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

ASX 200 to rise

The Australian share market looks set for a decent session on Wednesday despite a mixed night on Wall Street. According to the latest SPI futures, the ASX 200 is expected to open the day 18 points or 0.2% higher. In the United States, the Dow Jones fell 0.35%, the S&P 500 was flat, and the Nasdaq was 0.45% higher.

Oil prices fall

ASX 200 energy shares Beach Energy Ltd (ASX: BPT) and Santos Ltd (ASX: STO) could have a subdued session on Wednesday after oil prices fell overnight. According to Bloomberg, the WTI crude oil price is down 0.6% to US$95.21 a barrel and the Brent crude oil price is down 1.8% to US$98.52 a barrel. Traders were selling oil on US-Iran peace hopes.

ASX shares going ex-dividend

A number of ASX shares are going ex-dividend this morning and could trade lower. This includes gold miner St Barbara Ltd (ASX: SBM), energy company Genesis Energy Ltd (ASX: GNE), and toll road operator Atlas Arteria Group (ASX: ALX). The latter will be rewarding its shareholders with an unfranked 20 cents per share dividend next month on 7 October.

Gold price rises

ASX 200 gold shares Westgold Resources Ltd (ASX: WGX) and Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST) could have a good session on Wednesday after the gold price pushed higher. According to CNBC, the gold futures price is up 0.3% to US$4,396.4 an ounce. Falling oil prices have eased rate hike bets.

Hold Seek shares

Bell Potter thinks Seek Ltd (ASX: SEK) shares are around fair value at current prices. This morning, the broker has retained its hold rating on the job listings company's shares with a trimmed price target of $13.00 (from $13.80). It said: "We await a positive shift in sentiment or visibility on jobs volumes recovery; potential near term Growth Fund monetisation remains an asymmetric upside risk, though the rising interest rate backdrop may also be an additional headwind in seeking a desired exit price for nominated assets. SEK appears to be improving operations to sustainably target 10% yield growth on top of strong cost controls, however, despite trading at deep value ex. Growth Fund, macro-based headwinds suggest difficult sentiment near-term for the stock. Maintain Hold."

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

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

Here are some of the ASX shares due to go ex-dividend next week.

To receive the next dividend, you must own the ASX share before its ex-dividend date.

ASX shares with ex-dividend dates coming up 

Cochlear Ltd (ASX: COH)

This ASX healthcare share will pay an 85% franked dividend of $1.30 per share on 14 October.

The ex-dividend date is Monday, 21 September.

New Hope Corporation Ltd (ASX: NHC)

This ASX coal share will pay a fully franked dividend of 30 cents per share on 15 October.

The ex-dividend date is 21 September.

Southern Cross Engineering Ltd (ASX: SXE)

This ASX industrials share will pay a 100% franked dividend of 7.5 cents per share on 7 October.

The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, 22 September.

Latitude Group Holdings Ltd (ASX: LFS)

This ASX financial share will pay a 100% franked dividend of 5.5 cents per share on 22 October.

The ex-dividend date is 22 September.

Fleetwood Ltd (ASX: FWD)

This ASX industrials share will pay a 100% franked dividend of 9.5 cents per share on 9 October.

The ex-dividend date is 22 September.

St Barbara Ltd (ASX: SBM)

This ASX materials share will pay a fully franked dividend of 5 cents per share on 16 October.

The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, 23 September.

IPD Group Ltd (ASX: IPG)

This ASX industrials share will pay a fully franked dividend of 7.9 cents per share on 8 October.

The ex-dividend date is 23 September.

Genesis Energy Ltd (ASX: GNE)

This ASX utilities share will pay an unfranked dividend of 6.3 cents per share on 9 October.

The ex-dividend date is 23 September.

Bisalloy Steel Group Ltd (ASX: BIS)

This ASX materials share will pay a fully franked dividend of 13 cents per share on 9 October.

The ex-dividend date is Thursday, 24 September.

Salter Brothers Emerging Companies Ltd (ASX: SB2)

This ASX financial share will pay a 50% franked dividend of 2 cents per share on 22 October.

The ex-dividend date is 24 September.

Wiseway Group Ltd (ASX: WWG)

Wiseway Group shares will pay a 100% franked dividend of 0.006 cents per share on 9 October.

The ex-dividend date is 24 September.

PRL Global Ltd (ASX: PRG)

PRL Global shares will pay a 100% franked dividend of 3 cents per share on 23 October.

The ex-dividend date is 24 September.

Teaminvest Private Group Ltd (ASX: TIP)

This ASX financial share will pay a 100% franked dividend of 1.5 cents per share on 5 October.

The ex-dividend date is Friday, 25 September.

The post 13 ASX shares with ex-dividend dates next week appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

St Barbara shares finished flat at 73 cents apiece yesterday, but investors could have plenty to think about when trading gets underway this morning.

So, what has St Barbara announced?

St Barbara cashes in

According to the release, St Barbara has agreed to sell its remaining interest in the New Simberi Gold Project in Papua New Guinea to China's Lingbao Gold Group.

Under the deal, the company will receive $410 million in cash when the transaction completes.

It will also receive another $43 million to repay its share of construction spending on New Simberi between April and signing.

However, St Barbara will still retain some exposure to the project.

The company will keep a 2.75% net smelter return royalty on future gold and silver production from New Simberi, along with a 1.5% royalty over minerals produced from the Tabar Islands exploration licences.

The transaction is expected to complete in the March quarter of 2027, subject to regulatory and shareholder approvals.

Could shareholders get another big dividend?

There could be a pretty big payday coming for shareholders.

St Barbara had $427 million in cash at the end of August. After the sale completes, it expects to have around $880 million in cash and no debt.

