In late morning trade, the Kingsgate share price is down 0.96% to $5.17.

The weakness comes amid a softer session for the broader ASX after failed weekend talks between the United States and Iran. This appears to have weighed on market sentiment and pushed investors away from risk assets.

Despite today's dip, Kingsgate shares are still up more than 233% over 12 months, ranking among the ASX's best-performing gold stocks.

Let's take a closer look at today's update.

Another strong quarter keeps FY26 on track

According to the release, Kingsgate reported March quarter production of 21,036 ounces of gold and 182,549 ounces of silver.

That marks the 5th consecutive quarter of gold production above 20,000 ounces and takes year-to-date output to 65,915 ounces of gold and 545,932 ounces of silver.

The company also lifted its total cash, bullion, and dore balance to $213 million at 31 March, up roughly 19% from the December quarter.

Management said the result reflected another solid quarter from the Chatree mine in Thailand, supported by a new monthly production record in March after an additional excavator joined the fleet.

The result also follows the recent payment of an interim dividend, with management reiterating that full-year guidance remains unchanged.

So, why is the market still cautious today?

The softer share price move likely reflects profit-taking and broader ASX weakness rather than disappointment with the release itself.

After rallying more than 200% over the past year, Kingsgate shares had already priced in a lot of operational momentum.

That can make even a solid quarterly update less likely to drive fresh buying unless the result materially exceeds market expectations.

Gold stocks are also seeing some mixed sentiment today as investors weigh safe-haven demand against broader market selling pressure across the ASX.

The stock also remains well below the low-$7 levels reached earlier this year, suggesting some investors are locking in gains after the strong run.

Foolish Takeaway

Kingsgate continues to deliver steady results from its established gold operation.

Production remains consistent, cash generation is building, and the balance sheet continues to strengthen even after dividend payments.

While today's share price dip looks more like a reflection of weaker ASX sentiment and short-term profit-taking, the company's operating momentum remains solid.

Based on the current share price, Kingsgate has a market capitalisation of around $1.39 billion.

The post Gold output rises again, but this ASX miner is slipping with the market today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Energy prices and supply chain networks impact almost all corners of the global economy.

So it wasn't surprising to see a broad market sell-off over the first three weeks of March as multiple industries assessed the damage.

The sell-off now leaves room for investors to buy the dip.

A two-week ceasefire is underway amid hopes of a long-term deal between the US and Iran soon.

Brokers have reviewed their ratings after many shares fell, and they see good opportunities across a number of industries.

Here are some of the ASX All Ords shares elevated to strong buy consensus ratings after last month's turmoil.

6 ASX All Ords shares newly upgraded to strong buy ratings

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

A consensus rating represents the average rating among analysts.

Kingsgate Consolidated Ltd (ASX: KCN)

The Kingsgate Consolidated share price fell 38% in March alongside a big fall in the gold price.

In April so far, the ASX All Ords gold share is up 19% to $5.22 at yesterday's close.

MA Financial is among the brokers that have upgraded Kingsgate shares.

The broker also lifted its 12-month share price target from $6.85 to $6.95.

Pinnacle Investment Management Group Ltd (ASX: PNI)

The Pinnacle Investment Management share price fell 10% in March.

This month, the ASX All Ords financial shares is up 4% to $14.63.

Canaccord Genuity is buy-rated on Pinnacle shares with a $24.53 target.

Zip Co Ltd (ASX: ZIP)

The Zip share price fell 19% in March.

This month, the ASX All Ords financial share is up 19% to $1.84.

Blackwattle holds Zip shares in its Small Cap Quality Fund.

Portfolio managers Robert Hawkesford and Daniel Broeren describe Zip as 'one of the most compelling value opportunities on the ASX'.

WA1 Resources Ltd (ASX: WA1)

The WA1 Resources share price fell 20% in March.

This month, the ASX All Ords copper share is up 9% to $15.19.

Canaccord Genuity is buy-rated on WA1 Resources shares with a $32 target.

Macquarie Technology Group Ltd (ASX: MAQ)

The Macquarie Technology share price fell 12% in March.

In April so far, the ASX All Ords tech share is up 12% to $66.60.

Canaccord Genuity is also buy-rated on this stock with a $95 target.

Santana Minerals Ltd (ASX: SMI)

The Santana Minerals share price fell 27% in March.

This month, the ASX All Ords gold share is up 2% to 68 cents.

Shaw & Partners has a buy rating and a $2.15 target on Santana Minerals shares.

Further reading

Check out 7 ASX 200 shares just upgraded to strong buy ratings, too.

The post 6 ASX All Ords shares elevated to strong buy status after March sell-off appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

ASX 200 expected to fall again

The Australian share market looks set for a disappointing start to the week following declines on Wall Street on Friday. According to the latest SPI futures, the ASX 200 is expected to open the day 61 points or 0.7% lower. In the United States, the Dow Jones was down 0.25%, the S&P 500 dropped 0.6%, and the Nasdaq tumbled 0.9%.

Oil prices rise

It could be a positive start to the week for ASX 200 energy shares Santos Ltd (ASX: STO) and Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS) after oil prices charged higher on Friday night. According to Bloomberg, the WTI crude oil price was up 3.1% to US$98.71 a barrel and the Brent crude oil price was up 2.7% to US$103.14 a barrel. This was despite US efforts to reduce prices.

ASX 200 shares going ex-div

A number of ASX 200 shares are going ex-dividend this morning and could trade lower. This includes Capricorn Metals Ltd (ASX: CMM), Chorus Ltd (ASX: CNU), Hub24 Ltd (ASX: HUB), Kingsgate Consolidated Ltd (ASX: KCN), and Ramelius Resources Ltd (ASX: RMS). Hub24 is rewarding shareholders with a 36 cents per share fully franked dividend next month on 21 April.

Gold price falls

ASX 200 gold shares such as Newmont Corporation (ASX: NEM) and Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST) could have a poor start to the week after the gold price tumbled on Friday night. According to CNBC, the gold futures price was down 2% to US$5,023.1 an ounce. This was the second week in a row of weekly declines in response to inflation and rate hike concerns.

Buy Cochlear shares

The team at Wilsons thinks investors should be buying Cochlear Ltd (ASX: COH) shares. It highlights that the hearing solution company's shares are trading at a material discount to long-term multiples. The broker said: "Cochlear trades on a forward P/E multiple of ~26x, representing a >10 year low and a material discount to its 10-year average of ~42x. We view this as a compelling entry point for a high-quality business ahead of accelerating earnings growth."

