Iran.

On 27 February, Brent crude oil was trading for US$72.50 a barrel, according to data from Bloomberg. On 31 March that same barrel was fetching US$107.50, up more than 48% over the month.

That meteoric increase came as some 20% of the world's oil supply routes were upended by the war's essential closure of the Strait of Hormuz, with gas supplies also hit by attacks on Middle East LNG plants.

Atop hoping for share price gains, investors also look to have been buying the ASX 200 energy shares with hopes that surging profits will see them declare supersized dividends later this year.

What else happened with the Aussie energy giants in March?

Beach Energy, Santos and Woodside were among the ASX 200 energy shares to release significant announcements in March.

On 9 March, Beach and Santos announced that they had taken a Final Investment Decision (FID) to proceed with their joint venture Moomba Central Optimisation  (MCO) project, located in South Australia.

Commenting on the decision, which saw Santos shares close up 2.4% on the day and Beach Energy shares gain 1.3%, Beach Energy CEO Brett Woods said:

The MCO project will unlock significant value from the Cooper Basin asset, driven by efficiencies gained from the rationalisation of existing satellite facilities into a new centralised compression facility, and supporting future production growth from the Central Fields.

March also saw Woodside reveal its new CEO, after former CEO Meg O'Neill stepped down in December following four years in the top role.

On 18 March, the ASX 200 energy share reported that Liz Westcott was taking over as CEO and Managing Director, effective immediately.

Westcott had been serving as acting CEO since O'Neill stepped down in December. Before that she served as Woodside's Executive Vice President and COO, Australia.

The post How ASX 200 energy shares like Santos, Beach and Woodside surged in March's sinking market appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

ASX 200 energy shares have skyrocketed 14% over the past month due to a huge spike in oil and gas prices caused by the conflict in Iran.

The conflict has effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz, through which about 20% of the world's oil and gas supplies are shipped.

Some Middle East oil and gas producers have been forced to cease production as storage tanks fill up and tankers in the Strait sit still.

After Yemen joined the fighting over the weekend, passage of oil and gas via the Red Sea and the Strait of Bab al-Mandeb is also at risk.

The world is grappling with the ensuing oil shock, which has sent Brent Crude 39% higher over 30 days to US$107.70 per barrel today.

Gas prices are also substantially higher. European gas prices are up 24%, UK gas is up 21%, and German gas is up 23% over 30 days.

The thermal coal price is also 12% higher over the month as power plants switch from gas to coal.

In the latest developments, US President Donald Trump threatened to hit Iran's electricity plants, oil facilities, and desalination plants if the Strait of Hormuz is not reopened.

Trading Economics analysts said the threat overshadowed Trump's earlier comments that negotiations with Iran were progressing well.

The analysts said:

Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen also entered the conflict by targeting Israel over the weekend, while Tehran is reportedly urging militant groups to prepare for a renewed campaign to disrupt Red Sea shipping.

Such developments risk further tightening energy flows from the Middle East, as two of the main strategic waterways in the world for trade and energy supplies could potentially be cut off.

With ASX 200 energy shares on fire right now, here are four stocks that the experts rate a buy.

Santos Ltd (ASX: STO) 

The Santos share price is $8.01, down 0.3% today and up 11.4% over the past month.

Last week, UBS commenced coverage with a buy rating on Santos shares.

The broker has a 12-month price target of $8.80 on this ASX 200 energy share.

Karoon Energy Ltd (ASX: KAR)

The Karoon Energy share price is steady on Tuesday at $2.14.

Karoon Energy shares have soared 20.2% over the past month.

Earlier this month, Jarden reiterated its buy rating on this ASX 200 energy share.

The broker lifted its 12-month target from $1.57 to $2.47.

Whitehaven Coal Ltd (ASX: WHC)

The Whitehaven share price is $9.62, down 2.2% today and up 21.2% over the month.

Last week, UBS reiterated its buy rating and lifted its price target on this ASX 200 coal share significantly.

UBS moved its 12-month target from $7.90 to $10.10.

Viva Energy Group Ltd (ASX: VEA)

The Viva Energy share price is $2.59, up 2.4% on Tuesday and up 42% over the past month.

Last week, RBC Capital upgraded this ASX 200 energy share to a buy rating.

The broker also lifted its 12-month price target from $1.90 to $2.50.

The post 4 ASX 200 energy shares rated buys 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 edge higher

The Australian share market looks set for a subdued session on Tuesday following a poor start to the week in the US. According to the latest SPI futures, the ASX 200 is poised to open the day 1 point higher. In late trade on Wall Street, the Dow Jones is up a fraction, but the S&P 500 is down 0.5% and the Nasdaq is 0.9% lower.