The board is considering paying shareholders another fully-franked special dividend of around 13 cents per share after completion.

That would come on top of the fully-franked 5-cent dividend already declared in August, taking potential dividend returns to 18 cents per share.

Based on Wednesday's 73-cent closing price, that is equal to almost 25% of the current share price.

The company is also considering an on-market share buyback of up to 100 million shares. A decision is expected after the 15-Mile Processing Hub pre-feasibility study update due around the end of September.

What does St Barbara look like after the sale?

Once Simberi is sold, St Barbara will be left with its Nova Scotia gold projects and the royalties from Simberi.

From there, the focus will be on restarting production at Touquoy by the end of 2026 and moving the 15-Mile Processing Hub towards a final investment decision (FID) by the end of FY27.

The Simberi royalty could still bring in plenty of cash too, with St Barbara estimating around $286 million over the current mine plan.

I think St Barbara is one to keep a close eye on in the coming weeks.

The post St Barbara share price on watch after a huge announcement appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

What did St Barbara report?

• Statutory profit after tax of A$490 million, up from a loss of A$94 million in FY25
• Revenue from ordinary activities (continuing operations) down 76% to A$3.6 million
• Net assets increased 148% to A$928 million by 30 June 2026
• Cash position of A$475 million with no debt or hedging
• Fully franked final dividend of 5 cents per share declared, payable 16 October 2026
• EBITDA (excluding significant items) loss of A$18 million

What else do investors need to know?

St Barbara's strong result was largely driven by a A$500 million gain on the deconsolidation of New Simberi Gold, following a major strategic investment by Lingbao Gold Group. This transaction saw St Barbara reduce its ownership in New Simberi Gold to 50% minus one share, making it an investment in associate rather than a controlled entity.

The company reported New Simberi Gold generated an underlying profit of A$40 million for the first nine months, compared to a A$30 million loss in FY25. The board also announced the transfer of A$355 million of FY26 statutory profit to a distributable reserve, supporting the dividend payment.

Additionally, St Barbara is considering an on-market share buy-back of up to 100 million shares, with a final decision expected after an update to the 15-Mile Processing Hub Project Pre-Feasibility Study later in 2026.

What did St Barbara management say?

Managing Director and CEO Andrew Strelein commented:

FY26 was a breakthrough year for St Barbara. We completed the Lingbao strategic investment, secured the funding and early mining lease renewal for FID on the New Simberi Gold Expansion Project, completed permitting and FID for the Touquoy Restart and we delivered a compelling 15-Mile Processing Hub Project Pre-Feasibility Study.

The strengthened balance sheet and healthy funding position has enabled the Board to declare a fully franked dividend of A$0.05 per share. The Company is also considering an on-market share buy-back of up to 100 million shares but will delay a decision until we have been able to announce the results of the update to the 15-Mile Processing Hub Project Pre-Feasibility Study, which is anticipated to be released at the end of September.

The Company is committed to prudent capital discipline and will take the opportunity to pass on the available franked dividends as quickly as the balance sheet and funding outlook permits. St Barbara enters FY27 focused on value creation for shareholders, through project delivery, operational performance and efficient capital management.

What's next for St Barbara?

Looking ahead, St Barbara intends to remain focused on project delivery and capital management following its recapitalisation and strategic partnership with Lingbao. The board expects to decide on a potential share buy-back after the release of further details on the 15-Mile Processing Hub Project.

The New Simberi Gold Expansion Project and the Touquoy Restart in Canada are both moving forward, with St Barbara highlighting sustainable value creation for shareholders as a top priority for FY27.

St Barbara share price snapshot

Over the past year, the St Barbara shares have risen 84%, significantly outpacing the All Ordinaries Index (ASX: XAO).

View Original Announcement

The post St Barbara posts $490m profit and declares 5¢ dividend for FY26 appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

What did St Barbara report?

• Exploration spend in Nova Scotia is set to rise 64%, from A$2.5 million in FY26 to A$4.1 million for FY27.
• The exploration team in Nova Scotia has doubled in size, with further expansion anticipated for FY28.
• A work program of up to 105 drill holes for 4,400 metres is planned across five to seven targets, including brownfield and greenfield sites.
• Planned surface sampling to increase by over 80% in FY27, with more than 2,000 samples to be collected.
• A comprehensive gold prospectivity and targeting study will cover the entire Meguma Terrane region.

What else do investors need to know?

St Barbara is ramping up its exploration activity in Atlantic Canada, aiming to build on the existing pipeline of 58 gold exploration targets. The company's tenement package in Nova Scotia now includes 46 initial targets within 75 km of the proposed 15-Mile Processing Hub Project, supporting its strategy to extend the hub's 11-year mine life.

Key work programs will include resource extension, regional drilling, UAV magnetic surveys, 3D modelling, and detailed structural reviews to sharpen future drilling targets. St Barbara has also been awarded a C$100,000 grant from the Nova Scotia government to support the Patton program.

What did St Barbara management say?

St Barbara Managing Director and CEO Andrew Strelein said:

St Barbara has previously announced the acquisition and pegging of attractive areas of known gold mineralisation that hosts numerous targets within 75 kilometres around the 15-Mile Processing Hub Project in Nova Scotia, while continuing to advance our development of the currently defined eleven year plus production centre. We can now share the high intensity work program that we have had underway commencing in the last quarter that will extend to June 2027. This 64% increase in exploration spend and doubling of the exploration team will allow us to maximise the opportunities we have in Nova Scotia.

What's next for St Barbara?

Looking ahead, St Barbara will prioritise drilling, surveying, and sampling to advance key projects and increase its knowledge of regional potential. The gold prospectivity and targeting study is expected to deliver new exploration opportunities, helping the company update and rank its pipeline for future work.

