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

ASX 200 expected to fall

The Australian share market looks set for a subdued start to the week despite a relatively good finish on Wall Street on Friday. According to the latest SPI futures, the ASX 200 is expected to open the day 3 points lower. In the United States, the Dow Jones was down 1.5%, the S&P 500 rose 0.8%, and the Nasdaq jumped 1.6%.

Oil prices mixed

ASX 200 energy shares Santos Ltd (ASX: STO) and Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS) will be on watch on Monday after a mixed night for oil prices on Friday night. According to Bloomberg, the WTI crude oil price was down 1.5% to US$94.40 a barrel and the Brent crude oil price was up 0.25% to US$105.33 a barrel. However, with the US cancelling peace talks with Iran over the weekend, oil prices could be on the move again when Asian markets open.

PLS shares named as a hold

PLS Group Ltd (ASX: PLS) shares are fairly valued according to analysts at Bell Potter. In response to the lithium miner's quarterly update, the broker has retained its hold rating on the lithium miner's shares with an improved price target of $5.50. It said: "We maintain our Hold recommendation. At current lithium market prices, PLS will generate substantial earnings and cash flow ahead of the restart of the 200ktpa Ngungaju processing plant. P2000 and Colina development studies are being progressed, providing substantial organic growth optionality in markets with strong underlying EV and BESS-led long term demand fundamentals."

Gold price rises

ASX 200 gold shares Newmont Corporation (ASX: NEM) and Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST) could have a good start to the week after the gold price pushed higher on Friday night. According to CNBC, the gold futures price was up 0.35% to US$4,740.9 an ounce. This couldn't stop the precious metal from recording a weekly decline on inflation and rate hike concerns.

BHP and Rio Tinto shares on watch

Mining giants BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP) and Rio Tinto Ltd (ASX: RIO) will be on watch on Monday after a poor finish to the week for their London listed shares. Both miners saw their shares fall around 1% on the LSE. This may have been driven by a pullback in copper prices on Friday.

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

That's because the ASX 200 shares in this article have been tipped to rise strongly from current levels by a couple of leading brokers.

Here's what they are saying about these shares:

Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST)

This gold giant could be an ASX 200 share to buy according to Morgans.

It was pleased with its quarterly update and its decision to return funds to shareholders through an on-market share buy-back.

Overall, Morgans sees plenty of value in the gold miner's shares at current levels and has put a buy rating and $30.00 price target on them. Based on its current share price, this implies potential upside of almost 40% for investors. It also expects a 2.5% dividend yield in FY 2026, boosting the total potential return further.

Commenting on its quarterly update, the broker said:

Gold sold of 381koz at AISC of A$2,709/oz beat our revised expectations, with sequential improvement across all three production centres following ongoing production issues. KCGM Mill Expansion on track for commissioning in early FY27; FY26 guidance has been provided and is above 1,500koz at AISC of A$2,600–2,800/oz. Net cash of A$320m; A$500m on-market buy-back announced, commencing ~23 April. We maintain our BUY rating, price target A$30.00ps (unchanged).

WiseTech Global Ltd (ASX: WTC)

The team at Bell Potter has trimmed its valuation of this logistics solutions technology company. However, even after this revision, it sees potential for WiseTech Global's shares to rise very strongly over the next 12 months.

The broker has put a buy rating and $78.75 price target on them. Based on its current share price of $44.44, this implies potential upside of almost 80% for investors over the next 12 months.

Bell Potter believes the current discount that the ASX 200 share is trading on is excessive, especially given its strong competitive moat. It explains:

We note that WiseTech is currently trading at >30% discount to Technology One on an EV/EBITDA basis in both FY26 and FY27. While we believe some sort of discount is now warranted, we believe the current discount is excessive given WiseTech has greater forecast earnings growth over the medium term and also a similar strong competitive moat due to 30 years of proprietary data, deeply embedded software and high switching costs.

The post These ASX 200 shares could rise ~40% to 80% appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Does the broker rate them as buys this week? Let's see what it is saying after running the rule over their updates:

Cochlear Ltd (ASX: COH)

This hearing solutions company's shares came crashing down to earth on Wednesday after making a major downgrade to its FY 2026 guidance.

While some of this downgrade has been driven by geopolitical impacts, the main driver was a surprising decline in demand in developed markets.

Morgans notes that this demonstrates that cochlear implant (CI) demand is more cyclical and macro-sensitive than previously assumed. As a result, it has put a hold rating on its shares with a heavily reduced price target of $107.17 (from $214.93). This compares to its current share price of $92.88. It said:

COH has delivered a material downgrade to FY26 earnings, cutting guidance by c30% at the midpoint. While FX, geopolitics and cost actions contributed, the key takeaway is more fundamental, with CI demand, especially in developed markets, proving to be more cyclical and macro-sensitive than previously assumed.

This challenges the market's long-held view as a structural, volume-driven growth story largely insulated from economic cycles. While we view long-term fundamentals as intact, near-term earnings visibility has deteriorated materially, so we wait for demand stabilisation before re-engaging. We adjust our FY26-28 estimates and lower our target price to A$107.17 HOLD.

Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST)

Another ASX 200 share that Morgans has been looking at is gold miner Northern Star.

It was pleased with the company's performance, noting that gold sold came in above its revised expectations thanks to improvements following production issues.

In addition, it notes that a $500 million buy back has been announced, that is commencing today.

In response to the update, the broker has retained its buy rating and $30.00 price target on Northern Star's shares. This implies potential upside of 33% for investors. It said:

Gold sold of 381koz at AISC of A$2,709/oz beat our revised expectations, with sequential improvement across all three production centres following ongoing production issues. KCGM Mill Expansion on track for commissioning in early FY27; FY26 guidance has been provided and is above 1,500koz at AISC of A$2,600–2,800/oz. Net cash of A$320m; A$500m on-market buy-back announced, commencing ~23 April. We maintain our BUY rating, price target A$30.00ps (unchanged).

The post What is Morgans saying about Cochlear and Northern Star shares? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

The world is waiting for a second round of talks between the US and Iran to commence in Islamabad.

Meanwhile, the Strait of Hormuz, a critical waterway through which 20% of the world's oil and gas supply is transported, remains effectively shut down.

The US blockade of Iranian ports also remains in place.

The US hopes that by blocking Iran's own oil exports, it can coerce a peace deal through economic hardship.

In a Truth Social post, US President Donald Trump said:

Iran is collapsing financially! They want the Strait of Hormuz opened immediately- Starving for cash! Losing 500 Million Dollars a day.

Military and Police complaining that they are not getting paid. SOS!!!

Amid the ongoing oil shock and fears of a global recession, brokers have indicated continuing confidence in several ASX 200 shares.

These companies received renewed buy ratings this week.

Let's review.

Cochlear Ltd (ASX: COH)

The Cochlear share price is $96.22, down 3.3%, after hitting a 52-week low of $95.81 earlier in the day.

Cochlear shares were smashed this week after the hearing implant device maker downgraded its earnings guidance.

UBS analyst David Low is looking past the downgrade, though, and reiterated his buy rating today.

Low has a 12-month target of $302 on this ASX 200 healthcare share.

This implies a potential 212% upside over the next 12 months.

Droneshield Ltd (ASX: DRO)

The Droneshield share price is $3.75, down 2.2% today.

This ASX 200 industrial share has fallen by 20% over six months.

However, it remains 210% higher over 12 months.

Bell Potter renewed its buy rating on Droneshield shares with a 12-month target of $4.80 today.

This implies a potential 27% capital gain ahead.

REA Group Ltd (ASX: REA)

The REA share price is $174.39, down 0.9% today.

This ASX 200 communications share has fallen 27% over 12 months, but is up 10% over the past four weeks.

Citi renewed its buy rating on REA shares today with a 12-month price target of $199.

This implies a potential 14% upside ahead.

South32 Ltd (ASX: S32)

The South32 share price is $4.39, down 2.4% today.

Year-to-date (YTD), this ASX 200 mining share has ripped 24% higher.

Citi renewed its buy rating on South32 shares today.

The broker has a target price of $5.40, implying a potential 23% upside over the next year.

Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST)

The Northern Star Resources share price is $22.48, down 1.4% today.

The ASX 200 gold share has lost 8% of its value over the YTD.

However, it has recently embarked on a major comeback, rising 31% over four weeks.

Citi reiterated its buy rating on Northern Star Resources shares this week.

The broker's price target is $29.70, suggesting another 30% growth ahead.

The post 5 ASX 200 shares with renewed buy ratings this week appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

ASX 200 set to fall

The Australian share market looks set for a subdued session on Thursday despite a good night on Wall Street. According to the latest SPI futures, the ASX 200 is expected to open the day 30 points or 0.35% lower this morning. In the United States, the Dow Jones was up 0.7%, the S&P 500 rose 1.05% and the Nasdaq charged 1.65% higher.

Fortescue update

Fortescue Ltd (ASX: FMG) shares will be on watch on Thursday when the iron ore giant releases its third-quarter update. The market is expecting the miner to report iron ore shipments of approximately 49Mt for the three months. In addition, all eyes will be on its costs after the surge in diesel prices following the war in the Middle East.

Oil prices rise

ASX 200 energy shares such as Beach Energy Ltd (ASX: BPT) and Santos Ltd (ASX: STO) could have a good session on Thursday after oil prices pushed higher. According to Bloomberg, the WTI crude oil price is up 3.1% to US$92.45 a barrel and the Brent crude oil price is up 2.9% to US$101.31 a barrel. This was driven by news that Iran has seized container ships in the Strait of Hormuz.

DroneShield shares rated as a buy

DroneShield Ltd (ASX: DRO) shares are in the buy zone according to analysts at Bell Potter. In response to the counter-drone technology company's quarterly update, the broker has retained its buy rating and $4.80 price target on DroneShield's shares. It said: "At 43x CY26e EV / EBITDA, DRO trades at a discount to the global drone peer group. Further, we see upside risk to our revenue forecasts in CY26/27e, given the opportunities observed in the C-UAS industry."

