What did Resolute Mining report?

• Gold production: 45,192 ounces poured during Q2 2026
• Gold sales: 54,599 ounces sold at a realised price of $4,526/oz
• Group all-in sustaining cost (AISC): $2,484/oz
• Operating cash flow: $77.4 million
• EBITDA: $128.5 million
• Net cash: $317.4 million at 30 June 2026

What else do investors need to know?

Doropo Project construction is progressing on schedule, with $36.7 million in capital spend for the quarter and key site and infrastructure upgrades under way. Resolute secured $155 million in local bank financing for Doropo, with a further $105 million expected in Q3 2026.

The ABC Project, set to become the company's fourth mine, delivered an updated inferred mineral resource estimate of 133 million tonnes at 0.71 g/t for 3.02 million ounces of gold. Syama operations continued amidst challenging conditions, producing 29,881 ounces at an AISC of $2,654/oz.

What's next for Resolute Mining?

Resolute has reaffirmed 2026 production guidance of 250,000–275,000 ounces at an AISC of $2,000–$2,200/oz. Construction at Doropo is on track for first gold in the second half of 2028, while an ambitious drilling program at ABC is under way to progress feasibility work.

The company is targeting annual gold production above 500,000 ounces within four years by advancing flagship growth projects and optimising existing operations.

Resolute Mining share price snapshot

The Resolute Mining share price has outperformed the S&P/ASX 200 index (ASX: XJO) by some distance with a gain of almost 50% over the past 12 months. This compares to a 3.2% gain from the benchmark index.

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The post Resolute Mining Q2 2026 earnings: Cash flow and project highlights appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

And all three of the big Aussie mining stocks are handily outperforming the 0.2% gains posted by the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) today.

Here's what's catching investor interest on Wednesday.

Paladin shares lift on FY 2027 uranium guidance

Paladin shares are up 4.1% at the time of writing, changing hands for $8.91 each.

This outperformance follows the release of the ASX 200 uranium stock's June quarter update as well as FY 2027 production and cost guidance for its Langer Heinrich Mine, located in Namibia.

Following the successful ramp-up of the Langer Heinrich Mine, Paladin is forecasting full-year uranium production of 5.1 million to 5.6 million pounds (U3O8).

The miner expects to sell 4.8 million to 5.3 million pounds over FY 2027, expecting an average cost of US$44 to US$48 per pound.

Paladin noted that the average realised uranium price it receives in FY 2027 could range as low as US$51 per pound to as high as US$103 per pound, depending on market prices.

Over the June quarter, Paladin produced 1.23 million pounds of uranium, achieving an average realised price of US$70.6 per pound.

Resolute Mining shares jump on expanded gold resource

Joining Paladin shares in outperforming today, Resolute Mining shares are up 3.2%, trading for 97 cents each.

This comes after the ASX 200 gold miner announced that the Mineral Resource Estimate at its ABC Project, located in Cote d'Ivoire, has increased to 3 million ounces of contained gold, up some 36% from the 2.2 million ounces reported last year.

And Resolute Mining isn't slowing down.

The company said it currently has seven drill rigs at ABC, which it intends to increase to eleven rigs in August, with the planned 80,000 metres drill program underway.

"Since acquiring the asset last year, we have built strong momentum through exploration with the updated MRE representing a key milestone in the project's development pathway," Resolute Mining CEO Chris Eger said.

Which brings us to…

Westgold Resources shares surge on production record

Like Resolute Mining and Paladin shares, Westgold shares are enjoying a strong run today, up 3.4% at $4.73 apiece.

This follows the release of the ASX 200 gold stock's June quarterly update.

Highlights included all-time high FY 2026 production of 387,354 ounces of gold. That tops the company's FY 2026 guidance of 345,000 ounces to 385,000 ounces of gold.

On the balance sheet, Westgold held $939 million in cash, bullion, and liquid investments as at 30 June. That's up $575 million from the end of FY 2025.

The post Why is everyone talking about Resolute Mining, Westgold and Paladin shares on Wednesday? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

What did Resolute Mining report?

• Expanded Inferred Mineral Resource Estimate to 133 million tonnes at 0.71g/t gold for 3.0 million ounces (at 0.3g/t cut-off)
• Majority of resource within 250m of surface, with deposits open along strike and at depth
• Planned $15–25 million work programme for 80,000m of additional drilling and feasibility studies through 2027
• Currently seven rigs onsite, increasing to eleven in August to accelerate resource growth
• Focus on infill drilling, technical, environmental, social, and metallurgical studies

What else do investors need to know?

Resolute Mining's ABC Project aims to become the company's fourth operating mine, with ongoing drilling continuing to extend mineralisation beyond previously defined resource areas. The updated mineral resource is an important milestone, giving confidence in the long-term growth potential of the ABC deposits.

Exploration at the Moya prospect, 8km north of the main Kona deposits, has also delivered encouraging gold intercepts, suggesting possible additional future resources. Work is underway on further technical studies, environmental baseline work, and site infrastructure upgrades to support the next stage of project development.

What did Resolute Mining management say?

