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

ASX 200 set to jump

The Australian share market looks set for a strong session on Tuesday following a positive start to the week in the US. According to the latest SPI futures, the ASX 200 is poised to open the day 122 points or 1.35% higher. On Wall Street, the Dow Jones was up 0.6%, the S&P 500 rose 1%, and the Nasdaq pushed 1.2% higher.

Oil prices rise

It could be a good session for ASX 200 energy shares Karoon Energy Ltd (ASX: KAR) and Santos Ltd (ASX: STO) after oil prices rose overnight. According to Bloomberg, the WTI crude oil price is up 1.5% to US$98.00 a barrel and the Brent crude oil price is up 3.4% to US$98.39 a barrel. Traders were buying oil after the US blockaded Iranian ports.

Buy Pro Medicus shares

The team at Bell Potter remains bullish on Pro Medicus Ltd (ASX: PME) shares following the announcement of a new contract renewal. In response, the broker has retained its buy rating and $226.00 price target. It said: "Longer term, the outlook remains strong with PME FY27 exam revenues expected to benefit from full period benefit of implementations in the current half including the two largest cohorts of the Trinity Health contract plus the Big Bang implementation at U. Colorado covering radiology and cardiology"

Gold price falls

ASX 200 gold shares such as Evolution Mining Ltd (ASX: EVN) and Ramelius Resources Ltd (ASX: RMS) could have a relatively subdued session on Tuesday after the gold price fell overnight. According to CNBC, the gold futures price is down 0.5% to US$4,763.3 an ounce. A stronger US dollar put pressure on the precious metal.

Hold A2 Milk shares

On Monday, A2 Milk Company Ltd (ASX: A2M) shares crashed 13% following a guidance downgrade. This morning, Bell Potter has responded by retaining its hold rating with a reduced price target of $8.35 (from $9.55). It said: "While some of the issues are likely to be temporary in nature (such as elevated air freight) they may well persist into 1Q27e as in-market inventory levels are restored. The deterioration in FY26e margin expectations, when supply chain issues were flagged by SM1 in Feb'26 and are now below Aug'25 guidance levels on a higher revenue base is somewhat concerning, given returning ingredient COG inflation."

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

The analyst team at Shaw and Partners has reviewed the result and maintained its buy recommendation, with a bullish price target for the stock. We'll get to that shortly.

Production dipping but stockpiles strong

Firstly, let's have a look at what Ramelius announced earlier this week.

The Western Australia-focussed gold miner said it had produced 38,093 ounces of gold for the quarter, which Shaw pointed out in their report, "continues the sequentially falling FY26 production; after 45,600 ounces in Q2 and 55,000 ounces in Q1''.

Ramelius said there had been a planned six-day shutdown of its Mt Magnet mill, and haul road closures due to rainfall associated with Cyclone Narelle, "resulting in significant high-grade mine stockpiles at quarter end''.

The company said it remained on track to hit the midpoint of its forecast production guidance of 185,000 to 205,000 ounces for the full year.

Ramelius said it had executed share buybacks of $110.2 million during the quarter and had cash and gold worth $606.5 million on hand at the end of the quarter.

The company also said its Mt Magnet operations were not currently impacted by diesel supply chain disruptions, with their supply sourced directly from a major global oil company on a long-term contract.

Managing Director Mark Zeptner said of the quarter:

We remain on track to deliver at the mid-point of our FY26 production guidance with significant contributions from Dalgaranga and Cue planned in the June 2026 Quarter. Dalgaranga's first stope in the Never Never orebody was fired ahead of schedule on 13 March 2026 and above grade expectations at above 7 grams per tonne. While still early days, the geological model is reconciling better than expected and our newest mine is off to a fantastic start. Ramelius remains committed to maintaining and growing shareholder returns. With A$110 million in share buybacks during the Quarter, we are executing on another element of our plan to deliver value to shareholders. We look forward to sharing an update on the Dalgaranga exploration program in coming weeks demonstrating the significant potential upside at the Mt Magnet production hub.