Gold price rises

ASX 200 gold shares Newmont Corporation (ASX: NEM) and Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST) could have a good session on Thursday after the gold price pushed higher overnight. According to CNBC, the gold futures price is up 0.75% to US$4,754.8 an ounce. Traders were buying gold after a drop in Treasury yields.

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

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

Bank of Queensland Ltd (ASX: BOQ)

The Bank of Queensland share price is down 8.5% to $6.65. This follows the release of the regional bank's half-year results. Bank of Queensland posted a 4% decline in cash earnings to $176 million and a 20% decline in statutory net profit after tax to $136 million. This reflects higher expenses and increased loan impairment charges, which offset income growth. Its statutory result also includes a $31 million loss on classification of the equipment finance portfolio.

Cochlear Ltd (ASX: COH)

The Cochlear share price is down 40% to $99.67. Investors have been selling this hearing solutions company's shares following the release of a disappointing trading update. Cochlear has downgraded its FY 2026 underlying net profit guidance range to $290 million to $330 million. Previously it was guiding to underlying net profit of $435 million to $460 million. Management advised that softer trading in developed markets is being driven by hospital capacity constraints and a decline in referrals from the hearing aid channel.

Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST)

The Northern Star share price is down 3% to $22.96. This gold miner's shares are falling today following the release of its third-quarter update. Northern Star reported gold sales of 381,000 ounces for the quarter at an all-in sustaining cost (AISC) of A$2,709 per ounce. The latter is up strongly on the prior corresponding period when it recorded an AISC of A$2,246 per ounce.

Paladin Energy Ltd (ASX: PDN)

The Paladin Energy share price is down 5% to $12.96. This morning, this uranium producer released its quarterly update and revealed a 5% increase in uranium production to 1.29Mlb. This was achieved with a cost of production of US$40.3 per pound and an average realised price of US$68.3 per pound. Looking ahead, management has lifted its FY 2026 Langer Heinrich Mine production guidance to 4.5Mlb to 4.8Mlb. Previously it was guiding to 4.0Mlb to 4.4Mlb. It seems that broad market weakness is overshadowing this news.

The post Why Bank of Queensland, Cochlear, Northern Star, and Paladin Energy shares are falling today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

One of the ASX powerhouses is underperforming the 0.9% loss posted by the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) in late morning trade, while two are shaking off the wider market malaise and marching higher.

Here's what's happening.

BHP shares lift on surging copper prices

BHP shares are in the green today, up 0.7% at $55.87 apiece.

The ASX 200 mining giant is making waves today following the release of its operational review, covering the nine months to 31 March.

Turning to its two top earning commodities, BHP reported a 2% year-on-year increase in iron ore production for the nine months to 197 million tonnes. This was supported by record production at the miner's integrated Western Australia Iron Ore (WAIO) systems.

Copper production went the other direction, slipping 3% from the same period in FY 2025 to 1.461 million tonnes. But BHP shares look to be getting support, with the miner achieving a 31% year on year increase in its average realised copper price to US$5.47 per pound.

BHP also confirmed that Brandon Craig, current president Americas, will take over as CEO on 1 July. Current CEO Mike Henry is stepping down from the top job after six and a half years.

DroneShield shares rise on surging revenue

Like BHP shares, DroneShield shares are rising in today's sinking market.

At time of writing, shares in the ASX 200 drone defence company are up 0.5%, changing hands for $3.83 apiece.

DroneShield is making financial news headlines today following the release of its first quarter (Q1 2026) results.

Highlights for the three months include a 121% year-on-year increase in revenue to $74.1 million. And customer cash receipts of $77.4 million were up 360% from Q1 2025.

Turning to the balance sheet, DroneShield's cash balance at the end of the quarter was up 13% year-on-year to $222.8 million, with no debt.

Which brings us to…

Northern Star shares slide on update

Joining DroneShield and BHP shares in the top headlines today, Northern Star shares are down 3.0%, trading for $22.94 each.

The ASX 200 gold stock is under pressure following its own March quarter update release. Though to put today's performance in better perspective, the S&P/ASX All Ordinaries Gold Index (ASX: XGD) is down 2.3% at time of writing.

For the March quarter, Northern Star sold 380,807 ounces of gold at an all-in sustaining cost (AISC) of $2,709 per ounce. The Aussie gold mining giant reported revenue from gold sales of $2.01 billion.

However, investors may be favouring their sell buttons today, with the company also flagging an uptick in its FY 2026 growth capital expenditures.

Potentially supporting Northern Star shares down the road, management announced an on-market share buyback of up to $500 million.

As at 31 March, Northern Star had a cash and bullion balance of $1.18 billion.

The post Why Northern Star, DroneShield and BHP shares are making waves on Wednesday appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

At the time of writing, the ASX 200 gold stock is down over 3% to $22.88.

Why are Northern Star shares falling today?