The planned restart of the Touquoy mine by December 2026 and continued exploration initiatives should support St Barbara's goal of enhancing mine life and building value in its Canadian portfolio.

St Barbara share price snapshot

Over the past 12 months, St Barbara shares have risen 73%, outperforming the All Ordinaries Index (ASX: XAO), which has risen 3% over the same period.

View Original Announcement

The post St Barbara ramps up Nova Scotia exploration spend in FY27 appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

St Barabara shares closed yesterday trading for 47 cents. In morning trade on Thursday, shares are changing hands for 45 cents apiece, down 3.8%.

For some context, the ASX 300 is down 0.7% at this same time.

This follows the release of St Barbara's June quarter update (Q4 FY 2026).

Here's what's happening.

ASX 300 gold stock restarting mothballed operations

It was an eventful quarter for St Barbara, with the miner approving the Final Investment Decision to proceed with the restart of its Touquoy gold mine, located in Canada. With recruitment now underway, the ASX 300 gold stock is aiming for the official reopening in November.

Earlier this week, St Barbara also reported on a 500,000 ounce (0.5 Moz) increase in the Mineral Resources Estimate (MRE) for its 15-Mile Processing Hub Project, also in Canada. The updated MRE for the project now stands at 62.4 Mt at 1.2 g/t Au containing 2.5 million ounces of gold. St Barbara is targeting a Final Investment Decision for the project in mid-2027.

Over the three months to 30 June, St Barbara's attributable gold production came out to 7,329 ounces, beating the miner's updated guidance.

The quarter saw the ASX 300 gold stock sell 6,700 ounces from its JV New Simberi project, located in Papua New Guinea. St Barbara received an average price of $6,314 an ounce. The company reported a Q4 all-in sustaining cost (AISC) for New Simberi of $4,514 an ounce.

St Barbara also sold 187 ounces from Touquoy for an average price of $6,572 an ounce.

Turning to the balance sheet, as at 30 June, the company reported a cash balance of $475 million along with $21 million in attributable New Simberi cash and bullion.

What did St Barbara management say?

Commenting on the results that have yet to lift the ASX 300 gold stock today, St Barbara managing director and CEO Andrew Strelein said, "This has been a transformational quarter for St Barbara."

Drilling into New Simberi, Strelein added:

At New Simberi, construction of our US$333 million expansion with Lingbao Gold Group is progressing well, with earthworks, the ball mill delivery and the new wharf all advancing to schedule.

As for the company's financial position, Strelein said:

Importantly, we remain financially strong, with $509 million in cash, gold and investments, leaving St Barbara fully funded to deliver all three growth projects. New Simberi's operational performance continued to improve, as the operation increased production again and delivered cashflow to the business.

The post Up 61% in a year, why is this ASX 300 gold stock getting hammered on Thursday? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

What did St Barbara report?

• Q4 FY26 attributable gold sales: 6,700 ounces from New Simberi at an average price of $6,314/oz
• Further 187 ounces sold from Touquoy at $6,572/oz
• Attributable gold production (Q4): 7,329 ounces, ahead of updated guidance
• Group cash balance at 30 June 2026: $475 million, plus $21 million in attributable New Simberi cash and bullion
• Quarterly operational cash flow from New Simberi: $29 million (100% basis)
• All-In Sustaining Cost (AISC) for New Simberi in Q4: $4,514/oz

What else do investors need to know?

St Barbara's board has approved the Final Investment Decision for the Touquoy Restart in Nova Scotia, with operations scheduled to recommence in late 2026. Recruitment is underway, and all major procurement is on track.

The US$333 million expansion at the New Simberi Gold Project is progressing, with earthworks close to completion and major equipment—including a new ball mill—set for delivery. Exploration continues delivering promising drilling results, particularly at Simberi, helping lay the groundwork for future growth.

St Barbara reports zero debt, no hedging, and remains fully funded to advance its three growth projects, aided by strong operational cash flow and a considerable cash and gold position.

What did St Barbara management say?

Managing Director & CEO Andrew Strelein said:

This has been a transformational quarter for St Barbara. At Nova Scotia, we approved the Final Investment Decision for the Touquoy Restart, with the mining contractor mobilising to site and processing on track to recommence by the end of calendar 2026. The 15-Mile Processing Hub Project permitting has advanced and more recently we have confirmed a 24% increase in Mineral Resources to 2.5 million ounces.

At New Simberi, construction of our US$333 million expansion with Lingbao Gold Group is progressing well, with earthworks, the ball mill delivery and the new wharf all advancing to schedule. Importantly, we remain financially strong, with A$509 million in cash, gold and investments, leaving St Barbara fully funded to deliver all three growth projects. New Simberi's operational performance continued to improve, as the operation increased production again and delivered cashflow to the business.

What's next for St Barbara?

Looking ahead, St Barbara is targeting a November 2026 restart for Touquoy in Nova Scotia, followed by relocation of the processing plant to the new 15-Mile Processing Hub around early 2028. An updated pre-feasibility study for the 15-Mile project is due by the end of Q1 FY27.

At New Simberi in Papua New Guinea, the expansion is on schedule, with main construction works and equipment deliveries in the pipeline. Exploration success across Simberi, Tatau, and Tabar islands could further strengthen the company's resource base.

St Barbara share price snapshot

Over the past 12 months, St Barbara shares have risen 68%, outperforming the All Ordinaries Index (ASX: XAO), which has risen 2% over the same period.

View Original Announcement

The post St Barbara FY26 Q4: Cash builds as growth projects advance appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

With the gold price remaining in a medium-term downtrend, the stock joins most ASX gold miners in the red on Tuesday, which sees the S&P/ASX All Ordinaries Gold Index (ASX: XGD) down 1.3%.