Oil prices jump

It could be a good session for ASX 200 energy shares such as Karoon Energy Ltd (ASX: KAR) and Santos Ltd (ASX: STO) after oil prices jumped overnight. According to Bloomberg, the WTI crude oil price is up 4.35% to US$103.96 a barrel and the Brent crude oil price is up 1.25% to US$113.98 a barrel. This leaves oil prices on track to post a record monthly surge.

Shares going ex-dividend

A number of ASX shares are going ex-dividend this morning and could trade lower. This includes Cromwell Property Group (ASX: CMW), GenusPlus Group Ltd (ASX: GNP), Maas Group Holdings Ltd (ASX: MGH), and New Hope Corporation Ltd (ASX: NHC). The latter will be paying its shareholders a 10 cents per share fully franked dividend next month on 20 April.

Gold price edges higher

ASX 200 gold shares Evolution Mining Ltd (ASX: EVN) and Ramelius Resources Ltd (ASX: RMS) could have a relatively positive session on Tuesday after the gold price edged higher overnight. According to CNBC, the gold futures price is up 0.1% to US$4,494.7 an ounce. This was driven by increased demand for safe haven assets.

Strike Energy named as a buy

The team at Bell Potter has named Strike Energy Ltd (ASX: STX) shares as a speculative buy with a 15 cents price target. This implies potential upside of over 40% for investors from current levels. It said: "STX announced that the Western Australian Economic Regulation Authority had finalised its determination for the Benchmark Reserve Capacity Price for the 2028/29 capacity year at $488,500/MW per year which could support revenues of around $42m from the South Erregulla project, before electricity sales."

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

After starting deep in red territory this morning, the ASX 200 dropped as low as 8,379 points during intra-day trading before wrapping up at a flat 8,461 points. That puts the index down 0.65% for the session today.

This rather bleak Monday for ASX investors came after an even more turbulent end to the American trading week on Saturday morning (our time).

The Dow Jones Industrial Average Index (DJX: .DJI) was hit hard, dropping by a nasty 1.73%.

The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC) fared even worse, falling by a horrid 2.15%.

But let's get back to this week and our local markets, and check out the damage to the different ASX sectors inflicted by today's market drop.

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

Despite several stints in green territory this morning, the ASX 200 ended up closing in the red by the time trading wrapped up this afternoon, dropping 0.1%. That leaves the index at 8,525.7 points.

This miserly day for Australian investors follows a far more optimistic morning on Wall Street.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average Index (DJX: .DJI) was in fine form, rising by 0.66%.

The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC) did even better, gaining a rosy 0.77%.

But time to return to the local markets now and see how today's falls were distributed amongst the different ASX sectors today.

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

The S&P/ASX 200 Energy Index (ASX: XEJ) is down 2.5% while the broader S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is up 1.75%.

Oil and gas prices are easing across the board today after the United States said it was continuing discussions with Iran to end the war.

Israeli media indicated that the US had proposed a one-month ceasefire to facilitate ongoing discussions for a diplomatic resolution.

The New York Times reported that the US had sent Iran a 15-point proposal via Pakistan, which had offered to act as an intermediary.

Trading Economics analysts commented:

These developments outweighed concerns over further Middle East escalation after President Donald Trump ordered the deployment of roughly 2,000 troops to the region, as the administration considered options to loosen Iran's control over the Strait of Hormuz.

The 2,000 troops are from the US Army's 82nd Airborne Division.

Iran continues to deny it has even engaged in negotiations with the US, and the Strait of Hormuz remains effectively shut.

This is disrupting 20% of the world's oil and gas supplies, which has led to rising fuel prices and some shortages.

In Australia, petrol prices are as high as 247.9 cents per litre in Sydney.

Scores of service stations across the nation have run out of either petrol or diesel, or both.

Nine of the top 10 fastest fallers on the ASX 200 today are energy shares.

Let's take a look.

ASX 200 energy shares slip on Wednesday

The worst-hit ASX 200 energy share today is Karoon Energy Ltd (ASX: KAR), down 6.7% to $1.92.

The market's biggest ASX 200 oil share, Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS), is down 3.5% to $33.50 per share.

The Santos Ltd (ASX: STO) share price is down 2.4% to $7.66.

Ampol Ltd (ASX: ALD) shares are down 2.8% to $32.88.

The Viva Energy Group Ltd (ASX: VEA) share price is down 2.5% to $2.39.

Beach Energy Ltd (ASX: BPT) shares are 5.1% lower at $1.25.