The company's shares are under pressure after delivering a mixed third quarter update that highlighted ongoing cost pressures.

According to the release, Northern Star reported gold sales of 381,000 ounces for the quarter at an all-in sustaining cost (AISC) of A$2,709 per ounce.

This reflects Kalgoorlie gold sold of 210,312 ounces at an AISC of A$2,550 per ounce, Yandal gold sold of 104,922 ounces at an AISC of A$3,347 per ounce, and Pogo gold sold of 65,573 ounces at an AISC of US$1,529 per ounce.

Guidance update

Importantly, the company reaffirmed its previously downgraded FY 2026 production guidance of above 1.5 million ounces.

This follows a revision earlier in the year, with its performance still dependent on mill throughput at its key KCGM operations.

At the same time, cost guidance remains elevated, with AISC expected to be in the range of A$2,600 to A$2,800 per ounce.

This represents a step up from early expectations of A$2,300 to A$2,700 per ounce.

Growth spending increases

Another key feature of the update is the continued rise in capital expenditure.

Northern Star now expects FY 2026 growth capital expenditure to be between A$2.315 billion and A$2.425 billion, with revisions linked to its major KCGM Mill Expansion Project.

Management notes that higher costs are being driven by factors such as poor construction productivity and cost inflation, which have pushed up spending requirements.

While these investments are aimed at supporting long-term growth, they are weighing on near-term returns.

Commenting on the quarter, Northern Star's managing director, Stuart Tonkin, said:

The March quarter demonstrated improved operational performance, with the Company forecast to deliver its revised FY26 production guidance of above 1.5Moz. As previously disclosed, this outlook remains particularly dependent on mill throughput at KCGM, with downside and upside potential. Our share buy-back announcement during the quarter reflects confidence in the strength of our business, the structural uplift in cash generation expected from the ramp-up of the new Fimiston processing plant and the compelling value we see in our share price.

The KCGM Mill Expansion remains on track for commissioning in early FY27. At the same time, our team continues to optimise the engineering and design of the Hemi Development Project while advancing approvals.

The post Why are Northern Star shares sinking today? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

What did Northern Star Resources report?

• Gold sold: 380,807 ounces at an all-in sustaining cost (AISC) of A$2,709 per ounce
• Group underlying free cash flow: A$301 million
• Net mine cash: A$426 million
• Revenue from gold sales: A$2,012 million
• Cash and bullion balance: A$1,183 million at quarter end
• On-market share buy-back of up to A$500 million announced

What else do investors need to know?

Northern Star's operational focus delivered higher-margin ounces and improved cash generation in the March quarter. Key operations at Kalgoorlie, Yandal, and Pogo reported stronger gold grades and efficiency, while the SLTIFR safety metric remained low at 0.6 injuries per million hours worked.

The KCGM Mill Expansion Project remains on track for early FY27 commissioning, though capital expenditure forecasts were revised upward due to inflation and construction delays. The company also refinanced its undrawn A$1.75 billion bank facility, extending maturity into 2030 and 2031.

What did Northern Star Resources management say?

Managing Director & CEO Stuart Tonkin said:

The March quarter demonstrated improved operational performance, with the Company forecast to deliver its revised FY26 production guidance of above 1.5Moz. As previously disclosed, this outlook remains particularly dependent on mill throughput at KCGM, with downside and upside potential.

Our share buy-back announcement during the quarter reflects confidence in the strength of our business, the structural uplift in cash generation expected from the ramp-up of the new Fimiston processing plant and the compelling value we see in our share price.
The KCGM Mill Expansion remains on track for commissioning in early FY27. At the same time, our team continues to optimise the engineering and design of the Hemi Development Project while advancing approvals.

What's next for Northern Star Resources?

Northern Star reaffirmed FY26 guidance for gold sales above 1.5 million ounces at an AISC of A$2,600–A$2,800/oz. The focus remains on completing the KCGM Mill Expansion, progressing the Hemi Development Project's approvals, and executing the announced share buy-back.

The company maintains its growth capital spending outlook, with investment to underpin production growth and longer-term efficiency. Exploration spending remains steady, aiming to extend mine life and support future production targets.

Northern Star Resources share price snapshot

Over the past 12 months, Northern Star Resources shares have risen 3%, trailing the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) which has risen 15% over the same period.

View Original Announcement

The post Northern Star Resources March quarter 2026: higher-margin gold sales and solid cash flow appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

ASX 200 to fall

The Australian share market looks set to fall on Wednesday following a poor night on Wall Street. According to the latest SPI futures, the ASX 200 is expected to open the day 69 points or 0.75% lower. In the United States, the Dow Jones fell 0.6%, the S&P 500 dropped 0.6%, and the Nasdaq also fell 0.6%.

Oil prices rise

It looks like ASX 200 energy shares Beach Energy Ltd (ASX: BPT) and Santos Ltd (ASX: STO) could have a good session after oil prices pushed higher overnight. According to Bloomberg, the WTI crude oil price is up 2.5% to US$89.59 a barrel and the Brent crude oil price is up 3.5% to US$98.83 a barrel. This appears to have been driven by doubts over US-Iran peace talks.

