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

Monash IVF Group Ltd (ASX: MVF)

The Monash IVF share price is down 8% to 70.5 cents. Investors have been selling this fertility treatment company's shares after it rejected a takeover offer from a consortium that includes Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Co Ltd (ASX: SOL). The company's chair, Richard Davis, said: "The Board, in consultation with its advisers, has formed the view that the revised Proposal in its current form undervalues the Company. The Board is supportive of Dr Victoria Atkinson and looks forward to the execution of her strategy to bring stability and growth to Monash IVF." However, Monash IVF revealed that it "remains open to discussions regarding a change of control transaction at a higher valuation."

National Australia Bank Ltd (ASX: NAB)

The NAB share price is down 3% to $41.30. This morning, the banking giant advised that it has reviewed its credit provisioning and capital settings to better reflect the risks in the market caused by the conflict in the Middle East. NAB expects first-half credit impairment charges to be $706 million. This includes "$201 million increase in Forward Looking Adjustments (FLAs) for potential stress which may emerge in sectors more likely to be impacted by fuel supply and cost issues related to the Middle East conflict."

Viva Energy Group Ltd (ASX: VEA)

The Viva Energy share price is down almost 7% to $2.36 after returning from a trading halt. This morning, the fuel retailer released an update on last week's fire at its Geelong refinery. Viva Energy advised that in the near-term, the refinery is expected to run diesel and jet fuel production at around 80% capacity, while petrol output is closer to 60%. The good news is that management expects production to recover to 90% capacity over the coming weeks.

Worley Ltd (ASX: WOR)

The Worley share price is down 3.5% to $11.40. This follows the release of a trading update this morning. The global professional services company revealed that it expects the ongoing Middle East conflict to have a negative impact on its FY 2026 earnings, with underlying EBITA expected to be reduced by between $30 million and $40 million. In light of this, Worley has indicated that it is now unlikely to achieve growth in underlying EBITA in FY 2026.

The post Why Monash IVF, NAB, Viva Energy, and Worley shares are falling today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

In morning trade on Monday, two of the blue-chip stocks are trailing the 0.5% losses posted by the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO), while shares in the third are temporarily halted.

Here's what's catching ASX investor interest.

NAB shares slide on increased risks

NAB shares are taking a hit today.

Shares in the ASX 200 bank stock are down 3.2% at the time of writing, changing hands for $41.17 apiece.

This underperformance follows an operational update from NAB this morning ahead of its half-year (H1 FY 2026) results release, scheduled for 4 May.

NAB shares are under pressure after the bank noted that increased market volatility, fuelled by the conflict in the Middle East, has seen the bank review its credit provisioning and capital settings as at 31 March.

Management said these now better "reflect the risks inherent in our business".

NAB said that sectors including agriculture, transport, and manufacturing are being particularly impacted.

In light of these issues, NAB revealed a $706 million credit impairment charge for H1 2026. The big four Aussie bank also confirmed an accelerated $1.35 billion amortisation charge on its software assets.

Management reaffirmed NAB's full-year FY 2026 cash operating expense growth guidance to be less than 4.6%.

Which brings us to…

NextDC shares halted

NextDC shares aren't moving this morning after the company requested a trading halt prior to the release of the results of an institutional equity raising.

But shares in the ASX 200 data centre operator and developer could get a boost once trading resumes, with the company releasing a strong operational update today.

Among the highlights, the company reported that in the three months to 31 March, its contracted utilisation increased by 60% to 667 megawatts (MW).

And NextDC's forward order book increased by 83% to 544MW.

Management also reaffirmed the company's full-year FY 2026 revenue and underlying earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) guidance.

And finally…

Viva Energy shares sink on refinery fire woes

Atop NextDC and NAB shares, investors are also tuning into Viva Energy shares on Monday.

Shares in the ASX 200 energy stock are down 5.9% in morning trade, changing hands for $2.38 each.

This comes after Viva Energy shares emerged from Thursday's trading halt following the release of an update on last week's fire at its Geelong Refinery. The Geelong Refinery is one of just two refineries remaining in Australia.

Importantly, the company said there were no injuries as a result of the fire.

Viva Energy also revealed that its diesel production will be able to continue to operate at around 80% of capacity, while jet fuel production will operate at around 60% capacity over the short term.

The ASX 200 energy stock said it had enough fuel stocks to ensure a normal supply for its customers. The company aims to return to 90% production capacity levels for both diesel and jet fuel over the coming weeks.

The post Why NextDC, Viva Energy and NAB shares are catching investor interest on Monday appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

The stock was placed on ice before market open on Thursday, with trading resuming today following a fresh update.

Investors have not reacted well. In early morning trade, the Viva share price is down 5.93% to $2.38.

The move follows a strong run into April, with the stock having pushed higher in recent weeks before the halt was called.

Refinery incident forces production reset

The update centres on an incident at the Geelong refinery, where a fire broke out within part of the gasoline production system last week.

Emergency services were called, and all personnel were accounted for. The fire was contained and later extinguished.

The issue occurred in the Alkylation Unit, which sits within the gasoline complex. While other major processing units were not affected, one key unit remains offline as operations stabilise.

That has led to a temporary drop in output.

In the near-term, the refinery is expected to run diesel and jet fuel production at around 80% capacity, while petrol output is closer to 60%.

Management expects production to recover over the coming weeks, with a return to above 90% capacity flagged, subject to inspections and repair timelines.

Supply holding steady despite disruption

Despite the reduction in output, the company has indicated that fuel supply to customers is expected to remain stable.

