Gold shares have been on a multi-year tear due to a rapidly rising gold price creating exceptional earnings growth for ASX miners.

The gold price increased 65% in 2025, its greatest annual rise in more than four decades, and that came on top of a 27% gain in 2024.

The S&P/ASX All Ords Gold Index (ASX: XGD) rose 125% in 2025 and 16% in 2024, delivering investors some thrilling returns.

And then came the first real test for this magnificent period of growth.

How did 2026 begin?

The start of 2026 was amazing for ASX gold shares.

The gold price went crazy, rising 30% in less than a month on new year optimism and excitement.

The gold price soared from just over US$4,300 per ounce on 31 December to a record US$5,608 per ounce on 29 January.

ASX gold shares ascended strongly, rising 17.7% over these first few weeks of 2026.

Then came the steepest one-day fall for the gold price in more than a decade.

Gold plummeted 21% over just a few days to US$4,400 per ounce by 2 February.

The sell-off was triggered by the nomination of Kevin Warsh to be the next US Fed chair.

Warsh is known for his hawkish stance on interest rates, and investors worried he may not cut rates as fast as the market was hoping.

Higher-for-longer interest rates are a headwind for the gold price, given that gold is a non-yielding asset.

The Warsh nomination led to a fall in the gold price, followed by panic selling as investors sought to lock in their incredible gains.

ASX gold shares followed suit. The S&P/ASX All Ords Gold Index (ASX: XGD) fell 12.4% between 29 January and 2 February.

Despite the late-month sell-off, ASX gold shares managed an 11% net gain over the month of January.

ASX gold shares recover, then crash even harder

The gold price rebounded in February, rising to about US$5,300 per ounce by month's end.

ASX gold shares also rose by 4.7%.

Then came the war.

On 28 February (US time), Israel and the US attacked Iran, claiming they did so to destroy Iran's nuclear weapons capabilities.

That saw the gold price tank, and ASX gold shares went with it.

Trading Economics analysts say the gold price has experienced its worst monthly fall in March since October 2008, down about 13%.

ASX gold shares have followed the trend, diving 23.7% this month.

The analysts said:

The precious metal faced sustained pressure this month from an oil-driven inflation shock that pushed investors and policymakers toward a more hawkish stance on interest rates.

Meanwhile, Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell said long-term US inflation expectations appeared to remain anchored despite heightened uncertainties tied to the conflict.

He added that the central bank's policy stance is well positioned to allow officials to assess the economic impact of the Iran war.

1Q CY26 performance

The ASX All Ords Gold Index finished the first quarter down 10.1%.

Let's take a look at some specific ASX gold shares and their performance over the March quarter.

The market's largest ASX gold share, Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST) fell 16.7% over the quarter to close at $20.36 today.

The Evolution Mining Ltd (ASX: EVN) share price edged 0.5% lower over the quarter to $12.62 today.

Newmont Corporation CDI (ASX: NEM) shares managed a 0.3% gain over 1Q CY26 to $151.55 today.

The Greatland Resources Ltd (ASX: GGP) share price rose 7.4% over the quarter to $11.34 on Tuesday.

Ramelius Resources Ltd (ASX: RMS) shares declined 13.2% to close out the March quarter at $3.67.

Perseus Mining Ltd (ASX: PRU) shares weakened 8.7% over the quarter to finish at $5.15 today.

Genesis Minerals Ltd (ASX: GMD) shares decreased 19.3% over the quarter to $5.89 today.

Westgold Resources Ltd (ASX: WGX) shares fell 8.7% over the quarter to $5.89 today.

The Regis Resources Ltd (ASX: RRL) share price lost 12.8% to finish the March quarter at $6.65.

The post ASX gold shares tumble as bull run faces its first big test in 1Q CY26 appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

In early afternoon trade on Tuesday, the ASX 200 is up 0.4%, having given back earlier intraday gains of 1.6%.

The gold miners' strong rally is coming off the boil as well, though ASX gold shares are still outpacing the benchmark. At the time of writing, the S&P/ASX All Ordinaries Gold Index (ASX: XGD) is up 2.6% after having been up 5.3% in morning trade.

Here's how these ASX 200 gold stocks are performing at this same time:

• Northern Star shares are up 2.0% at $17.55
• Newmont Corp (ASX: NEM) shares are up 4.8% at $138.10
• Evolution Mining shares are up 3.1% at $11.86
• Ramelius Resources Ltd (ASX: RMS) shares are up 3.3% at $3.42
• Bellevue Gold Ltd (ASX: BGL) shares are up 0.4% at $1.26
• Genesis Minerals Ltd (ASX: GMD) shares are up 6.3% at $5.69
• Perseus Mining Ltd (ASX: PRU) shares are up 2.4% at $4.67
• Vault Minerals Ltd (ASX: VAU) shares are up 2.1% at $3.69
• Westgold Resources Ltd (ASX: WGX) shares are up 3.1% at $5.18
• Ora Banda Mining Ltd (ASX: OBM) shares are down 1.0% at $1.04

Boom!

With the exception of Ora Banda, here's why the Aussie gold miners are outperforming today.

ASX 200 gold stocks rally on Trump's Iran reprieve

After getting hammered throughout most of March following the outbreak of the Iran war on 28 February, ASX 200 gold stocks like Evolution Mining and Northern Star are rallying today amid hopes that the conflict could end sooner than later.

This comes after United States President Donald Trump extended his 48-hour deadline to begin bombing Iranian power plants if Iran doesn't fully reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

Trump offered a five-day reprieve, saying the US is in talks with Iran. An assertion that Iranian authorities have denied.

As you'll have noticed at the petrol station, the oil price has rocketed since the start of the war, with Iran all but closing the vital shipping route in retaliation.

Indeed, on Friday, Brent crude oil was trading north of US$112 per barrel, according to data from Bloomberg.

But the oil price plunged almost 11% overnight, briefly dipping below US$100 per barrel, and is currently trading at US$102.76 per barrel following Trump's comments.

And should the US succeed in reopening the Strait of Hormuz, which carries around 20% of the world's oil shipments, Trump predicted that the oil price would "drop like a rock".

Why is that important for ASX 200 gold stocks like Northern Star, Newmont, and Evolution Mining?