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

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

As we've reported, some of the biggest dividend increases among ASX mining shares this season came from the gold miners.

Next week, two of them go ex-dividend.

Ramelius Resources Ltd (ASX: RMS) shares will pay a fully-franked interim dividend of 3 cents per share on 15 April.

This exceeds the company's commitment to pay a minimum annual dividend of 2 cents per share for FY26.

Ramelius Resources reported a 13% increase in EBITDA to $347.7 million but a 6% fall in net profit after tax (NPAT) to $160 million.

The ASX gold share goes ex-dividend on Monday.

Capricorn Metals Ltd (ASX: CMM) shares will pay a maiden fully franked interim dividend of 5 cents per share.

The gold miner reported a 130% jump in underlying NPAT to $144.8 million for 1H FY26.

The ASX gold share also goes ex-dividend on Monday.

Here is a sample of the other ASX All Ords shares with ex-dividend dates next week.

ASX shares about to go ex-dividend

The post 26 ASX shares with ex-dividend dates next week appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Despite today's dip, the stock is still 25.22% higher year to date and an enormous 435.56% higher than this time last year. 

The increase means the stock has significantly outperformed the S&P/ASX 300 Index (ASX: XKO), which climbed 10.21% over the same period, and has outperformed the S&P/ASX 200 Materials Index (ASX: XMJ), which increased 52.04% over the year.

Who is Kingsgate and what does it do?

Kingsgate is engaged in gold and silver mining, development, and exploration, operating on the Pacific Rim and with headquarters in Sydney, Australia.

Its main operation is the Chatree Gold Mine in Thailand, which restarted in 2023 after the Thai government halted all gold mining in the country in 2016. Kingsgate also operates the 100%-owned Nueva Esperanza Silver Gold Project in Chile's Maricunga Belt. 

The gold miner was added to the ASX 300 Index amid a quarterly rebalance in September. The company has a market capitalisation of $1.95 billion.

What pushed the ASX stock higher over the past year?

Kingsgate has ridden the wave of soaring gold prices over the past year as investors flock to safe-haven assets amid worsening geopolitical instability. 

The gold price spiked at an all-time high of US$5,419 in late January. A dramatic buy-the-dip rally sent the metal's price south earlier this month, but recent geopolitical turmoil has seen investors flock back to the asset. 

The gold price held above US$5,300 on Monday, paring earlier gains after spiking past US$5,419. At the time of writing on Tuesday morning, the gold price has climbed another 0.58% for the day to US$5,353. 

What do analysts expect next?

Even after Kingsgate's price surge over the past year, it looks like there could be room for more in 2026.

According to TradingView data, two analysts have ratings on the ASX 300 gold miner. One has a hold rating, and the other has a strong buy rating. The average target price is $8.07 per share, which implies a potential 12.15% upside at the time of writing.

The post This ASX stock soared 435% in 12 months, and is tipped to keep climbing appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

The gold price is up 0.5% to US$4,958 per ounce, a new record, at the time of writing.

ASX gold shares and ASX gold ETFs are going nuts on Friday.

Get this: the S&P/ASX All Ords Gold Index (ASX: XGD) soared 1,322 points higher to a record 21,612.2 points this morning.

That equates to a staggering 6.5% gain in one day. By comparison, the S&P/ASX All Ordinaries Index (ASX: XAO) is up 0.34%.

The screaming gold price continues to defy expectations.

Just three months ago, top broker Goldman Sachs predicted that gold would rise to US$4,900 per ounce by the end of 2026.

Well, that happened today, and it's only January.

The broker conducted a poll of institutional investors in November and found one in three expect gold to go above US$5,000 per ounce.

That seems increasingly likely.

The gold price is up by just under 15% in the year to date.

The market pushed the yellow metal 7% higher this past week alone after US President Donald Trump slapped a new 10% tariff on goods from eight European nations to punish their opposition to his aspirations to buy Greenland.

The gold price rocketed 65% in 2025, following a 27% gain in 2024, largely due to central banks diversifying away from the US dollar.

Let's see what ASX gold shares and ETFs are doing today.

Hold on to your hats… this is going to be fun.

ASX gold shares soar as gold price hits new record

Let's focus on the large-cap ASX gold shares first.

The Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST) share price is up 6.23% to $27.81.

Northern Star shares dropped 8.1% yesterday after the miner disappointed the market with its December quarter report.

Northern Star's report, significant because it's the largest gold miner by market cap on the ASX, combined with news of lower unemployment in Australia, which raised the prospects of an interest rate hike this year, weighed on gold shares and ETFs yesterday.

The Evolution Mining Ltd (ASX: EVN) share price is up 6.59% to $15.04.

Newmont Corporation CDI (ASX: NEM) shares are up 4.64% to $179.90 apiece.

Among the mid-cap ASX gold shares, Ramelius Resources Ltd (ASX: RMS) shares are up 8.3% to $4.96.

The Greatland Resources Ltd (ASX: GGP) share price is up 9.81% to $14.22.

The Genesis Minerals Ltd (ASX: GMD) share price is $8.06, up 8.04%.

Perseus Mining Ltd (ASX: PRU) shares are up 6.6% to $6.46 apiece.

Westgold Resources Ltd (ASX: WGX) shares are up 6.67% to $7.76.

The Capricorn Metals Ltd (ASX: CMM) share price is up 4% to $15.47.

Vault Minerals Ltd (ASX: VAU) shares are up 4.76% to $5.94 apiece.

Regis Resources Ltd (ASX: RRL) shares are up 8.64% to $8.24.

How about ASX small-cap gold shares?

Among the small-cap ASX gold shares, Resolute Mining Ltd (ASX: RSG) shares are up 8.14% to $1.40.

The Pantoro Gold Ltd (ASX: PNR) share price is 5.83% higher at $5.45.

Meeka Metals Ltd (ASX: MEK) shares are up 3.57% to 29 cents.

Kingsgate Consolidated Ltd (ASX: KCN) shares are up 2.48% to $7.03 apiece.

The Golden Horse Minerals Ltd CDI (ASX: GHM) share price is 0.64% higher at 79 cents.