Existing inventory levels are being used to cover the shortfall, and there has been no change to broader supply flows into the refinery.

Crude sourcing also remains unchanged. The refinery does not rely heavily on Middle Eastern supply, instead drawing from regions including North and South America, South-East Asia, and Australia.

The company said it has firm crude supply in place through to July, with confidence that deliveries will continue without interruption.

Strong margins meet short-term disruption

The timing of the incident comes after a period of strong operating conditions.

In its quarterly update, Viva reported that the Geelong refinery processed around 10.2 million barrels of crude during the March quarter.

Refining margins were also elevated, with the Geelong Refining Margin sitting at US$22 per barrel for the period.

That reflects a supportive regional environment for refined fuel products, which has been a key driver of earnings across the sector.

But momentum now faces a short-term hit, with output expected to stay below normal levels.

Foolish takeaway

While this looks like a near-term operational setback, it does not point to any broader change in the business.

Refinery issues can take longer to resolve than first expected, and the share price is reflecting that quickly.

Personally, I would watch from the sidelines here.

There is still some uncertainty around timing, and the share price has already had a solid run leading into this.

The post Viva shares drop out of halt as refinery disruption raises new questions appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

What did Viva Energy report?

• Fire occurred in the Alkylation Unit of the Geelong Refinery on 15 April 2026
• No injuries to personnel; emergency services responded professionally
• Diesel and jet fuel production to operate at ~80% of capacity; petrol at ~60% short-term
• Sufficient fuel stocks to maintain normal supply for customers
• Assessment of repair costs and financial impact underway, with insurance coverage in place
• Shares to resume trading from 20 April 2026

What else do investors need to know?

The incident was confined to the Alkylation Unit, while major processing units including the crude distillation and reformer units remain unaffected. The Residue Catalytic Cracking Unit (RCCU) is temporarily offline as part of stabilisation efforts.

Viva Energy expects to restore production of diesel, jet fuel, and petrol to over 90% of capacity in the coming weeks, pending plant inspection. An investigation into the cause has commenced, and the company has notified insurers regarding property and business interruption coverage.

What's next for Viva Energy?

Viva Energy plans to restart the RCCU and increase production as soon as plant inspections are complete, aiming to return to over 90% capacity. The company is also committed to a full investigation of the incident and will update investors on damage, repair timelines, and any financial impact.

Despite this setback, Geelong Refinery remains a strategic asset in the company's national fuel network. Viva Energy has reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining operations and reliable supply for its customers.

Viva Energy share price snapshot

Over the past 12 months, Viva Energy shares have risen 60%, outperforming the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) which has risen 14% over the same period.

View Original Announcement

The post Viva Energy Group issues update on Geelong Refinery after fire appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

The Ampol share price climbed as high as $34.85 earlier in the session before easing back to $33.24, where it remains up 0.33% at the time of writing.

Even with that intraday pullback, the stock is still up roughly 61% over the past 12 months, leaving it among the ASX 200's strongest blue-chip performers.

The rally points to rising expectations that Ampol could benefit from stronger refining margins while Geelong remains disrupted.

Here's what investors are watching.

Geelong refinery fire puts the spotlight on Lytton

The main driver is the overnight fire at Viva Energy Group Ltd (ASX: VEA) Geelong refinery in Victoria, which has already pushed its shares into a trading halt.

Recent reports suggest the disruption could last months, with petrol production expected to be affected.

That immediately lifts the focus onto Ampol's Lytton refinery in Brisbane, now the country's only other major operating refinery.

Together, the two refineries account for a significant share of Australia's transport fuel production.

With Geelong expected to run below normal levels, investors are increasingly looking at what that could mean for refining margins at Lytton.

A tighter local fuel market is likely to support Ampol through stronger domestic refining margins and higher demand across its supply network.

A strong run was already underway

Ampol shares had already been trending higher over recent months as refining conditions improved and sentiment across energy stocks strengthened.

The stock's 1-year gain of around 61% shows investors were already warming to the earnings recovery outlook before today's latest catalyst.

The dividend has also remained part of the appeal, with the stock still offering an attractive fully-franked yield based on its most recent payout.

Ampol paid a 60-cent final dividend.

And now, the Geelong disruption gives investors another reason to believe earnings could stay stronger in the near-term.

Foolish Takeaway

I still think Ampol has room to stay well supported while refining conditions remain favourable.

The market is now looking beyond the immediate Geelong outage and more at what a tighter domestic supply could mean for Lytton's margins over the next few months.

The dividend yield also continues to make the stock attractive, especially while earnings momentum across the downstream business is improving.

After a 61% run over 12 months, I would expect gains to become more measured, but the setup still looks supportive if the disruption lasts longer than expected.

The post Why Ampol shares just hit a multi-year high as Australia's fuel squeeze deepens appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Two of the large-cap S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) stocks are outpacing the 0.2% losses posted by the benchmark index in late morning trade on Thursday, while one of the ASX 200 stocks shares have been temporarily frozen.

Here's what's happening.

Viva Energy shares halted following refinery fire

Viva Energy shares are making headlines today following the outbreak of a fire last night at its Geelong refinery in Victoria. The refinery is one of two remaining operational refineries in Australia, and officials expect the incident could push fuel prices even higher across the nation.

Viva Energy shares entered a trading halt before market open today.

The ASX 200 energy stock requested the trading pause pending an announcement regarding the impact of the "significant" fire at its refinery.

CEO Scott Wyatt said that while fuel refining at Geelong would continue, it will initially be "very low relative to what we were doing before".