Mostly because soaring energy costs will rekindle global inflation and, in turn, lead to higher interest rates. And gold, which pays no yield itself, historically struggles in high or rising interest rate environments.

Stay tuned!

The post Why ASX 200 gold stocks like Northern Star and Evolution Mining are storming higher today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Let's have a look at who they like.

West African Resources Ltd (ASX: WAF)

The Barrenjoey team has published a research note on this company with the title "Cash harvest in 2026", which gives some indication of how positive they are on the stock.

They note that after a "challenging" 2025, the company enters 2026 in a net cash position, "with its two key assets humming and on track to produce 475,000 ounces at an all in sustaining cost of US$1,991 per ounce on our estimates''.

The Barrenjoey team went on to say:

The shares have traded down 30% since January and are now imputing an almost unbelievable 43% free cash flow yield in 2026 with the potential to deliver a dividend yield exceeding 10%. Uncertainty around the government's request to purchase a stake in Kiaka remains unresolved, but the shares are now pricing in a scenario materially worse than the recently reported additional 25%. We expect the business will deliver $1.1bn in free cash flow this year, and will be in a strong position to make material capital returns to shareholders.

Barrenjoey says their price target is based on a "worst case scenario" regarding what stake in the Kiaka mine the Burkina Faso Government opts to take.

Barrenjoey has a $4.80 price target for West African Resources shares, compared with $2.89 currently.

If achieved, that would represent a return of 66.1%. West African Resources is valued at $3.46 billion.

Perseus Mining Ltd (ASX: PRU)

This company announced just this week that it had sold its 70% stake in the Meyas Sand Project in Sudan to a Chinese company for US$260 million, which Barrenjoey said was about 50% more than Perseus paid for it.

Barrenjoey said the transaction was a net positive, as it had the asset on the books as worth $118 million, "given the ongoing civil war in Sudan and uncertainty around Perseus's ability to develop it''.

The Barrenjoey analysts point out that Perseus shares are down 20% from their January peak, ''since which time management has announced the doubling of Reserves at Nyanzaga, realised value at Meyas Sand and positioned the company for improved capital returns in 2026''.

The Barrenjoey analysts added:

We view Perseus as the highest-quality ASX-listed African gold exposure, with its history of operational excellence and geographic diversification typically driving a healthy premium over its ASX listed African gold peers.

They said that the company should be in a position to "meaningfully" lift its full-year dividend following the Sudan sale.

Barrenjoey has increased its price target for Perseus from $6.50 to $6.80, compared with $4.80 currently.

The post 2 ASX gold miners to buy for solid share price gains, according to Barrenjoey appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

In morning trade, the ASX 200 is down 1.6%.

But the gold miners are doing it much tougher today as witnessed by the 7.1% decline in the S&P/ASX All Ordinaries Gold Index (ASX: XGD).

Here's how some of the top ASX 200 gold stock are performing at this same time:

• Northern Star shares are down 7.0% at $19.48
• Newmont shares are down 4.9% at $147.69
• Evolution Mining Ltd (ASX: EVN) shares are down 7.0% at $12.56
• Ramelius Resources Ltd(ASX: RMS) shares are down 8.7% at $3.69
• Bellevue Gold Ltd (ASX: BGL) shares are down 9.4% at $1.46
• Genesis Minerals Ltd (ASX: GMD) shares are down 9.1% at $5.61
• Perseus Mining Ltd (ASX: PRU) shares are down 6.6% at $4.84
• Vault Minerals Ltd (ASX: VAU) shares are down 8.6% at $4.23
• Westgold Resources Ltd (ASX: WGX) shares are down 7.8% at $5.69
• Ora Banda Mining Ltd (ASX: OBM) shares are down 9.4% at $1.35

Ouch!

Here's what's got investors reaching for their sell buttons.

ASX 200 gold stocks in the crosshairs

After enjoying a tremendous run through to the beginning of March this year, ASX 200 gold stocks like Northern Star and Newmont have come under selling pressure amid a sizeable retrace in the record setting gold price.

On 2 March, gold was trading for US$5,322 per ounce. Today, that same ounce is trading for US$4,834, according to data from Bloomberg. That sees the gold price down more than 9% this month.

This comes as the oil price heads the other direction. Brent crude oil is trading or US$107 per barrel today, up 38% since 2 March.

And it matters for two reasons.

First, this divergence in the two commodity prices is driving a rotation from ASX 200 gold stocks into ASX 200 energy stocks.

Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS) shares, for example, are up 4.5% today, while rival Santos Ltd (ASX: STO) shares are up 2.8%.

The other reason the gold price – and gold miners like Newmont, Northern Star and Evolution Mining – are taking a steep hit is that fast rising energy prices look likely to fuel inflation.

The Middle East conflict and its impact on global oil prices was cited by Fed officials yesterday when the US central bank opted to keep interest rates on hold. On Tuesday, the RBA also mentioned rising energy costs after it opted to increase interest rates in Australia.

And gold, which pays no yield itself and is priced in US dollars, tends to do better in a low or falling rate environment.

The bigger picture

Longer-term investors in most ASX 200 gold stocks should still be sitting on outsized gains.

Despite today's big retrace, the ASX All Ords Gold Index remains up 55.4% over 12 months.

The post Why are ASX 200 gold stocks like Northern Star and Newmont down so much today? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Three ASX shares that brokers have named as buys this week are listed below. Here's why their analysts are feeling bullish on them right now:

Orica Ltd (ASX: ORI)

According to a note out of Morgans, its analysts have retained their buy rating on this commercial explosives company's shares with an improved price target of $25.35. This follows the release of a stronger than expected trading update earlier this week. In addition, the broker was pleased to see that Orica has settled its litigation in the United States and announced an acquisition in the country. Morgans believes that the latter will strengthen its US operations. Outside this, Morgans highlights that the company has leverage to attractive industry fundamentals, market leading positions, solid earnings growth, proven management team, and a strong balance sheet. The Orica share price is trading at $20.02 on Wednesday afternoon.

Perseus Mining Ltd (ASX: PRU)

A note out of Ord Minnett reveals that its analysts have upgraded this gold miner's shares to a buy rating with an increased price target of $6.80. The broker made the move after Perseus Mining announced the sale of its Meyas Sand gold project in Sudan. Ord Minnett was pleased with the price that the company has received, especially given the difficulties operating in a country experiencing a civil war. Overall, it sees Perseus Mining as one of the best ways to gain exposure to the African gold industry and feels that the sale of the Meyas Sand gold project strengthens the quality of its portfolio. The Perseus Mining share price is fetching $5.19 at the time of writing.

