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

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

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

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

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

Winners and losers

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Top 10 ASX 200 shares countdown

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

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

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

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

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

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

ASX 200 to edge lower

The Australian share market looks set for a subdued session on Tuesday following a soft night in Europe. According to the latest SPI futures, the ASX 200 is expected to open the day 4 points lower. Wall Street was closed for Labor Day, but in Europe the FTSE fell 0.1% and the DAX dropped 0.15%.

Shares going ex-dividend

Another group of ASX 200 shares will be going ex-dividend on Tuesday and could trade lower. This includes AUB Group Ltd (ASX: AUB), BlueScope Steel Ltd (ASX: BSL), Mineral Resources Ltd (ASX: MIN), News Corporation (ASX: NWS), and Smartgroup Corporation Ltd (ASX: SIQ). Mineral Resources will be rewarding its shareholders with a fully franked 83 cents per share dividend on 30 September.

Oil prices rise

ASX 200 energy shares Beach Energy Ltd (ASX: BPT) and Santos Ltd (ASX: STO) could have a good session on Tuesday after oil prices rose overnight. According to Bloomberg, the WTI crude oil price is up 1.3% to US$92.70 a barrel and the Brent crude oil price is up 1.1% to US$97.314 a barrel. This was driven by a further escalation in US-Iran hostilities.

Gold price softens

ASX 200 gold shares Genesis Minerals Ltd (ASX: GMD) and Capricorn Metals Ltd (ASX: CMM) could have a soft session after the gold price dropped overnight. According to CNBC, the gold futures price is down 0.55% to US$4,452 an ounce. The precious metal has come under pressure due to increasing US rate hike bets.

Buy Select Harvests shares

Select Harvests Ltd (ASX: SHV) shares could be undervalued according to analysts at Bell Potter. This morning, the broker has retained its buy rating on the almond producer's shares with an improved price target of $6.05 (from $5.30). It said: "Almond prices are strengthening and the SHV share price has lagged this move, continuing to trade below its market backed asset value of ~$5.30ps. At spot almond price levels, we would estimate FY27e EPS in a range of 53-72¢ps based on production guidance comparable to FY26e (i.e. 28,000-31,000kt), a level materially higher than the current consensus EPS level of ~37¢ps."

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

Hundreds of S&P/ASX All Ords Index (ASX: XAO) companies announced their next dividends during the EOFY reporting season.

We're helping you keep track of ex-dividend dates with an article every Friday.

Here is a sample of the ASX shares due to trade ex-dividend next week.

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

ASX shares with ex-dividend dates next week

Check out which ASX shares begin trading ex-dividend today.

The post 40 ASX shares with ex-dividend dates next week 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 expected to edge lower

It looks set to be a soft session for Australian investors on Thursday following a mixed night on Wall Street. According to the latest SPI futures, the ASX 200 is expected to open the day 8 points or 0.1% lower this morning. In the United States, the Dow Jones rose 0.5%, but the S&P 500 fell 0.15% and the Nasdaq dropped 0.8%.

ASX 200 results releases

A number of ASX 200 shares will be releasing their results on Thursday. This includes payments giant Block Inc. (ASX: XYZ), financial services company AMP Ltd (ASX: AMP), media behemoth News Corp (ASX: NWS), and property listings leader REA Group Ltd (ASX: REA). With respect to the latter, Bell Potter expects REA Group to report group revenue of $1,808 million and adjusted NPAT of $626 million. This represents 8% and 11% growth, respectively.

Oil prices soften

ASX 200 energy shares Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS) and Santos Ltd (ASX: STO) could have a subdued session after oil prices softened overnight. According to Bloomberg, the WTI crude oil price is down 1.1% to US$74.92 a barrel and the Brent crude oil price is down 0.2% to US$79.21 a barrel. Oil prices have come under significant pressure this week amid easing US-Iran tensions.

