This rather indecisive session for the Australian markets came after an even nastier end to the American trading week on Friday night (our time).

The Dow Jones Industrial Average Index (DJX: .DJI) had another tough session, dropping 0.77%.

The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC) fared even worse, falling a horrid 1.4%.

But let's get back to this week and our local markets, and take a closer look at what was happening across the different ASX sectors today.

Winners and losers

Tech shares were the sector that was singled out for punishment this Monday. The S&P/ASX 200 Information Technology Index (ASX: XIJ) was slammed, tumbling 1.54%.

Utilities stocks fared better, but the S&P/ASX 200 Utilities Index (ASX: XUJ) still tanked by 0.63%.

Healthcare shares were in a similar boat. The S&P/ASX 200 Healthcare Index (ASX: XHJ) saw its value dive 0.49% today.

Mining stocks weren't popular either, evident by the S&P/ASX 200 Materials Index (ASX: XMJ)'s 0.34% dip.

Gold stocks were also no safe haven. The All Ordinaries Gold Index (ASX: XGD) ended up sinking 0.23%.

Real estate investment trusts (REITs) followed right behind gold, with the S&P/ASX 200 A-REIT Index (ASX: XPJ) dipping 0.17%.

Our last losers this Monday were financial stocks. The S&P/ASX 200 Financials Index (ASX: XFJ) slipped 0.07% by the closing bell.

Let's turn to the winning sectors now. Leading the charge were energy stocks, illustrated by the S&P/ASX 200 Energy Index (ASX: XEJ)'s 1.8% surge.

Consumer staples stocks also ran hot. The S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Staples Index (ASX: XSJ) roared 0.43% higher this session.

Communications shares saw high demand too, with the S&P/ASX 200 Communication Services Index (ASX: XTJ) lifting 0.39%.

Industrial stocks came next. The S&P/ASX 200 Industrials Index (ASX: XNJ) advanced 0.16% today.

Finally, consumer discretionary shares got themselves over the line, as you can see by the S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Discretionary Index (ASX: XDJ)'s 0.11% bump.

Top 10 ASX 200 shares countdown

Today's winner was healthcare share 4DMedical Ltd (ASX: 4DX). 4DMedical shares soared 7.19% higher this session to close at $3.43 each. This may have been a reaction to last week's announcement.

Here's the rest of today's best: 

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

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

However, the ASX 200 staged a late comeback and only just managed to finish in the green, gaining 0.028% for the day and finishing at 8,808.5 points.

This shaky start to the trading week for the Australian markets came after a happy finish to the American trading week on Friday night (our time).

The Dow Jones Industrial Average Index (DJX: .DJI) fared decently, rising 0.29%.

In a rare event, the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC) also gained 0.29%.

But let's return to this week and the local markets to see how the various ASX sectors performed this session.

Winners and losers

At the front of today's red sectors were tech stocks. The S&P/ASX 200 Information Technology Index (ASX: XIJ) was hit hard, plunging 2.48%.

Gold stocks were also hit hard, with the All Ordinaries Gold Index (ASX: XGD) cratering 1.89%.

Utilities shares were unpopular, too. The S&P/ASX 200 Utilities Index (ASX: XUJ) saw its value tank 1.63% today.

Consumer staples stocks were no safe haven either, as you can see by the S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Staples Index (ASX: XSJ)'s 0.91% slump.

Mining shares didn't hold water. The S&P/ASX 200 Materials Index (ASX: XMJ) sank 0.65% this Monday.

Nor did healthcare stocks, with the S&P/ASX 200 Healthcare Index (ASX: XHJ) dropping 0.61%.

Industrial stocks were our final losers today. The S&P/ASX 200 Industrials Index (ASX: XNJ) slid 0.17% down.

Let's turn to the winners now. Leading the push higher were communications stocks, evidenced by the S&P/ASX 200 Communication Services Index (ASX: XTJ)'s 0.89% surge.

Consumer discretionary shares proved popular as well. The S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Discretionary Index (ASX: XDJ) jumped 0.86% today.

We could say something similar for financial stocks, with the S&P/ASX 200 Financials Index (ASX: XFJ) advancing 0.67%.

Energy shares also ran relatively hot. The S&P/ASX 200 Energy Index (ASX: XEJ) put on an additional 0.66% this Monday.

Finally, real estate investment trusts (REITs) only just got over the line, illustrated by the S&P/ASX 200 A-REIT Index (ASX: XPJ)'s 0.04% inch higher.