Xero Ltd (ASX: XRO)

Analysts at Citi have retained their buy rating and $144.80 price target on this cloud accounting platform provider's shares. According to the note, the broker believes that macro trends are positive for Xero. It highlights that business formation is accelerating in both Australia and the United States, while insolvency trends are improving. This combination points to positive demand for its platform according to the broker. Coupled with potential margin expansion from cost efficiencies and AI adoption, Citi believes Xero is well-placed to grow its earnings. The Xero share price is trading at $79.66 on Wednesday.

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

The gold price rose to record highs, and along with it, many ASX gold shares. 

These companies also benefited from its position as a safe-haven asset.

Tariff fears, geopolitical uncertainty and global conflicts influenced investors decisions to push towards safe-haven assets like gold. 

Leading the way in 2025 were: 

• Pantoro Gold Ltd (ASX: PNR) rose 220%
• Resolute Mining Ltd (ASX: RSG) shares climbed 206%
• Regis Resources Ltd (ASX: RRL) share price roared 196% 
• Genesis Minerals Ltd (ASX: GMD) shares increased 194%
• Perseus Mining Ltd (ASX: PRU), up 121%

Among the largest gold mining companies: 

• Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST) rose by 73% in 2025.
• Evolution Mining Ltd (ASX: EVN) shares climbed 164%
• Newmont Corporation CDI (ASX: NEM) shares increased 152%.

What is happening in 2026?

According to Trading Economics, gold prices have climbed more than 16% year to date. 

Although the continuing conflict in the Middle East has influenced volatility.

Despite global gold prices rising, many of these red hot ASX gold shares have stumbled in 2026. 

Let's look how the best performing shares from last year are tracking so far in 2026. 

The only one in the positive at the time of writing is Resolute Mining Ltd (ASX: RSG) which is up 12.9%. 

The other four: 

• Pantoro Gold Ltd (ASX: PNR) down 26% 
• Regis Resources Ltd (ASX: RRL) down 7.4%
• Genesis Minerals Ltd (ASX: GMD) down almost 15%
• Perseus Mining Ltd (ASX: PRU) has fallen 7.4%

Among the largest gold mining companies, since the start of 2026, Evolution Mining Ltd (ASX: EVN) is up 7% and Newmont Corporation CDI (ASX: NEM) is up 3%, while Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST) is down 15%. 

What does this tell us?

There's more that influences gold miners and producers than just the global commodity price. 

Gold miners and producers are influenced not just by the global gold price but also by operational performance, including production costs, mine efficiency, and reserves. 

Exploration success and new discoveries can boost a miner's value, while project delays or cost overruns can hurt it. 

Regulatory, environmental, and political risks in mining jurisdictions can affect production and investor confidence. 

Finally, currency fluctuations, interest rates, and investor sentiment in equity markets also play a significant role in share price movements.

Global diversity with gold ASX ETFS

For investors looking to gain exposure to gold shares, without selecting specific companies, may benefit from more diverse gold ETFs. 

These funds can spread the risk across more than just Australian gold miners. 

Some options include: 

• Etfs Metal Securities Australia – Etfs Physical Gold (ASX: GOLD) – Tracks the price of physical gold with bullion held in London vaults.
• BetaShares Global Gold Miners ETF – Currency Hedged (ASX: MNRS) – comprises the largest global gold mining companies (ex-Australia), hedged into Australian dollars.
• VanEck Vectors Gold Miners ETF (ASX: GDX) – Provides exposure to a basket of global and Australian gold mining companies rather than the metal itself.

Alternatively, here are emerging ASX gold companies UBS has picked as winners. 

The post Which ASX gold shares have risen the most in 2026? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

In morning trade, the ASX 200 gold stock is down almost 6% to $4.97.

Why is this ASX 200 gold stock dropping?

The gold miner's shares are falling today after a pullback in the gold price overshadowed the release of an announcement relating to its interest in the Meyas Sand Gold Project (MSGP) in Sudan.

This has seen most gold miners fall today, dragging the S&P/ASX All Ordinaries Gold index over 4% lower.

According to the release, Perseus has signed a share purchase agreement to sell its 70% group interest in the project to Hong Kong Matrix Golden Fortune Mining. It is a subsidiary of Matrix Resources (Zhejiang).

The purchase price totals US$260 million (A$372 million) and comprises a US$10 million deposit already received on signing of the agreement, with the remaining US$250 million payable on completion of the transaction. Settlement is currently scheduled for 22 April 2026.

Strategic portfolio move

Perseus acquired the MSGP through its purchase of Orca Gold in May 2022. The company noted that the agreed sale price will allow it to recover the purchase price and expenditure on the project while generating a book gain.

The decision to sell the MSGP follows a lengthy strategic review of the project which considered both development and divestment options.

The ASX 200 gold stock ultimately concluded that selling the asset was the best course of action at this time, particularly given the ongoing armed conflict in Sudan and the challenges this has created for progressing development.

Perseus expects the proceeds from the sale of the MSGP to further strengthen its balance sheet. It notes that this could support additional capital returns to shareholders and allow internal resources to be redirected toward existing development opportunities across its portfolio.

Commenting on the transaction, the ASX 200 gold stock's managing director and CEO, Craig Jones said:

Perseus maintains the view that the MSGP is a high quality gold project. A strategic review of MSGP was undertaken as a result of the protracted armed conflict in Sudan and its impact on Perseus's ability to progress the development at suitable scale. The sale represents an important step for Perseus in its portfolio optimisation and allows allocation of resources to core assets and its growth strategy. Matrix Group is a proven development partner with a vision for the MSGP that aligns with the development goals of Sudan.

The post Which ASX 200 gold stock is sinking despite US$260m deal? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

In late morning trade on Friday, the Northern Star share price is down 5.7% at $27.69. That sees Northern Star shares down 13.7% since Monday's close.

Evolution Mining shares are down 4.3% at the time of writing, changing hands for $15.05 apiece. This puts the Evolution Mining share price down 14.8% since Monday's close.

For some context, the ASX 200 is down 3.2% since the closing bell on Monday.