BHP Q3 update

All eyes will be on BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP) shares on Wednesday when the mining giant releases its third-quarter update. According to a note out of Morgans, its analysts are forecasting WAIO shipments of 67.5Mt. This will be down 1% on the prior corresponding period and 12% quarter on quarter due to the impacts of Cyclone Narelle. The broker will also be looking out for updates on its diesel supply.

Gold price drops

ASX 200 gold shares including Newmont Corporation (ASX: NEM) and Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST) could have a poor session on Wednesday after the gold price tumbled overnight. According to CNBC, the gold futures price is down 2.2% to US$4,720.6 an ounce. A stronger US dollar and inflation concerns weighed on the precious metal. Northern Star will also be releasing its quarterly update.

Buy Hub24 shares

Bell Potter thinks investors should be buying Hub24 Ltd (ASX: HUB) shares following their 8% decline on Tuesday. This morning, the broker has retained its buy rating on the investment platform provider's shares with a trimmed price target of $110.00 (from $120.00). It said: "Following the update we have downgraded our EPS estimates -1%/-2%/-2% with the miss dampened from mark-to-market impacts. FY27 Platform FUA guidance of $160- 170bn remains in play, with revised forecasts landing on the lower end of that range. A pickup in sentiment would likely push outcomes the other way. Acquisition of the superannuation fund trustee is also expected to have a limited influence on EBITDA line. For these reasons, we expect the multiple gap to peers can close over time."

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

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

ASX 200 expected to jump

The Australian share market looks set for a strong start to the week following a good finish on Wall Street on Friday. According to the latest SPI futures, the ASX 200 is expected to open the day 82 points or 0.85% higher. In the United States, the Dow Jones was up 1.8%, the S&P 500 rose 1.2%, and the Nasdaq jumped 1.5%.

Oil prices crash

It could be a poor start to the week for ASX 200 energy shares Santos Ltd (ASX: STO) and Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS) after oil prices crashed on Friday night. According to Bloomberg, the WTI crude oil price was down 11.45% to US$83.85 a barrel and the Brent crude oil price was down 9.1% to US$90.38 a barrel. This was driven by news that the Strait of Hormuz is open again. However, conflicting news over the weekend could mean oil prices reverse these declines when Asian markets open.

TechnologyOne shares downgrade

TechnologyOne Ltd (ASX: TNE) shares are fairly valued according to analysts at Bell Potter. This morning, the broker has downgraded the enterprise software provider's shares to a hold rating with an improved price target of $31.00 (from $29.00). It said: "We downgrade our recommendation on Technology One from BUY to HOLD given the rally in the share price to above our target price. We believe the stock now looks fairly valued on FY26 and FY27 EV/EBITDA multiples of c.32x and 28x which [we] note are the highest in our coverage of S&P/ASX 100 technology stocks and well above that of WiseTech Global on c.22x and 18x."

Gold price rises

ASX 200 gold shares Newmont Corporation (ASX: NEM) and Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST) could have a good start to the week after the gold price stormed higher on Friday night. According to CNBC, the gold futures price was up 1.5% to US$4,879.6 an ounce. This was also driven by the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. It is possible this gain could also reverse in Asian trade today.

Netwealth given accumulate rating

In response to its quarterly update, Morgans has put an accumulate rating on Netwealth Group Ltd (ASX: NWL) shares with a $29.00 price target. It said: "Despite ongoing volatility and uncertainty tied to a US/Middle East conflict and a potential resolution, market momentum has recovered from peak pessimism in the March Quarter, with the ASX All Ordinaries +5.6% month-to-date in April'26, which will have seen FUA growth momentum improve post quarter end. Looking through this near-term volatility NWL remains on track deliver solid growth FY26F and well placed to capitalised on the long runway of opportunity ahead. We retain our ACCUMULATE rating, with a Price target of $29.00/sh."

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

Four ASX shares that are falling more than most on Friday are listed below. Here's why they are ending the week in the red:

Dateline Resources Ltd (ASX: DTR)

The Dateline Resources share price is down 11% to 32.5 cents. This follows media reports about legal proceedings in the United States. The company notes that the proceedings relate "to the exercise of the long standing valid existing rights to conduct mining activities at the Colosseum Gold and Rare Earths Project." The company stated: "Dateline considers that the reporting and the position advanced by the applicants, as described, do not fully reflect the relevant historical context, including the status of valid existing rights associated with the Colosseum Gold and Rare Earths Project, and the Company does not agree with the assumptions made."

Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST)

The Northern Star share price is down 2.5% to $23.73. Investors have been selling Northern Star shares despite there being no news out of it. However, it is worth noting that most ASX gold stocks are falling today. This has seen the S&P/ASX All Ordinaries Gold index drop 2.2% in afternoon trade.