St Barbara shares closed yesterday trading for 46.5 cents. In early morning trade on Tuesday, shares are changing hands for 45.5 cents apiece, down 2.2%. That leaves the St Barbara share price up 51.7% over the past 12 months.

For some context, the ASX 300 is down 0.3% at this same time today and up a much more modest 1.8% over the last year.

St Barbara shares are sliding today despite a positive Mineral Resource Estimate update from the company's 15-Mile Processing Hub Project, located in Canada.

Here's what we know.

ASX 300 gold stock boosts gold reserves

St Barbara's 15-Mile Processing Hub Project will process ore from the miner's three nearby mines. Namely, the 15-Mile Mine, the Old Austen Mine, and the Old Mitchell Mine.

This morning, the miner revealed a 500,000 ounce (0.5 Moz) increase in the Mineral Resources Estimate for the 15-Mile Processing Hub Project.

That represents a 20% increase, bringing the Mineral Resources Estimate to 62.4 million tonnes at 1.2 grams of gold per tonne containing 2.5 million ounces.

The ASX 300 gold stock said the half-million-ounce upgraded estimate incorporated updated geological interpretations, a revised estimation methodology, and additional historical drilling data.

That historical drilling data came from 436 additional drill holes for an extra 71,000 metres, which were not previously incorporated into Mineral Resources estimates across the three mines.

Following a detailed review, management concluded that the historical drilling was suitable for inclusion in the Mineral Resources Estimate.

The ASX 300 gold stock now aims to release an updated Pre-Feasibility Study, which it expects to be finalised by the end of September. It will then proceed with an updated Ore Reserves Estimate for the 15-Mile Processing Hub.

St Barbara will incorporate the updated Mineral Resources Estimate into the project's Feasibility Study, due in June 2027.

Looking ahead, the miner said it has identified new drill targets at the 15-Mile Mine, which are being evaluated for drilling in FY 2027.

With the latest upgrade included, St Barbara's total Mineral Resources Estimate has increased to 5.4 million ounces, which includes the 2.9 million ounces attributable at its JV New Simberi project, located in Papua New Guinea.

What did management say?

Commenting on the increased Mineral Resource Estimate that's yet to lift the ASX 300 gold stock today, St Barbara CEO Andrew Strelein said:

This is a substantial increase in resources at 15-Mile Processing Hub that continues the momentum we have at our Atlantic Operations following the environmental permit approvals and the final investment decision on the Touquoy Restart in April.

The Mineral Resources growth of 0.5 million ounces is related to study work that now incorporates updated geological interpretations, a revised estimation methodology and additional historical drilling data.

The post Up 52% in a year, ASX 300 gold stock unveils half-million-ounce resource boost appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Let's see how the market is reacting to the news:

Regis Resources Ltd (ASX: RRL)

The Regis Resources share price is down 3% to $6.86 after a positive announcement wasn't enough to offset further weakness in the gold price.

This morning, the ASX 200 gold stock revealed that extensive work to develop an alternative tailings strategy at the McPhillamys Gold Project has confirmed filtered tailings, co-disposed within the mine waste dump, as a viable development pathway.

The McPhillamys Gold Project was hit with a Section 10 Declaration, essentially putting its development on hold. But this new alternative tailings strategy bypasses areas that are off limits.

The good news is that the new strategy has strong financial outcomes. It notes that a new pre-feasibility study (PFS) demonstrates that at a A$4,000 per ounce gold price, the project would deliver 190,000 ounces average annual gold production and an all-in sustaining cost (AISC) of A$1,718 per ounces.

This is expected to generate gross revenue of $7.1 billion and an IRR of 21.8% post tax.

Commenting on the news, Regis Resources' CEO, Jim Beyer, said:

It is very pleasing to be able to reinstate the McPhillamys reserves of 56Mt at 1.1g/t Au for 1.89Moz (100% Probable), achieving a significant milestone for Regis. Since the disappointing Section 10 Declaration in August 2024, we have developed a dual path strategy to get the Project back on track. We have pursued our legal rights in challenging the procedural fairness of the Section 10 Declaration through a judicial review and we await the Court's decision.

At the same time, we have worked methodically to identify an alternative development pathway that preserves the value of the Project and provides optionality. The IWL approach is a technically sound and practical pathway forward, and one that keeps McPhillamys within the accessible Project footprint. Our technical and Project teams have worked extremely hard to get us to this point, and I want to recognise their effort and rigour in advancing this solution.

St Barbara Ltd (ASX: SBM)

The St Barbara share price is down 4% to 58.5 cents.

This appears to have been driven by a weaker gold price, which has overshadowed an update on the 15-Mile Processing Hub Project.

St Barbara has announced that the Initial Project Description (IPD) for the 15-Mile Processing Hub Project has been confirmed to have passed the conformity review stage. The IPD submission triggers the formal planning phase.

St Barbara's CEO, Andrew Strelein, was pleased with the news. He said:

This submission marks a major milestone in advancing the 15-Mile Processing Hub Project to approval. This reflects nearly three years of work to redesign and strengthen the Project design to incorporate and address feedback received from regulators, local communities, and Mi'kmaq communities, resulting in a Project that is both more acceptable and more beneficial for the communities.

The post 2 ASX gold shares making big moves on key updates appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

St Barbara shares closed yesterday trading for 67.5 cents. In early morning trade on Friday, shares are changing hands for 67.7 cents apiece, up 0.3%.

For some context, the ASX 300 is down 0.2% at this same time, while the S&P/ASX All Ordinaries Gold Index (ASX: XGD) is down a steeper 0.7%.