Here's how these other top ASX 200 gold stocks have performed over this same time:

• Newmont Corp (ASX: NEM) shares are down 11.5%
• Ramelius Resources Ltd(ASX: RMS) shares are down 10.0%
• Bellevue Gold Ltd (ASX: BGL) shares are down 11.7%
• Genesis Minerals Ltd (ASX: GMD) shares are down 9.0%
• Perseus Mining Ltd (ASX: PRU) shares are down 8.3%
• Vault Minerals Ltd (ASX: VAU) shares are down 13.2%
• Westgold Resources Ltd (ASX: WGX) shares are down 12.5%
• Ora Banda Mining Ltd (ASX: OBM) shares are down 3.2%

Why are ASX 200 gold stocks getting smashed despite gold's haven status?

In times of global uncertainty, investors often turn to gold as a relatively safe store of wealth.

And, indeed, on Monday, the gold price spiked to US$5,322 per ounce following the United States and Israel's military strikes on Iran. This, in turn, saw most ASX 200 gold stocks post outsized gains on Monday.

But over the following days, the gold price went into reverse.

The yellow metal is currently fetching US$5,094 per ounce, down 4.3% over the past four days.

"Gold's sell-off this week is a reminder to investors that even with rising demand for safe havens, the ultimate safe haven asset isn't immune if market forces work against it," Josh Gilbert, market analyst at eToro, said.

One of those market forces is the rapidly changing outlook for the prospect of interest rate cuts from the US Federal Reserve, the Reserve Bank of Australia, and a host of other prominent central banks.

That's because the sharp spike in oil prices (Brent crude is up 18% this week, trading at US$85.40 per barrel) is likely to fuel inflation worldwide. And gold tends to underperform in high or rising rate environments.

Fewer (or no) further interest rate cuts from the US Fed will also aid the already strengthening US dollar. And with the gold price in US dollars, that throws up additional headwinds for the yellow metal, as well as ASX 200 gold stocks.

According to Gilbert:

We're seeing similarities to what we saw in 2022. When Russia invaded Ukraine, oil prices surged, inflation spiked globally, and the Fed responded by hiking rates aggressively, which strengthened the dollar and sent gold lower for much of that year…

The physical gold market is also facing real disruption. The UAE, one of the world's most important regions for the global gold trade, closed its airspace over the weekend.

There are other forces pressuring the gold price as well.

As we've seen during other market pullbacks, traders have been selling off their gold holdings to meet margin calls, adding more gold supply to the market just as demand is dipping.

"This hints strongly at 'good for bad' activity in markets, where traders need to cover loss-making positions elsewhere by booking profits on their hitherto profitable trades," National Australia Bank Ltd (ASX: NAB) head of FX strategy Ray Attrill said (quoted by The Australian Financial Review).

Now what?

As for what's ahead for the likes of Northern Star and Evolution Mining, it's worth noting that the vast majority of ASX gold shares are still well into the green over the longer term.

S&P/ASX All Ordinaries Gold Index (ASX: XGD) – which also contains some smaller miners outside of ASX 200 gold stocks – remains up 95.7% since this time last year.

"The structural case for gold hasn't changed," Gilbert said.

He noted:

Central banks have been buying at a historic pace for three consecutive years, concerns around fiscal deficits remain firmly in place, and the geopolitical backdrop is arguably more uncertain now than at any point this year. Gold is still up almost 20% year to date, and with the conflict in the Middle East not seemingly letting up for now, buyers may not be gone for too long.

The post If gold is a safe haven, why are ASX 200 gold stocks like Northern Star and Evolution Mining getting smashed this week? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

In fact, some of them downright turbocharged them by up to 200%!

The dividend splurge follows a boom in commodity prices over the first six months of FY26.

The biggest dividend increases, in percentage terms, came from the ASX 200 gold shares.

Let's check them out.

ASX 200 gold shares splash the dividend cash

One of the stand-out stocks for boosted dividends was Regis Resources Ltd (ASX: RRL), which tripled its interim payment this year.

Regis Resources shares will pay a fully franked 15-cent per share dividend, up 200% from the 5-cent dividend for 1H FY25.

The miner reported a record net profit after tax (NPAT) of $323 million, up 73% year-over-year, for 1H FY26.

Regis Resources CEO Jim Beyer said:

Looking to the remainder of the financial year, we remain on track to deliver in line with guidance and in the prevailing gold price environment, we expect to see another period of significant cash generation and profitability.

Regis Resources shares go ex-dividend next Thursday, 12 March.

Evolution Mining Ltd (ASX: EVN) was another stand-out dividend raiser.

Evolution upped its dividend by 186% to a record 20 cents per share, fully franked.

This was enabled by a 110% NPAT lift to $766.6 million for 1H FY26.

Evolution Managing Director, Lawrie Conway, said:

Our record dividend of 20 cents per share meets our commitment to reward shareholders in the current high metal price environment.

With a clear pipeline of high-return projects now advancing, we're positioned for strong, sustainable growth while continuing to return capital to shareholders.

Evolution shares go ex-dividend tomorrow.

Another ASX 200 gold mining share, Perseus Mining Ltd (ASX: PRU), will pay a doubled interim dividend to shareholders.

The miner will pay an unfranked interim dividend of 5 cents per share, up from 2.5 cents per share for 1H FY25.

This is despite reporting just a 5% lift in revenue to US$608.5 million and a 7.8% fall in NPAT to $185.5 million for 1H FY26.

Perseus Mining CEO Craig Jones said:

Our strong operational results along with our low operating cost, produced robust cash flows further strengthening our superior balance sheet, enabling a 100% increase in our interim dividend to AUD 5.0 cents per share.

Perseus Mining shares go ex-dividend on Thursday.

The rivers of gold continue…

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 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% decline in NPAT to $160 million.

The ASX gold share goes ex-dividend on 16 March.

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 200 gold share goes ex-dividend on Monday, 16 March.

What about other ASX 200 mining shares?

BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP) shares will pay an interim dividend of $1.03 per share, up 46% on 1H FY25, with full franking credits.

The 'Big Australian' revealed a 28% profit increase to US$5.64 billion for 1H FY26.

BHP shares will go ex-dividend on Thursday.

Fortescue Ltd (ASX: FMG) shares will pay a fully franked interim dividend of 62 cents per share, up 24% on 1H FY25, on 30 March.