Top 10 ASX 200 shares countdown

Biotech company Mesoblast Ltd (ASX: MSB) was the best share on the index. Mesoblast stock leapt 4.91% higher this Monday to close at $2.35. This was potentially a reaction to a bullish broker note, which we covered this morning.

Here's the rest of today's best: 

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

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

The US hit Iran following its attacks on vessels in the key global oil and gas shipping channel, the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran launched retaliatory strikes on US bases across the region.

The new strikes created uncertainty in global markets, with the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) falling 0.43% to 8,806 points last week.

Energy shares followed oil and gas prices higher.

The Brent crude oil price increased 5.7% over the week to US$76.01 per barrel on Friday.

The US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) oil price lifted 4.6% to US$71.89 per barrel.

US heating oil rose 8.3% over the week.

UK gas prices rose 13%, German gas lifted 11.8%, and European gas increased 8.7%.

On Friday, Trading Economics analysts said:

Shipping traffic through Hormuz slowed sharply this week, with markets closely monitoring whether transit activity will normalize.

The strategic waterway continues to be a key sticking point in ongoing US-Iran negotiations.

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

Let's review.

Energy shares rise as US-Iran attacks resume

The Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS) share price rose 4.23% over the week to $29.05 on Friday.

The Santos Ltd (ASX: STO) share price lifted 7.32% to $7.62.

The Ampol Ltd (ASX: ALD) share price rose 4.13% to $35.28.

The Viva Energy Group Ltd (ASX: VEA) share price ascended 5.14% to $2.25 at Friday's close.

The Karoon Energy Ltd (ASX: KAR) share price finished 1.07% higher at $1.42.

Beach Energy Ltd (ASX: BPT) shares lifted 4.17% to 88 cents apiece.

The ASX 200's largest uranium share, Paladin Energy Ltd (ASX: PDN), rose 0.8% to $10.06 on Friday.

The Boss Energy Ltd (ASX: BOE) share price rose 6.3% to $1.35.

The Deep Yellow Ltd (ASX: DYL) share price fell 2.36% to $1.45.

The market's largest ASX 200 coal share, Yancoal Australia Ltd (ASX: YAL) fell 2.16% to $5.44.

The Whitehaven Ltd (ASX: WHC) share price lost 2.24% to finish the week at $7.42.

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 rebound after US-Iran peace deal falls apart appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

This tough hump day for ASX investors followed a similarly bearish session on the American markets.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average Index (DJX: .DJI) did start well, but quickly lost all momentum to finish down 0.25%.

The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC) was more decisive, dropping 1.16%.

But let's get back to the Australian bourse now and dive a little deeper into what was happening amongst the different ASX sectors today.

Winners and losers

Despite the market's loss, we still had a few corners of the market that managed to prosper today.

But first, it was again gold shares that copped it hardest. The All Ordinaries Gold Index (ASX: XGD) had another bruising session, cratering by 2.36%.

Communications stocks were hit hard as well, with the S&P/ASX 200 Communication Services Index (ASX: XTJ) plunging 2.1%.

Mining shares were also on the nose. The S&P/ASX 200 Materials Index (ASX: XMJ) took a 2% dive this Wednesday.

Tech stocks were in the firing line too, as you can see by the S&P/ASX 200 Information Technology Index (ASX: XIJ)'s 1.87% tumble.

Industrial shares came next. The S&P/ASX 200 Industrials Index (ASX: XNJ) saw its value cut by 0.52%.

Healthcare stocks were our last losers, with the S&P/ASX 200 Healthcare Index (ASX: XHJ) sliding down 0.32%.

Turning to the green sectors, it was energy shares that topped the tables. The S&P/ASX 200 Energy Index (ASX: XEJ) vaulted 3.25% higher this hump day.

Utilities stocks also had a day to remember, evidenced by the S&P/ASX 200 Utilities Index (ASX: XUJ)'s 1.22% spike.

Consumer staples shares proved to be a safe haven, too. The S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Staples Index (ASX: XSJ) surged up 1.04% this session.

Financial stocks attracted attention as well, with the S&P/ASX 200 Financials Index (ASX: XFJ) leaping up 0.65%.

Next came real estate investment trusts (REITs). The S&P/ASX 200 A-REIT Index (ASX: XPJ) advanced 0.52% today.

Finally, consumer discretionary shares stayed out of trouble, illustrated by the S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Discretionary Index (ASX: XDJ)'s 0.4% jump.

Top 10 ASX 200 shares countdown

This Wednesday's winning stock was energy share Karoon Energy Ltd (ASX: KAR). Karoon shares roared 6.64% higher this session to finish at $1.45 each. There wasn't any news out from the company today, but most energy shares did very well.