Chris Eger, Managing Director and CEO, said:

ABC continues to advance as a priority growth project for Resolute in Côte d'Ivoire. Since acquiring the asset last year, we have built strong momentum through exploration with the updated MRE representing a key milestone in the Project's development pathway.

The updated MRE shows the potential scale of ABC. Importantly, mineralisation remains open along strike and at depth at both deposits, and we see clear opportunities for further resource growth through ongoing drilling.

Our focus has now shifted to the next phase of project de-risking and progressing feasibility studies. This will be achieved from the approved work programme which will include further drilling, metallurgical testwork, environmental and social baseline studies, permitting, geotechnical and infrastructure work.

ABC is being advanced with the objective of becoming Resolute's fourth mine in West Africa and our second mine in Côte d'Ivoire. We believe ABC can be an important contributor to our strategy of building a diversified, multi-asset gold platform.

What's next for Resolute Mining?

Resolute's key objective is to progress the ABC Project through substantial infill and extension drilling, feasibility studies, and permitting over the next 12 to 18 months. The company aims to convert much of the resource to a higher-confidence Indicated category, moving closer to a future development decision.

The expanded work programme, including environmental and social impact assessments and site infrastructure upgrades, positions ABC as a strong growth opportunity within Resolute's West African strategy. Investors can expect frequent updates as drilling continues and technical studies progress.

Resolute Mining share price snapshot

Over the past 12 months, Resolute Mining shares have risen 42%, outperforming the All Ordinaries Index (ASX: XAO), which is flat over the same period.

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The post Resolute Mining grows ABC Project gold resource to over 3Moz appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

After some initial wobbles, the ASX 200 spent most of the day in green territory and ended up closing a happy 0.5% higher. That leaves the index at a flat 8,806 points as we head into the weekend.

This optimistic Friday session for Australian investors follows a similarly bullish night on Wall Street.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average Index (DJX: .DJI) was cautiously optimistic, rising by 0.27%.

The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC) was much more decisive, though, gaining a healthy 1.3%.

But let's return to the local markets now for a discussion of how the different ASX sectors handled today's warm trading conditions.

Winners and losers

Despite the market's sunny disposition today, there were still more than a few sectors that lost ground. 

Chief amongst those were healthcare stocks. The S&P/ASX 200 Healthcare Index (ASX: XHJ) was hit hard today, slumping 1.96%.

Consumer discretionary shares were on the nose as well, with the S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Discretionary Index (ASX: XDJ) sinking 1.13%.

We could say something similar for communications stocks. The S&P/ASX 200 Communication Services Index (ASX: XTJ) drifted 0.83% lower this session.

Tech shares weren't in the good books either, evidenced by the S&P/ASX 200 Information Technology Index (ASX: XIJ)'s 0.6% tumble.

Consumer staples stocks were in a similar ballpark. The S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Staples Index (ASX: XSJ) shrank by 0.5% this Friday.

We could say the same for industrial stocks, with the S&P/ASX 200 Industrials Index (ASX: XNJ) dipping 0.39%.

Utilities shares got no reprieve. The S&P/ASX 200 Utilities Index (ASX: XUJ) slid down 0.33% this session.

Our final losers were energy shares, illustrated by the S&P/ASX 200 Energy Index (ASX: XEJ)'s 0.21% slip.

Turning to the winners now, the hottest corner of the market was gold stocks. The All Ordinaries Gold Index (ASX: XGD) ended up soaring 2.65% higher.

Broader mining shares were also in demand, with the S&P/ASX 200 Materials Index (ASX: XMJ) surging 2.32%.

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

Finally, financial stocks got home safe, as you can see from the S&P/ASX 200 Financials Index (ASX: XFJ)'s 0.55% bounce.

Top 10 ASX 200 shares countdown

Uranium company Silex Systems Ltd (ASX: SLX) was today's index topper. Silex shares rocketed 9.4% higher to close at $5.70 each this Friday.

This decisive move came despite no obvious catalysts out from the company itself.

Here's the rest of today's best: 

Enjoy the weekend!

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

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

As a new financial year begins, brokers have indicated continuing confidence in several ASX 200 shares.

This week, they renewed their buy calls on the following stocks, with updated 12-month price targets for FY27. 

BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP)

Over FY26, the market's largest ASX 200 mining share skyrocketed 62% to close out the year at $59.40. 

Morgan Stanley renewed its buy rating on BHP shares this week.

The broker has a 12-month price target of $67.50. 

This suggests more than 10% upside over FY27. 

Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST)

The market's largest ASX 200 gold mining share rose just 2% to $18.95 over FY26.

UBS reiterated its buy rating on Northern Resources shares this week.

The broker reduced its price target from $24.35 to $23.75. 

This implies potential capital gains of 25% ahead.

ANZ Group Holdings Ltd (ASX: ANZ)

This ASX 200 bank share rose 21% to close out the financial year at $35.35. 

Citi reaffirmed its buy rating on ANZ shares with a price target of $39.25.

This implies potential capital gains of 11% in the new financial year. 

Mineral Resources Ltd (ASX: MIN)

The stock price of this diversified ASX 200 miner rebounded 188% to $62.07 in FY26. 

UBS reaffirmed its buy rating on Mineral Resources shares this week.

The broker lowered its price target from $83 to $79.