Here's what catching investor interest.

ASX 300 gold stock moving forward in Canada

St Barbara shares look to be getting a boost today after the ASX 300 gold stock announced the approval of a Final Investment Decision (FID) to proceed with the Touquoy Restart.

Located in Canada, St Barbara's Touquoy gold mine was placed into care and maintenance in October 2023.

The formal FID approval comes after the Nova Scotia Department of Environment and Climate Change (NSECC) earlier this month approved amendments to the Industrial Approval permit conditions to allow the mine's restart.

The ASX 300 gold stock said that its subsidiaries have now signed contracts with two local companies (Alva Construction and MacGregor's Industrial) to provide support services for the reopening process.

What did St Barbara management say?

Commenting on the FID, St Barbara managing director and CEO Andrew Strelein said, "The processing of stockpiled ore at Touquoy is a significant step forward for St Barbara in Nova Scotia."

Strelein continued:

It demonstrates the province is open to investment in resources projects, will provide for nearly 200 new jobs within the province and add to the province's growing GDP all while responsibly managing our shared environment.

Nova Scotia Minister of natural resources and renewables Kim Masland added, "I am pleased to see that the contracts being signed will employ Nova Scotians, especially in rural areas, and keep them working here, close to home."

What's been happening with the ASX 300 gold stock's Touquoy mine?

St Barbara has been working to restart the project for some time now.

The ASX 300 gold stock allocated C$2.9 million (AU$3.0 million) to facilitate the refurbishment of the Touquoy processing facility in February.

The company expects operating cash flow from Touquoy to be C$118 million at US$4,000 per ounce over a 13-month period. It anticipates gold production of 38,000 ounces over the 13 months, coming from 3.0 million tonnes of stockpiles that grade at 0.4 grams of gold per tonne.

The ASX 300 gold stock expects to recommence ore processing at Touquoy by the end of calendar year 2026.

The miner is also active in Papua New Guinea, where it forecasts fourth quarter gold production in the range of 14,000 to 17,000 ounces from its joint venture New Simberi Gold Project.

The post Guess which ASX 300 gold stock is outperforming following 'a significant step forward' in Canada appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Four ASX shares that are not letting that hold them back are listed below. Here's why they are racing higher:

Navigator Global Investments Ltd (ASX: NGI)

The Navigator Global share price is up 7% to $2.45. This follows the release of a quarterly assets under management (AUM) update from the investment company this morning. Navigator Global revealed that AUM was US$31.6 billion at the end of March. This is up 9% over the quarter and 16% from last year. It advised that growth was driven by a mix of inflows and investment performance across its platform.

St Barbara Ltd (ASX: SBM)

The St Barbara share price is up 6% to 72.5 cents. This has been driven by the release of a production update from the gold miner this morning. St Barbara revealed that it expects to increase its gold production to 200,000 ounces per year by 2030. This represents a compound annual growth rate of 59%. The company's managing director, Andrew Strelein, said: "St Barbara's recent breakthroughs with the Mining Lease Extension and now FID on the New Simberi Gold Project, the permitting of the Touquoy Restart and the impressive results of the 15-Mile Processing Hub Project Pre-Feasibility Study set up the Company for an attractive gold production CAGR of 59% lifting attributable production to over 190koz in FY30 and more than 200koz in FY31."

Vulcan Energy Resources Ltd (ASX: VUL)

The Vulcan Energy share price is up 2% to $3.59. This morning, the lithium developer revealed that it has entered into a 40 million euros major project framework agreement with Siemens for the supply of engineering, automation, telecommunications, and building technology systems. Vulcan Energy's managing director and CEO, Cris Moreno, commented: "The signing of this framework agreement with Siemens AG builds on our established partnership with the broader Siemens group which shares Vulcan's commitment to innovation and sustainability. We are pleased to be working alongside Siemens who have a vast local presence and history working in the broader region, and bring decades of experience in delivering engineering, automation, telecommunications, and digital technology systems to similar types of industrial projects."

Zip Co Ltd (ASX: ZIP)

The Zip share price is up a further 11% to $2.58. This buy now pay later provider's shares have been racing higher since the release of its third-quarter update at the end of last week. Zip reported record cash EBTDA of $65.1 million for the third quarter, which represents a 41.5% increase on the prior corresponding period. In light of its stronger than expected performance, management now expects group cash EBTDA of at least $260 million for the full year. This is up from its previous guidance of approximately $248.6 million.

The post Why Navigator Global, St Barbara, Vulcan Energy, and Zip shares are racing higher today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

The company expects to produce 48,000 ounces of gold in 2027, with production growing strongly from then on.

Company is cashed up

St Barbara added that it is fully-funded to meet the upcoming capital requirements of its growth projects, using cash on hand and expected cash flow from the Touqouy project restart and then the New Simberi Gold Project.

The Touquoy restart is expected to cost the company US$6 million in the first half of FY27 the company said, while New Simberi in Papua New Guinea would cost US$108 million over FY27-28.

The company's 15 Mile processing hub was then expected to cost US$201 million in FY29.

The company said in its statement to the ASX:

The production outlook combines the most recently approved Initial Life of Mine Plan for the New Simberi Gold Project which was completed concurrently with the Final Investment Decision (FID) (announced on 2 April 2026), the Pre-Feasibility Study on 15-Mile Processing Hub Project released on 21 January 2026 and the Touquoy Restart released on 13 April 2026. St Barbara anticipates attributable production rising at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 59% from 48 koz in FY27 to 191 koz in FY30.