Buy Light & Wonder shares

Light & Wonder Inc. (ASX: LNW) shares could be seriously undervalued according to analysts at Bell Potter. This morning, in response to the gaming technology company's results release, the broker has retained its buy rating with a trimmed price target of $183.00 (from $190.00). It said: "We retain Buy and reduce TP. We now forecast EBITDA growth of at the lower end of the company's guidance range. We see a resumption in top line growth occurring in 4Q26. We believe LNW offers compelling value at 10x EV/EBIT(A) given growth metrics."

Gold price jumps

It looks like it could be a great session for ASX 200 gold shares Newmont Corporation (ASX: NEM) and Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST) on Thursday after the gold price jumped overnight. According to CNBC, the gold futures price is up 3.75% to US$4,308.5 an ounce. This was driven by a weaker US dollar. 

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

After confident gains throughout the early trading week that pushed the markets to a four-month high, investors got a reality check today, with the ASX 200 opening lower and remaining in red territory all session.

The index ended up finishing with a 0.78% loss by the time trading wrapped up, leaving it at 8,967.7 points.

This miserable Thursday for Australian investors came after an even tougher night over on Wall Street last night.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average Index (DJX: .DJI) was smashed, dropping a nasty 2.19%.

The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC) wasn't quite as bad, but still fell a significant 1.74%.

Let's return to the local markets now and examine how the different ASX sectors fared amid today's rough trading conditions.

Winners and losers

There were only a couple of sectors that weren't sold off this session.

But first, it was gold stocks that were hit hardest. The All Ordinaries Gold Index (ASX: XGD) saw its value plunge 3.65% this Thursday.

Mining shares were hit hard too, with the S&P/ASX 200 Materials Index (ASX: XMJ) tanking 1.59%.

Consumer discretionary stocks were also on the nose. The S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Discretionary Index (ASX: XDJ) cratered 1.39% today.

Real estate investment trusts (REITs) weren't much better, illustrated by the S&P/ASX 200 A-REIT Index (ASX: XPJ)'s 0.99% dive.

Utilities shares were in that ballpark as well. The S&P/ASX 200 Utilities Index (ASX: XUJ) saw its value shrink 0.85% this session.

Industrial stocks were close behind, with the S&P/ASX 200 Industrials Index (ASX: XNJ) sinking 0.83%.

Consumer staples shares were no safe haven. The S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Staples Index (ASX: XSJ) gave up 0.64%.

Nor were communications stocks, as you can see by the S&P/ASX 200 Communication Services Index (ASX: XTJ)'s 0.57% dip.

Healthcare shares had more sellers than buyers, too. The S&P/ASX 200 Healthcare Index (ASX: XHJ) tumbled 0.41%.

Our last losers were financial stocks, with the S&P/ASX 200 Financials Index (ASX: XFJ) sliding down 0.37%.

Turning to the winners now, it was tech shares that stole the spotlight. The S&P/ASX 200 Information Technology Index (ASX: XIJ) shot up a healthy 0.91% this Thursday.

The other safe haven was energy stocks, evident by the S&P/ASX 200 Energy Index (ASX: XEJ)'s 0.32% jump.

Top 10 ASX 200 shares countdown

Fast food stock Domino's Pizza Enterprises Ltd (ASX: DMP) was our top stock this Thursday. Domino's shares roared 9.08% higher to close at $19.59 each today.

This came after the company posted an earnings update after market close yesterday. Investors clearly liked what they saw.

Here's how the other top stocks tied up at the dock: 

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

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

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

News Corporation (ASX: NWS) is quite different from traditional media companies, however.

While it does have a division of what you'd consider traditional media, which publishes newspapers and online news, it also holds a 61.4% stake in digital real estate company REA Group Ltd (ASX: REA), and has divisions that focus on business intelligence in Dow Jones, and oil market data in Dow Jones Energy.

The analyst team at UBS has run the ruler over the company's various divisions, and is predicting solid share price gains over the next 12 months – I'll get to that shortly.

Firstly, let's have a look at what they're saying about the company.