Shares looking cheap

The Shaw team has lowered its estimated FY26 production forecast for Ramelius to 194,000 ounces, down from 201,000, and has increased their estimated all-in sustaining cost of production from $1825 per ounce to $1960.

They said they continued to have a positive view on gold, "which Ramelius is exposed to via its multi-year production growth''.

Shaw has a price target of $6.50 on the ASX resources shares compared with the current price of $3.95. The company is valued at $7.78 billion.

The post This ASX resources stock is up 74% over the past year. How much higher can it go? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Ramelius Resources Ltd (ASX: RMS) shares are tracking the benchmark gains, up 1.6% at time of writing at $3.74 apiece.

Capricorn Metals Ltd (ASX: CMM) shares are enjoying an even stronger run, up 4.9% at $11.48 each.

This follows the release of preliminary March quarterly updates from both Aussie gold miners.

Here's what we know.

Ramelius Resources shares lift on guidance outlook

Starting with Ramelius, the ASX 200 gold stock is marching higher after releasing its preliminary March quarter production update.

The miner reported gold production of 38,093 ounces for the three months, down more than 52% from the 80,455 ounces produced in the prior corresponding quarter.

Ramelius said the big decline in the quarterly production was caused in part by heavy rainfall from Cyclone Narelle. On the positive side, this has left the miner with significant high-grade mine stockpiles at the end of the quarter.

Management also said that operations have not been impacted to date by diesel supply chain disruptions.

And despite the March decline, the ASX 200 gold stock said it remains on track to achieve the midpoint of its full year FY 2026 production guidance of 185,000 to 205,000 ounces of gold, forecasting a strong June quarter.

As at 31 March, Ramelius Resources had a cash and gold balance of $606.5 million.

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

Ramelius remains committed to maintaining and growing shareholder returns. With $110 million in share buybacks during the quarter, we are executing on another element of our plan to deliver value to shareholders.

ASX 200 gold stock lifts on another strong quarter

Turning to Capricorn Metals, investors are bidding up the gold miner after the company reported producing 30,358 ounces of gold in the March quarter from its Karlawinda Gold Project (KGP). That's broadly in line with the 30,599 ounces of gold produced in the prior corresponding quarter.

Management said that KGP has now produced 93,152 ounces of gold over the first three quarters of FY 2026. This positions the ASX 200 gold stock to achieve the upper end of its full year production guidance of 115,000 ounces to 125,000 ounces of gold.

Capricorn Metals expects to produce that gold at an all-in sustaining cost (AISC) of $1,530 to $1,630 per ounce.

Capricorn said it is also not currently impacted by any diesel fuel supply issues. But the miner noted that this remains a material risk across the Australian mining industry.

At the end of the quarter, the miner had a cash and gold balance of $507.6 million.

The post 2 ASX 200 gold stocks jumping higher on major updates today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

What did Ramelius Resources report?

• Gold production of 38,093 ounces in the March 2026 quarter (FY26 YTD: 138,716 ounces)
• FY26 production guidance maintained at 185,000–205,000 ounces
• Underlying free cash flow of A$101.9 million before specific adjustments
• Cash and gold balance of A$606.5 million as at 31 March 2026
• Executed share buy-backs totalling A$110.2 million this quarter
• Fully franked interim dividend of A$0.03 per share declared

What else do investors need to know?

Ramelius delivered its first Never Never ore to the Mt Magnet processing plant ahead of schedule, with the first stope fired at higher-than-expected grades. The company noted rainfall and road closures affected March production, leaving high-grade stockpiles ready for processing, setting the stage for a strong June quarter.

Ongoing expansion works continue at the Mt Magnet plant, and the company has made progress with its EPA referral for the Rebecca-Roe Project. Exploration drilling remains a focus, especially at Dalgaranga with an update expected later in April.

What's next for Ramelius Resources?

Management says Ramelius is well set for a strong June quarter with high-grade stockpiles and contributions from new ore sources. The company is releasing a full quarterly activities report later this month and will provide updates on costs, especially with diesel prices trending higher.

Exploration remains a priority, with fresh results due from Dalgaranga. Ramelius will also update the market on progress at Mt Magnet and its long-term growth projects as 2026 unfolds.