According to Wyatt (quoted by The Australian Financial Review):

In the days ahead, we will look at how we can continue to operate the refinery without the need to use these two units that have been affected. We have operated in this way before, so we have a high degree of confidence that we can do that.

Paused at Wednesday's closing price of $2.53, Viva Energy shares are up 65% over 12 months, not including dividends.

Which brings us to…

PLS shares eyeing $847 in new funding

PLS – formerly known as Pilbara Minerals – is catching investor interest after announcing a new US$600 million (AU$847 million) debt funding issuance.

Shares in the ASX 200 lithium stock are up 3.7% at time of writing, trading for $5.59 each.

Management said that the initial offer size of the senior unsecured notes was increased by US$100 million from US$500 million. They come due in 2031 at an annual interest rate of 6.88%. PLS expects settlement next week, on 22 April.

The lithium miner intends to use to proceeds to refinance its AU$375 million drawn on revolving credit facility and for general purposes.

The PLS share price is up a blistering 308% in 12 months.

New Hope shares lift on refinancing deal

Atop PLS and Viva Energy shares, New Hope is also making financial headlines today.

Shares in the ASX 200 coal stock ae up 1.9% at $5.49 each after the company announced its own new funding arrangement.

The coal miner reported the launch of $300 million in senior unsecured convertible notes due 2032. New Hope said it will also repurchase of up to 100% of the existing $300 million convertible notes, which are due 2029.

The coupon rate for the new notes is set in the range of 2.38% to 2.88% per year.

"Through this transaction, we are proactively refinancing our 2029 notes at improved terms, extending our debt maturity profile and reducing our financing costs," New Hope chief financial officer Rebecca Rinaldi said.

New Hope shares are up 54% in a year.

The post Why is everyone talking about New Hope, PLS and Viva Energy shares on Thursday? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

The stock last traded at $2.53, having fallen 4.53% on Wednesday before trading was paused ahead of market open.

Even with that decline, the Viva Energy share price remains up 23% in 2026. Roughly 18% of that gain has come over the past month alone as investors rotated back into energy and fuel-exposed names.

That recent momentum makes today's freeze stand out as investors wait for more detail on the operational impact.

Here's what has happened.

Trading halt follows major Geelong refinery incident

In a statement to the ASX, Viva Energy requested an immediate trading halt pending an announcement on the impact of a significant fire at its Geelong refinery.

The halt will remain in place until the earlier of Monday's market open or when the company releases a fuller update.

The overnight blaze broke out in the motor gasoline production unit at the Geelong site, which is one of only two remaining oil refineries in Australia.

News coverage indicates the incident was linked to equipment failure in the petrol production area, with multiple reports of explosions before the fire was contained.

Management said most other refinery units are still operating at minimum rates to maintain site safety, while the affected fuel production systems remain offline pending further assessment.

Why investors will be focused on earnings risk

The Geelong refinery supplies more than 50% of Victoria's fuel needs and around 10% of Australia's total fuel supply. That tells us the incident has both financial and broader market significance.

Early analyst estimates suggest even a short disruption could strip roughly $20 million from earnings. A prolonged outage stretching into months could push the hit closer to $70 million.

The market will also be watching whether petrol production downtime forces higher-cost imports. That could compress refining margins at a time when global fuel supply is already under pressure from Middle East disruptions.

Lost production, higher import costs, and uncertainty around repairs likely explain why the shares were frozen before investors could quickly reprice the stock.

The bigger issue goes beyond the share price

Fuel security now becomes the major sticking point.

Only two domestic refineries are still operating nationally. That means any extended outage at Geelong immediately raises concerns around supply reliability, pricing pressure, and whether the government needs to lean harder on imports.

Viva Energy has already said unaffected units can continue limited operations and management appears confident imported product can help bridge any shortfall.

The next announcement will likely decide whether this remains a short-term sentiment shock or develops into a larger earnings hit.

The post Viva Energy shares frozen as overnight refinery fire puts fuel markets on edge appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

What did Viva Energy report?

• No new financial results have been released in this announcement.
• The company requested a trading halt on the ASX.
• The trading halt is related to the impact of a significant fire at the Geelong Refinery.
• Securities will remain halted until either the pending announcement or the open of trading on Monday, 20 April 2026.

What else do investors need to know?

Viva Energy Group has paused trading in its securities after a serious incident at its Geelong Refinery. The company said it will provide further details regarding the fire and its potential impact in an upcoming announcement.

This move aims to ensure all investors have equal access to material information before trading resumes. Viva Energy said it is not aware of any other information that needs to be disclosed at this time.

What's next for Viva Energy?

Until the company releases its update, trading in Viva Energy shares will remain halted. Investors should watch for the forthcoming announcement for clarity on the extent of the fire's impact and the company's next steps.

Once disclosed, more information may help the market re-assess any operational or financial effects stemming from the incident.

Viva Energy share price snapshot

Over the past 12 months, Viva Energy shares have risen 65%, outperforming the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) which has risen 16% over the same period.

View Original Announcement

The post Viva Energy share price halted pending update on Geelong Refinery fire appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

In mid-afternoon trade, the Viva Energy share price is up 3.19% to $2.59. That is comfortably outperforming the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO), which has opened lower as oil prices jumped following the collapse of US-Iran talks over the weekend.

The gain extends Viva Energy's strong 2026 run, with the stock now up about 26% year to date.

The move appears to reflect both stronger crude prices and a company-specific accounting update. While negative on the surface, the issue looks manageable against the size of the business.