Fortescue reported a 23% NPAT increase to US$1.9 billion for 1H FY26.

The ASX 200 iron ore mining share went ex-dividend today.

South32 Ltd (ASX: S32) raised its interim dividend by 15% to 3.9 US cents per share, fully franked.

The miner reported a 29% lift in profit attributable to members to US$464 million for 1H FY26.

The ASX 200 diversified mining share goes ex-dividend on Thursday.

Ex-dividend dates this week

Check out other ASX 200 mining shares that have ex-dividend dates this week.

The post Which ASX 200 mining shares raised their dividends this earnings season? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

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

ASX All Ords shares about to go ex-dividend

Which companies will we hear from today?

The big one today is the half-yearly report from supermarket network Coles Group Ltd (ASX: COL).

Woolworths shares ripped this week after the ASX All Ords consumer staples giant reported a 16% profit lift to $859 million for 1H FY26.

We'll also hear from TPG Telecom Ltd (ASX: TPG), Michael Hill International Ltd (ASX: MHJ), and Pexa Group Ltd (ASX: PXA).

The latest report from The Star Entertainment Group Ltd (ASX: SGR) will also be interesting, as investors seek further news on the turnaround plan for the beleaguered casino operator.

Yesterday, Star Entertainment shares bounced on news of a debt refinancing deal, including extra liquidity to fund the turnaround plan.

The post 35 ASX All Ords shares with ex-dividend dates next week appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

In morning trade on Tuesday, Northern Star shares are up 4.4% to $30.57 each. Evolution Mining shares are close behind, up 4% today at $16.20 apiece.

For some context, the ASX 200 is up 0.2% at this same time while the S&P/ASX All Ordinaries Gold Index (ASX: XGD) – which also contains some smaller gold miners outside of the ASX 200 – is up 2.5%.

Here's how these other top ASX 200 gold stocks are performing on Tuesday:

• Newmont Corp (ASX: NEM) shares are up 0.7%
• Ramelius Resources Ltd(ASX: RMS) shares are up 3.7%
• Bellevue Gold Ltd (ASX: BGL) shares are up 0.8%
• Genesis Minerals Ltd (ASX: GMD) shares are up 1.3%
• Perseus Mining Ltd (ASX: PRU) shares are up 1.2%
• Vault Minerals Ltd (ASX: VAU) shares are up 2.6%
• Westgold Resources Ltd (ASX: WGX) shares are up 2.7%
• Ora Banda Mining Ltd (ASX: OBM) shares are up 1.3%

Here's what's catching ASX investor interest today.

Why are ASX 200 gold stocks smashing the benchmark today?

Investors are piling into Aussie gold miners like Evolution Mining and Northern Star shares today amid renewed concerns over US President Donald Trump's global tariff plans.

With the US Supreme Court striking down Trump's earlier nation-by-nation tariffs as exceeding his authority, Trump now aims to level a potential 15% tariff on every nation for up to 150 days.

That's played into gold's haven status, with the yellow metal jumping early this morning to US$5,248 per ounce. At the time of writing, gold is fetching US$5,481 per ounce. This sees the gold price up 12.5% from the recent lows on 2 February and up a blistering 80% since this time last year.

And, as you'd expect, with higher gold prices, ASX 200 gold stocks tend to deliver juicier profits, which is driving investor interest in Aussie miners today.

What the experts are saying about the gold price

Commenting on the resurgent gold price that's sending Northern Star and Evolution Mining shares soaring today, Bloomberg markets strategist Mark Cranfield said:

Gold's strength amid a lower positioning from hedge funds shows that there's further position upside. The Commodity Futures Trading Commission data shows that the net-long position for gold futures have fallen to the lowest level in nearly a year.

Vasu Menon, strategist at Oversea-Chinese Banking Corp, also has a bullish medium-term outlook for the gold price. But he cautioned about short-term volatility, which could also see some price swings in ASX 200 gold stocks.

According to Menon:

There are enough structural factors in favour of gold in the medium term. In the short term, however, expect gold prices to be volatile after the sharp gains in recent months given still-unfolding developments with US trade policy, and the situation in Iran.

The post Why are ASX 200 gold stocks like Evolution Mining and Northern Star shares going gangbusters on Tuesday? 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.

Ramelius Resources Ltd (ASX: RMS) shares are up 0.2% in late morning trade at $4.52 each. That sees the Ramelius Resources share price up 71.9% over 12 months, smashing the 9% one-year gains posted by the ASX 200.

Perseus Mining Ltd (ASX: PRU) shares are enjoying an even stronger run today. Perseus Mining shares are changing hands for $5.91 apiece, up 4.4%. Perseus Mining shares have gained 104.1% in 12 months.

Here's what's happening with the ASX 200 gold stocks today.

Ramelius Resources shares in the green on earnings boost

Ramelius shares are outperforming today following the release of the miner's half-year results for the six months to 31 December (H1 FY 2026).

The ASX 200 gold stock reported record first-half underlying earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) of $347.7 million, up 13% year on year.

Operating cash flow of $311.6 million was down 3% from H1 FY 2025.

And on the bottom line, the miner's underlying net profit after tax (NPAT) slipped 6% year on year to $160 million.

On the passive income front, management declared a fully-franked interim dividend of 3 cents per share, in line with last year's interim payout.

As at 31 December, Ramelius held cash and bullion of $694.3 million, down 14% since the end of June.

Commenting on the results, Ramelius managing director Mark Zeptner said:

It is pleasing to be able to report such strong financial results in what remains a transitional period for Ramelius following the combination with Spartan last year. Operationally, performance was in line with our expectations highlighted in the 5-Year Growth Pathway released in October 2025…

The company's current growth projects, including the development of the Never Never underground at Dalgaranga and the Mt Magnet processing plant upgrades, are progressing well with first ore from Never Never delivered to Mt Magnet this week and engineering / early site works underway for the plant upgrade.

Which brings us to…

ASX 200 gold stock lifts on doubled dividend

Perseus Mining also reported its half-year results this morning.

Revenue for the six months came in at US$608.5 million, up 5% year on year.

But the ASX 200 gold stock saw earnings and profits slip from H1 FY 2025.

EBITDA of US$315.5 million was down 10.5%, while profit after tax of $185.5 million declined by 7.8%.