Hitting milestones

St Barbara Managing Director Andrew Strelein said regarding the forecast:

St Barbara's recent breakthroughs with the Mining Lease Extension and now FID on the New Simberi Gold Project, the permitting of the Touquoy Restart and the impressive results of the 15-Mile Processing Hub Project Pre-Feasibility Study set up the Company for an attractive gold production CAGR of 59% lifting attributable production to over 190koz in FY30 and more than 200koz in FY31. The Lingbao transaction ensures the Company is fully funded for development of these projects based on existing cash of more than A$500 million and cashflow from remnant Simberi oxides and the Touquoy Restart. This has been an incredible effort by the entire team with support from our partners and the relationships established with regulators in each jurisdiction through perseverance and ongoing engagement.

The Lingbao transaction refers to the deal finalised on April 2 under which Lingbao Gold Group paid St Barbara $389 million for a 40% stake in the New Simberi project.

St Barbara shares were 0.7% lower at 68 cents on Monday morning.

The company is valued at $829 million.

The post This ASX gold company has revealed a major boost to production over the next 4 years appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

A2 Milk Company Ltd (ASX: A2M)

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

Metallium Ltd (ASX: MTM)

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

Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST)

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

St Barbara Ltd (ASX: SBM)

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

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

St Barbara shares closed Friday trading for 72.5 cents. In morning trade on Monday, shares are changing hands for 71 cents apiece, down 2.1%.

For some context, the ASX 300 is down 0.4% at this same time. And, in a better comparison of golden apples to golden apples, the S&P/ASX All Ordinaries Gold Index (ASX: XGD) is down a steeper 3.4%.

That comes as the gold price fell 2% to US$4,668 per ounce overnight after failed peace talks with Iran saw US President Donald Trump vow to blockade the Strait of Hormuz to starve Iran of funds.

Despite today's dip, the St Barbara share price remains up a very impressive 193.8% over 12 months.

Now, here's what the Aussie gold miner just reported.

ASX 300 gold stock gets restart green light

Before market open, St Barbara announced that the Nova Scotia Department of Environment and Climate Change (NSECC) had approved amendments to the Industrial Approval permit conditions to allow the Touquoy Restart.

The ASX 300 gold stock expects to recommence ore processing at its Touquoy gold mine, located in Canada, by the end of calendar year 2026.

In early February, St Barbara earmarked C$2.9 million (AU$3.0 million) to accelerate the refurbishment of the Touquoy processing facility.

The gold miner forecasts operating cash flow from the Touquoy Restart will be C$118 million at US$4,000 per ounce over a 13-month period. St Barbara said it anticipates gold production of 38,000 ounces over this time, stemming from 3.0 million tonnes of stockpiles grading 0.4 grams of gold per tonne.

"This will be a big confidence boost to the industry," St Barbara CEO Andrew Strelein said.

Strelein added:

We are very pleased to have received approval of Industrial Approval permit conditions necessary for the restart of Touquoy. This approval has been received within the Province's target timeframe for approvals and demonstrates the constructive engagement and sense of urgency of the new Large Infrastructure File Team within the Department of Environment and Climate Change.

St Barbara quarterly gold production surges

In a separate price-sensitive release this morning, the ASX 300 gold stock reported its preliminary third-quarter (Q3 FY 2026) results.

Highlights for the three months included gold production of 13,522 ounces, up 49% quarter on quarter. Gold sales in the March quarter came to 11,974 ounces. St Barbara received an average sale price of AU$6,892 per ounce.

Looking ahead to the fourth quarter, the ASX 300 gold stock forecast gold production in the range of 14,000 to 17,000 ounces from the New Simberi Gold Project, located in Papua New Guinea. St Barbara's anticipated 40% attributable share of gold production is forecast to be in the range of 5,600 to 6,800 ounces in Q4.

The post Up 194% in a year, ASX 300 gold stock gets 'big confidence boost' from Canada appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

In midday trade, the shares are down 0.46% to 65.2 cents.

The decline comes even though the update materially improves the company's funding position and clears the way for its next major development phase.

After the stock's strong recovery in recent months, it appears some investors may be using the news as an opportunity to lock in gains.

Here's what the market is weighing up.

Simberi deal completion clears the way for construction

According to the release, St Barbara has completed the strategic investment by Lingbao Gold Group and received $389 million in cash proceeds.

This includes the previously agreed $370 million plus a $19 million adjustment linked to working capital and cash holdings.

At the same time, both parties approved the final investment decision to begin construction of the New Simberi Gold Project. The total construction cost is estimated at US$333 million.

St Barbara said its share of the remaining development funding is fully covered, with only 50% of remaining costs to be funded from this point following the ownership reset.

Site works are expected to begin immediately.

The company also expects to recognise an unaudited gain on sale of about $500 million in its FY26 results. Management said there should be no tax leakage from the Lingbao transaction.

Management says execution risk has now eased

Managing Director and CEO Andrew Strelein said the transaction completion and final investment decision mark a major turning point in the company's outlook.

He said:

Today's completion of the Lingbao transaction and approval of the FID represents a major milestone for St Barbara.

Strelein added that the deal leaves the company fully funded for development and said the FID reduces execution risk as Simberi moves into its next production phase.

The expanded operation is expected to increase ore treatment capacity to 10Mtpa from 3.5Mtpa and lift annual gold production to more than 200,000 ounces.

St Barbara also said the updated mine plan points to an expected all-in sustaining cost of between US$1,100 and US$1,400 per ounce.

Ore reserves alone are expected to support a mine life of at least 13 years.

Foolish Takeaway

With the funding now locked in and development approved, the next phase for investors is all about execution.

The key question is whether management can keep the Simberi build on schedule and within the US$333 million budget while progressing toward the targeted annual production.

If management delivers on that pathway, today's share price weakness could prove to be a buying opportunity.