This implies potential capital gains of 27% ahead in FY27. 

JB Hi Fi Ltd (ASX: JBH) 

Over FY26, this ASX 200 retail share tumbled 27% to $80.48.

Bell Potter reiterated its buy rating on JB Hi-Fi shares with a price target of $87.

This implies potential capital gains of 8% over FY27.

Neuren Pharmaceuticals Ltd (ASX: NEU)

This ASX 200 healthcare share rose 26% to $17.75 in FY26. 

Bell Potter reiterated its buy rating on Neuren Pharmaceuticals shares this week.

The broker boosted its 12-month share price target from $22 to $23.50. 

This implies potential capital gains of 32% ahead.

Resolute Mining Ltd (ASX: RSG)

Over FY26, this ASX 200 gold stock ripped 56% to 95 cents per share. 

Macquarie renewed its buy rating on Resolute Mining shares with a price target of $1.55.

This implies potential capital gains of 64% for FY27. 

BlueScope Steel Ltd (ASX: BSL)

The BlueScope Steel share price rose 38% over FY26 to close at $31.87. 

RBC Capital renewed its buy rating on the ASX 200 materials share this week. 

The broker raised its 12-month price target from $35.25 to $38.25.

This suggests a potential 20% upside ahead.

South32 Ltd (ASX: S32)

Over FY26, this ASX 200 mining share rose 34% to finish the year at $3.90. 

UBS reaffirmed its buy rating on South32 shares with a reduced price target of $5.

This implies potential capital gains of 28% ahead.

The post 9 ASX 200 shares with renewed buy ratings for FY27 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.

The team at Macquarie has had a look at the sector and singled out four companies they believe could deliver outsized share price gains. 

They are also speculating that the conditions are right for elevated returns of capital and potentially M&A to extend the operating life of some of the assets. 

Let's see which companies they like. 

Perseus Mining Ltd (ASX: PRU)

The Macquarie team said they see earnings for Perseus "hockeysticking beyond FY27", while cash would build to about US$1 billion in FY26. 

They added, "Perseus may become more active in developing/ acquiring ounces to sustain Sissingué beyond 2030'', given its large cash haul.

Macquarie is expecting Perseus' production to grow a compound 5% per year over the next three years, "driven by Nyanzaga entering production in 1QCY27 offsetting declining production at existing operations''.

They said the company has brownfield and greenfield expansion options, "which would seek to extend the mine-lives of Yaouré, Sissingue and Edikan, adding upside risk to our longer-term outlook''. 

They added:

Additionally, given PRU's balance sheet strength, and recent appetite for M&A targeted growth, we would not rule out a hub-and-spoke style model within Cote d'Ivoire, which would aim to maintain throughput across its existing mill infrastructure.

Macquarie has a price target of $6 on Perseus shares compared to $4.90 currently.

Resolute Mining Ltd (ASX: RSG)

Macquarie said Resolute has some issues to contend with, including instability in Mali, which had already affected the delivery of equipment and consumables. 

While the company lowered its second-quarter production outlook, it reiterated CY26 guidance of 195,000 to 210,000 ounces of gold for the calendar year.

Macquarie added:

With the development of Doropo (first production 2HCY28), RSG's reliance on Syama from an earnings perspective decreases, which should help to provide stability to production and earnings going forward.

Macquarie has a price target of $1.55 on Resolute shares compared to 95 cents currently.

West African Resources Ltd (ASX: WAF)

Macquarie said West African Resources shares were trading "materially below its 5-year historical multiple of 3.9x" EBITDA.

The analyst team added:

Despite production and costs that beat consensus expectations in the 1QCY26 result, we believe the market is hesitant given the recent developments in Burkina Faso. We anticipate this to dominate sentiment in the near-term. In 1QCY26, WAF released a 10-year production outlook, which highlighted a +500kozpa from ~CY27 onwards.

Macquarie has a $4 price target on West African shares compared to $2.69 currently.

Turaco Gold Ltd (ASX: TCG)

Turaco recently released a prefeasibility study for its Afema project in southeast Côte d'Ivoire, setting out the case for a mine producing more than 200,000 ounces of gold per year. 

In terms of the mine's revenue generation, the company published figures for a range of gold prices, but at US$4,000 per ounce – close to the current spot price of US$3971.22 – the mine would generate gross revenue of US$8.095 billion over its life of 10.3 years. 

The project would also have a payback period of 10 months, or 17 months if the gold price were US$3,000 per ounce.

Macquarie said the study detailed a larger throughput than they had modelled.

They added:

We anticipate as the business progresses through definitive feasibility study and additional permitting, ramp-up and steady-state production, its valuation will expand in line with peers like Perseus, which trades on a current multiple of A$802/oz.

Macquarie has a price target on Turaco shares of $1 per share compared to 45 cents currently.

The post 4 Africa-focused ASX gold stocks Macquarie says could outperform appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

It was a happy hump day for the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) and many ASX shares this Wednesday, as investors continue to bask in worldwide market optimism.

After yesterday's close call and slight rise, investors were more decisive today, sending the ASX 200 up a confident 0.54%. That leaves the index at 8,966.3 points, its highest level in two months.