Black Cat Syndicate Ltd (ASX: BC8) shares are up 5.24% to $1.56.

(By the way, Warwick Grigor, an analyst at Far East Capital, offered some advice on how to select small-cap gold stocks to buy this week.)

What about ASX gold ETFs?

The Betashares Global Gold Miners Currency Hedged ETF (ASX: MNRS) streaked 4.87% to a record $18.94 per unit today.

MNRS was the best performer among the 423 ETFs on the Australian share market last year.

The VanEck Gold Miners AUD ETF (ASX: GDX) is up 4.54% to $157.45.

Perth Mint Gold (ASX: PMGOLD) is up 2.29% to $71.92 per unit.

Global X Physical Gold (ASX: GOLD) is up 2.63% to $66.27 per unit.

VanEck Australian Resources ETF (ASX: MVR), the No. 1 performer among ETFs holding ASX shares in 2025, is up 1.22% to $47.41.

The post ASX gold shares go crazy as gold price rips toward US$5,000 on Friday appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Robert Hawkesford and Daniel Broeren, who run Blackwattle's Small Cap Quality Fund, said strongly rising share prices for junior gold explorers pushed the small-cap index higher at 2.5x the pace of the S&P/ASX All Ords Index (ASX: XAO) in 2025.

Small-caps are typically young, growing companies with market capitalisations of between a few hundred million dollars and $2 billion.

Let's take a look at some examples of ASX small-cap gold shares booking incredible 12-month growth rates.

ASX small-cap gold shares ripping up the charts

Barton Gold Holdings Ltd (ASX: BGD)

The Barton Gold share price has soared 385% over 12 months.

Barton Gold is a mineral explorer in South Australia.

Its projects include Tarcoola, a brownfield open-pit mine, and Tunkillia, which has a 1.5Moz Au JORC Mineral Resource Estimate.

Kingsgate Consolidated Ltd (ASX: KCN)

The Kingsgate share price is up 408% over 12 months.

The Australian gold and silver producer owns the Chatree Gold Mine in Thailand and the Nueva Esperanza Gold-Silver Project in Chile.

Golden Horse Minerals Ltd CDI (ASX: GHM)

The Golden Horse share price has ascended 250% over 12 months.

Golden Horse is working on multiple gold prospects in Western Australia. Its flagship project is Hopes Hill.

Black Cat Syndicate Ltd (ASX: BC8)

Black Cat shares are up 111% over 12 months.

This Western Australian miner has a portfolio of high-grade projects in prime gold regions.

They include the Paulsens Gold Operation in the Pilbara and the Kal East Gold Project east of Kalgoorlie.

What's next in 2026?

All of these ASX small-cap gold shares benefited from a 65% rally in the gold price last year.

That was gold's greatest annual rise in more than four decades and came on top of a 27% lift in 2024.

Strong central bank purchasing, lower interest rates, geopolitical tensions, US tariffs, and other elements have fuelled gold's growth.

Professional investors are expecting the gold price to rise further in 2026.

A Goldman Sachs poll conducted in November found one in three institutional investors expect gold to go above US$5,000 per ounce this year.

Today, the gold price is US$4,672 per ounce, down 0.1% at the time of writing.

Warwick Grigor, an analyst at mining investment company Far East Capital, says gold has continuing tailwinds in the new year.

In an article, Grigor commented:

There is not much doubt that the gold price will continue to rise during 2026.

Sure, there will be volatility and some people are already saying that gold is a sell, but you would have to be very brave to exit gold just now.

As Hawkesford and Broeren point out, "smaller cap companies offer the greatest range of opportunities" for investors.

By nature, these young companies have more room for growth than larger, established companies.

This makes ASX small-cap shares exciting, but also risky, for investors.

If you're considering buying ASX small-cap gold shares, Grigor has some advice on how to choose among them.

How to choose ASX small-cap gold shares

Far East Capital expects another strong year for the gold sector in 2026, but Grigor warns that "not every company will be a winner".

The first step to selecting a good ASX small-cap gold share for investment is assessing its quality.

Grigor said:

Take the time to think about the quality of the investment being presented to you.

An existing producer can be more easily assessed by looking at its track record but there are many new companies coming through the pipeline.

They will be highly aspirational and have grand plans, but you need to take the time to consider how realistic they are.

The second step is considering the quality of the management team.

If you're happy with the people running the business, then step three is assessing its technical merits.

Grigor said:

Many of these companies will be going to raise money while the ducks are quacking, but often their plans will be incomplete and uncertain — yet they can be made to look good on paper.

Most of these should be treated as trading opportunities in the near term, and they might be great stocks to own in the resource definition and expansion stage but never forget about the subsequent development and commissioning risk.

The post Considering ASX small-cap gold shares? Expert advice on how to decide appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

The ASX 300 slightly outperformed the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO), which lifted 6.8% and gave a total return of 10.32%.

Here are four ASX 300 shares that outperformed the market average by a mile.

In fact, they more than doubled in value.

Let's take a look.

4 ASX 300 shares that more than doubled in value last year

Electro Optic Systems Holdings (ASX: EOS)

The Electro Optic Systems share price leapt by an astounding 632% to finish 2025 at $9.44 per share.

This ASX 300 industrial share is benefiting from the global defence spending megatrend.

Electro Optic Systems produces advanced weapon systems, counter-drone solutions, and space domain awareness programs.

Predictive Discovery Ltd (ASX: PDI)

This ASX 300 gold share skyrocketed 220% to close the year at 74 cents apiece.

Predictive Discovery is developing gold deposits within the Siguiri Basin in Guinea.

Its key asset is the Tier-1 Bankan Gold Project. Bankan has a mineral resource estimate of 5.53Moz.

Predictive Discovery completed the Definitive Feasibility Study (DFS) in June last year.

The Guinea Government has approved the environmental Impact assessment, and the exploitation permit application is in the final stages.

Kingsgate Consolidated Ltd (ASX: KCN)

Fellow gold explorer Kingsgate joined the ASX 300 in the September quarter rebalance.

The Kingsgate share price flew 340% to finish at $5.63 per share on 31 December.

Kingsgate is an Australian gold and silver producer and the owner and operator of the Chatree Gold Mine in central Thailand.

The ASX 300 miner also owns and operates the Nueva Esperanza Gold-Silver Project in the Maricunga Belt in northern Chile.