Perseus reported operating cash flow of US$193.4 million for the half year, and held net cash and bullion of US$755 million as at 31 December.

Management declared an unfranked interim dividend of 5 Aussie cents per share. That's up 100% from last year's interim payout.

Looking at what could impact the ASX 200 gold stock ahead, the Aussie gold miner reaffirmed its full-year FY 2026 market guidance of 400,000 to 440,000 ounces of gold production at an all-in sustaining cost (AISC) of US$1,600 to US$1,760 per ounce.

"As we have flagged, the first half of 2026 reflected a period where our mine sites transitioned into new mining areas along with significant advancement of our capital growth projects," Perseus CEO Craig Jones said.

Jones added:

With a strong balance sheet, high-margin operations, and a clear growth path, we believe we are well-positioned to continue delivering long-term value for our shareholders.

The post 2 ASX 200 gold stocks outperforming on big news on Friday appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

The rally, driven by a flood of investors fleeing to safe-haven assets amid concerns about global volatility, has been great news for gold miners and producers. In fact, a few have seen their share prices jump 100% or more over the past 12 months alone.

The surging ASX gold stocks

West African Resources Ltd (ASX: WAF) shares have soared 107.76% over the past year, to $3.62 a piece at the time of writing on Tuesday afternoon. The share price spiked to an all-time high in late January. And while the shares have since dropped 7.45%, they're still 17.75% higher for the year to date.

West African Resources shares have rallied particularly strongly this year, boosted by the gold price and promising exportation results. 

It's a very similar story for Vault Minerals Ltd (ASX: VAU). While its shares have also surged higher over the past 12 months (up 108.17% at the time of writing), they're still 0.09% lower for the year-to-date.

Again, the miner's shares have been boosted by the rallying gold price and by its strong gold production results posted last month. 

Perseus Mining Ltd (ASX: PRU) shares have also climbed 102.16% over the past 12 months. At the time of writing, the shares are trading at $5.62 each, a 0.35% year-to-date decline.

The miner also posted solid gold production and growing cash last month.

Can these ASX gold stocks keep climbing higher?

The price of gold has already hit record‑like levels this year and is expected to remain strong through 2026. Some think the price of gold could go even higher this year if demand for safe-haven assets surges further or volatility risk heightens.

If gold prices stay strong, then ASX gold stocks like West African Resources, Vault Minerals, and Perseus Mining could continue to outperform this year. 

The risk is that these companies are very reliant on gold prices, which means share price growth could be choppy throughout the year. 

Analysts currently have a strong buy rating on West African Resources shares and think the stock could surge another 77.53% this year to $6.40 a piece, at the time of writing.

Forecasts on Perseus Mining shares also imply a huge upside ahead. Most analysts (five out of nine) have a strong buy rating on the stock. The maximum target price is $8.36, which implies a potential 48.95% upside at the time of writing.

It's the same story for Vault Minerals shares, too. Most analysts (eight out of 11) have a buy or strong buy rating on the shares. The maximum target price is $8.70, which implies a potential 59.19% upside for investors at the time of writing.

The post These 3 ASX gold stocks jumped 100% in a year. Is there more upside ahead? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Today, the gold price is US$5,010 per ounce, up 0.8%. Therefore, the UBS forecast implies a near 25% potential upside from here.

In a new note, strategists Wayne Gordon from UBS Singapore and Giovanni Staunovo from UBS Switzerland said they expected the gold price to reach US$6,200 per ounce in the March quarter, and remain at about that level in the June and September quarters.

They forecast a pullback in the December quarter, after the US midterm elections in November, to about US$5,900 per ounce.

UBS explains its upgraded gold price forecast

Gordon and Staunovo explained why the forecast had changed:

This adjustment reflects our view that demand will be higher than previously expected, driven by higher investment activity rather than higher central bank purchases.

In terms of demand for physical gold, the strategists referenced data from the World Gold Council showing that total demand in 2025, including over-the-counter (OTC) transactions, exceeded 5,000 metric tonnes for the first time, mainly due to robust investment activity.

They said:

ETF holdings rose by 801 metric tons, bar and coin purchases reached a 12-year high of nearly 1,375 metric tons, and central banks acquired 863 metric tons.

The central bank purchases were slightly below expectations for the year and the record amounts of the previous years, but they're still strong in a historical context.

Jewelry volumes declined, as anticipated, due to elevated prices, but sales were higher than we projected.

As we reported last year, jewellery sales are also going the other way, with some Aussies cashing in their rings, necklaces, and other items.

Record inflows into gold ETFs

The analysts' expectations of higher investment activity in 2026 are borne out in the latest monthly inflow data for gold ETFs.

The World Gold Council reports a record net monthly inflow of US$19 billion (A$27.3 billion) into gold ETFs in January.

ASX gold ETFs attracted US$202 million in net inflows last month.

There is now a record US$669 billion in assets under management via gold ETFs, and US$8.6 billion of that is in ASX gold ETFs.

Gordon and Staunovo said:

We now expect continued strong central bank buying, higher ETF inflows, and more bar and coin purchases, driven by lower US real rates, ongoing global economic concerns, and uncertainty surrounding US domestic policy, especially related to the midterm elections and increased fiscal stress.

Could the gold price break US$7,000?

The strategists said the gold price could go as high as US$7,200 per ounce under the right circumstances.

However, it could also go the other way.

… we now project an upside scenario target of USD 7,200/oz and a downside scenario of USD 4,600/oz (this is close to a one standard deviation move).

A hawkish pivot by the Federal Reserve could heighten risks to the downside, while a steep escalation in geopolitical tensions could bring us closer to the upside scenario.

Gold continues to be rated as Attractive, and we maintain a long position in our global asset allocation.

We also recommend using options strategies for investors seeking to manage downside price risks.

ASX gold shares today

ASX gold shares are higher on Monday, with the S&P/ASX All Ords Gold Index (ASX: XGD) up 4.6% at the time of writing.

The Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST) share price is up 2.78% to $27.52.

The Evolution Mining Ltd (ASX: EVN) share price is 3.66% higher at $14.87.

Newmont Corporation CDI (ASX: NEM) shares are up 6.3% to $164.56.

The Genesis Minerals Ltd (ASX: GMD) share price is up 3.2% to $6.86.