Ramelius Resources share price snapshot

Over the past 12 months, Ramelius Resources shares have risen 60%, outperforming the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) which has risen 17% over the same period.

View Original Announcement

The post Ramelius Resources confirms guidance, strong March quarter gold output appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

ASX 200 set to open flat

The Australian share market looks set to open flat on Tuesday despite a decent start to the week in the US. According to the latest SPI futures, the ASX 200 is poised to open the week right where it ended the last one. In late trade on Wall Street, the Dow Jones is up 0.35%, the S&P 500 is up 0.45%, and the Nasdaq is 0.55% higher.

Oil prices rise

It could be a good session for ASX 200 energy shares Karoon Energy Ltd (ASX: KAR) and Santos Ltd (ASX: STO) after oil prices rose again overnight. According to Bloomberg, the WTI crude oil price is up 0.8% to US$112.44 a barrel and the Brent crude oil price is up 0.3% to US$109.35 a barrel. Oil prices pushed higher after Donald Trump reiterated threats to bomb Iranian infrastructure.

Lovisa given hold rating

The Lovisa Holdings Ltd (ASX: LOV) share price is close to fair value according to analysts at Bell Potter. This morning, the broker has retained its hold rating on the fashion jewellery retailer's shares with a heavily reduced price target of $24.00 (from $33.50). It said: "We highly rate LOV's strong gross margin outlook, long term store opportunity upside, further prospects arising from changes in the competitive dynamics in US/UK/South Africa, together with strong execution and leadership. On the flipside, we see elevated risks within the core Australian market with a fast-growing competitor and factor in further declines in comparable store sales for the region."

Gold price edges higher

ASX 200 gold shares Evolution Mining Ltd (ASX: EVN) and Ramelius Resources Ltd (ASX: RMS) could have a positive session on Tuesday after the gold price edged higher overnight. According to CNBC, the gold futures price is up 0.1% to US$4,684.1 an ounce. Traders were buying gold as Trump's deadline for Iran neared.

Nufarm named as a buy

The team at Bell Potter has named Nufarm Ltd (ASX: NUF) shares as a buy with a $3.60 price target. This implies potential upside of over 70% for investors. Commenting on the agricultural chemicals company, it said: "We are now beginning to enter the most material selling windows for NUF and the majority of markets look supportive of reasonable demand levels of crop protection products."

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

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.

But when times are tense and share prices are falling, it creates some great buying opportunities for investors to snap up ASX shares for a low price.

Here are three dirt-cheap ASX shares which have caught my eye this week. And they're all tipped to climb another 50% to 90% over the next 12 months.

Myer Holdings Ltd (ASX: MYR)

As a fashion retail stock, Myer shares are heavily impacted by market volatility and concerns about more interest rate rises. Higher cost-of-living also means Australians are tightening their purse strings and spending less. 

The ASX company has already faced profitability and operational issues. Now it is being hit with a double whammy of distribution issues and lower consumer spending.

But Myer reported a solid first-half financial result last week, including a 21.7% increase in underlying net profit and a 32.8% hike in statutory net profit for the six months ending 24th January.

The results imply that the business has its operating costs under control and its strategic initiatives are gaining traction. At just 30 cents a piece, at the time of writing, analysts think the shares are now undervalued and oversold. The ASX shares are tipped to climb 86% to 58 cents at the time of writing.

Catapult Sports Ltd (ASX: CAT)

Catapult is a global sports data and analytics company that provides real-time data to optimise athletes' performance. The tech company reported a 16% revenue uplift in the first half of FY26 and a 19% hike in its annualised contract value (ACV). It also expects more growth through the second half of FY26

Catapult is quickly gaining traction, and its recurring subscriptions means it benefits from customer retention. That translates to a higher and more stable margin. 

The ASX shares have tumbled 28% to $3.08 for the year-to-date. But analysts are tipping a turnaround. They forecast Catapult shares will climb 94% to $5.80 over the next 12 months, at the time of writing.

Ramelius Resources Ltd (ASX: RMS)

The gold explorer and producer's shares have tumbled over 25% since Israel and the US launched strikes on Iran in late-February. 