Liontown Ltd (ASX: LTR)

The Liontown share price roared 197% higher to close at $1.58 per share in 2025.

The ASX 300 lithium share surged on the back of rising lithium prices, which began rebounding midway through 2025.

The lithium carbonate price is at a two-year high, up 105% over the past 12 months.

Renewed global demand and low supply are powering this turn of events.

Lithium prices experienced dramatic price falls in 2023, followed by 18 months of stagnation in 2024 and the first half of 2025.

There is a greater demand for lithium now to power batteries and new infrastructure as part of the green energy transition.

EV manufacturing is also back on the rise, with EVs outselling traditional cars in China for the first time last October.

China is also trying to stabilise lithium prices by implementing policy measures to avoid overproduction.

The post 4 ASX 300 shares that ripped 100% or more in 2025 appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

Endeavour Group Ltd (ASX: EDV)

The Endeavour share price is down 2.5% to $3.71. Investors have been selling the alcohol giant's shares following the release of a trading update. Although the Dan Murphy's and BWS owner reported sales growth during the first half, margin pressures weighed on its profitability. Endeavour is expecting to report group EBIT (before significant items) of between $555 million and $566 million for the first half. This will be down 4.9% to 6.7% from $595 million a year earlier. Endeavour's CEO, Jayne Hrdlicka, said: "In a competitive market landscape, we have focused on reinforcing customer confidence in the value we offer across all channels, particularly in Dan Murphy's unbeatable price and customer experience."

GQG Partners Inc (ASX: GQG)

The GQG Partners share price is down 7% to $1.67. This has been driven by the release of the fund manager's latest funds under management (FUM) update. GQG Partners reported FUM of US$163.9 billion at the end of December, following a US$2.1 billion net outflow during the month. The company said: "We maintained our defensive positioning through year-end, consistent with our goal to protect client assets from what we perceive as extended valuations, deteriorating fundamentals, and macroeconomic uncertainty. As a result, we experienced relative underperformance across all our strategies for the year versus our benchmarks."

Kingsgate Consolidated Ltd (ASX: KCN)

The Kingsgate Consolidated share price is down 2% to $5.85. Investors have been selling this gold miner's shares following the release of its quarterly update. Kingsgate Consolidated recorded production of 20,957 ounces of gold and 157,542 ounces of silver in the December 2025 quarter. This brought its total production to 44,879 ounces of gold and 363,382 ounces of silver for the half. This positions the company to achieve the midpoint of its FY 2026 guidance. The market may have been expecting more.

Super Retail Group Ltd (ASX: SUL)

The Super Retail share price is down a further 1% to $14.74. Investors have been selling this retail conglomerate's shares this week following the release of a trading update. The Supercheap Auto, BCF, Rebel, and Macpac owner expects a 4.2% increase in total sales to a record of $2.2 billion for the first half. However, due to margin pressures from discounting, its normalised profit before tax is expected to be $172 million to $175 million. This is down from $186 million in the prior corresponding period.

The post Why Endeavour, GQG Partners, Kingsgate, and Super Retail shares are dropping today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

At the time of writing, the Kingsgate share price is down 2.18% to $5.82. By comparison, the S&P/ASX All Ords Index (ASX: XAO) is currently up 0.9%.

Despite today's move, it comes after a remarkable year for investors. The stock is now up over 340% over the past 12 months, making it one of the strongest performers in the ASX resources space.

So, what did the company announce?

Production remains strong

According to the release, Kingsgate reported that it produced 20,957 ounces of gold and 157,542 ounces of silver during the December 2025 quarter. That marked the fourth consecutive quarter in which gold production exceeded 20,000 ounces.

For the first half of FY26, total production reached 44,879 ounces of gold and 363,382 ounces of silver. Management noted that this result places the company at the midpoint of its FY26 production guidance, even though December was expected to be the weakest quarter of the year.

Cash position jumps sharply

Just as important for investors was the company's update on its balance sheet.

Kingsgate finished the quarter with $179 million in cash, bullion, and dore, representing a 56% increase compared to the September quarter. That sharp rise was driven by higher gold prices, solid production, and improved operating performance.

This stronger cash position gives Kingsgate more flexibility. It can continue optimising its operations, strengthen its balance sheet, and position itself to benefit if gold prices remain elevated.

Gold price tailwinds remain supportive

Kingsgate's strong year has also been helped by the broader rally in gold prices.

With gold trading at record levels after a strong run over the past year, producers have benefited from a more supportive pricing environment. That strength has fed into improved cash flow and helped underpin confidence in ASX gold stocks.

What investors should watch next

Looking ahead, the key focus will be whether Kingsgate can maintain production consistency and keep costs under control as it moves through the second half of FY26.

Further details are expected later this month when the company releases its full quarterly report for December 2025. That update should provide more insight into operating costs, margins, and how management plans to build on the strong start to the year.

For now, today's update reinforces why Kingsgate has been back on investors' radars and why the market continues to reward its progress.

The post Why this ASX gold stock is back in the spotlight today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Year to date, the ASX 300 index has slightly outperformed the ASX 200 index, which is the benchmark index here in Australia. 

So what does this tell us?

Broadly speaking, there were companies that sat outside the largest blue-chip stocks that had strong returns this year. 

Last week I covered two ASX 200 stocks that doubled in 2025. 

This proves that there is still plenty of upside even amongst large companies. 

Here are two ASX 300 shares that outperformed these and tripled in value in 2025. 

Kingsgate Consolidated Ltd (ASX: KCN)

One of the hottest covered topics this year has been the success of gold shares.

Global gold prices have climbed to all-time highs (above US $4,400/oz) in late 2025, driven by safe-haven demand, expectations of U.S. interest rate cuts, and geopolitical tensions.

One of the winners in this bull run has been Kingsgate Consolidated. 

It is a gold and silver miner, explorer, and mine developer operating in the Pacific Rim. The company's main project is the Chatree Gold Mine in central Thailand. 

Kingsgate also operates the 100%-owned Nueva Esperanza Gold/Silver Project in Chile.

At the start of 2025, these ASX 300 shares were trading for approximately $1.29 each. 

Yesterday, shares closed at $5.52. 

That's a 327.9% rise in less than 12 months. 

DroneShield Ltd (ASX: DRO)

Another emerging theme in 2025 has been the investor push towards defence stocks. 