Rox Resources Ltd (ASX: RXL)

The Rox Resources share price is down 5% to 44.7 cents. This morning, this gold developer released its quarterly update. For the quarter, the company recorded a cash outflow of $31.9 million. However, it finished the period with a hefty cash balance of $200.4 million. Management also advised that it is taking steps to protect itself from the impacts of the war in the Middle East. This includes an increase in fuel storage capacity at Youanmi. It has increased its fuel storage from 190kL in March to over 430kL in mid-April. An additional fuel supply contract has been entered into.

Wesfarmers Ltd (ASX: WES)

The Wesfarmers share price is down 1.5% to $72.88. This may have been driven by a broker note out of Citi this morning. According to the note, the broker has downgraded the Bunnings owner's shares to a sell rating (from neutral) and cut its price target to $69.00 (from $90.00). Citi believes that elevated fuel prices and interest rates will weigh on consumer spending in the near term.

The post Why Dateline Resourcs, Northern Star, Rox Resources, and Wesfarmers shares are dropping today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

ASX 200 set to open flat

The Australian share market looks set for a subdued session on Thursday despite a relatively good night on Wall Street. According to the latest SPI futures, the ASX 200 is expected to open the day flat this morning. In late trade in the United States, the Dow Jones is down 0.25%, the S&P 500 is up 0.6% and the Nasdaq is 1.2% higher.

Buy Evolution Mining shares

Bell Potter thinks investors should be buying Evolution Mining Ltd (ASX: EVN) shares. This morning, the broker has retained its buy rating on the gold miner's shares with a trimmed price target of $16.45. It said: "EVN offers effectively unhedged gold and copper exposure via a portfolio of high quality, long-life assets in Tier 1 jurisdictions, overseen by a high-quality management team. EVN has stated its intention to pass growing free cash flows on to shareholders."

Oil prices mixed

ASX 200 energy shares Beach Energy Ltd (ASX: BPT) and Santos Ltd (ASX: STO) could have a subdued session on Thursday after oil prices traded mixed. According to Bloomberg, the WTI crude oil price is up 0.1% to US$91.30 a barrel and the Brent crude oil price is down 0.1% to US$88.12 a barrel. Traders appear to be waiting to see what happens with US-Iran peace talks.

Nufarm shares rated as a buy

Nufarm Ltd (ASX: NUF) shares could continue to rise after surging 11% on Wednesday. That's the view of analysts at Bell Potter, who have put a buy rating and $3.60 price target on the agricultural chemicals company's shares. It said: "NUF has provided a trading update, highlighting +16-19% YoY growth in 1H26 uEBITDA and a deleveraging of the balance sheet slightly ahead of expectations."

Gold price softens

ASX 200 gold shares including Newmont Corporation (ASX: NEM) and Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST) could have a soft session on Thursday after the gold price dropped overnight. According to CNBC, the gold futures price is down 0.65% to US$4,817.9 an ounce. Traders continue to wait for news from the US-Iran peace talks before making any major moves.

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

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

ASX 200 to rise again

The Australian share market looks set to rise again on Wednesday following a strong night on Wall Street. According to the latest SPI futures, the ASX 200 is expected to open the day 47 points or 0.5% higher. In the United States, the Dow Jones rose 0.65%, the S&P 500 climbed 1.2%, and the Nasdaq jumped 1.95%.

Oil prices sink

ASX 200 energy shares such as Beach Energy Ltd (ASX: BPT) and Santos Ltd (ASX: STO) could have a poor session after oil prices sank overnight. According to Bloomberg, the WTI crude oil price is down 6.95% to US$92.20 a barrel and the Brent crude oil price is down 4.4% to US$88.85 a barrel. The catalyst for this was optimism that a US-Iran peace deal could be on the way.

Telix shares on watch

Telix Pharmaceuticals Ltd (ASX: TLX) shares will be on watch on Wednesday after the radiopharmaceuticals company announced a US$550 million convertible notes offering. The company's managing director and CEO, Dr. Christian Behrenbruch, said: "The refinance of the existing Convertible Bonds represents our proactive approach to capital management. The new Convertible Bonds will continue to provide the business with cost effective financing." Telix notes that the new convertible bonds represent attractive, low-cost financing and are non-dilutive until any potential future conversions occur. The initial conversion price will be at a premium to Telix's current share price.

Gold price rises

ASX 200 gold shares Newmont Corporation (ASX: NEM) and Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST) could have a good session on Wednesday after the gold price stormed higher overnight. According to CNBC, the gold futures price is up 2% to US$4,864.5 an ounce. This was driven by confirmation that a second round of US-Iran peace talks are taking place.

Mineral Resources shares downgraded

Morgans has downgraded Mineral Resources Ltd (ASX: MIN) shares this week. According to the note, the broker has reduced its rating to accumulate (from buy) and cut its price target to $67.00 (from $68.00). It said: "We have updated our 2H26 forecasts to reflect weather impacts in 3Q26, which we expect to have a modest effect on Onslow iron ore shipments, alongside minor increases to cost and capex assumptions driven by inflation in shipping and fuel."