Let's dive right in.

Oil surge gives refiners and fuel retailers a lift

A key driver today is the rebound across ASX energy stocks. That follows brent crude pushing back above US$101 a barrel amid renewed geopolitical tensions in the Middle East.

The move has lifted refiners and downstream fuel businesses, with Viva among the sector's stronger performers in Monday trade.

That makes sense given Viva's exposure across refining, wholesale fuel supply, and its national convenience and fuel retail network.

Higher energy prices, such as natural gas, are also giving the sector an extra lift.

Earlier in the session, Viva was among the ASX 200's better performers, rising about 6.5% before easing back toward its current gain.

ASIC review adds a $25 million impairment hit

Separately, The Australian reported that Viva will take an additional $25 million impairment charge tied to the way some of its petrol station assets were valued.

According to the report, ASIC challenged the company's previous approach of grouping certain convenience retail sites together for impairment testing instead of assessing them individually.

The revised treatment increases Viva's total retail site impairment charge for the 2025 financial year.

With a market capitalisation of roughly $4.25 billion and a network of about 900 stores and 1,300 service stations nationally, the adjustment is unlikely to worry investors too much.

Instead, the market may be treating it as an accounting clean-up rather than anything linked to underlying trading.

Foolish Takeaway

Today's gain in Viva Energy shares appears to be driven more by the oil rebound and stronger sector sentiment than the ASIC charge.

The extra $25 million write-down is not ideal. Even so, investors seem more focused on firmer oil prices and earnings support.

With the shares already up 26% this year, the next key drivers are likely to be oil prices, refining spreads, and fuel demand.

The post Oil is surging and this ASX fuel stock is one of Monday's winners appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

This follows a substantial sell-off for ASX 200 energy shares yesterday.

On Wednesday, the S&P/ASX 200 Energy Index (ASX: XEJ) dropped 7.3% after the US and Iran agreed to a two-week ceasefire.

The rest of the market celebrated the news, with the benchmark S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) finishing the session 2.8% higher.

Today, we've seen a reversal of trends.

ASX 200 energy shares are up 2.4% while the ASX 200 is down 0.05%.

Oil prices have also rebounded today after a sharp fall yesterday.

Brent Crude is currently up 2.7% to US$97.35 per barrel.

Why are ASX 200 energy shares leading the market today?

There is uncertainty in the market as investors wonder how fresh Israeli strikes on Lebanon will impact the ceasefire.

Meanwhile, the Strait of Hormuz remains largely obstructed.

As part of the ceasefire deal, Iran agreed to allow safe passage of shipping through the Strait, coordinated by its armed forces.

On Thursday, Trading Economics analysts said:

Iranian media reported that oil tanker traffic through the strait had been suspended following the attacks, amid disputes between Tehran and the American-Israeli side over whether the truce extends to Lebanon.

A senior Iranian official also stated that three provisions of the ceasefire agreement have already been breached.

Meanwhile, US Vice President JD Vance said there are indications the strait may begin reopening as he leads a US delegation to Islamabad for direct talks with Iran this weekend.

The Strait of Hormuz is not technically closed.

However, shipping companies have chosen not to sail through it for fear of Iranian attacks and a lack of insurance coverage.

About 20% of global crude oil and gas is shipped via the Strait.

The war has triggered the worst oil shock since the 1970s.

ASX 200 energy shares whipsaw on ceasefire tensions

Let's take a look at what's happened with the market's largest ASX 200 energy shares over the past two days.

On Wednesday, the Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS) share price plummeted 10.4% to close at $32.06.

Today, Woodside shares have regained 3.8% to $33.29, at the time of writing.

Yesterday, the Santos Ltd (ASX: STO) share price fell 4.6% to $7.76. Today, Santos shares are 2.5% higher at $7.95.

The Karoon Energy Ltd (ASX: KAR) share price dropped 13.4% to $1.90 on Wednesday.

Today, Karoon Energy shares are $1.98, up 4.3%.

Ampol Ltd (ASX: ALD) shares fell 4.2% yesterday to $32.12, but today they're up 3.6% to $33.26.

The Viva Energy Group Ltd (ASX: VEA) share price tanked 9.1% to $2.42 yesterday.

Today, Viva Energy shares are $2.49 apiece, up 2.7%.

ASX 200 coal share Yancoal Australia Ltd (ASX: YAL) fell 9.8% to $7.49 on Wednesday.

Today, Yancoal shares are in the red again, down 0.1% to $7.48.

The New Hope Corporation Ltd (ASX: NHC) share price dropped 9.6% to $5.30 yesterday.

On Thursday, New Hope shares are slightly higher, up 0.2% to $5.31.

The post ASX 200 energy shares whipsaw amid fragile ceasefire appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

He describes what he calls a "double-sided ceasefire" contingent on Iran opening the Strait of Hormuz to allow oil supplies to flow back through.

The latest update has renewed hopes that the two nations may be moving toward a ceasefire agreement to end the conflict.

The announcement saw the price of WTI crude oil plummet below US$95 per barrel this morning, down from over US$117 per barrel yesterday, according to Trading Economics data.

The prices for Brent oil, gasoline, and heating oil have also dropped significantly.

The latest market shift has acted as a tough headwind for ASX oil and gas or energy shares this morning, with many opening in the red.

These are the stocks to watch today.

Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS)

Woodside shares have crashed 10.7% this morning, to $31.97 a piece. Today's share price drop follows a steep share price rally during the first three months of 2026, which accelerated significantly since the conflict between the US and Iran ramped up in late February. 