Global and Australian spending in defence is increasing at a rapid rate due to global conflict. 

One of the key benefactors in 2025 has been DroneShield, one of the most hotly covered ASX 300 stocks this year. 

It has secured several milestone contracts this year. 

The company develops and sells artificial-intelligence-powered hardware and software to detect drones used by the likes of terrorists and criminals. The company's solutions protect people, organisations, and critical infrastructure from the intrusion of drones.

It rose almost 8% yesterday alone, taking its yearly growth to 300%. 

It's worth noting this hasn't come without volatility.

From January to October it rose more than 700%, before losing ground in the last couple of months. 

Do these ASX 300 shares have further upside?

For investors who were not fortunate enough to reap the benefits of these massive gains in 2025, there could be further upside. 

A recent report from Bell Potter included a $4.40 price target for DroneShield shares. 

This indicates a further 46% upside for the ASX 300 stock. 

For Kingsgate shares, TradingView has a one year price target of $6.83, which indicates a further 23% upside from yesterday's closing price of $5.52. 

The post Investors tripled their returns with these ASX 300 shares this year appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

Catapult Sports Ltd (ASX: CAT)

The Catapult Sports share price is up 5.5% to $5.35. This appears to have been driven by the release of a broker note out of Morgans this morning. According to the note, the broker has initiated coverage on the sports performance technology company's shares with a buy rating and $6.25 price target. It said: "We forecast strong topline growth for CAT, estimating a ~20% ACV 3-year CAGR, reaching ~US$180m by FY28. A scalable platform and strong SaaS metrics should see CAT join the 'Rule of 40' club by FY27. We initiate coverage on Catapult Sports (CAT) with a Buy recommendation and a A$6.25 per share price target."

Kingsgate Consolidated Ltd (ASX: KCN)

The Kingsgate Consolidated share price is up 2.5% to $4.22. This morning, this gold miner revealed that it has mutually agreed to terminate arbitration proceedings with the Thai government that were commenced in November 2017. Kingsgate's CEO, Jamie Gibson, said: "This is a historic moment for Kingsgate's investment in the Chatree Mine. I look forward to an era of renewed cooperation with the Thai Government. I believe that the continuance of operations at the Chatree Mine will deliver significant benefits to Kingsgate and its shareholders as well as to the people of Thailand. More generally, I think this development is a strong and positive signal that Thailand is open for business."

Light & Wonder Inc. (ASX: LNW)

The Light & Wonder share price is up 5.5% to $151.55. This may have been driven by a broker note out of UBS. This morning, the broker reaffirmed its buy rating and $206.00 price target on the gaming technology company's shares. It highlights that industry data shows that gaming revenues in the US increased strongly in October.

Reece Ltd (ASX: REH)

The Reece share price is up 4% to $12.75. This morning, this plumbing parts company announced a new $35 million on-market share buyback. The company's chair and CEO, Peter Wilson, said: "We have a well-defined capital allocation framework and continue to take a long-term approach to shareholder value creation. We remain committed to maintaining a strong balance sheet with a conservative leverage ratio to fund future growth."

The post Why Catapult, Kingsgate, Light & Wonder, and Reece shares are storming higher today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

At the time of writing, the gold price is US$4,148 per ounce, up 0.8% today and up 57% in the year to date.

Trading Economics analysts said the gold price hit a three-week high on expectations of another interest rate cut in the US.

The analysts said growing economic uncertainty in the US had increased the likelihood of a rate cut.

The US Government has been shut down for 40 days now.

Meantime, new data shows job losses in the US economy last month, particularly in government and retail sectors.

On top of that, US consumer sentiment has fallen to a three-and-a-half-year low.

The analysts commented:

Traders are pricing in about a 64% chance of a 25-basis-point Fed cut in December, with Fed Governor Stephen Miran advocating a larger half-point reduction amid falling inflation and rising unemployment.

Meantime, America's biggest bank, JPMorgan, now projects the gold price could surpass US$5,000 per ounce next year.

JPMorgan isn't alone in its optimistic predictions.

French bank Societe Generale SA also says the gold price will reach US$5,000 per ounce by the end of next year.

Goldman Sachs is tipping US$4,900 per ounce by the end of 2026.

ASX gold shares surge on Tuesday

The S&P/ASX All Ordinaries Gold Index (ASX: XGD) is up 2.63% today, while the S&P/ASX All Ords Index (ASX: XAO) is down 0.09%.

The market's biggest ASX gold share, Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST), is trading 3.45% higher at $26.06.

The Evolution Mining Ltd (ASX: EVN) share price is up 1.9% to $11.29.

Newmont Corporation CDI (ASX: NEM) shares are 4.29% higher at $136.47.

The Genesis Minerals Ltd (ASX: GMD) share price is $6.24, up 3.48% today.

Perseus Mining Ltd (ASX: PRU) shares are $5.18, rising 3.1%.

Westgold Resources Ltd (ASX: WGX) shares are up 0.87% to $5.77.

Perth Mint Gold (ASX: PMGOLD) shares are up 2.27% to $63.15.

Among the ASX small-cap gold shares, Barton Gold Holdings Ltd (ASX: BGD) shares are up 7.14% to $1.20.

New Murchison Gold Ltd (ASX: NMG) shares are 6.1% higher at 3.5 cents apiece.

The Kingsgate Consolidated Ltd (ASX: KCN) share price is up 3.1% to $4.65.

The Golden Horse Minerals Ltd CDI (ASX: GHM) share price is up 4.9% to 75 cents.

Black Cat Syndicate Ltd (ASX: BC8) shares are up 5.39% to $1.08.

The Dateline Resources Ltd (ASX: DTR) share price is up 0.69% to 29 cents.

What about ASX gold ETFs?

Among the gold exchange-traded funds (ETFs), Betashares Global Gold Miners Currency Hedged ETF (ASX: MNRS) is up 4.1% to $13.59 per unit.

MNRS seeks to mirror the performance of the Nasdaq Global ex-Australia Gold Miners Hedged AUD Index and invests in 56 stocks.

The VanEck Gold Miners AUD ETF (ASX: GDX) is up 3.7% to $117.85 per unit.

The GDX ETF tracks the NYSE Arca Gold Miners Index (AUD) and invests in 63 stocks.

Global X Physical Gold ETF (ASX: GOLD) is up 2.35% to $58.26 per unit.