This optimistic midweek session for Australian shares follows a mixed night on the American boards.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average Index (DJX: .DJI) was on fire, gaining 0.64% after hitting a new record high.

The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC) wasn't so lucky, though, and fell 1.15%.

But let's return to the local markets now and examine what was going on amongst the various ASX sectors today.

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

Gold miners have faced several strong headwinds over the past six months, including a significant increase in mining costs and a weaker ASX gold sector after a strong run late last year. 

Fluctuating sentiment has led many investors to sell their gold assets and rotate into larger, more stable ASX stocks. 

Resolute Mining Ltd (ASX: RSG) is one ASX gold mining company that has struggled under recent pressures. Its share price has swung wildly throughout the first half of 2026, ranging from 55 cents to $1.68 per share.

At the close of the ASX on Tuesday afternoon, Resolute Mining shares fell another 5.29% to a six-month low of $1.08 a piece. The ASX gold stock is also now 13.31% lower year to date.

What about if I'd invested $5,000 in Resolute Mining shares 12 months ago? What would it be worth today?

The good news is that the ASX 200 gold stock has rallied off the back of stronger gold prices over the past year. 

Even after this year's share price volatility, the ASX mining stock is still trading significantly higher than it was 12 months ago.

At the time of writing, the shares are up 88.6%. Which means a $5,000 investment just 12 months ago is already worth $9,430.

In fact, if a savvy investor managed to snap up the shares in the dip in mid-February last year, when the stock was just 35 cents per share, they'd be sitting on a huge increase today. That 207.14% increase means a $5,000 investment at the right time would be worth $15,357 today. 

What's next for the ASX gold stock? Can it start climbing higher again?

Resolute Mining shares are closely tied to the fluctuating price of gold. Gold prices came off the boil in March this year after conflict in the Middle East saw investors turn their back on the once-considered safe-haven assets.

Trading Economics data shows the gold price has strengthened to around $4,300 per ounce this week. But this is still one of the lowest price levels seen so far in 2026.

The latest increase is supported by growing optimism around an imminent peace agreement between the US and Iran. A deal could help to ease inflationary pressures and reduce concerns about further interest rate hikes. 

Meanwhile, the miner also recently announced it has reached several impressive feasibility milestones and posted a significant increase in gold production. 

Resolute Mining expects production to keep climbing this year, too, to around 250,000 to 275,000 ounces at an all-in sustaining cost of $2,000 to $2,200. 

The gold price is forecast to rebound this year. If gold prices return to record highs, the value of high-performing gold stocks like Resolute Mining could quickly see their share prices pick up. 

Analysts are very bullish on the outlook for the ASX gold stock. TradingView data shows all seven analysts have a buy or strong buy rating on the shares. 

The average $2.37 price target implies a potential 121% upside at the time of writing. But some think Resolute Mining shares could climb as much as 221% to $3.45 a share. For context, the gold miner's shares haven't traded above the $ 2.30 level since mid-1999.

The post If I invested $5,000 into this ASX gold stock 12 months ago, I'd have nearly $9,430 today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA)

The CBA share price is down 1.5% to $161.30. This may have been driven by a broker note out of Morgan Stanley this morning. According to the note, the broker has retained its underweight rating on CBA's shares with a reduced price target of $125.00. The broker has named Australia's largest bank as its least favoured major bank. Morgan Stanley's price target implies potential downside of 22% from current levels.

PLS Group Ltd (ASX: PLS)

The PLS share price is down over 3% to $5.93. Investors have been selling the lithium miner's shares despite there being no news out of it today. However, it is worth noting that most lithium stocks are falling on Friday. In addition, PLS recently reported some heavy insider selling, as we covered here.

Resolute Mining Ltd (ASX: RSG)

The Resolute Mining share price is down 6% to $1.12. Investors have been selling the gold miner's shares today after it released a disappointing update on its Syama operation. That update revealed that production during the second quarter of FY 2026 has been impacted by logistical and supply chain disruptions. As a result, Resolute Mining now expects Syama's second-quarter gold production to be around 30,000 ounces. This is well short of its original expectation of 40,000 ounces to 45,000 ounces. The company's CEO, Chris Eger, said: "Recent performance at Syama has been below expectations despite the significant changes implemented in Mali. These issues are well understood, and our focus is on stabilising operations and restoring consistent performance. Importantly, the broader business continues to perform well. The Company remains cash generative, supporting ongoing investment in growth, including the Doropo development, which continues to progress to plan."

Silver Mines Ltd (ASX: SVL)

The Silver Mines share price is down 3.5% to 13.5 cents. This morning, this silver developer announced that it has entered into an option underwriting agreement with Petra Capital to fully underwrite the exercise of unlisted options. It said: "The Company has decided to enter into the Underwriting Agreement for the purpose of providing certainty that it will raise additional funds of $7,556,782."

The post Why CBA, PLS, Resolute Mining, and Silver Mines shares are dropping today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

In morning trade on Friday, the ASX 200 gold stock is down 14% to $1.03.

Why is this ASX 200 gold stock sinking?

Investors have been selling the ASX 200 gold stock after it released an operational update for its Syama Gold Mine in Mali.