Business data the key to growth

The UBS team said in their research note to clients this week that despite ongoing geopolitical tensions and AI uncertainty, "News Corp has continued to prove resilient, with the share price down 2% over the last 6 months despite REA down 17%''.

UBS said Dow Jones continued to be a key growth engine, delivering about 14% EBITDA on a compound basis over 2022-25.

The analysts said they see "meaningful headroom" for Dow Jones to grow and support double-digit EBITDA growth for News over the next three years.

As they said:

Across News Corp's earnings segments, Dow Jones has been the fastest-growing contributor to Group EBITDA between FY21-25, with its share increasing from 21% to 36%. While segment-level EBITDA drivers are difficult to break out, growth in DJ revenue has been primarily driven by DJ Risk (avg 15% yoy over FY23-25) followed by Energy (avg +13%yoy), reflecting ongoing demand for corporate risk data and commodities pricing insights amidst global geopolitical uncertainty and AI tailwind.

The Dow Jones Risk division provides proprietary anti-money laundering (AML) and know-your-customer (KYC) data, which UBS said is used by financial institutions, corporates, and government agencies worldwide.

They added:

Demand for both AML/KYC and sanctions data has accelerated in recent years, driven by heightened geopolitical risk, expanding regulatory complexity and broader adoption of AI-enabled compliance workflows, which are increasing the need for trusted, structured data sets.

UBS is predicting Dow Jones will increase its market share in this field from 9% to 12% by FY29.

On the energy front, UBS said Dow Jones Energy was likely to benefit from the ongoing oil supply chain disruptions caused by the Middle East conflict.

News Corp shares looking cheap

UBS has lowered its price target for News Corp shares from $58 to $56, which is still 34.2% higher than the current price of $41.74.

The company is valued at $23.04 billion.

The post How high does UBS think News Corp shares will go? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

With that in mind, let's look at a number of ASX 200 shares that have been upgraded this week. Here's what's happening:

Codan Ltd (ASX: CDA)

The team at Macquarie has upgraded this metal detector manufacturer's shares to an outperform rating with an increased price target of $44.20. Based on its current share price of $39.67, this implies potential upside of approximately 11.5% for investors.

Macquarie is feeling bullish on the company's exposure to the booming unmanned aerial vehicle (drone) market.

News Corp (ASX: NWS)

Macquarie has also become positive on media giant News Corp. This week the broker has upgraded News Corp shares to an outperform rating with an improved price target of $46.25. Based on its current share price of $42.16, this implies potential upside of almost 10% over the next 12 months.

The broker believes the media conglomerate is successfully reinforcing the proprietary nature of its data. It highlights that News Corp's earnings are benefiting as the company executes on content license deals with artificial intelligence (AI) companies.

In addition, Macquarie points out that the ASX 200 share is leaning into AI as a way to generate internal efficiencies.

Inghams Group Ltd (ASX: ING)

The team at Macquarie has been at it again, upgrading this poultry producer's shares this week.

On Tuesday, Inghams released a trading update which revealed that sales volumes were up 1.1% for the first nine months of FY 2026.

As a result, management has been able to reaffirm its FY 2026 guidance for underlying EBITDA of $180 million to $200 million.

The company's CEO and managing director, Ed Alexander, commented: "We are seeing improved operational performance and positive momentum from initiatives already delivered, while reaffirming our FY26 guidance in a challenging environment."

In response to the update, Macquarie upgraded the ASX 200 share to a neutral rating (from underperform) with a $1.80 price target. This compares to the current Inghams share price of $1.90.

It also expects a dividend yield of approximately 5.2% over the next 12 months.

Macquarie believes that the company is positioned for growth thanks to better cost of production and improvements across its supply chain.

Elsewhere, Jarden has upgraded Inghams to an overweight rating with a $2.70 price target. Jarden also upgraded Brambles Ltd (ASX: BXB) shares to an overweight rating with a $25.15 price target.