Concerns about a resurgence of inflation and renewed potential for more interest rate hikes has overshadowed gold's traditional safe-haven status. The price of gold has tumbled from an all-time high on the 1st of March, making the metal even less appealing to investors.

But the ASX gold miner has demonstrated strong production performance and consistent cash generation.

Analysts are bullish about the outlook for the ASX gold miner's shares. They tip a 56% upside to $5.59 a piece, at the time of writing.

The post These 3 dirt-cheap ASX shares are tipped to climb another 50-90% appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

ASX 200 set to edge higher

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

Oil prices jump

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

Shares going ex-dividend

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

Gold price edges higher

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

Strike Energy named as a buy

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

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

The S&P/ASX All Ords Gold Index (ASX: XGD) has fallen 31% since 28 February, when Israel and the US launched strikes on Iran.

By comparison, the S&P/ASX All Ords Index (ASX: XAO) has fallen nearly 9% amid investors worrying about higher oil and gas prices.

The gold price is now down 13.2% over the past week and down 15.8% over 30 days as the Middle East conflict continues.

For now, concern about a potential resurgence in inflation has overridden gold's traditional safe-haven appeal.

Analysts from Trading Economics explain:

Gold had dropped as much as 25% from its March peak as rising energy prices fueled inflation concerns and bolstered expectations of interest rate hikes.

In a blog, Zaner Precious Metals said the Iran conflict had triggered broad market deleveraging and a stronger US dollar.

This has pushed US Treasury bond yields close to a 10-month high, weakening the appeal of non-yielding precious metals like gold.

Zaner said markets are tilted toward a 'risk-off' temperament, commenting:

That risk aversion is underpinning the dollar, as the trade seeks maximum liquidity.

New expert ratings on ASX gold shares

The market's largest ASX gold share, Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST), has fallen 42% since 28 February to $17.60 today.

A second guidance downgrade from the miner has contributed to the stock's tumble.

Ord Minnett reckons this one is a buy.

Last week, the broker reiterated its buy rating on Northern Star but slashed its 12-month share price target from $29.70 to $23.70.

JP Morgan downgraded the ASX gold share to a hold rating with a $24 target.

The Evolution Mining Ltd (ASX: EVN) share price has fallen 28% since 28 February to $11.93 on Tuesday.

Ord Minnett upgraded its rating on Evolution shares to a buy last week, with a target of $13.10.

JP Morgan also upgraded Evolution shares to a buy rating with a more ambitious target of $15.50.

Newmont Corporation CDI (ASX: NEM) shares have fallen 22% since the war began to $138.21 at the time of writing.

Ord Minnett has reiterated its buy rating on Newmont shares but reduced its target from $215 to $205.

What about mid caps and small caps?

Mid-cap ASX gold share, Ramelius Resources Ltd (ASX: RMS), has lost a quarter of its value since 28 February.

Today, Ramelius Resources shares are trading at $3.45 apiece.

Last week, UBS maintained its hold rating on Ramelius Resources shares with a 12-month target of $5.20.

The Greatland Resources Ltd (ASX: GGP) share price has fallen 32% since the war began to $9.35 today.

On The Bull this week, Philippe Bui from Medallion Financial Group put a hold rating on Greatland Resources shares.

Bui said:

Given gold prices remain strong amid company development progressing steadily, GGP is moving closer to becoming a meaningful producer.

Vault Minerals Ltd (ASX: VAU) shares have fallen 38% since 28 February to $3.67 apiece.

Last week, Ord Minnett reiterated its buy rating on Vault Minerals shares with a price target of $7.40.

UBS also retained its buy rating and lifted its target slightly to $7.60.

The post ASX gold shares down 31% since war began: What should you do? 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.

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

ASX 200 set to rebound

The Australian share market looks set for a good session on Tuesday following a positive start to the week in the US. According to the latest SPI futures, the ASX 200 is poised to open the day 159 points or 1.9% higher. In late trade on Wall Street, the Dow Jones is up 1.5%, the S&P 500 is up 1.25%, and the Nasdaq is 1.5% higher.