Woodside shares spiked to a multi-year high of $34.93 at the close of the ASX on Tuesday, having jumped over 51% since the start of 2026.

Santos Ltd (ASX: STO)

Santos shares have dropped 6% in Wednesday morning trade, after news that a reprieve in global oil restrictions saw investors sell up their shares. The Australian oil and gas exportation and production company's shares are changing hands for $7.60 a piece at the time of writing.

Santos shares spiked to a four-year high of $8.08 at the close of the ASX yesterday afternoon, having jumped 31.5% since the markets opened on the 2nd of January.

Beach Energy Ltd (ASX: BPT)

Beach Energy shares are also suffering in early morning trade. At the time of writing, the Australian oil and gas exploration and production company's shares are down 7.1% to $1.21 a piece.

The shares jumped over 20% in March alone, but after this morning's sell-off, they're trading 0.8% below where they were this time last year.

Ampol Ltd (ASX: ALD)

The Australian petroleum company is the largest transport energy distributor and retailer in Australia, with more than 1,800 Ampol-branded service stations across the country as of June 2025. Unsurprisingly, news that the US and Iran could be reaching a peace deal has resulted in a sharp drop in its share price.

At the time of writing, Ampol shares are down 4.2% to $32.03 each; however, they are still up 13.7% since the war escalated in late February.

Viva Energy Group Ltd (ASX: VEA)

Viva Energy Australia is a listed Australian company that owns the Geelong Oil Refinery and is licensed to retail Shell-branded fuels across Australia under a licence agreement. It also owns and retails fuel through Coles Express, OTR, Reddy Express, Liberty Oil, and Westside Petroleum-branded service stations. 

Like Ampol, its share price is suffering from downward pressure from lower oil prices this morning. At the time of writing, Viva shares have crashed 9.9% to $2.38. Viva shares have soared, however, over the past 5 weeks. Even after this morning's decline, the share price is 34.5% higher than in late February. 

The post ASX shares to watch as oil price crashes appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Not all shares fell with the market. Here are four ASX 200 shares that delivered big returns for investors during March:

Viva Energy Group Ltd (ASX: VEA)

The Viva Energy share price was the best performer on the ASX 200 in March with a 40.4% gain. Investors appear to believe that this fuel retailer will be benefitting from surging fuel prices caused by the war in the Middle East. In addition, last month the Federal Government increased the Geelong Refinery FSSP Margin Marker cap and collar by 3.6 Australian cents per litre (Acpl), which is the equivalent to A$5.70 per barrel. Viva Energy's CEO and managing director, Scott Wyatt, said: "Today's announcement underscores the important role that domestic refining plays in strengthening Australian energy security. Viva Energy is proud to own and operate one of the two refineries that together produce approximately 20% of the country's fuel requirements."

Telix Pharmaceuticals Ltd (ASX: TLX)

The Telix Pharmaceuticals share price wasn't far behind with a 40% gain last month. The radiopharmaceuticals company's shares rebounded strongly after the release of a couple of promising announcements. One was that its ProstACT Global Phase 3 study achieved its primary objectives, demonstrating an acceptable safety and tolerability profile with no new safety signals observed. The other revealed that Telix has resubmitted a New Drug Application (NDA) to the United States Food and Drug Administration for its Pixclara product. It is an investigational PET imaging agent for the characterization of recurrent or progressive glioma (brain cancer) from treatment related changes in both adult and paediatric patients.

Yancoal Australia Ltd (ASX: YAL)

The Yancoal Australia share price was on form and raced 33.9% higher in March. This follows a strong month for coal prices driven by strong demand to counter surging LNG prices and supply uncertainty. For the same reason, the New Hope Corporation Ltd (ASX: NHC) share price was up 23.6% in March and the Whitehaven Coal Ltd (ASX: WHC) share price was up 16.5% during the period.

Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS)

The Woodside Energy share price had a strong month and rose 16%. This was driven by the war in the Middle East, which has driven LNG and oil prices materially higher. In fact, both WTI and Brent crude oil prices ended the month above US$100 a barrel, representing a gain of 50% for the month. Investors appear optimistic that Woodside will be generating significant cash flow, which could support capital returns.

The post These were the best-performing ASX 200 shares in March appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

ASX 200 energy shares have skyrocketed 14% over the past month due to a huge spike in oil and gas prices caused by the conflict in Iran.

The conflict has effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz, through which about 20% of the world's oil and gas supplies are shipped.

Some Middle East oil and gas producers have been forced to cease production as storage tanks fill up and tankers in the Strait sit still.

After Yemen joined the fighting over the weekend, passage of oil and gas via the Red Sea and the Strait of Bab al-Mandeb is also at risk.

The world is grappling with the ensuing oil shock, which has sent Brent Crude 39% higher over 30 days to US$107.70 per barrel today.

Gas prices are also substantially higher. European gas prices are up 24%, UK gas is up 21%, and German gas is up 23% over 30 days.

The thermal coal price is also 12% higher over the month as power plants switch from gas to coal.

In the latest developments, US President Donald Trump threatened to hit Iran's electricity plants, oil facilities, and desalination plants if the Strait of Hormuz is not reopened.

Trading Economics analysts said the threat overshadowed Trump's earlier comments that negotiations with Iran were progressing well.

The analysts said:

Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen also entered the conflict by targeting Israel over the weekend, while Tehran is reportedly urging militant groups to prepare for a renewed campaign to disrupt Red Sea shipping.

Such developments risk further tightening energy flows from the Middle East, as two of the main strategic waterways in the world for trade and energy supplies could potentially be cut off.