The post 4 ASX 200 shares upgraded by brokers this week appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

This tough bookend to the week's trading for ASX investors follows a sobering session on the American markets overnight.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average Index (DJX: .DJI) couldn't keep its early rise and closed down 0.63%.

Things were a little tamer on the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC), though, which fell 0.13%.

But let's get back to the local markets now to take a look at what was happening amongst the various ASX sectors this Friday.

Winners and losers

The post Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today 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:

Block Inc. (ASX: XYZ)

The Block share price is up 5% to $103.33. Investors have been buying the payments company's shares following the release of its quarterly update. Block delivered gross profit of US$2.91 billion for the first quarter of 2026. This was up 27% year on year. This was driven by strong growth across Cash App and Square. It revealed that Cash App gross profit was up 38% to US$1.91 billion and Square gross profit up 9% to US$982 million. Block's CEO, Jack Dorsey, said: "We continued to deliver strong financial performance in the first quarter as AI became more central to how Block operates and what we build for customers."

News Corporation (ASX: NWS)

The News Corporation share price is up almost 4% to $43.70. This morning, the media giant released its third-quarter update and reported a 9% jump in third quarter revenue to US$2.19 billion. Growing at a stronger rate was its net income from continuing operations, which increased 13% to US$121 million. Management advised that News Corp's Digital Real Estate Services and Dow Jones segments helped drive its strong result. They both reported double-digit growth for the quarter.

REA Group Ltd (ASX: REA)

The REA Group share price is up 2% to $178.33. This has been driven by the release of the property listings company's third-quarter update. REA Group posted an 11% increase in revenue to $398 million and a 16% jump in EBITDA to $220 million. REA Group's CEO, Cameron McIntyre, said: "REA Group's third quarter performance reflects our focus on enhancing our immersive consumer experiences, and increasing the value delivered to customers. The result was underpinned by double digit revenue growth across our Australian businesses and strong double-digit yield growth in our core residential business."

TechnologyOne Ltd (ASX: TNE)

The TechnologyOne share price is up 3% to $28.26. This appears to have been driven by a broker note out of Bell Potter. This morning, the broker upgraded the enterprise software provider's shares to a buy rating with an improved price target of $31.75. Bell Potter said: "Technology One announced a new contract with James Cook University (JCU) last month which in our view is significant from a product perspective. […] On the back of this contract win and clear demonstration of "the power of Plus" we have modestly increased our ARR forecasts in each period."

The post Why Block, News Corp, REA Group, and TechnologyOne shares are storming higher today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Revenues up across the board

The media company said in a statement to the ASX on Friday that revenues for the quarter were up 9% to US$2.19 billion, while net income was US$121 million, up 13%.

The company posted strong results across the board, however, a standout was News' stake in realestate.com.au owner REA Group Ltd (ASX: REA), which grew revenues 20% to US$325 million.

News Corp Chief Executive Officer Robert Thomson said the company was on track for a strong full-year result.

News Corp has again delivered resounding results this quarter, and we remain on track for another year of record profitability given the strength seen thus far in the fourth quarter. The third quarter was compelling evidence of the transformation of our business, and demonstrated the robustness of our core growth engines, which we expect will propel us towards a strong fiscal finish. Given our firm belief that the current share price does not reflect the intrinsic value of the company or its prospects, we have continued to execute our enhanced buyback program at an accelerated rate.

Mr Thomson said the company was well-placed with regard to the challenge of artificial intelligence (AI), and had been proactive on that front.

He added:

We are an AI inputs company and that fact was reflected in our recent deal with Meta, which complements our partnership with OpenAI. We are in discussions with other companies who recognize the preciousness of provenance, and these potential deals should have a positive impact on our revenue and profitability. We are also tracking a number of dodgy digital firms scraping illicitly, illegally our precious content and shamelessly reselling this purloined property. We have these baleful bad-boy bots in our sights and intend to pursue them vigorously. And we believe companies that willingly buy this stolen content from these nefarious fences are also culpable.

Breaking the result down by division, Dow Jones grew revenue 8%, digital real estate services 17%, book publishing 8%, and news media 5%.