According to the release, production during the second quarter of FY 2026 has been impacted by logistical and supply chain disruptions.

These disruptions developed over the past four weeks following significant security challenges in Mali during late April and May.

As a result, Resolute now expects Syama's second-quarter gold production to be around 30,000 ounces. This is well short of its original expectation of 40,000 ounces to 45,000 ounces.

While the company has not withdrawn its full-year guidance, it now expects Syama production to be around the lower end of its 195,000 ounces to 210,000 ounces guidance range in FY 2026.

That guidance disappointment appears to be weighing heavily on Resolute Mining shares today.

What went wrong?

The main issue has been delays in receiving key equipment needed to mine higher-grade sulphide ore zones within the A21 open pit.

Resolute said this was due to road insecurity in parts of Mali.

There have also been issues underground, where grades have been lower than expected. This was blamed on intermittent blasting performance and temporary disruption to explosives supply following the recent security situation.

Because of this, the sulphide mill feed has relied more heavily on lower-grade stockpiles.

Adding to the disruption, Resolute has deferred a planned three-week shutdown of the sulphide plant and roaster from May to mid-June. It has also extended the shutdown by one week to complete additional preventative maintenance work.

What is Resolute doing about it?

The ASX 200 gold stock has taken a range of actions across mining, processing, and planning to support operational continuity.

This includes working with open pit contractors to ensure equipment is delivered by the end of the maintenance shutdown.

Resolute is also increasing underground development capacity, securing additional operators, and accelerating open pit mining to access higher-grade fresh ore.

The good news is the company expects production to improve as access to higher-grade ore is restored and the security situation stabilises.

Commenting on the news, the ASX 200 gold stock's CEO, Chris Eger, said:

Recent performance at Syama has been below expectations despite the significant changes implemented in Mali. These issues are well understood, and our focus is on stabilising operations and restoring consistent performance.

Importantly, the broader business continues to perform well. The Company remains cash generative, supporting ongoing investment in growth, including the Doropo development, which continues to progress to plan.

It isn't all bad news

There was better news elsewhere in the portfolio.

Resolute said production from stockpile processing at the Mako operation in Senegal remains on track with full-year guidance.

Construction of the Doropo Gold Project in Côte d'Ivoire also remains on schedule.

However, this was clearly not enough to offset the disappointment at Syama.

The post Guess which ASX 200 gold stock is crashing 14% on guidance disappointment appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Gold is a safe haven that is usually defensive in times of geopolitical upheaval. Yet the gold price has fallen as the war has continued.

In 2025, the gold price surged 65%, and that followed a 24% increase in 2024.

Contrast that with this year, during which the gold price has risen just 4% higher over five months.

Why?

Gold price was elevated before war began

James Gruber, an Equity Market Strategist at CommSec, says the gold price began surging in 2022, mostly due to central bank buying.

Central banks began diversifying their reserves after the US and allies froze about US$300 billion of Russia's foreign exchange reserves as punishment for invading Ukraine.

In an article, Gruber explained:

This hamstrung Russia's central bank, but it also sent a signal to other countries that their reserves could be frozen at any time.

In other words, their holdings in the likes of US Treasuries were not as safe as previously assumed.

That spurred many central banks to buy large amounts of gold, which was deemed by them to be a safe alternative to holding US-denominated assets.

Demand from central banks was the biggest catalyst pushing the gold price higher.

Once the trend became clear, retail investors joined in.

They bought ASX gold shares, gold ETFs and bullion, and many cashed in their gold jewellery.

Gruber recalled:

You might recall the large lines outside of gold bullion stores in Australia, especially in September and October last year.

That propelled gold prices to reach an intraday record of US$5,589 an ounce in late January.

Since then, and especially after the war began, prices have fallen sharply, albeit there has been a small recovery recently.

Rising demand for gold between 2022 and 2025 also occurred alongside a weakening US dollar, which made gold that much more attractive.

Gruber explains:

In recent years, doubts about the future of the US dollar have arisen with the US running a trade deficit of 6% of GDP and having government debt to GDP of close to 100%, near the highs reached during World War Two.

The current US President, Donald Trump, has further increased the deficit through a combination of tax cuts and higher spending.

What changed after the Iran war began?

Although the gold price has fallen 17% since the war began, the war was not the trigger that disrupted its three-year bull run.

A major sell-off occurred at the very end of January after the gold price ripped nearly 30% in the first month of 2026.

Gruber said central banks may have taken profits after the gold price reached a historical closing high of $5,589 per ounce on 28 January.

Many retail investors also sold their ASX gold shares, ETFs, and bullion during and after that dramatic sell-off.

Then the war began on 28 February.

Sprott Managing Partner, Paul Wong, said the war sparked a rush to liquidity and forced deleveraging for investors.

He argues this does not diminish gold's new role as a strategic asset in the long term.

Gruber notes that the weakened US dollar gained a bit of ground after the war began. This further dampened demand for gold.

Gold is globally quoted in US dollars so when the dollar strengthens, gold becomes more expensive in other currencies, which can result in demand softening, and prices to fall.

This hints at another potential reason for gold's recent plunge. That is, rising real yields.

When real yields (bond yields minus inflation) rise, it makes no yielding assets like gold less attractive.