The post This beaten-down ASX gold stock just cleared a major hurdle. So why are investors selling? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

St Barbara shares closed yesterday trading for 57 cents. In early morning trade on Thursday, shares are changing hands for 58 cents apiece, up 1.8%.

For some context, the ASX 300 is down 0.1% at this same time.

If you've been paying close attention to the boards, you might have noticed that St Barbara shares joined the ASX 300 at market open this Monday. That came as part of the S&P Dow Jones Indices quarterly rebalance, after the gold miner's market cap more than doubled over the past year.

Now, here's what's grabbing investor interest today.

ASX 300 gold stock lifts on investment approval

The St Barbara share price is marching higher after the miner announced that the transaction with the Lingbao Gold Group's investment in the New Simberi Gold Project, located in Papua New Guinea, has been approved.

The ASX 300 gold stock said that all outstanding conditions precedent regarding the Initial Life of Mine Plan, the Construction Work Program, Budget for New Simberi, and the finalisation of agreements with Kumul Mineral Holdings have now been satisfied.

Lingbao and St Barbara also committed to making a Final Investment Decision (FID) on the New Simberi Gold Project at completion, which is targeted for 1 April.

St Barabra expects to book a gain on sale of around $500 on the Lingbao transaction.

Lingbao is acquiring its interest in the New Simberi Gold Project for $370 million in cash. The ASX 300 gold stock said that the retention of its equivalent interest realises a total value of at least $740 million, which is around $500 million more than its expected carrying value for the Simberi business unit prior to Lingbao's investment.

What did management say?

Commenting on the investment approval boosting the ASX 300 gold stock today, St Barbara managing director and CEO Andrew Strelein said, "The satisfaction of the final conditions precedent on the Lingbao Transaction allows St Barbara and Lingbao to now move forward to completion."

Strelein added:

We anticipate that the Kumul deal will also close on the 1 April 2026 with only two PNG government approvals now required. Any delay with those final approvals does not impact the timing of the completion of the Lingbao Transaction.

This is a pivotal moment for St Barbara as we unlock significant immediate value for the company, while opening up a new future for our business as we move to execute the New Simberi Gold Project and deliver value to our shareholders and to our stakeholders in PNG.

With today's intraday gains factored in, shares in the ASX 300 gold stock are up 164% in 12 months.

The post Guess which newly minted ASX 300 gold stock is lifting off today on $500 million news appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

But not today.

St Barbara shares closed on Friday trading for 57.5 cents. In early morning trade on Monday, shares are changing hands for 54.5 cents apiece, down 5.2%.

For some context, the All Ords is down 2% at this same time, while the S&P/ASX All Ordinaries Gold Index (ASX: XGD) is down a steeper 4.7%.

Despite today's retrace, shares in the ASX All Ords gold stock remain up 147.7% since this time last year, racing ahead of the 3.7% 12-month gains delivered by the All Ords.

Atop ongoing pressure in the gold price, here's what investors are mulling over today.

ASX All Ords gold stock sinks amid project update

St Barbara shares are sliding today despite a positive update on the miner's New Simberi Gold Project, located in Papua New Guinea.

The ASX All Ords gold stock said it expects to complete both the Lingbao and Kumul transactions in the first days of April. The Final Investment Decision (FID) on Simberi will then be triggered on the same date.

At completion, St Barbara will receive a $370 million cash payment from Lingbao.

Commenting on the progress, St Barbara CEO Andrew Strelein said, "The receipt of Lingbao's approval from Chinese and PNG regulators is very positive step and satisfies a key condition precedent in completion of the transactions."

Strelein added:

The parties have been targeting the end of March quarter for completion and St Barbara remains confident the remaining conditions will be met to allow completion on track in the first days of April 2026 and declaring Final Investment Decision on the New Simberi Gold Project.

Energy update

Amid the rising global energy crisis fuelled by the war in Iran, St Barbara also sought to ease investor concerns about its diesel requirements.

The ASX All Ords gold stock revealed it had received various inquiries about Simberi's fuel stocks, given the impact on global diesel supply chains amid the attacks on tankers in the Strait of Hormuz.

The gold miner noted that its Simberi project is "well stocked" with diesel fuel.

Which is a good thing, as the Simberi Operations currently use about 65,000 litres of diesel per day for the mining fleet and power generation.

According to the release:

Current diesel supply stored on Simberi Island is approximately 4.7 million litres (sufficient to cover more than two months' usage), with another 3.5 million litres in allocated storage in country at Lae and Port Moresby storage locations.

Pleasingly, St Barbara noted that the majority of its diesel stockpile was paid for based on average January (pre-conflict) pricing.

The post Up 148% in a year, ASX All Ords gold stock sinking today amid $370 million news appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

St Barbara shares closed yesterday trading for 75.5 cents. In morning trade on Friday, shares are swapping hands for 76.5 cents each, up 1.3%.

This sees the St Barbara share price up a jaw-dropping 194.2% since this time last year, racing ahead of the 8% one-year gains delivered by the benchmark index.

Today, the miner released its half-year results for the six months to 31 December (H1 FY 2026).

Here are the highlights.

ASX All Ords gold stock swings back to profit

The St Barbara share price is marching higher with the company reporting a 32% year-on-year increase in revenue from ordinary activities to $128.8 million.

The ASX All Ords gold stock also notched a big improvement in earnings, with earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) coming in at $8.56 million, up from a loss of $39.8 million in H1 FY 2025.

On the cost front, the miner spent $40.5 million on growth capital, studies, and exploration, up from $23.9 million in H1 FY 2025.

And investors will have noted that the miner has swung to a profit, with underlying profit after tax of $1.3 million, up from a loss of $48.1 million in the prior corresponding half.