Shares looking cheap

UBS said in a note to clients on Friday morning that overall, it was a strong third-quarter result, with the company beating expectations on revenue across all segments, "with Risk and Energy continuing to be the main drivers of growth and likely benefiting from recent geopolitical conflicts''.

UBS has a price target of $56 on News Corp shares compared with $42.90 currently, up 1.9% on the day.

The post What's the UBS call on News Corp shares after a strong quarterly result? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

What did News Corporation report?

• Revenue rose 9% year on year to US$2.19 billion (Q3 FY25: US$2.01 billion).
• Net income from continuing operations grew 13% to US$121 million.
• Total Segment EBITDA increased 18% to US$343 million.
• Reported EPS from continuing operations was US$0.16 (Q3 FY25: US$0.14); Adjusted EPS was US$0.21 (Q3 FY25: US$0.17).
• Dow Jones revenues increased 8% to US$619 million, with strength in digital and Risk & Compliance.
• Book Publishing revenues up 8% to US$555 million; REA Group's revenue rose 20% to US$325 million.

What else do investors need to know?

News Corp's Digital Real Estate Services and Dow Jones segments saw double-digit growth, partly thanks to positive foreign exchange movements and a resilient Australian property market. The company also highlighted strong momentum in its book publishing arm, boosted by bestselling titles tied to new media releases.

News Corp continues to invest in digital expansion, with almost all of Dow Jones' Wall Street Journal subscriptions now digital-only. Importantly, management remains focused on defending its intellectual property against unauthorised use by AI platforms and "dodgy digital firms," while also benefiting from new licensing deals with tech firms such as Meta and OpenAI.

What's next for News Corporation?

News Corp expects continued top-line growth, with strong contributions from digital real estate and information services. The company is optimistic about free cash flow generation for the full year, balancing higher capital expenditures with operational gains.

Investors can also look to developments in digital content licensing and subscription models, as well as the ongoing buyback program, which management believes showcases confidence in News Corp's long-term value.

News Corporation share price snapshot

Over the past 12 months, News Corporation shares have declined 17%, trailing the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) which has risen 8% over the same period.

View Original Announcement

The post News Corporation reports Q3 FY26 profit jump as digital arms shine appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

But is the sector a write-off, or is there still opportunity for investors?

What's happening in the sector?

Advertising revenue has become increasingly unstable across the sector. Advertising is often one of the first budgets to be cut in challenging business climates. So, with the current economic uncertainty and rising interest rates, it's a difficult time to rely on these revenue streams.

In addition, businesses are pivoting away from traditional advertising formats towards user-generated content and influencer collaborations.

While there is some hope of a recovery in advertising spend later in the year, we're not likely to ever see a return to the golden age of media. So, the focus has to shift to more future-proofed income streams. For the big players, this requires them to think less like complex media businesses and more like streamlined content platforms, data houses, and subscription services.

Nine Entertainment Co Holdings Ltd (ASX: NEC): The Diversification Play

Nine's diversified revenue streams include broadcasting (Nine Network), streaming (Stan), newspapers (AFR, SMH, The Age), and digital outdoor advertising, with the recent acquisition of QMS Media.

This diversification gives it less reliance on advertising revenue alone, so investing in Nine isn't a total turnaround play that involves simply betting on advertising recovery. But it isn't a compelling digital growth story either — at least not yet.

It is, however, well positioned to benefit from a simple stabilisation of advertising spend, as its diversification means it won't rely on a full rebound.

Some analysts are assigning a moderate buy rating to the entertainment share, which closed at $0.95 on Wednesday, down from a 52-week high of $1.90.

For me, Nine presents a lower risk than many other ASX media shares. But it also offers the least potential reward, in my opinion. If a full recovery of advertising spend does eventuate, it doesn't stand to benefit to the same degree as some of its competitors, but it does offer some downside protection in its diversification.