Perseus Mining Ltd (ASX: PRU) shares are 5.1% higher at $5.61.

The post UBS raises gold price target to US$6,200 per ounce for this quarter appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

That's still a long way off the record US$5,608 per ounce reached last month.

Analysts at Trading Economics said the gold sell-off earlier this week was triggered by the US President's Fed chair pick, plus profit-taking.

Global asset manager, Sprott, runs one of the world's largest gold bullion investment funds, the Sprott Physical Gold Trust (TSX: PHYS).

In an article last month, Sprott said gold was in a strong bull-run cycle with long-term tailwinds that are strengthening.

What got the gold price rising in the first place?

Let's take a history lesson first.

Sprott explains that gold's current bull cycle began in 2022 when Western authorities froze Russia's foreign exchange reserves.

That event shattered the assumption of reserve neutrality and triggered a reassessment of what constitutes "safe" assets.

Gold, as a non-sovereign, non-liability asset, regained strategic importance for central banks seeking to insulate themselves from geopolitical risk.

Central bank purchasing is the primary reason why gold remains in a bull cycle amid a strong global debasement trade today.

In 2023 and 2024, China emerged as the dominant buyer.

Faced with severe stress in its property sector and mounting debt burdens, Beijing adopted a dual strategy: accumulate gold and allow the yuan to weaken against it.

The scale of Chinese purchases during this period was unprecedented, signaling a structural shift in reserve management priorities.

Last year marked "another turning point" for the gold price, according to Sprott.

Global trade and tariff wars intensified, deepening deglobalization and eroding trust among central banks.

The fragmentation of financial systems elevated gold's status as the ultimate neutral reserve asset.

By mid-year, the narrative broadened, as investors woke up to the systemic debasement of fiat currencies and bonds underway.

Over the last four months of 2025, gold surged as the debasement trade gained momentum, driven by liquidity injections, monetary inflation, and a decline in confidence in traditional hedges.

What is the debasement trade?

Debasement occurs when the purchasing power of currencies is eroded. We've seen this play out with the US dollar.

The Australian dollar briefly traded at a three-year high of 71 cents last month. A year prior, the AUD was worth about 62 US cents.

The 'debasement trade' is an investment strategy whereby investors rotate out of paper assets, like bonds, and into hard assets, like gold, to protect against inflation and lower currency values.

Persistent geopolitical tensions and broader economic uncertainty also continue to support the gold price.

Sprott comments:  

Looking ahead to 2026, fiscal dominance is entrenched, with governments prioritizing debt sustainability over price stability, thereby ensuring that monetary inflation continues to grow.

Central bank diversification away from the U.S. dollar is expected to continue, with emerging markets likely to accelerate their gold accumulation as geopolitical fragmentation persists.

Investor flows into gold ETFs and physical holdings are likely to remain strong, supported by portfolio rebalancing away from long-duration bonds and into real assets. 

Will the gold price continue to run?

Bank of America is forecasting gold to reach US$6,000 per ounce.

In a note to clients, BoA analyst Michael Hartnett said (courtesy Kitco News):

History no guide to future, but avg gold jump past 4 bull markets ≈ 300% in 43 months which would imply gold reaching $6,000 by spring.

Some analysts are even more optimistic.

Julia Du from ICBC Standard Bank thinks the gold price could crack the US$7,000 per ounce mark, commenting:

I expect 2026 to be a year of heightened geopolitical risk and strong safe-haven demand, allowing gold to continue the volatile yet upward trend.

Central banks are likely to keep adding to reserves, institutional investors will increase portfolio allocations, and retail demand – especially in Latin America – should remain robust.

Combined with continued Fed rate cuts, these forces support a bullish bias.

Other experts are less ambitious with their forecasts.

Last month, Goldman Sachs raised its year-end forecast for the gold price to US$5,400 per ounce.

Sprott says:

While gold's 2026 price action may not match its remarkable 2025 rally, the risk skew remains to the upside, particularly under renewed liquidity waves or geopolitical shocks.

What does this mean for ASX gold shares?

Australia is the world's third-largest gold producer.

ASX gold miners are well-placed to continue benefiting from the gold bull run, which has driven their share prices higher.

The Minerals Council of Australia says gold exports rose 42% to $47 billion in 2024-25, and are forecast to grow a further 28% to $60 billion in 2025-26, before stabilising in 2026-27.

That will make the yellow metal our second-largest export behind iron ore, surpassing coal and natural gas.

Council CEO Tania Constable said:

This unprecedented surge is being driven by record global prices and expanding mine output, combining to deliver a renewed period of strength for Australia's gold industry.

The council expects production to rise from 293 tonnes in 2024-25 to 369 tonnes in 2026-27.

New and expanded projects across the country – including mill upgrades, extensions and new mines – are set to add around 67 tonnes to national production.

Meantime, ASX gold shares have soared.

Over the past 12 months, the Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST) share price has risen 48%.

The Evolution Mining Ltd (ASX: EVN) share price has increased by 142%.

Newmont Corporation CDI (ASX: NEM) shares are 117% higher.

Perseus Mining Ltd (ASX: PRU) shares are up 85% over 12 months.

The post Gold price recovers as reasons for buying 'remain in place, but are also compounding' appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Ramelius Resources Ltd (ASX: RMS) shares are up 1% in early morning trade on Thursday, trading for $5.05 apiece.

And Perseus Mining Ltd (ASX: PRU) shares are up 0.1%, changing hands for $6.45 each.

For some context, the ASX 200 is down 0.3% at this same time.

Both miners will be enjoying some added tailwinds from the big overnight leap in the gold price. Gold has surged 4.6% since this time yesterday, currently trading for US$5,417 per ounce. That sees the gold price up 96% over 12 months.

Here's what else is catching investor interest.

ASX 200 gold stock edging higher despite production decline

Perseus Mining shares are in the green despite the miner reporting an 11% quarter-on-quarter decline in gold production to 88,888 ounces over the three months to 31 December. That decline was partly driven by "operational headwinds" at Perseus' flagship Yaoure gold mine.

Costs ramped up over the quarter, with the ASX 200 gold stock reporting an all-in site cost (AISC) of US$1,800 per ounce, up 18.8% from the prior quarter.

And with bullion prices surging, Perseus reported an average realised gold price of US$3,437 per ounce, up 11.8% from the September quarter.