ASX 200 coal shares are also lower today.

The Yancoal Australia Ltd (ASX: YAL) share price is 5.3% lower at $7.86.

The Whitehaven Ltd (ASX: WHC) share price is down 4.6% to $8.89.

The New Hope Corporation Ltd (ASX: NHC) share price is $5.59, down 4.3%.

Why is the rest of the market rising?

The ASX 200 is rising strongly on hopes that the war in Iran will end soon, as well as new inflation data that surprised on the downside.

The Australian Bureau of Statistics reported that the Consumer Price Index (CPI) lifted 3.7% in the 12 months to February.

That's down 0.1% from the 12 months to January.

Markets were expecting 3.8% for February, so the data was a pleasant surprise for investors.

However, inflation remains well outside the Reserve Bank's target range of 2% to 3%, with its ultimate goal being to reach the mid-point.

Housing costs, which incorporate electricity prices, new homes, and rents, rose the most at 7.2% over the 12 months.

Electricity prices alone rose 37% over the period.

The post Why are ASX 200 energy shares tumbling today? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Shares in the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) energy stock closed yesterday trading for $34.79. In late morning trade on Tuesday, shares are changing hands for $33.77 each, down 2.9%.

For some context, the ASX 200 is up 1% at this same time.

But it's not just the Woodside share price that's underperforming today.

Here's how these other top ASX 200 energy stocks are tracking this morning:

• Santos Ltd (ASX: STO) shares are down 2.7% at $7.83 each
• Beach Energy Ltd (ASX: BPT) shares are down 1.6% at $1.27 each
• Karoon Energy Ltd (ASX: KAR) shares are down 3.4% at $1.99 each

So, what's going on?

Why is the Woodside share price tumbling?

The ASX 200 is rallying, and the Woodside share price is falling, after United States President Donald Trump dialled back the pressure on Iran overnight.

As you're likely aware, Trump is intent on reopening the critical Strait of Hormuz shipping route. Iran's virtual closure of the strait, which accounts for about 20% of the world's oil shipping traffic, has sent energy prices soaring in March.

After initially giving Iran 48 hours to fully reopen Hormuz or face the bombing of its power stations, Trump delayed that option by five days. The US president said that Iranian officials are wanting to make a deal, news that Iran has so far denied.

Nonetheless, global oil prices plunged overnight on hopes of a possible resolution to the conflict. And that's clearly feeding through to the selling pressure on the Woodside share price today.

Brent crude is currently trading for US$99.94 per barrel. That's down 10.9% in 24 hours, and down from a peak of almost US$120 per barrel last week, according to data from Bloomberg.

Should the oil price indeed "fall like a rock" upon the successful reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, as Trump indicated, ASX energy shares could come back to earth following their remarkable recent rally.

But plunging oil prices could see a significant rally in many ASX 200 stocks. That includes energy-intensive companies like Qantas Airways Ltd (ASX: QAN). Indeed, shares in the flying kangaroo are up 4.3% today, trading for $8.50 apiece.

How have ASX 200 energy shares tracked in March?

Monday, 2 March, marked the first day of trading on the ASX since the start of the Iran war.

Since market close on 2 March, the ASX 200 has dropped a sharp 8.2%.

Here's how these ASX 200 energy shares have performed over that same time (including today's intraday retrace):

• Woodside shares are up 12.0%
• Santos shares are up 7.7%
• Karoon Energy shares are up 10.5%
• Beach Energy shares are up 10.3%

Stay tuned!

The post Why is the Woodside share price getting smashed on Tuesday? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

The S&P/ASX 200 Energy Index (ASX: XEJ) rose 1.2% yesterday while many other sectors fell. 

This index is now up 33% year to date, while the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is down just over 4%. 

Some ASX energy shares that have enjoyed strong returns lately include: 

• Yancoal Australia Ltd (ASX: YAL) is up 72% year to date
• Karoon Energy Ltd (ASX: KAR) is up 32%
• Ampol Ltd (ASX: ALD) has risen 15% in March 
• NexGen Energy Ltd (ASX: NXG) is up nearly 9% year to date. 

Why are energy shares rising?

ASX energy shares are rising mainly because oil and gas prices have surged, driven by geopolitical tensions (especially in the Middle East) and supply disruptions, which tighten global energy supply.

Higher energy prices also increase inflation expectations, making energy stocks more attractive compared to other sectors like tech.

At the same time, investors are rotating into commodities and defensive sectors, pushing more money into energy shares.

Investors may be concerned about whether this rally can continue. Here are some recent outlooks for these high performing ASX energy shares. 