St Barbara's statutory loss after tax of $249,000 was also a big improvement from the $48.5 million loss reported a year ago.

The ASX All Ords gold stock's focus remains the development of its New Simberi Gold Project, located in Papua New Guinea, and the development of its 15 Mile Processing Hub Project, located in Canada.

Turning to the balance sheet, St Barbara had cash on hand of $74.8 million as at 31 December.

What did management say?

Commenting on the results that are helping to boost the ASX All Ords gold stock today, St Barbara CEO Andrew Strelein said:

We have delivered a number of project milestones in the first half with the delivery of the Feasibility Study for the New Simberi Gold Project, the Touquoy Restart Pre-Feasibility and, subsequent to the end of the December half year we announced the results of Pre-Feasibility Study for 15-Mile Processing Hub

In December, the company announced combined agreements with Lingbao Gold and the PNG government owned Kumul Minerals enabling the New Simberi Gold Project to progress to FID, with St Barbara to be fully funded for its share of development costs whilst retaining a 40% attributable share in the expanded operation.

St Barbara also updated its Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves Statement this morning.

The ASX All Ords gold stock reported Total Ore Reserves of 3.8 million ounces of contained gold and Total Mineral Resources of 7.9 million ounces of contained silver.

"For the first time at Simberi we have also reported Mineral Resources of 15.3 million ounces of contained silver and Ore Reserves of 4.5 million ounces of contained silver," Strelein said.

The post Up 194% in a year, why is this ASX All Ords gold stock lifting off again on Friday? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

The company's shares were lifted from a trading halt this morning following the announcement. At the time of writing, the St Barbara share price is up 4.05 % to 77 cents, after closing at 74 cents before the halt on Tuesday.

Simberi mining lease extension approved

In an ASX release today, St Barbara confirmed that the Simberi Mining Lease (ML 136) has been formally extended to 2038.

The approval relates to the New Simberi Gold Project and provides long-term certainty over the company's most important operating asset. The extension aligns with the current mine plan and is based on proven and probable ore reserves outlined in the Simberi feasibility study.

This was one of the key issues holding the project back and now allows St Barbara to move ahead with its next phase.

What the approval unlocks

St Barbara has been planning a major expansion at Simberi, including a move into sulphide ore mining. That expansion is expected to significantly lift gold production and extend the mine's life.

According to the company, the mining lease extension was an important requirement for funding and ownership changes linked to the project. With the lease now extended, St Barbara expects to move toward a final investment decision later in FY26.

The company has previously said the expanded Simberi operation could produce more than 200,000 ounces of gold each year. That would mark a significant increase from current production levels.

Strategic partners now move closer

Today's approval also satisfies a key condition tied to previously announced agreements with Lingbao Gold Group and Kumul Minerals Holdings, PNG's state-owned mining entity.

Under those agreements, Lingbao is set to acquire a 50 % interest in St Barbara Mining, while Kumul is expected to take a 20 % stake in the Simberi Gold Project. Both transactions were dependent on the mining lease extension being finalised.

St Barbara said the lease extension allows these transactions to move forward as planned.

What happens next

Alongside the lease update, St Barbara also released its quarterly results, showing Simberi continues to generate cash despite recent operational challenges.

With the lease extension now locked in, investor focus is likely to shift to funding, final approvals, and timing around the project's expansion.

Foolish takeaway

Today's update gives investors clearer visibility on the path ahead, but several milestones still need to fall into place. The next focus will be funding arrangements and progress toward a final investment decision.

Investors are likely to look ahead to the company's half-year results next month for further detail.

The post A major green light sends this ASX gold stock higher today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

The shares were last trading at 74 cents, down about 3.89 % before the halt. Investors appear cautious as they wait for clearer news on developments at the company's Simberi Gold Project in Papua New Guinea (PNG).

According to the ASX notice, trading will resume once the announcement is released, or at the latest by Thursday morning.

A key project back in focus

Simberi is St Barbara's most important operating asset. The open-pit gold mine is located on Simberi Island in Papua New Guinea and has been producing gold for more than a decade.

Over the past two years, St Barbara has been working on plans to significantly expand Simberi by moving into sulphide ore mining. This expansion is designed to lift production, extend the mine's life, and improve long-term cash flow.

However, none of this can move ahead unless St Barbara secures a long-term extension to the Simberi mining lease.

Why the mining lease is so important

The current Simberi mining lease is due to expire later this decade. Without an extension, St Barbara would be unable to justify the large investment needed for the next phase of the mine.

In 2025, Papua New Guinea's Mining Advisory Committee recommended extending the Simberi mining lease out to 2038. That recommendation was an important step forward and aligned with the company's long-term mine plans.

Formal paperwork was later submitted to the PNG Minister for Mining. However, final approval has been delayed due to an unresolved tax reassessment issue with the PNG tax office.

St Barbara has previously told investors it expects the revised tax assessment to be reissued, which would allow the lease approval process to move forward.

What investors are waiting to hear

The trading halt suggests St Barbara is close to an important update. This could involve progress on the mining lease, movement on the tax issue, or another development linked to Simberi's future ownership or funding structure.

The Simberi project has already attracted interest from major partners. Previous disclosures showed plans for PNG's state-owned Kumul Minerals to take a stake in the project, alongside a proposed investment by China's Lingbao Gold Group.

Any confirmation around approvals or ownership would be highly relevant for investors.

Foolish bottom line

St Barbara shares have delivered a strong run over the past year, supported by higher gold prices and renewed optimism around Simberi.

Today's halt highlights how closely St Barbara's outlook is tied to regulatory decisions and project approvals. If the Simberi lease extension is finalised, it could remove a major uncertainty hanging over the stock.

The post Why the St Barbara share price is halted today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.