Oil prices crash

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

BHP and Rio Tinto shares to rebound

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

Gold price sinks

ASX 200 gold shares including Evolution Mining Ltd (ASX: EVN) and Ramelius Resources Ltd (ASX: RMS) could have a poor session on Tuesday after the gold price sank overnight. According to CNBC, the gold futures price is down 3.6% to US$4,410.7 an ounce. Inflation fears have been weighing on the precious metal.

Boss Energy named as a buy

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

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

Here's what it is recommending to clients:

Guzman Y Gomez Ltd (ASX: GYG)

This quick service restaurant operator could be an ASX 200 share to buy according to the broker.

Although it concedes that its global expansion has been disappointing, the broker believes that it will get it right in time.

In light of this, Morgans recently put a buy rating and $24.00 price target on its shares. Based on its current share price of $16.93, this suggests a 42% return is possible between now and this time next year. It commented:

If it was just about Australia, GYG would be doing just fine right now. In its home market, it continues to outperform the broader QSR industry both in terms of comp sales and network expansion. Australian earnings were up strongly in 1H26, much as we had expected. But it's not just about Australia. GYG came to market with a strategy for global expansion that was breathtakingly ambitious. The first big opportunity was the US. Unfortunately, the pace of network expansion in the US so far has been pedestrian and the restaurants it has opened have lost more money than expected.

It was a further step-up in US losses that disappointed investors most today and caused group EBITDA to fall 7% short of our forecast. We do believe global growth will click into gear at some point to complement a very healthy Australian business. We maintain a BUY rating, though our revised 12-month target sees the share price recovering to $24.00 rather than the $32.30 we had before. GYG has a bit to prove, but we can be certain it is going to give it all it's got to ultimately realise its growth ambitions.

Ramelius Resources Ltd (ASX: RMS)

Morgans is bullish on this gold miner and sees it as an ASX 200 share to buy now.

The broker was pleased with its performance during the first half and is optimistic on the future. This is partly due to the Dalgaranga operation.

Morgans has a buy rating and $5.75 price target on its shares. Based on its current share price of $3.49, this implies potential upside of 64% for investors over the next 12 months.

Commenting on the gold miner, the broker said:

1H26 result was solid with no material surprises, FY26 continues to focus on the integration of Dalgaranga (acquired via ASX SPR) into the RMS asset portfolio. Key positive: Introduction of new capital management framework and the spartan deal; A$84.9m (net) tax losses remain. Key negative: Operating cash flow (-3% pcp), free cash flow (-15% pcp) and cash/bullion on hand (-14% pcp) reflect the anticipated grade decline across the RMS Magnet Hub assets.

This was well flagged and should begin to reverse as Dalgaranga ore is introduced into the Magnet operations and ramps through the system, marking the transition to the next phase of higher-grade feed – we forecast Dalgaranga alone to contribute +A$700m per annum from FY28 onwards. We maintain our BUY rating, price target A$5.75ps (previously A$5.76).

The post These ASX 200 shares could rise 40% to 60% 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.

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

ASX 200 set to rebound

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

Oil prices sink

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

RBA meeting

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

Gold price softens

ASX 200 gold shares Evolution Mining Ltd (ASX: EVN) and Ramelius Resources Ltd (ASX: RMS) could have a subdued session on Tuesday after the gold price softened overnight. According to CNBC, the gold futures price is down 0.85% to US$5,019.4 an ounce. Inflation fears have been weighing on the precious metal.

ASX 200 shares going ex-div

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

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

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

ASX 200 expected to fall again

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

Oil prices rise

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

ASX 200 shares going ex-div

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

Gold price falls

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

Buy Cochlear shares

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

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

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

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

Next week, two of them go ex-dividend.

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

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

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

The ASX gold share goes ex-dividend on Monday.

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

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

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

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

ASX shares about to go ex-dividend

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

The fast-rising gold stock in question is Torque Metals Ltd (ASX: TOR). The miner is focused on its 1,200 square kilometre Paris Exploration Camp, located in Western Australia.