With ASX 200 energy shares on fire right now, here are four stocks that the experts rate a buy.

Santos Ltd (ASX: STO) 

The Santos share price is $8.01, down 0.3% today and up 11.4% over the past month.

Last week, UBS commenced coverage with a buy rating on Santos shares.

The broker has a 12-month price target of $8.80 on this ASX 200 energy share.

Karoon Energy Ltd (ASX: KAR)

The Karoon Energy share price is steady on Tuesday at $2.14.

Karoon Energy shares have soared 20.2% over the past month.

Earlier this month, Jarden reiterated its buy rating on this ASX 200 energy share.

The broker lifted its 12-month target from $1.57 to $2.47.

Whitehaven Coal Ltd (ASX: WHC)

The Whitehaven share price is $9.62, down 2.2% today and up 21.2% over the month.

Last week, UBS reiterated its buy rating and lifted its price target on this ASX 200 coal share significantly.

UBS moved its 12-month target from $7.90 to $10.10.

Viva Energy Group Ltd (ASX: VEA)

The Viva Energy share price is $2.59, up 2.4% on Tuesday and up 42% over the past month.

Last week, RBC Capital upgraded this ASX 200 energy share to a buy rating.

The broker also lifted its 12-month price target from $1.90 to $2.50.

The post 4 ASX 200 energy shares rated buys appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Despite several stints in green territory this morning, the ASX 200 ended up closing in the red by the time trading wrapped up this afternoon, dropping 0.1%. That leaves the index at 8,525.7 points.

This miserly day for Australian investors follows a far more optimistic morning on Wall Street.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average Index (DJX: .DJI) was in fine form, rising by 0.66%.

The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC) did even better, gaining a rosy 0.77%.

But time to return to the local markets now and see how today's falls were distributed amongst the different ASX sectors today.

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

At the time of writing, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) has ticked 1.9% higher this week off the back of renewed confidence, but over the month, it's still down 6.7%, and down 2.4% for the year to date.

Despite the decline, there are two more unusual ASX 200 dividend shares that are still making money.

National Storage REIT (ASX: NSR)

National Storage REIT is the largest self-storage provider in Australia and New Zealand. It's unique because it is the only ASX-listed entity focused purely on storage. 

The majority of its 230-plus self-owned storage facilities are mostly located on city fringes, suburban, and regional areas. They are owned and operated, but they also have long-term leaseholds.

The company offers self-storage, business storage, climate-controlled wine storage, vehicle storage, and other value-added services such as vehicle and trailer hire, packaging, and insurance.

As a storage business, the company is generally resilient to market pressures. Its share price has remained stable over the past month, unlike many other companies in the ASX 200 Index. At the time of writing, the shares are changing hands at $2.78 each. That's a 0.2% increase over the past month, a 1.46% increase for the year to date, and a 25.8% hike from the share price this time last year.

The ASX company has a history of paying reliable half-year dividends to its investors, too. Its most recent interim dividend, paid in February, paid investors 6 cents per share, fully franked. At the time of writing, this translates to a trailing dividend yield of 4.2%.

Viva Energy Group Ltd (ASX: VEA)

Viva Energy Group is Australia's second-largest vertically integrated refined transport fuel supplier. The company makes, imports, blends, and delivers about one quarter of Australia's fuel requirements. It also supplies lubricants, solvents, and bitumen. 

The ASX stock is unusual because, as a fuel refiner and retailer, it has exposure to both the infrastructure and energy sectors.

Recent fuel supply pressures have created a strong tailwind for the business, and its share price has soared higher. At the time of writing, the shares are changing hands at $2.36. That's a huge 35.6% uplift over the past month alone. The share price has also risen 13.4% over the year to date and 33.2% from this time last year.

Viva Energy has paid half-yearly dividends to its shareholders since 2022. The company is due to pay its investors a final dividend of 3.94 cents per share, fully franked, next week. For the full year, the company has paid a total dividend of 6.77 cents per share, which equates to a dividend yield of around 2.9% at the time of writing. 

The post As the ASX indexes sink, these unique dividend shares are making investors money appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

The S&P/ASX 200 Energy Index (ASX: XEJ) is down 2.5% while the broader S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is up 1.75%.

Oil and gas prices are easing across the board today after the United States said it was continuing discussions with Iran to end the war.

Israeli media indicated that the US had proposed a one-month ceasefire to facilitate ongoing discussions for a diplomatic resolution.

The New York Times reported that the US had sent Iran a 15-point proposal via Pakistan, which had offered to act as an intermediary.

Trading Economics analysts commented:

These developments outweighed concerns over further Middle East escalation after President Donald Trump ordered the deployment of roughly 2,000 troops to the region, as the administration considered options to loosen Iran's control over the Strait of Hormuz.

The 2,000 troops are from the US Army's 82nd Airborne Division.

Iran continues to deny it has even engaged in negotiations with the US, and the Strait of Hormuz remains effectively shut.

This is disrupting 20% of the world's oil and gas supplies, which has led to rising fuel prices and some shortages.

In Australia, petrol prices are as high as 247.9 cents per litre in Sydney.

Scores of service stations across the nation have run out of either petrol or diesel, or both.

Nine of the top 10 fastest fallers on the ASX 200 today are energy shares.

Let's take a look.

ASX 200 energy shares slip on Wednesday

The worst-hit ASX 200 energy share today is Karoon Energy Ltd (ASX: KAR), down 6.7% to $1.92.