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

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

Megaport Ltd (ASX: MP1)

According to a note out of Citi, its analysts have retained their buy rating and $14.65 price target on this network solutions company's shares. The broker highlights that demand for GPU rentals has been surging, which bodes well for its Latitude business. This is especially the case given how it has been increasing prices, which should be a boost to annual recurring revenue. In fact, Citi believes that there is upside risk to forecasts for 2026 and 2027. Looking ahead, the broker believes there is a strong chance that management will increase its FY 2026 guidance at an event. The Megaport share price is trading at $6.89 on Monday afternoon.

Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST)

Another note out of Citi reveals that its analysts have retained their buy rating on this gold miner's shares with an improved price target of $29.70. The broker has been busy updating its gold coverage to reflect stronger prices. This has led to a significant increase in earnings estimates for the gold mining industry. Overall, the broker is positive and sees value in Northern Star shares at current levels. So much so, the gold miner is one of its preferred picks in the industry at present. The Northern Star share price is fetching $23.68 at the time of writing.

ResMed Inc. (ASX: RMD)

Analysts at Ord Minnett have retained their buy rating on this sleep disorder treatment company's shares with a trimmed price target of $41.40. According to the note, the broker is expecting ResMed to deliver double-digit earnings and revenue growth in FY 2026. It then expects this trend to continue through to at least FY 2028. Ord Minnett believes this will leave ResMed with a significant cash balance, which it suspects could lead to further capital management activities. Overall, it feels this makes the company a top option for investors at current levels. The ResMed share price is trading at $32.22 this afternoon.

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

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

A2 Milk Company Ltd (ASX: A2M)

The A2 Milk Company share price is down almost 15% to $7.90. Investors have been selling the infant formula company's shares after it downgraded its guidance for FY 2026 due to supply chain disruptions. A2 Milk now expects revenue growth in the low to mid double-digit range, which is down from its previous guidance of mid double-digit growth. Furthermore, its EBITDA margins are now expected to be between 14% and 14.5% in FY 2026. This is down from its prior guidance of 15.5% to 16%. In light of this, the company's net profit after tax is now expected to be similar to or lower than in FY 2025. Another negative is that cash conversion is expected to fall significantly to around 50%. This is down from prior expectations of 80% for the financial year.

Metallium Ltd (ASX: MTM)

The Metallium share price is down 4% to 61 cents. This morning, the metals recovery company released its quarterly update and reported an operating cash outflow of $5.7 million and an investing activities outflow of $15.2 million. However, thanks to a $75 million capital raising, the company finished the period with cash and equivalents of $82 million.

Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST)

The Northern Star share price is down 3.5% to $23.60. Investors have been selling Northern Star and other ASX gold stocks on Monday after the gold price pulled back following the failure of peace talks between the US and Iran. And with the US now threatening to blockade Iranian ports, causing oil prices to surge beyond US$100 a barrel again, there are concerns that inflation could rise and lead to interest rate hikes. The latter is seen as a negative for gold.

St Barbara Ltd (ASX: SBM)

The St Barbara share price is down 3% to 70.2 cents. Not even the release of this gold miner's quarterly update this morning has been able to offset weakness in the gold industry. St Barbara reported a 49% jump in gold production to 13,522 ounces. This underpinned gold sales of 11,974 ounces at an average sale price of A$6,892 per ounce. The company has not finalised its all-in sustaining costs for the third quarter. However, it revealed that it expects a fourth-quarter AISC in the range of $4,100 to $4,500 per ounce.

The post Why A2 Milk, Metallium, Northern Star, and St Barbara shares are sinking today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

ASX 200 expected to jump

The Australian share market looks set for a strong start to the week despite a mixed finish on Wall Street on Friday. According to the latest SPI futures, the ASX 200 is expected to open the day 70 points or 0.75% higher. In the United States, the Dow Jones was down 0.55%, the S&P 500 dropped 0.1%, and the Nasdaq rose 0.35%.

Oil prices ease

It could be a subdued start to the week for ASX 200 energy shares Santos Ltd (ASX: STO) and Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS) after oil prices eased on Friday night. According to Bloomberg, the WTI crude oil price was down 1.23% to US$96.57 a barrel and the Brent crude oil price was down 0.75% to US$112.57 a barrel. This may have been driven by optimism over peace talks between the US and Iran.

Dividends being paid

A couple more ASX 200 shares will be rewarding their shareholders with dividend payments on Monday. This includes hearing solutions company Cochlear Ltd (ASX: COH) and auto listings giant CAR Group Limited (ASX: CAR). They will be paying partially franked dividends of $2.15 per share and 42.5 cents per share, respectively, later today.

Gold price slides

ASX 200 gold shares including Newmont Corporation (ASX: NEM) and Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST) could have a soft start to the week after the gold price fell on Friday night. According to CNBC, the gold futures price was down 0.65% to US$4,787.4 an ounce. This may also have been driven by news of peace talks between the US and Iran.