Torque Metal shares closed yesterday trading for 37.0 cents. In earlier trade on Wednesday, shares just leapt to 47.5 cents each, up 28.4%. After some likely profit taking, in later morning trade, shares are changing hands for 46.25 cents apiece, up 25.0%.

Here's what's capturing investor interest in the ASX gold share today.

ASX gold share rockets on leadership team

The Torque Metals share price is going through the roof after the miner announced the appointment of a "proven" Western Australian gold discovery and development team.

The new leadership team is comprised of Simon Lawson as chairman-elect, Craig Jones as CEO (effective immediately) and managing director-elect, and David Coyne as non-executive director-elect.

The three men were said to have a strong track record of delivering "major exploration and development success" in the Western Australian gold sector.

Indeed, they each held key roles at Spartan Resources, helping drive significant high-grade gold discoveries at the Dalgaranga Gold Project. This in turn eventually saw Spartan grown from a junior ASX gold share to a major developer. Then, in July 2025, Spartan entered into a $2.5 billion merger with Ramelius Resources Ltd (ASX: RMS).

The board believes the new leadership team can work similar wonders at Torque's Paris Gold Project

What did management say?

"We are excited to bring together a team that has previously worked successfully together at Spartan Resources and to apply that same discovery-focused mindset at Torque Metals," incoming chairman Simon Lawson said.

Lawson continued:

We see substantial potential at the Paris Gold Project and across Torque's 1,200km² land holding. The project's location near Kalgoorlie places it in the one of the world's great gold districts, while its geology is amenable to low-cost electromagnetic targeting of high-grade gold shoots – a characteristic shared by only a few gold systems globally.

Incoming managing director Craig Jones said the ASX gold share has "highly prospective" assets. He noted:

Torque Metals presents a compelling opportunity. The company holds a highly prospective project portfolio, and we are now enhancing with individuals who have a proven track record of delivering discovery and development success in Western Australia.

Outgoing chairman Evan Cranston concluded, "Good projects attract good people. Great projects attract great teams and Torque has attracted one of the best teams in the gold business."

With today's intraday gains factored in, the ASX gold share is up a whopping 414% since this time last year.

The post Why this little-known ASX gold share is leaping 28% on Wednesday 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.

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.

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 despite a decent start to the week in the US. According to the latest SPI futures, the ASX 200 is poised to open the day 12 points or 0.15% lower. In late trade on Wall Street, the Dow Jones is up 0.1%, the S&P 500 is up 0.3%, and the Nasdaq is up 0.6%.

Oil prices jump

It could be a good session for ASX 200 energy shares Karoon Energy Ltd (ASX: KAR) and Santos Ltd (ASX: STO) after oil prices jumped overnight. According to Bloomberg, the WTI crude oil price is up 6.3% to US$71.27 a barrel and the Brent crude oil price is up 6.8% to US$77.85 a barrel. This was driven by the war in Iran.

Magellan shares on watch

Magellan Financial Group Ltd (ASX: MFG) shares will be on watch today when they return from a trading halt. On Monday, the fund manager announced a proposed $1.6 billion merger with Barrenjoey. Magellan's chair, Andrew Formica, said: "The merger with Barrenjoey marks a transformative step in MFG's evolution, bringing together two highly complementary businesses to create an Australian financial services group with meaningful scale and breadth."

Gold price storms higher

ASX 200 gold shares Evolution Mining Ltd (ASX: EVN) and Ramelius Resources Ltd (ASX: RMS) could have a good session on Tuesday after the gold price stormed higher overnight. According to CNBC, the gold futures price is up 1.8% to US$5,342.1 an ounce. This was driven by strong demand for safe haven assets in response to the war in the Middle East.

ASX 200 shares going ex-div

A number of ASX 200 shares are going ex-dividend today and could trade lower. This includes pizza chain operator Domino's Pizza Enterprises Ltd (ASX: DMP), property listings giant REA Group Ltd (ASX: REA), scrap metal company Sims Ltd (ASX: SGM), and logistics solutions company Qube Holdings Ltd (ASX: QUB). The latter will be paying eligible shareholders a 5.4 cents per share dividend next month on 9 April.

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