The GOLD ETF seeks to mirror the growth in the Australian dollar gold price.

The post Why are ASX gold shares and ETFs soaring today? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

In the mining space, small-caps are typically junior producers or mineral explorers that are still focused on test drilling.

Resilient commodity prices are supporting ASX mining shares in 2025, leading to an outperformance against the benchmark.

The S&P/ASX 300 Metal & Mining Index (ASX: XMM) is up 23.4% while the S&P/ASX 300 Index (ASX: XKO) has lifted 7.8% in 2025.

In terms of commodity prices, silver has been the standout.

The silver price has soared 67% in the year to date to US$48.30 per ounce yesterday, supporting ASX small-cap silver mining shares.

The gold price is 52% higher in the year to date, and reached a new record above US$4,300 per ounce last month.

As we reported last month, many ASX small-cap gold mining shares are shooting the lights out this year.

Copper has also risen strongly, up 26% to US$5 per pound in the year to date, supporting pure-play copper shares and major diversified miners with expanding copper segments.

Aluminium is up 12% to US$2,863 per tonne, cobalt has doubled to US$48,570 per tonne, and tin is up 23% to US$35,814 per tonne.

Iron ore was trading at US$104.73 per tonne yesterday, up 1.1% in 2025, providing support for the three major ASX 200 iron ore shares.

In 2025, BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP) and Fortescue Ltd (ASX: FMG) shares are both up 8% and Rio Tinto Ltd (ASX: RIO) is up 11%.

The mining segment's strong performance relative to the broader market is particularly evident among small-cap mining shares.

Let's check out some examples.

4 ASX small-cap mining shares that have doubled in 2025

Here are four ASX small-cap mining shares that have doubled in value in the year to date.

Kingsgate Consolidated Ltd (ASX: KCN)

The Kingsgate share price has ripped 242% in the year to date, closing at $4.41 yesterday.

Kingsgate is an Australian gold and silver producer and the owner and operator of the Chatree Gold Mine in central Thailand.

It also owns and operates the Nueva Esperanza Gold-Silver Project in the renowned Maricunga Belt in northern Chile.

Kingsgate Consolidated shares have a market capitalisation of $1.1 billion.

Cyprium Metals Ltd (ASX: CYM)

Cyprium Metals shares are up 1,850% in the year to date, closing at 39 cents yesterday.

Cyprium's flagship property is the Nifty Copper Complex in Western Australia.

Nifty previously produced significant copper oxide and sulphide.

The site has a Mineral Resource Estimate of 1,038,000 tonnes of copper and a mineral inventory of 91,000 tonnes of copper.

Cyprium Metals intends to redevelop Nifty, which has current operational approvals and recent new investment backing.

This ASX small-cap copper mining share a market capitalisation of $109 million.

Locksley Resources Ltd (ASX: LKY)

The Locksley Resources share price is up 1,650% in the year to date, closing at 35 cents yesterday.

Locksley Resources is a critical minerals explorer advancing its flagship Mojave project in California in the US.

The Mojave project includes the Desert Antimony project and El Campo rare earths prospect.

On The Bull, Niv Dagan from Peak Asset Management warned of a likely period of profit-taking on Locksley Resources shares.

The ASX small-cap mining share streaked to a record 69 cents in September.

Despite its recent tumble, the stock's 2025 gain remains impressive.

Locksley Resources shares have a market cap of $96 million.

Aeris Resources Ltd (ASX: AIS)

The Aeris Resources share price is up 125% in the year to date, closing at 41 cents on Thursday.

Aeris Resources is a mid-tier base and precious metals producer, with a copper-dominant portfolio.

Its main copper project is Tritton, which is a long life mine in Cobar, NSW.

In Queensland, Aeris Resources has the high-grade gold project, Cracow, in the state's centre, as well as North Queensland operations.

In Victoria's East Gippsland, Aeris has an advanced copper and zinc development project called Stockman.

Aeris Resources shares have a market capitalisation of $374 million.

The post 4 ASX small-cap mining shares up 100% or more in 2025 appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

The gold price soared above US$4,000 per ounce for the first time in overnight trading on Wednesday (Australian time).

However, the materials sector's overall lead last week masked a substantial sell-off of ASX 200 gold shares on Friday.

Investors took profits on the final day of trading after the US dollar strengthened and Israel and Hamas agreed to a ceasefire.

The S&P/ASX All Ords Gold Index (ASX: XGD) rose 2.14% between Monday and Thursday, before plummeting 3.51% on Friday.

By comparison, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) fell 0.32% over the five trading days to close at 8,958.3 points on Friday.

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

Let's recap.

ASX 200 gold mining shares sold off on Friday

The market's largest ASX 200 gold mining share, Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST), fell 1.47% over the week to close at $24.05.

The Evolution Mining Ltd (ASX: EVN) share price declined 0.46% to $10.93 on Friday.

Newmont Corporation CDI (ASX: NEM) shares fell 0.75% to $129.25.

Ramelius Resources Ltd (ASX: RMS) shares fell 4.5% to $3.82 while Genesis Minerals Ltd (ASX: GMD) lost 4.72% to close at $5.85.

The Perseus Mining Ltd (ASX: PRU) share price dropped 4.25% to $4.73.

Small-cap and mid-cap gold shares were a mixed bag..

ASX 200 newcomer Greatland Resources Ltd (ASX: GGP), rose 9.19% to close out the week at $8.08.

The Dateline Resources Ltd (ASX: DTR) share price fell 16.9% to 54 cents.

Kingsgate Consolidated Ltd (ASX: KCN) lifted 5.3% to $3.97.

Black Cat Syndicate Ltd (ASX: BC8) fell 5.3% to $1.34.

New Murchison Gold Ltd (ASX: NMG) shares rose 6.7% to 3.2 cents per share.

On Thursday, we discussed 7 ASX small-cap gold shares that have skyrocketed in 2025 as the gold price continues its run.

What about other ASX 200 mining shares?

The BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP) share price lifted 0.33% to $42.22.

The Fortescue Ltd (ASX: FMG) share price fell 0.67% to $19.16.

Rio Tinto Ltd (ASX: RIO) shares edged 0.07% higher to $125.15.

The Mineral Resources Ltd (ASX: MIN) share price leapt 8.7% to $44.14.