News Corporation (ASX: NWS): The Asset-Backed Play

While advertising remains an important revenue stream for this media giant, it is not the core driver of investor value for News Corp. Its portfolio includes a stable of newspapers, subscription services (Foxtel), marketplaces (a majority stake in REA Group Ltd (ASX: REA)), and book publishing (Harper Collins).

Of course, like all media players, News Corp's traditional media operations face significant headwinds as print continues its structural weakening. And its subscriptions don't seem to be growing at a pace that can offset a continued decline in advertising revenue.

That said, its diversified portfolio provides News Corp with insulation against dips in advertising revenue cycles and significant asset backing. REA Group gives it exposure to Australia's buoyant, if temporarily softened, property market, while Harper Collins offers a solid, cash-generating performer.

The News Corp share price is down by about 14% over the last 12 months, and some analysts consider it a buy at the current price. In my opinion, News Corp represents the most defensive option of the ASX media shares, as an asset-heavy media business with a strong balance sheet and limited potential upside.

Southern Cross Media Group Ltd (ASX: SXL): The Higher Risk/Reward Play

Southern Cross Media Group is probably the most exposed to advertising revenue among these ASX media shares, so its share price may be more reliant on an advertising bounce-back.  

In H1 2026, its first results following its merger with Seven West Media, saw a 1.5% revenue drop and 16.5% drop in net profit after tax as the advertising crunch began to bite. The share price has dropped around 9% over the last year, closing at $0.61 on Wednesday, up from a 52-week low of $0.52.

However, the merger has created a multi-platform media opportunity, including radio (SCA, Triple M), television (Channel 7), newspapers (The West Australian), and digital publishing (LiSTNR). And this should give it broad appeal for advertisers as it is now able to reach around 95% of Australians. So, if we see advertising bounce back later in the year, there may be a reward for patient investors. 

It's almost definitely a higher risk play. But at the current share price, it could offer decent upside. For me, it is the one with the most opportunity for growth, if, of course, you believe an advertising recovery is on the cards.

The post Is there still opportunity in ASX media shares? 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

The Australian share market looks set to rise again on Wednesday following a mixed night on Wall Street. According to the latest SPI futures, the ASX 200 is expected to open the day 18 points or 0.2% higher. In the United States, the Dow Jones dropped 0.2%, but the S&P 500 rose 0.1% and the Nasdaq climbed 0.1%.

Buy Telix shares

The team at Bell Potter thinks investors should be buying Telix Pharmaceuticals Ltd (ASX: TLX) shares following its first-quarter sales update. In response to the update, the broker has retained its buy rating and $19.00 price target on Telix's shares. It said: "The company continues to make good progress on multiple pipeline products. Short term news flow includes acceptance by the FDA of the resubmitted NDA for Pixclara and the amendment to the IND for TLX591 (prostate cancer Tx). We maintain our Buy rating. FY26 EBITDA is increased by ~US$21m to US$55.3m."

Oil prices fall

ASX 200 energy shares Beach Energy Ltd (ASX: BPT) and Santos Ltd (ASX: STO) could have a subdued session after oil prices pulled back overnight. According to Bloomberg, the WTI crude oil price is down 1.7% to US$110.41 a barrel and the Brent crude oil price is down 3.8% to US$105.27 a barrel. This was driven by optimism that a US-Iran peace deal could be on the way.

Gold price rises

ASX 200 gold shares including Newmont Corporation (ASX: NEM) and Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST) could have a good session on Wednesday after the gold price pushed higher overnight. According to CNBC, the gold futures price is up 1.1% to US$4,734.4 an ounce. Traders have been buying gold in response to Donald Trump's comments on Iran.

Dividend payday

A number of ASX 200 shares will be rewarding their shareholders with their latest dividends on Wednesday. This includes financial technology company Iress Ltd (ASX: IRE), gold miners Regis Resources Ltd (ASX: RRL) and Vault Minerals Ltd (ASX: VAU), media giant News Corporation (ASX: NWS), and private health insurer NIB Holdings Limited (ASX: NHF). The latter is paying a fully franked 13 cents per share interim dividend today.