Yancoal Australia Ltd (ASX: YAL)

Yancoal Australia is sitting at a 52-week high at the time of writing, after it climbed nearly 4% yesterday. 

Yancoal has a diversified mix of metallurgical and thermal coal mines, with primary geographical markets Japan, Singapore, China, South Korea, Taiwan, and Thailand. 

It closed yesterday trading at $8.63. 

After hitting record highs, analysts now view the stock as overvalued. 

According to five analysts offering forecasts via TradingView, Yancoal has an average one year price target of $7.66. 

This target is 11% lower than yesterday's closing price. 

Ampol Ltd (ASX: ALD)

Ampol shares rose another 1% during yesterday's trade. 

It is the largest, and only Australian-listed, petroleum refiner and distributor. 

After rising 15% in March, analysts now see the stock as fully valued. 

10 analysts have an average one year price target of $33.68 according to TradingView, right around yesterday's closing price of $33.44. 

Karoon Energy Ltd (ASX: KAR)

Karoon Energy is another energy stock hovering close to its 52-week high. 

It rose a healthy 4.5% yesterday to close trading at $2.06. 

The company is an oil and gas explorer and producer with assets in Brazil.

It is also now fully valued based on targets from analysts. 

9 analyst ratings via TradingView have a one year forecast of $2.04, suggesting there is little future upside. 

NexGen Energy Ltd (ASX: NXG)

NexGen Energy an exploration and development stage entity engaged in the acquisition, exploration, evaluation, and development of uranium properties in Canada.

This ASX energy stock has almost doubled in the last year. 

However unlike the previous three stocks, it appears experts believe this company can continue to rise in 2026. 

UBS recently put a 12 month share price target of $21. 

From yesterday's closing price of $15.51, that's suggests almost 35% upside. 

19 analysts' forecasts via TradingView paint a similar picture, with an average price target of $21.18. 

The post Can these red hot ASX energy shares keep charging higher? 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 rebound

The Australian share market looks set for a good 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 159 points or 1.9% higher. In late trade on Wall Street, the Dow Jones is up 1.5%, the S&P 500 is up 1.25%, and the Nasdaq is 1.5% higher.

Oil prices crash

It could be a difficult session for ASX 200 energy shares Karoon Energy Ltd (ASX: KAR) and Santos Ltd (ASX: STO) after oil prices crashed overnight. According to Bloomberg, the WTI crude oil price is down 10.3% to US$88.18 a barrel and the Brent crude oil price is down 11.6% to US$99.14 a barrel. This was driven by news that Donald Trump has paused strikes on Iranian energy infrastructure for five days.

BHP and Rio Tinto shares to rebound

It looks set to be a good session for BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP) and Rio Tinto Ltd (ASX: RIO) shares on Tuesday. Both miners' NYSE listed shares are charging higher on Monday night and up 4.5% and 3.5%, respectively. Improving investor sentiment and a strong rebound in the copper price overnight appear to be behind this.

Gold price sinks

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 sank overnight. According to CNBC, the gold futures price is down 3.6% to US$4,410.7 an ounce. Inflation fears have been weighing on the precious metal.

Boss Energy named as a buy

The team at Bell Potter has named Boss Energy Ltd (ASX: BOE) shares as a buy. In response to concerns over high diesel prices impacting mining margins, the broker highlights that the uranium miner's project is powered by the grid. It said: "The Honeymoon project draws power directly from the grid (connected to Broken Hill). In-situ-recovery operations by nature do not require high-diesel consuming truck and shovel fleet typically seen in open-pit operations. The only exposure is via 3rd party site deliveries for reagents." It has put a buy rating and $1.95 price target on the ASX 200 share.

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

After initially plunging almost 2% this morning, the ASX 200 pared back those losses and ended up closing 0.74% lower today. That loss leaves the index at 8,365.9 points.

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

The Dow Jones Industrial Average Index (DJX: .DJI) was hit hard, falling by a horrid 0.96%.

The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC) was hit even harder, dropping 2.01%.

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

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

It was a shockingly painful day for investors, with the ASX 200 opening sharply lower and staying that way all session. By the time trading wrapped up, the index had plunged by a painful 1.65% down to 8,497.8 points.

This horrid Thursday session for Australian investors comes after a similarly dire morning on Wall Street.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average Index (DJX: .DJI) was slammed, dropping 1.63%.

Things were only slightly better for the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC), which fell 1.46%.

But let's grit our teeth and return to the local markets now for an autopsy of today's trading, so we can see which of the various ASX sectors were hardest hit today.