Rising bond yields

James Gerrish and Shawn Hickman from Market Matters discussed how rising bond yields were weighing on gold in a recent webinar.

Hickman said:

If you can get 5% in the bank with no risk, gold's got to outperform that.

And gold is moving directly with or against bonds. So, as bond [prices] fall, gold's falling.

When US bond yields go up, it weighs on gold.

Bond yields rise when bond prices fall because the interest those bonds pay becomes a larger percentage of their market price.

For example, if a bond that costs $1,000 pays $50 a year in interest, the yield is 5%.

If the bond price falls to $900, that $50 annual interest payment now equals a yield of 5.56%.

The analysts noted that the crowded trade in ASX gold shares had unwound somewhat this year, given the stalled gold price.

Hickman said:

… because we've had so many people overweight the sector. People are holding gold. They haven't got out.

In a lot of cases, you're seeing a bit of a exaggeration move in that regard.

Other factors weighing on demand for gold

As we recently reported, higher interest rates in Australia have pushed everyday savings account rates to 5.5% or higher.

Given that gold is a non-yielding asset, higher interest rates tend to be a headwind for the yellow metal.

The ongoing oil shock is creating resurgent inflation in many nations, including Australia, which means interest rates may rise further.

This may further dampen investor appetite for gold in the short to medium term.

Meanwhile, the US and Iran are reportedly close to a deal that would end the war and reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

The Strait, through which about 20% of the world's oil and gas supply is shipped, has been effectively at a standstill since early March.

Wong points out that Gulf Cooperation Council nations are some of the world's largest accumulators of reserves.

Their gold purchases are funded mainly by oil exports, which have been stalled due to the effective closure of the Strait.

That means many Middle Eastern nations have not had the revenue to continue buying gold.

Wong said the gold price "does not require outright selling to fall; the loss of incremental buying pressure is sufficient".

He also pointed out that the war led to an aggressive investment capital rotation out of metals and into energy.

This has drawn investment flows away from gold and other metals.

ASX gold shares in 2026

Here is a snapshot of how ASX gold shares have performed in 2026 compared to their rise in 2025.

The post Why has the gold price fallen 17% since the Iran war began? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

This happy Friday for the ASX comes after a more measured night of trading on the American markets.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average Index (DJX: .DJI) had a nervous session, finishing with a tentative 0.049% rise.

The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC) was more decisive, though, rising a solid 0.91%.

But let's return to the local markets now and check out how today's terrific trading conditions spilled over into the different ASX sectors.

Winners and losers

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

After an early wobble this morning, the market found its footing and spent most of the session in positive territory. By the time the markets wrapped up today, the ASX 200 had advanced 0.4% and finished at a flat 8,692 points.

This happy start to the Australian trading week came after a similarly upbeat end to the American trading week on Friday night (our time).

The Dow Jones Industrial Average Index (DJX: .DJI) fared well, managing a 0.58% gain and resetting its record high.

The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC) charted a similar trajectory, rising 0.19%.

But let's get back to this week and our local markets now and check out what was happening amongst the different ASX sectors this session.

Winners and losers

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

The index has been supported by a positive night on Wall Street. A drop in oil prices has dragged down the energy index today, but elsewhere, most ASX sectors are gaining ground.

Here are two ASX 200 shares I think can drive the ASX 200 Index higher this year, with potential upside of over 100%. They look super cheap to me right now.

Cochlear Ltd (ASX: COH)

Cochlear shares are climbing higher on Thursday. At the time of writing, the shares are up 1.02% to $95.74 a piece. It's a relief for investors after the medical device company suffered two brutal sell-offs in February and April this year.

The ASX healthcare company's latest crash in April followed downgraded FY26 guidance. Cochlear cited weaker conditions across developed markets and softer demand. 

The guidance downgrade followed the ASX 200 company's softer-than-expected half-year result earlier this year, and a sector-wide rotation away from ASX healthcare shares. 

But I think the shares are now oversold, and that there is potential for the company to rebound. 

Analysts seem to agree. Market Index data shows that brokers rate the stock as a buy and are tipping a potential 104% upside to $196.95, at the time of writing.

Resolute Mining Ltd (ASX: RSG)

Resolute Mining shares are jumping higher on Thursday. At the time of writing, the shares are up 3.11% to $1.23 a piece. The shares are now down just 1.5% year to date, but are 97% higher than this time last year.

As an ASX 200 gold stock, Resolute's shares have benefited from an uptick in gold over the past year. 

And today's uptick is likely for the same reason. Gold is trading above US$4,500 an ounce at the time of writing, after rising more than 1% in the previous session. 

According to Trading Economics, the increase is supported by growing optimism around an imminent peace agreement between the US and Iran. A deal could help to ease inflationary pressures and reduce concerns about further interest rate hikes. 

The miner also announced that it recently reached several impressive feasibility milestones and posted a significant increase in its gold production figures. 

The miner expects production to keep climbing this year, too, to around 250,000 to 275,000 ounces at an all-in sustaining cost of $2,000 to $2,200. 

Brokers are very bullish on the shares and have a strong buy rating. They tip a potential 102% upside to $2.46 a piece, at the time of writing.