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

The broker highlights that the Bell Potter Australian Equity Core Portfolio aims to highlight attractive investment opportunities within the Australian share market.

It has a focus on paying the right price for high-quality ASX shares that can deliver long-term growth.

Let's see which ASX 200 shares are among its biggest holdings in the portfolio.

Which ASX 200 shares feature in the core portfolio?

Bell Potter's top five holdings in its core portfolio (in order) are ANZ Group Holdings Ltd (ASX: ANZ), WiseTech Global Ltd (ASX: WTC), News Corporation (ASX: NWS), Netwealth Group Ltd (ASX: NWL), and Capricorn Metals Ltd (ASX: CMM).

Commenting on its largest holding, ANZ, the broker said:

ANZ is our key pick amongst the banks and rises to 7.5% from 5.0%. CBA (6.0%), NAB (3.0%) and WBC (3.0%) remain underweight relative to index, but the aggregate bank exposure is now higher than it was. We are not calling for a wholesale rotation into banks, but we are recognising that in a firmer rate backdrop the earnings path is supported by higher-for-longer rates deserve more capital than we were giving them.

While the earnings backdrop is more positive, it still does not justify the valuations across the majors and this drives our underweight call. […] ANZ offers the best value in the majors, with cost control and a strong capital position.

The broker also revealed that it is sticking with WiseTech Global despite the selloff caused by AI disruption concerns. Bell Potter believes it is an adapter to AI and will not be displaced. It said:

We remain actively exposed to stocks we think will continue to do well, but we are reducing static weights as the AI trade has driven the benchmark weighting of these companies lower, and AI fears will continue to cap valuation multiples in the short-term.

The stocks we hold are (relative to other tech peers) defensible, have embedded workflows, proprietary data or measurable productivity benefits supporting the earnings path. We keep WiseTech at a lower weight of 3.5% from 4.5% (remains one of our key active positions in the portfolio), reflecting that while valuation and market sensitivity matter, the company remains on the right side of the adapter versus displaced divide.

The post Bell Potter's top ASX 200 holdings revealed appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

ASX 200 set for massive rebound

The Australian share market looks set for a very strong session on Tuesday following a solid start to the week in the US. According to the latest SPI futures, the ASX 200 is poised to open the day 200 points or 2.3% higher. In late trade on Wall Street, the Dow Jones is up 0.5%, the S&P 500 is up 0.8%, and the Nasdaq is 1.4% higher.

Oil prices tumble

It could be a poor session for ASX 200 energy shares Karoon Energy Ltd (ASX: KAR) and Santos Ltd (ASX: STO) after oil prices pulled back overnight. According to Bloomberg, the WTI crude oil price is down 5.25% to US$86.13 a barrel and the Brent crude oil price is down 3.2% to US$89.71 a barrel. This was driven by comments from President Trump, suggesting that the US could take control of the Strait of Hormuz.

Buy Nickel Industries shares

Nickel Industries Ltd (ASX: NIC) shares could be in the buy zone according to analysts at Bell Potter. This morning, the broker has retained its buy rating and $1.45 price target on the nickel producer's shares. It said: "While the conflict in the Middle East is resulting in an immediate market impact to key input costs and the duration is uncertain, we form the view that while margins may be impacted, NIC is insulated due to its diversified nickel product suite. There is also a potential offset from higher nickel prices to which NIC has strong leverage. We retain our Buy recommendation and leave our $1.45/sh Target Price unchanged."

Gold price slips

ASX 200 gold shares Evolution Mining Ltd (ASX: EVN) and Ramelius Resources Ltd (ASX: RMS) could have a subdued session on Tuesday after the gold price slipped overnight. According to CNBC, the gold futures price is down 0.25% to US$5,146.5 an ounce. A stronger US dollar and higher rate expectations put pressure on the precious metal.