As at 31 December, the miner had a cash and bullion balance of US$755 million.

Looking ahead, Perseus CEO Craig Jones said, "We remain well placed to deliver on our FY26 production targets and continue investing in the future of Perseus."

The ASX 200 gold stock is forecasting FY 2026 gold production in the range of 400,000 ounces to 440,000 ounces. On the cost front, management expects AISC to be in the range of US$1,600 to US$1,760 per ounce.

Which brings us to…

Ramelius Resources shares jump as FY26 guidance maintained

Ramelius Resources shares are lifting after the miner reported quarterly gold production of 45,610 ounces.

This was down from 55,013 ounces of gold in the September quarter. However, the decline looks to have been largely priced in by the market already.

The ASX 200 gold stock noted:

Lower production was the result of lower grades which was in line with plan expectations and as advised in the September 2025 Quarterly Report. The decline in grade was primarily due to lower grades mined from Cue during the Quarter.

Ramelius also saw an uptick in costs, reporting an AISC of AU$1,977 per ounce, up from AU$1,836 per ounce in the prior quarter.

The miner sold 45,531 ounces of gold over the three months, at an average realised price of AU$5,175 per ounce.

As at 31 December, the ASX 200 gold stock held cash and gold of AU$694 million, down 16% quarter on quarter.

Ramelius Resources maintained its full-year FY 2026 production and cost guidance.

The post 2 ASX 200 gold stocks making moves on big news today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

What did Perseus Mining report?

• Gold production of 88,888 ounces in the December 2025 quarter, down from 99,953 ounces in the prior quarter
• All-In Site Costs (AISC) increased to US$1,800 per ounce (up from US$1,516 in Q1 FY26)
• Average realised gold price reached US$3,437 per ounce
• Operating cashflow of US$145 million for the quarter
• Cash and bullion balance at quarter-end of US$755 million, plus US$229 million in listed securities
• Company paid an additional 2% royalty in Côte d'Ivoire, totalling US$20 million in Q2

What else do investors need to know?

Perseus Mining continued to advance major development projects. The CMA Underground at Yaouré delivered its first ore in January 2026, marking a key step toward commercial production, while the Nyanzaga project in Tanzania remains on schedule for first gold production in January 2027.

During the quarter, Perseus launched an unsuccessful takeover offer for Predictive Discovery Limited. Additionally, the company refinanced and upsized its debt facility to US$400 million, improving future funding flexibility. On the sustainability front, the group maintained a Lost Time Injury Frequency Rate of zero, though tragically two contractor fatalities occurred in an offsite accident.

What did Perseus Mining management say?

Managing Director and CEO Craig Jones said:

Despite some operational headwinds in the December quarter, particularly at Yaouré, our team has kept a strong focus on safety and advancing our growth projects. We remain well placed to deliver on our FY26 production targets and continue investing in the future of Perseus.

What's next for Perseus Mining?

Perseus continues to guide for full year FY26 gold production of 400,000 to 440,000 ounces, with group AISC expected in the range of US$1,600–1,760 per ounce. The company flagged that production will be weighted to the second half, given higher grade ore is expected from Edikan and Sissingué. Key project milestones ahead include ramping up the CMA Underground and keeping Nyanzaga development on track. Exploration will also remain an area of active investment across its African portfolio.

Perseus Mining share price snapshot

Over the past 12 months, Perseus Mining shares have risen 127%, strongly outperforming the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) which has risen 6% over the same period.

View Original Announcement

The post Perseus Mining posts quarterly gold output and solid cash, progresses key projects 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.

This has continued into 2026, with gold now getting pretty close to US$4,700 an ounce. That same ounce was going for just over US$2,700 12 months ago, meaning gold has risen by more than 70% since early 2025. As such, we can see how lucrative investing in the yellow metal has been for investors lately.

The underlying fundamentals that have likely pushed gold up so high arguably remain in place. Major economies around the world, most particularly the United States and Japan, are still heavily indebted, with no signs of a turnaround. Geopolitical tensions remain elevated. And central banks continue to purchase gold at historically high rates.

With these factors in play, many Australian investors might wish to buy gold (or more of it) in 2026. If that's you, here are three ways you can do so.

How to buy gold in 2026

Bullion remains the gold standard

For many precious metal investors, there is no alternative to buying raw gold bullion, in either bar or coin form. This is the only way an individual can truly own gold. Whilst owning the yellow metal outright has a certain appeal, it is also costly. You will be paying a decent spread on bullion purchases from a dealer. Additionally, the costs of transporting, insuring and storing gold can be burdensome.

This is why many investors prefer easier options.

Buy gold ETFs

One of those options is buying a gold exchange-traded fund (ETF). Gold ETFs work by pooling investors' money together and purchasing gold bullion on their behalf. This bullion is usually stored in a bank vault, with each unit of the ETF representing a specific amount of gold. The price of the gold ETF should rise and fall alongside the price of gold over time. Some ASX examples of gold ETFs include Perth Mint Gold (ASX: PMGOLD), the Global X Physical Gold Structured ETF (ASX: GOLD) and the VanEck Gold Bullion ETF (ASX: NUGG).

Many investors like this approach to buying gold as it removes many of the costs and inconveniences of owning the physical metal. The downside is that you don't actually possess the gold you are buying, and have an indirect ownership stake in the metal.

Mining stocks

Finally, ASX investors can consider buying gold mining companies. There are many gold miners on the ASX. Some of the largest names are Newmont Corporation (ASX: NEM), Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST), Perseus Mining Ltd (ASX: PRU) and Evolution Mining Ltd (ASX: EVN).

These miners own vast tracts of gold and extract and sell the metal for a profit. Gold miners often outperform the gold price in a bull market, as they disproportionately benefit from increasing prices, thanks to their relatively fixed costs. That's why owning gold miners is the preferred choice for a gold investment for many professionals.

There are outsized risks involved with this approach, too, though. For one, buying shares of a gold miner is not a direct investment on gold itself. A miner's fortunes can be influenced by factors outside the process of gold itself. That could be anything from bad weather to incompetent corporate management.

For another, again, you do not own gold directly if you buy shares of a gold miner. This may make owning shares of one unappealing for the enthusiastic gold bug.

The post Want to buy gold in 2026? Here are 3 ways to do it appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.