The post 2 super-cheap ASX 200 shares tipped to bounce back appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Many companies on the index are facing significant headwinds and issuing profit warnings or downgrading guidance. But there are a few ASX 200 shares going from strength to strength, and brokers tip they could fly up to 126% higher over the next 12 months. 

Resolute Mining Ltd (ASX: RSG)

Resolute shares have enjoyed a fantastic rally over the past 12 months. At the time of writing, the shares are up 137% over the past year, and they're 13% higher for the year to date. As an ASX 200 gold stock, Resolute's shares have benefited from an uptick in gold over the past year. The miner has also reached some impressive feasibility milestones and posted a significant uptick in its gold production figures. The company expects production to keep climbing this year, too, to around 250,000 to 275,000 ounces at an all-in sustaining cost of $2,000 to $2,200. Brokers are very bullish on the shares and expect they could jump another 75% to $2.46 a piece, at the time of writing.

Life360 Inc (ASX: 360)

Life360 shares have faced a plethora of headwinds recently. From a tech-sector-wide sell-off, a rotation away from AI-related stocks, and concerns that prices had become overvalued. Slumping sentiment means the shares have now slumped 67% from an all-time high of $55.87 recorded in October last year. They're also down 43% for the year to date. But the ASX 200 company recently reported a 38% increase in revenue for the latest quarter, and upgraded its FY26 adjusted EBITDA and revenue guidance. Brokers are very bullish about the outlook for Life360 shares over the next 12 months, with consensus of a strong upside ahead. They tip the shares to climb another 83% to $34.01.

Cochlear Ltd (ASX: COH)

Cochlear shares crashed in April after the ASX healthcare company downgraded its FY26 earnings guidance, citing weaker conditions across developed markets and softer demand. At the time of writing, the shares are trading at the lowest level seen in over a decade. The guidance downgrade came off the back of a softer-than-expected half-year result earlier this year, and a sector-wide rotation away from ASX healthcare shares, as global volatility, a weaker US dollar, higher US tariffs, and increased labour costs prompted investors to sell up their holdings. Brokers aren't deterred, though. They still rate the stock as a buy and are tipping a potential 126% upside to $219.06, at the time of writing.

WiseTech Global Ltd (ASX: WTC)

WiseTech shares have been beaten down over the past 10 months, with the tech company hit by multiple and consecutive headwinds, including a tech-sector sell-off, AI concerns, and conflict in the Middle East, which sent its share price tumbling. The downturn has accelerated in 2026, and even after some promising upticks, the share price keeps on tumbling. At the time of writing, the shares have hit a four-year low. But the company maintains its FY26 guidance figures and expects a healthy EBITDA margin of around 40% to 41%. Brokers think the stock could stage a turnaround. They rate the ASX 200 share a strong buy and see 114% upside to $78.86 at the time of writing. 

The post 4 ASX 200 shares tipped to climb 75% to 126% higher appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

Alkane Resources Ltd (ASX: ALK)

The Alkane Resources share price is down 4% to $1.51. Investors have been selling this gold miner's shares following the release of its third-quarter result. Alkane delivered record revenue of $274.4 million for the three months ended 31 March 2026. Net profit increased to a record $93 million, which is up materially on the $8.1 million it reported in the prior corresponding period. The company's managing director, Nic Earner, said: "Alkane has just delivered the strongest quarter in its history. During a period of high gold and antimony prices, the power of our three mine portfolio delivered exceptional operating results as they produced a record 44,669 ounces of gold and 377 tonnes of antimony, which generated record profit after taxes of $93 million." This has been overshadowed by broad weakness in the gold industry today.

Bapcor Ltd (ASX: BAP)

The Bapcor share price is down a further 5.5% to 39.7 cents. This auto parts retailer's shares have been sold off this week following the release of another disappointing update. Bapcor revealed that its performance in the second half of FY 2026 has been negatively impacted by the Middle East conflict. This means that it now expects underlying EBITDA in the range of $144 million to $150 million, which is down from its previous guidance of $150 million to $160 million. Bapcor's CEO, Chris Wilesmith, commented: "We are pleased with the positive momentum of the turnaround, which has been delivered through decisive actions we've taken to improve pricing, stock availability and team engagement. This is despite the challenging external environment which was not contemplated when we began this turnaround, and which has slowed the rate of improvement contemplated in our previous guidance."

PLS Group Ltd (ASX: PLS)

The PLS share price is down 6.5% to $5.97. This is despite there being no news out of the lithium miner on Friday. However, it is worth noting that lithium stocks on Wall Street tumbled overnight. This appears to have led to ASX lithium stocks following suit today. Despite this decline, PLS shares are still up around 270% since this time last year.

Resolute Mining Ltd (ASX: RSG)

The Resolute Mining share price is down almost 7% to $1.30. Investors have been selling this gold miner's shares after it was forced to retract an announcement from earlier this week relating to a scoping study. It said: "Following consultation with ASX, the Company has been advised that it did not have a reasonable basis for those forward-looking statements due to the reliance on inferred resources in the production targets, resulting in the published production targets and forecast financial information being inconsistent with the requirements of the ASX Listing Rule 5.16 6."