The market's biggest ASX 200 oil share, Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS), is down 3.5% to $33.50 per share.

The Santos Ltd (ASX: STO) share price is down 2.4% to $7.66.

Ampol Ltd (ASX: ALD) shares are down 2.8% to $32.88.

The Viva Energy Group Ltd (ASX: VEA) share price is down 2.5% to $2.39.

Beach Energy Ltd (ASX: BPT) shares are 5.1% lower at $1.25.

ASX 200 coal shares are also lower today.

The Yancoal Australia Ltd (ASX: YAL) share price is 5.3% lower at $7.86.

The Whitehaven Ltd (ASX: WHC) share price is down 4.6% to $8.89.

The New Hope Corporation Ltd (ASX: NHC) share price is $5.59, down 4.3%.

Why is the rest of the market rising?

The ASX 200 is rising strongly on hopes that the war in Iran will end soon, as well as new inflation data that surprised on the downside.

The Australian Bureau of Statistics reported that the Consumer Price Index (CPI) lifted 3.7% in the 12 months to February.

That's down 0.1% from the 12 months to January.

Markets were expecting 3.8% for February, so the data was a pleasant surprise for investors.

However, inflation remains well outside the Reserve Bank's target range of 2% to 3%, with its ultimate goal being to reach the mid-point.

Housing costs, which incorporate electricity prices, new homes, and rents, rose the most at 7.2% over the 12 months.

Electricity prices alone rose 37% over the period.

The post Why are ASX 200 energy shares tumbling today? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

According to Trading Economics, WTI crude is trading around US$89.70 per barrel, down about 8.7% on the session. Brent crude is near US$100.60 per barrel, after falling roughly 10.3%.

This follows a pullback in prices after recent gains linked to supply disruptions across the Middle East.

Shift in expectations weighs on prices

Recent reports indicate that the United States has paused planned strikes on Iranian energy infrastructure for five days following high-level discussions.

Markets seem to have interpreted this as a possible step toward easing tensions.

Earlier, oil prices surged as tensions between the US and Iran raised fears about supply routes, particularly through the Strait of Hormuz. This chokepoint handles roughly 20% of global oil flows.

With the immediate risk of disruption appearing lower, traders appear to have adjusted their expectations, leading to a decline in prices.

Volatility remains elevated

Despite the recent pullback, oil remains higher on a longer-term basis.

Brent crude is up around 38% since the start of the US-Israel conflict involving Iran. Prices briefly moved above US$110 per barrel, up from around US$70 before the conflict.

Recent trading also highlights how quickly prices are moving. Brent has recorded large swings within a single session as markets reacted to escalating updates.

These moves have been driven by changing expectations around supply risk.

ASX energy stocks move lower

The drop in oil prices weighed on local energy stocks in early trading today.

Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS) shares were down about 3.5% in early trading to $33.56. The stock remains roughly 20% higher over the past month.

Santos Ltd (ASX: STO) shares also declined, falling around 3% to $7.82. The company's shares are still up about 14% over the same period.

Ampol Ltd (ASX: ALD) shares were down about 0.8% to $33.19. In contrast, Viva Energy Group Ltd (ASX: VEA) shares rose approximately 2.3% to $2.43.

Coal stocks also moved lower, with Whitehaven Coal Ltd (ASX: WHC) down about 2% and New Hope Corporation Ltd (ASX: NHC) slipping around 1%.

Foolish takeaway

Oil prices have fallen as immediate supply concerns have eased, though they remain above pre-conflict levels.

While there have been no confirmed disruptions to production or shipping, recent price movements have been driven by changes in expectations.

Moves across ASX energy stocks seem to have followed these changes in oil prices, rather than any new specific updates from the companies themselves.

The post Oil slides below US$100 as tensions shift, ASX energy stocks pull back appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Fear and uncertainty weighed on the broader market, with the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) falling 2.19% to 8,428.4 points.

Energy shares have gained 16.21% while the ASX 200 has fallen 8.37% since Israel and the US attacked Iran on 28 February (US time).

Last week, the Reserve Bank of Australia lifted interest rates for a second time this year, mainly due to inflation trending higher.

However, the war and rising petrol prices were clearly a concern for the RBA board, which said:

… the conflict in the Middle East has resulted in sharply higher fuel prices, which, if sustained, will add to inflation.

Short-term measures of inflation expectations have already risen.

As a result, the Board judged that there is a material risk that inflation will remain above target for longer than previously anticipated.

The ASX 200 was volatile all week, while Brent crude ripped to almost US$120 per barrel after Israel and Iran bombed energy assets.

Over the past 30 days, the Brent crude oil price has skyrocketed 50% while US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) has risen 42%.

On Friday, Trading Economics analysts said:

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel would refrain from additional attacks on Iranian energy facilities and that the war could end sooner than expected, noting Iran's reduced capacity to enrich uranium or produce ballistic missiles.

Despite the pullback, Brent futures remain up almost 50% since the start of the conflict, as the disruption has effectively shut the Strait of Hormuz and forced major regional producers to sharply curb output.

Seven of the 11 market sectors finished the week in the red.

Let's review.

Energy shares rip 6% as war drags on

Several of the largest ASX 200 energy shares hit new multi-year highs last week.

The Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS) share price reached a two-and-a-half-year high of $34.31 on Friday.

Woodside shares rose 9.66% over the week to finish at $34.04.

The Santos Ltd (ASX: STO) share price hit a 52-week high of $8.19 on Friday.

Over the week, Santos shares lifted 5.98% to close at $7.98 apiece.