Pure-play copper share, Sandfire Resources Ltd (ASX: SFR) rose 7.9% to $16.13 on Friday.

Capstone Copper Corp (ASX: CSC) shares rose 5.6% to $14.20.

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 gold shares sold off on Friday after gold price breaks through US$4,000 per ounce appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

At the time of writing, the gold price is US$4,011 per ounce, representing an astonishing 53% gain in the year to date.

The S&P/ASX All Ordinaries Gold Index (ASX: XGD) is up 98% in 2025 and smashed a new record of 16,969.9 points earlier today.

By comparison, the S&P/ASX All Ordinaries Index (ASX: XAO) has lifted just 9.5% over the same period.

Goldman Sachs says the gold price is receiving much support from central bank purchases, particularly in emerging markets.

A recent World Gold Council survey found 95% of central banks expect global gold holdings to continue increasing over the next year.

Of course, the strong commodity price is great news for the big ASX 200 gold shares.

The Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST) share price is up 60% in 2025, while Evolution Mining Ltd (ASX: EVN) is up 133%.

Newmont Corporation CDI (ASX: NEM) shares have lifted 120% in the year to date.

While that's impressive, the most spectacular gains are being seen among the ASX small-cap gold shares.

Here are some examples.

7 superstar ASX small-cap gold shares

Dateline Resources Ltd (ASX: DTR)

This ASX small-cap gold share has streaked into the stratosphere in 2025.

Dateline Resources shares have skyrocketed 9,600% in 2025 to trade at 48.5 cents apiece on Thursday.

Dateline Resources is an Australian-based company focused on gold mining and exploration targets in the United States.

The company owns 100% of the Colosseum Gold-REE Project in the Walker Lane Trend in East San Bernardino County, California.

This ASX small-cap gold share has a market capitalisation of $2.2 billion.

Dateline Resources lodged its response to an ASX price query today.

Barton Gold Holdings Ltd (ASX: BGD)

The Barton Gold share price has soared 412% higher in the year to date, trading at $1.28 on Thursday.

Barton Gold is a mineral exploration company in South Australia.

Its projects include Tarcoola, a brownfield open-pit mine, and Tunkillia, which has a 1.5Moz Au JORC Mineral Resource Estimate.

Barton Gold shares have a market capitalisation of $289 million.

New Murchison Gold Ltd (ASX: NMG)

New Murchison Gold shares have more than tripled in value in 2025.

The New Murchison Gold share price has soared 240% in the year to date to trade at 3.4 cents today.

New Murchison Gold is a mineral exploration company that owns substantial tenements in the Murchison goldfield in Western Australia.

This ASX small-cap gold share has a market capitalisation of $404 million.

Kingsgate Consolidated Ltd (ASX: KCN)

The Kingsgate share price has ripped 209% in the year to date, trading at $3.98 today.

Kingsgate is an Australian gold and silver producer and the owner and operator of the Chatree Gold Mine in central Thailand.

It also owns and operates the Nueva Esperanza Gold-Silver Project in the renowned Maricunga Belt in northern Chile.

Kingsgate Consolidated shares have a market capitalisation of $1.03 billion.

Yesterday, Kingsgate announced the highest quarterly production at Chatree since the restart.

A total of 23,922 ounces of gold and 205,841 ounces of silver were produced, representing an 18% quarterly increase in gold production.

Golden Horse Minerals Ltd CDI (ASX: GHM)

The Golden Horse share price has leapt 204% in the year to date, trading at 73 cents today.

Golden Horse is undertaking a regional strategy to define JORC resources and fast-track production across multiple gold prospects in Western Australia.

Golden Horse holds one of the largest land parcels in the renowned Southern Cross Greenstone Belt. Its flagship project is Hopes Hill.

This ASX small-cap share has a market capitalisation of $117 million.

Black Cat Syndicate Ltd (ASX: BC8)

Black Cat shares are up 144% in the year to date, trading at $1.39 today.

This Western Australian gold producer has a substantial and growing portfolio of high-grade projects in prime gold regions.

Its projects include the Paulsens Gold Operation in the Pilbara, the Kal East Gold Project east of Kalgoorlie, and the Coyote Gold Operation in the Western Tanami.

Black Cat achieved first gold at the Myhree open pit at Kal East in the second half of 2024, followed by first gold at Paulsens in December.

This ASX small-cap gold share has a market capitalisation of $989 million.

Black Cat gave investors an update on its progress at Kal East yesterday.

Meeka Metals Ltd (ASX: MEK)

The Meeka Metals share price is up 159% in the year to date, trading at 21 cents on Thursday.

Meeka Metals has a portfolio of high-quality fully-owned projects in Western Australia.

Its flagship mine is the Murchison Gold Project, which has a high-grade 1.2Moz at 3g/t Au Mineral Resource on granted mining leases.

Meeka Metals has a 10-year production plan in place for the Murchison Gold Project. The miner reported first gold in July.

The miner hopes to produce up to 76koz per annum (averaging 65koz per annum for the first seven years).

This ASX small-cap gold share has a market capitalisation of $605 million.

The post 7 ASX small-cap gold shares skyrocketing in 2025 appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

The company's shares are already up more than 40% since early August, changing hands for $3.16 on Thursday, up 2.1% on the day.

In an investor presentation released to the ASX on Thursday, the company said it expected to produce between 85,000 and 95,000 ounces of gold this financial year – a record for the project – at an all-in sustaining cost of US$1550-US$1750 per ounce, before royalties.

This compares with the current gold price of US$3649.28 per ounce.

Kingsgate said it also had more than 1200km² of exploration potential across 17 tenements within 20km of the Chatree mine and a "robust" exploration program planned for the next field season.

It was also planning an updated resource and reserve estimate for Chatree, as well as an inaugural resource estimate for the south east complex at Chatree, before the end of 2025.

New project potential

As well as its ongoing operations in Thailand, the company said it had also increased its focus on its Nueva Esperanza project in Chile.

Kingsgate said that project was a "prospective pre-feasibility stage development project located in the highly-endowed Maricunga gold/silver belt of the Atacama region of Chile''.

The company said it was currently "exploring all options to advance the project and unlock value for shareholders, including a separate listing, joint venture or sale''.

Kingsgate was also recently named for upcoming inclusion in the S&P/ASX 300 Index (ASX: XKO).