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

Five of the largest energy stocks on the market followed suit, soaring to set new multi-year price milestones today.

This followed a spike in oil prices after both Israel and Iran launched fresh missile attacks on energy infrastructure assets.

This pushed the Brent crude oil price 4% higher to US$112 per barrel today.

Iran hit a Qatari facility housing the world's largest LNG export plant, while Israel attacked Iran's South Pars gas field.

ASX 200 energy shares soar while broader market falls

The benchmark S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) fell 1.65% as investors worried about the possibility of a longer-than-expected war.

An entrenched conflict would keep oil prices high, which would flow through to higher costs across many industries.

The Brent crude oil price has streaked 55% over the past 30 days, with the war effectively shutting down the Strait of Hormuz.

More than 20% of the world's global oil and gas exports, mainly from Iran, Iraq, Qatar, and the UAE, pass through the strait.

Meanwhile, ASX 200 energy shares soared today.

New multi-year highs for energy giants

ASX 200 oil & gas giant Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS) rose 6.6% to a two-and-a-half-year high of $33.65 today.

The Santos Ltd (ASX: STO) share price lifted 3.7% to a 52-week peak of $8.06.

The Ampol Ltd (ASX: ALD) share price reached an 18-month high of $33.65 today.

The Viva Energy Group Ltd (ASX: VEA) share price streaked 18% to a 52-week high of $2.49.

There was no price-sensitive news from Viva Energy today; however, it did announce a date for its AGM — 21 May.

ASX 200 coal share, New Hope Corporation Ltd (ASX: NHC) lifted 5.5% to a two-and-a-half-year high of $5.54.

ASX 200 coal shares have been rising as gas supply disruptions force power plants around the world to switch to coal.

This is pushing up the thermal coal price, with Newcastle futures rising 20% over the past 30 days to US$139.35 per tonne.

This is the highest thermal coal price since November 2024.

What about other energy stocks?

While not reaching new 52-week highs, many other ASX 200 energy shares rose strongly today.

Yancoal Australia Ltd (ASX: YAL) shares lifted 9.7% to an intraday high of $8.25, just short of their new 52-week high of $8.27 set last week.

The Karoon Energy Ltd (ASX: KAR) share price increased 5.2% to an intraday peak of $2.01.

The Beach Energy Ltd (ASX: BPT) share price rose 4.8% to an intraday high of $1.30.

The post 5 ASX 200 energy shares smash multi-year highs after oil price spike 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 rebound

The Australian share market looks set for a good session on Tuesday following a decent start to the week in the US. According to the latest SPI futures, the ASX 200 is poised to open the day 43 points or 0.5% higher. In late trade on Wall Street, the Dow Jones is up 0.8%, the S&P 500 is up 0.95%, and the Nasdaq is 1.1% higher.

Oil prices sink

It could be a poor session for ASX 200 energy shares Karoon Energy Ltd (ASX: KAR) and Santos Ltd (ASX: STO) after oil prices sank overnight. According to Bloomberg, the WTI crude oil price is down 4.75% to US$93.89 a barrel and the Brent crude oil price is down 2.7% to US$100.31 a barrel. This was driven by news that Donald Trump is pressuring allies to protect tankers in the Strait of Hormuz.

RBA meeting

Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA) and Westpac Banking Corp (ASX: WBC) shares will be on watch on Tuesday when the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) makes its decision on interest rates. According to the latest cash rate futures, the market is pricing in a 71% probability of the RBA lifting the cash rate by 25 basis points to 4.1%.

Gold price softens

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 softened overnight. According to CNBC, the gold futures price is down 0.85% to US$5,019.4 an ounce. Inflation fears have been weighing on the precious metal.

ASX 200 shares going ex-div

A number of ASX 200 shares are going ex-dividend today and could trade lower. This includes job listings company Seek Ltd (ASX: SEK), plumbing parts company Reece Ltd (ASX: REH), and debt collector Credit Corp Ltd (ASX: CCP). With respect to Seek, it will be rewarding its shareholders with a fully franked 27 cents per share interim dividend on 1 April.

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

After bouncing around quite a bit in red territory this session, the ASX 200 ended up closing 0.39% lower by the time trading wrapped up today. That leaves the index at 8,583.4 points.

This rather gloomy start to the Australian trading week follows a similarly bearish end to the American trading week on Saturday morning (our time).

The Dow Jones Industrial Average Index (DJX: .DJI) gave up an early lead to finish down 0.26%.

Meanwhile, the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC) was hit even harder, falling 0.93%.

But let's get back to this week and the local markets now for a checkup on how today's tough trading conditions affected the different ASX sectors this session.

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