ASX 200 shares going ex-div

A number of ASX 200 shares are going ex-dividend today and could trade lower. This includes CSL Ltd (ASX: CSL), Coles Group Ltd (ASX: COL), Iress Ltd (ASX: IRE), News Corporation (ASX: NWS), and Qantas Airways Ltd (ASX: QAN). With respect to the latter, the airline operator is paying shareholders a fully franked 19.8 cents per share interim dividend next month on 15 April.

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

For you to be entitled to a stock's next dividend, you must own it before its ex-dividend date.

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

ASX shares with ex-dividend dates next week

The post 32 ASX shares about to go ex-dividend appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

This horrendous day for the Australian markets follows a rough morning on Wall Street for American investors.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average Index (DJX: .DJI) ended its session 0.83% lower after tanking more than 2% at one point.

The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC) fared even worse, losing 1.02% of its value after a near-3% loss during intra-day trading.

But let's grit our teeth and return to the local markets now for a checkup on how today's tough trading conditions affected the different ASX sectors.

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

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

Both News Corporation (ASX: NWS) and Nine Entertainment Co Holdings Ltd (ASX: NEC) shares have lost about 30% of their value in the past 6 months.

With the ASX media shares well below their highs, is this a buying opportunity, or are tougher times still ahead?

News Corp

News Corp remains one of the world's most influential media companies. The heavyweight ASX media share owns mastheads such as The Wall Street Journal and The Australian, alongside book publisher HarperCollins and digital platforms like Dow Jones.

The company's strength lies in its premium content and subscription-led model. Paid digital news and data services have helped insulate News Corp from the worst of the advertising downturn.

Last week, the company reported net income of US$242 million, down 21% on the prior corresponding quarter, which had been boosted by a one-off gain from REA Group's sale of PropertyGuru.

Total segment EBITDA rose 9% to US$521 million, though this included a US$16 million one-off inventory write-down at HarperCollins.

But weaknesses persist. Traditional print remains in structural decline, and the business is still exposed to cyclical advertising markets. News Corp also faces ongoing reputational, regulatory scrutiny, and past political and governance controversies.

The ASX media share trades at $37.26 apiece at the time of writing, having lost 27% of its value in the past 6 months. Most analysts see this as a good entry level and rate News Corp as a buy. Their average 12-month price target is $54.07, which implies a 43% upside.  

Analysts at Macquarie said News Corp's latest results beat expectations across revenue, EBITDA, and net profit, while profitability had continued to improve. The broker has a price target of $44.40 on the shares. Factoring in the company's modest dividend yield, Macquarie is expecting a total shareholder return of 16.4% over 12 months.

UBS is more bullish on News Corp shares, with a price target of $65.50, pointing to a 75% upside.

Nine Entertainment

The ASX media share has been under heavy pressure for much of the past year, sliding around 32% in the past 6 months. Slowing TV advertising, structural shifts in media consumption, and capital management concerns have weighed on the sentiment of the Nine Entertainment share.

Despite cost discipline and occasional earnings resilience, Nine's share price remained anchored well below its highs. It reflects deep caution toward traditional broadcasters. The business remains heavily exposed to free-to-air television, a segment under pressure from softer advertising markets.

That caution cracked when the ASX media stock unveiled plans to acquire QMS Media for roughly $850 million while exiting radio and reshaping its regional television footprint.

QMS is expected to generate about $105 million in EBITDA in calendar year 2026, which would be a double-digit increase over the previous year, Nine said. The merger should also deliver about $20 million in annual cost savings by FY29, according to the board of Nine Entertainment.

The market responded swiftly, pushing the ASX share higher as investors reassessed the company's direction. The share price recovered slightly and is now up 4% for the year, hovering just above the 52-week low at $1.15 at the time of writing.

The focus now shifts to execution. Nine must stabilise earnings from traditional media while accelerating growth across digital assets such as Stan.

Most brokers continue to rate the ASX media stock a buy following its sharp decline. The average 12-month price target sits at $1.29, suggesting potential upside of about 11%.

The post Near 52-week lows: Which ASX media share is the smarter buy? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.