The post Why Alkane Resources, Bapcor, PLS, and Resolute Mining shares are sinking today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

The halt came through during early afternoon trade, with the Resolute share price sitting at $1.397.

Before trading was paused, the stock was up 0.87% for the session.

It has also been a strong week for shareholders, with Resolute shares up about 12% over the past 5 trading days.

The latest move adds to a much bigger rally. The gold stock is now up 14% in 2026 and almost 139% over the past year.

Here's why trading has been put on hold.

Trading halt lands

According to the ASX notice, trading in Resolute shares has been halted at the company's request.

The halt relates to a further announcement regarding the company's scoping study for the ABC Project in Cote d'Ivoire.

Unless ASX decides otherwise, Resolute shares will remain in a trading halt until the earlier of normal trading on Monday, 18 May, or the release of an announcement to the market.

This means investors will have to wait for more details before the stock can trade again.

It comes just a day after Resolute released the scoping study details for the ABC Project, giving investors fresh numbers to weigh up.

ABC study points to long-life gold project

In its release, Resolute said the scoping study confirmed attractive economics and growth potential at ABC.

The company said the project could support a large-scale open-pit operation with 82.8 million tonnes of plant feed at 0.76 grams per tonne of gold.

That would contain 2 million ounces of gold over an average 12-year mine life.

The study also points to total gold production of 1.7 million ounces, with average output of 141,000 ounces per year.

Resolute is also estimating average annual output of 163,000 ounces across the first 5 years.

It has flagged an all-in sustaining cost of US$1,565 an ounce over the initial period.

Why this project stands out

The main drawcard is the size of the potential returns at current gold prices.

At a gold price of US$3,500 an ounce, Resolute said ABC could deliver a post-tax net present value of US$1.2 billion and an internal rate of return of 39%.

The payback period is estimated at 1.4 years from first production, which is short for a project of this size.

There is also leverage to a stronger gold price. Resolute said the post-tax NPV could rise to US$2.3 billion if gold reaches US$4,750 an ounce.

The only catch for now is the upfront capital cost, which has been estimated at US$648 million.

Foolish Takeaway

Resolute shares have had a strong run lately, helped by firmer gold prices and renewed interest in the company's growth options.

The ABC study gives investors a new project to weigh up, and the early numbers are worth a closer look.

But the trading halt means the market is still waiting for the next update before deciding what to do next.

The post This ASX gold stock just hit pause after a 12% weekly jump appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

That outperformance has been spurred by the miner's own operational successes on and beneath the ground, and a surging gold price.

In late morning trade today, Resolute Mining shares are up 1.1%, changing hands for $1.38 apiece. For some context, the ASX 200 is down 0.5% at this same time.

Taking a step back, shares in the ASX 200 gold stock are up an impressive 142.1% in 12 months, smashing the 4.3% one-year gains posted by the benchmark index.

Here's why Resolute Mining shares are outperforming again today.

ASX 200 gold stock lifts on fourth mine potential

Resolute Mining shares are holding their own in today's sinking market after the miner announced the results of a scoping study for its ABC Project, located in Cote d'Ivoire.

The ABC Project has a Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE) of 2.16 million ounces of gold.

The ASX 200 gold stock said the preliminary technical and economic study confirmed the ABC Project's strong economic potential. Should the project get the green light, it will be Resolute Mining's second operating gold mine in Cote d'Ivoire and fourth mine in total.

The scoping study revealed the ABC Project could produce around 141,000 ounces of gold per year over a 12-year mine life. Total gold production is estimated at 1.7 million ounces.

On the cost front, Resolute estimates an all-in sustaining cost (AISC) of US$1,614 per ounce, which it noted will support "robust operating margins". Capital costs are expected to be around US$648 million.

The ASX 200 gold stock expects the project could deliver average annual free cash flow of US$262 million and earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) of US$323 million in the first five years of production. That's based on a US$3,500 per ounce gold price.

To date, Resolute has drilled more than 25,000 metres, saying it expects the results of that drill campaign will support an updated MRE in the second half of 2026.

What did Resolute Mining management say?

Commenting on the study results helping lift the ASX 200 gold stock today, Resolute Mining CEO Chris Eger said, "Resolute is very pleased to announce the results of the scoping study for ABC which demonstrates the significant economic potential of the ABC Project."

Eger added:

Building on the strong results from the ongoing step out drilling at the Kona South and Central deposit, we are confident the project has potential to grow and become more commercially attractive…

The scoping study now provides Resolute with the required technical platform to commence the DFS [Definitive Feasibility Study]. Progress on exploration, metallurgical testwork, site investigations and permitting has been prioritised with the target of completing the required workstreams to finalise a DFS by the end of 2027.

The post Up 142% in a year, ASX 200 gold stock lifting today on potential fourth operating mine appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

This tough Tuesday session for Australian investors follows a more optimistic start to the American trading week last night (our time).

The Dow Jones Industrial Average Index (DJX: .DJI) managed to keep its head above water, rising 0.19%.

The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC) was slightly more downbeat, gaining 0.1%.

Let's return to the local markets now and take stock of how today's drop affected the various ASX sectors this session.

Winners and losers

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