The post This gold producer is up 40% in a month but says there's a record year ahead appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Four ASX shares that are not letting that hold them back are listed below. Here's why they are rising:

Beach Energy Ltd (ASX: BPT)

The Beach Energy share price is up 3.5% to $1.18. This follows the release of the energy producer's full year results this morning. Beach Energy reported a 20% jump in underlying EBITDA to $1.1 billion and a 32% lift in underlying net profit after tax to $451 million. This was driven by a 16% increase in sales volumes and a 13% lift in its average realised gas price. In light of its strong performance, the Beach Energy board elected to pay a record final dividend of 6 cents per share.

Endeavour Group Ltd (ASX: EDV)

The Endeavour Group share price is up 3.5% to $4.18. This morning, this drinks giant revealed that its executive chair, Ari Mervis, has resigned due to disagreements with the board. Lead independent director Duncan Makeig will assume the role of interim chair while overseeing the recruitment of a permanent chair. Outside this, Endeavour advised that FY 2025 sales are expected to be $12.06 billion, whereas its statutory net profit after tax is expected to be between $420 million and $425 million.

Kingsgate Consolidated Ltd (ASX: KCN)

The Kingsgate Consolidated share price is up 12% to $2.49. Investors have been buying this gold miner's shares following the release of an update on production at the Chatree Gold Mine in Thailand. It revealed that it produced more than 8,700 ounces of gold and more than 64,400 ounces of silver for the month. This represents the highest monthly production rate since operations restarted in March 2023. The company's CEO, Jamie Gibson, said: "We're off to a cracking start for FY26, and these figures showcase the hard work and commitment of our operations team to deliver continuous improvements at Chatree."

Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST)

The Northern Star share price is up 6% to $16.24. This follows the release of a presentation relating to the KCGM operation. That presentation outlined its plans for the future, including its mill expansion, which is on track for cut-over in early FY 2027. In addition, a number of ASX gold stocks are rising today following a strong rise in the gold price on Friday. This has led to the S&P/ASX All Ords Gold index lifting 4.1%.

The post Why Beach Energy, Endeavour, Kingsgate, and Northern Star shares are charging higher today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

In morning trade, the ASX gold stock in this article is up 10% to $2.44.

Which ASX gold stock?

The gold stock that is getting a lot of attention from investors today is Kingsgate Consolidated Ltd (ASX: KCN).

Investors have been scrambling to buy its shares for a couple of reasons.

The first is a strong rise in the gold price on Friday night after weak US economic data sparked hopes that the US Federal Reserve will be forced to cut interest rates.

This has led to the S&P/ASX All Ords Gold index rising by 3.4% at the time of writing.

What else?

The other catalyst for the strong rise has been the release of a production update from the ASX gold stock this morning.

According to the release, Kingsgate's Chatree Gold Mine in Thailand achieved very strong output during the month of July, with records being broken.

The world-class Chatree Gold Mine is Kingsgate's flagship asset and operated through its Thai subsidiary Akara Resources. The mine has a mineral resource of 3.8 million ounces of gold and 30.5 million ounces of silver and ore reserve of 1.24 million ounces of gold and 11.5 million ounces of silver.

It is located in central Thailand, approximately 280km north of the capital of Bangkok and close to the Phichit, Phetchabun and Phitsanulok provinces.

The ASX gold stock revealed that it produced more than 8,700 ounces of gold and more than 64,400 ounces of silver for the month.

Management notes that these figures represent the highest monthly production rate since operations restarted in March 2023.

How does this compare?

As a comparison, during the final quarter of FY 2025, the company recorded gold production of 20,278 ounces and silver production of 166,807 ounces.

If the company were to maintain its current level of production in August and September, it would end up with quarterly production of 26,100 for gold and 193,200 of silver, comfortably ahead of the previous quarter.

Commenting on its performance, the ASX gold stock's managing director and CEO, Jamie Gibson, said:

We're off to a cracking start for FY26, and these figures showcase the hard work and commitment of our operations team to deliver continuous improvements at Chatree.

Following today's gain, the Kingsgate Consolidated share price is up almost 80% since this time last year.

The post Guess which ASX gold stock is jumping 10% on big news appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

DroneShield Ltd (ASX: DRO)

The DroneShield share price is up 4% to $1.20. Investors have been buying the counter drone technology company's shares following the release of its first quarter update. For the three months ended 31 March, DroneShield reported first quarter revenue of $33.5 million. This was up a sizeable 102% on the prior corresponding period. The company notes that this is now officially its strongest revenue quarter ever, overtaking its previous high of $27.7 million in the third quarter of FY 2023. Looking ahead, DroneShield is already sitting on $94.4 million of revenue either received or locked in via purchase orders for the 2025 financial year. This is well ahead of the $57.5 million achieved in all of FY 2024.

Kingsgate Consolidated Ltd (ASX: KCN)

The Kingsgate share price is up 4% to $1.74. This has been driven by another jump in the gold price overnight. The precious metal hit a new record high after US President Donald Trump pushed the US Federal Reserve to cut interest rates. Outside this, it is worth noting that Canaccord Genuity put a speculative buy rating and $4.00 price target on the company's shares this month. This is more than double its current share price.

Santana Minerals Ltd (ASX: SMI)

The Santana Minerals share price is up 3.5% to 59.5 cents. This morning, the gold miner released an update on its Pre-feasibility Study (PFS) for the Bendigo-Ophir Gold Project (BOGP). This relates to its focus on selective and manual pit designs on the Rise and Shine (RAS) deposit. Commenting on the update, Santana CEO, Damian Spring said: "This progressive step in finessing our initial PFS demonstrates the option to significantly reduce the pre-strip volume. Smarter pit staging clearly rebalances the waste removal equation in the initial stage and has the potential to re-shape the project's capital burden. Furthermore, it shouldn't be lost on the investor that the Australian dollar gold price has risen over 25% since the initial PFS which substantially enhances the robustness of the project."

Star Entertainment Group Ltd (ASX: SGR)

The Star share price is up 7% to 10.7 cents. This is despite there being no news out of the embattled casino operator. However, with its shares down 75% over the past 12 months, some brave investors may believe this has created a buying opportunity. Though, given its precarious balance sheet, the company's turnaround is not going to be easy.

The post Why DroneShield, Kingsgate, Santana, and Star shares are pushing higher today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.