The Ampol Ltd (ASX: ALD) share price ascended to an 18-month high of $34.29 on Friday.

Ampol shares increased 7.33% over the week to close at $33.11.

The Viva Energy Group Ltd (ASX: VEA) share price rose to a 52-week high of $2.64 on Friday.

Viva Energy shares ripped 10.28% over the week to close at $2.36 apiece.

ASX 200 coal shares also rose again last week, as disrupted gas supplies forced power plants to start using coal.

The thermal coal price has risen 25% over 30 days.

The thermal coal price was US$145.20 per tonne on Friday, its highest level since November 2024.

The Yancoal Australia Ltd (ASX: YAL) share price rose 3% to end the week at $8.31, a new 52-week high.

The New Hope Corporation Ltd (ASX: NHC) share price lifted 6.73% to $5.71, after reaching a 52-week peak of $5.79 on Friday.

ASX 200 market sector snapshot

Here's how the 11 market sectors stacked up last week, according to CommSec data.

Over the five trading days:

The post ASX 200 energy shares lead the market for a third week appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

It's a diversified list of top performers on my list for the week. One is a major energy supplier; one is a leading healthcare stock; and the third is a global metals and electronics recycler.

Here's why they've been charging higher this week despite the broader market retrace.

ASX 200 stocks leaping higher this week

First up we have Sims Ltd (ASX: SGM).

Shares in the metals and electronics recycler closed last Friday trading for $18.36. At time of writing, shares are changing hands for $20.65. That sees this ASX 200 stock up 12.4% for the week.

Sims shares got a big boost on Wednesday after the company reported a positive FY 2026 trading update.

Noting continued price strength in both the non-ferrous and memory chip markets, Sims forecast full year underlying earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) to be between $350 million and $400 million.

Sims also reassured investors that the impact on its performance from the Middle East conflict to date remains relatively limited outside of shipping and fuel costs.

Moving on to the second ASX 200 stock racing higher in this week's falling market, we have Viva Energy Group Ltd (ASX: VEA).

Shares in the oil refiner and fuel supplier closed last week trading for $2.14 and are currently changing hands for $2.42 each. This puts the Viva Energy share price up 13.3% for the week.

The stock has been a clear beneficiary of surging global oil and gas prices, with shares now up more than 37% over the past months.

Viva Energy also caught investor interest today following news of renewed Federal government support for domestic oil refining as the war in Iran threatens imports.

The government's Fuel Security Services Payment (FSSP) provides financial support for Australia's two remaining refineries when regional refining margins fall below long-term breakeven costs.

Viva Energy owns and operates the Geelong Refinery in Victoria.

Which brings us to…

Leading the charge

The top performing ASX 200 stock on my list for today is Telix Pharmaceuticals Ltd (ASX: TLX).

Shares in the diagnostic and therapeutic product developer closed last Friday at $11.29. Shares are currently trading for $12.99 each. This sees the Telix share price up an impressive 14.7% in this week's slumping market.

Telix shares look to have gotten a delayed boost throughout the week from Monday's announcement that it had resubmitted a New Drug Application to the US Food and Drug Administration for its brain cancer imaging product TLX101-Px (Pixclara).

The resubmission included additional data requested by the FDA.

"Our resubmission is supported by an extensive and compelling data set – particularly so for an orphan indication," Telix chief medical officer David Cade said.

The post 3 ASX 200 stocks screaming higher in this week's sinking market appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Viva Energy shares closed yesterday trading for $2.43. In earlier trade, shares leapt to $2.64 each, up 8.6%. After likely profit-taking and perhaps affected by the latest fast-moving oil market forecasts, in later morning trade shares are changing hands at $2.45 apiece, up 0.8%.

For some context, the ASX 200 is down 0.4% at this same time.

With today's intraday gain factored in, the ASX 200 energy share is up an impressive 38.4% since this time last month, fuelled by surging global oil and gas prices.

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

ASX 200 energy share gains on government refining support

The Viva Energy share price is catching tailwinds today following renewed Federal government support for domestic refining.

Amid major global energy market disruptions driven by the war in Iran, the government has increased the Fuel Security Services Payment (FSSP) Margin Marker collar by 3.6 cents per litre, raising it from the previous 6.4 cents per litre to 10 cents per litre.

The ASX 200 energy share welcomed what it called "critical support for domestic oil refining" through to the end of the decade.

Established in 2021, the FSSP provides financial support for Australia's two remaining refineries when regional refining margins fall below long-term cash breakeven costs.

Viva noted that since then, the cost of operating refineries in Australia has increased "significantly".

The ASX 200 energy share said the increased FSSP better reflects the current cash operating costs of its Geelong Refinery,

In 2025, Viva Energy completed its upgrade of the Geelong Refinery to produce low sulphur petrol. And in 2024, the company constructed 90 million litres of additional diesel storage. In total, Viva Energy invested around $500 million in these projects.

What did management say?

Commenting on the improved FSSP terms helping boost the ASX 200 energy share today, Viva Energy CEO and managing director Scott Wyatt said, "Today's announcement underscores the important role that domestic refining plays in strengthening Australian energy security."

Wyatt added:

Viva Energy is proud to own and operate one of the two refineries, that together produce approximately 20% of the country's fuel requirements. Viva Energy's refinery at Geelong produces approximately 50% of Victorian fuel requirements and holds a significant proportion of the country's oil and fuel reserves.

We welcome the Federal government's continued support for domestic refining.

The post Up 38% in a month, ASX 200 energy share lifting off again Friday on big oil refining news appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.