Hold Orora shares

Morgans isn't a buyer of Orora Ltd (ASX: ORA) shares despite their heavy decline last week. The broker has retained its hold rating with a heavily reduced price target of $1.55 (from $2.30). It prefers fellow packaging company Amcor (ASX: AMC) and has a buy rating and $76.00 price target on its shares. It said: "Given the ongoing uncertainty surrounding the conflict in the Middle East, visibility on the timing of a potential restart at the RAK facility remains limited. In addition, global consumer confidence and spirits demand have already been negatively affected by the conflict and may remain subdued for some time, even in the event of a near-term resolution. Given this uncertainty, we believe it is prudent to await further updates before reassessing our view. Within the Packaging sector, our preference remains Amcor (AMC, BUY, $76.00 TP)."

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

To narrow things down, let's take a look at whether analysts rate the popular ASX shares below as buys right now. Here's what you need to know:

Life360 Inc. (ASX: 360)

Bell Potter thinks this family safety technology company could be undervalued at current levels. Last week, the broker put a buy rating and $35.50 price target on its shares.

Although Bell Potter suspects that Life360 could fall short of its monthly active user growth guidance in 2026, it hasn't made any revisions to its estimates. That's because it believes it will convert more than expected users into paid subscribers. It explains:

Despite the lowering in our global MAU growth forecast in 2026 there is no change in our revenue or earnings forecasts as, on the flip side, we have increased our conversion rate forecasts so that there is no change in our paying circle forecast for the full year. Our average forecast quarterly conversion rate – measured in crude or broad terms – has increased from 3.4% to 3.5% which is still below the average 3.6% in 2025. We are therefore still modestly below last year's level which is perhaps conservative given the addition of Pet GPS but there was an unusual spike in the conversion rate in 3Q2025 which we assume is not repeated this year.

Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST)

Bell Potter has been looking at this gold miner and sees an opportunity for investors. It has put a buy rating and $35.00 price target on its shares. The broker believes a recent share buyback signals value in the underlying business. It said:

NST announced the commencement of an on market Buy-back scheme of up to A$500m, representing ~1.6% of issued capital. The buy-back is separate from the dividend payout policy of 20-30% of cash earnings and will commence on the 23rd of April. The buy-back has minimal impact on our EPS estimates going forward, however the signalling of value in the underlying business is of more importance.

Sigma Healthcare Ltd (ASX: SIG)

Finally, Morgans has put a buy rating and $3.36 price target on this pharmacy chain operator and wholesale distributor.

It thinks investors should buy the dip after the Chemist Warehouse owner's shares pulled back recently. It explains:

SIG is a leading healthcare wholesaler, distributor and retail pharmacy franchisor with operations in Australia, NZ, Ireland and the UAE. We are forecasting ~20% EBIT growth p.a. over the next few years driven by strong LFL sales growth, store rollout (domestically and internationally), operating efficiencies and $100m p.a. synergies by FY29. Given the share price weakness, we have upgraded our recommendation to BUY (from ACCUMULATE) with an unchanged target price of $3.36 and 26% upside.

The post Buy, hold, sell: Life360, Northern Star, and Sigma shares appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

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

Genesis Minerals Ltd (ASX: GMD)

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

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

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

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

Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST)

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

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

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

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

But are they a good option after falling heavily from their highs? Let's see what Bell Potter is saying.

What is the broker saying?

Bell Potter highlights that Northern Star will be releasing its eagerly anticipated quarterly update this month.

While the miner's production numbers for the third quarter are now known, its costs will be the main focal point. The broker sees risks that management will be forced to downgrade its cost guidance for FY 2026. It said:

NST announced last week it had produced 381koz over the 3Q (+10% QoQ, VA 366koz BPe 353koz), despite the headwinds highlighted in the Mar-13 downgrade. NST are now 74% through the revised production guidance of 1,500koz, which requires a result of at least 391koz (+2.3% QoQ) to meet the twice revised guidance. On our numbers, that will still require a material lift across the portfolio, particularly in throughput and grade at KCGM. The pre-reported result was a beat on our estimates and consensus for 3Q, and, whilst we still anticipate production at the low end of guidance there may be signs that NST has hit the bottom of the downgrade cycle.

Fuel costs will present a headwind heading into the 4Q, accounting for ~5% of AISC prior to the Middle East conflict. We continue to see risks that the AISC guidance of A$2,600/oz – $2,800/oz is at risk given the recent production guidance downgrade (~100koz) and the increase in fuel costs expected to impact the 4Q result. We suspect NST, much like peers in the space, will pull as many levers as possible to prioritise high-value tonnes and delaying any non-essential waste movement, to manage the near-term impacts.

Outside this, the broker highlights that Northern Star's $500 million share buyback could be interpreted as a sign of confidence from management. It adds:

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

Should you buy Northern Star shares?

According to the note, the broker has retained its buy rating and $35.00 price target on Northern Star's shares.

Based on its current share price of $24.47, this implies potential upside of 43% for investors over the next 12 months.

In addition, the broker is expecting a 2.6% dividend yield over the period, boosting the total potential return beyond 45%.

The post Are Northern Star shares a cheap buy? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.