Here's how the other top stocks tied up at the dock: 

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

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

At the time of writing, the Viva Energy share price is down 2.82% to $2.07. By comparison, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is 0.1% to 8,811 points.

When zooming out, the ASX energy stock has fallen 10% over the past month but remains up about 1% since the start of 2026.

Here's what the company told the market today.

What did Viva Energy announce?

In a statement to the ASX, Viva Energy said work to restart the Residue Catalytic Cracking Unit at its Geelong Refinery has been completed.

The unit, known as the RCCU, was damaged by a fire at the refinery on 15 April.

Viva Energy said the RCCU and related units are returning to operation this week. This is expected to lift the refinery back to more than 90% of normal capacity.

However, the update wasn't all good news.

The company said another part of the refinery, the Alkylation unit, will stay offline while it decides whether to repair or replace it.

This means the refinery will have less ability to turn LPG into petrol. Even so, Viva Energy still expects the Geelong Refinery to operate at more than 90% of normal capacity through 2027.

Why is the Viva Energy share price down?

While the refinery restart is positive, the market may still have some concerns about the update.

The Alkylation unit helps convert LPG produced during refining into gasoline, so having it offline will limit some flexibility at the refinery.

While production is expected to return to more than 90% of normal capacity, one part of the refinery could still be out of action for a long time.

Viva Energy also said it is still investigating the cause of the incident and working with insurers on property damage and business interruption claims.

Early findings suggest the fire was caused by the failure of a section of piping within the Alkylation unit, which released fuel that later ignited.

Refining margins remain strong

One part of the update that may interest shareholders is the refining margin.

Viva Energy said its Geelong Refining Margin was US$23.90 a barrel for April and May. This was based on refining intake of 6.5 million barrels.

The company said the result was helped by strong market conditions and lower fuel oil production after the incident.

Nonetheless, the extended Alkylation outage means there is still some uncertainty around how the plant performs from here.

The post This ASX energy stock is sliding despite a major refinery restart appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

What did Viva Energy Group report?

• Restart of the Residue Catalytic Cracking Unit (RCCU) at Geelong Refinery, restoring production to over 90% of normal capacity
• Geelong Refining Margin (GRM) averaged US$23.9 per barrel for April and May 2026
• Refining intake reached 6.5 million barrels over the two-month period
• Alkylation unit remains offline, impacting gasoline production from LPG by-product
• Assessment of Alkylation unit repair or replacement options is underway

What else do investors need to know?

Viva Energy's swift action means most refining operations are now back online, significantly boosting capacity after April's incident. However, the Alkylation unit, which helps turn LPG into gasoline, will remain offline through 2027; the company is currently assessing its options to either repair or replace this equipment.

The incident has also prompted a detailed investigation, with early findings pointing to a failure in the Alkylation unit's piping as the cause. Insurance discussions for property damage and business interruption are ongoing, helping to manage financial impacts.

What's next for Viva Energy Group?

Viva Energy is prioritising the repair or replacement of the Alkylation unit, but expects Geelong Refinery will operate at slightly reduced capacity into 2027. The restart of the RCCU should help the company improve refining margins and product yields as it returns to normal operations.

The company will continue its investigation into the incident's cause and work closely with insurers as part of its recovery plan.

Viva Energy Group share price snapshot

Over the past 12 months, Viva Energy shares have declined 1%, trailing the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) which has risen 4% over the same period.

View Original Announcement

The post Viva Energy Group: Geelong Refinery nears full capacity after fire appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude also reached a four-year high of US$113 per barrel during the conflict.

Oil prices skyrocketed due to the effective shutdown of the Strait of Hormuz, which carries 20% of the world's oil and gas supply.

Today, all those oil price gains are gone.

Oil prices are back to pre-war levels, and ASX 200 energy shares are down sharply this week as a result.

What's the oil price today?

The Brent crude oil price is US$79.50 per barrel, and WTI is US$76.40 per barrel at the time of writing.

Brent Crude is down 9% for the week and down 24% over the month. WTI has fallen 10% this week and 22% over the month.

Oil prices began a rapid retreat in recent weeks after US President Donald Trump talked up an impending deal with Iran.

News of a US-Iran interim peace agreement earlier this week saw a final cascade in oil prices back to February levels.

The deal incorporates a 60-day ceasefire, the end of the US blockade of Iranian ports, and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.

Trading Economics analysts said the supply disruption caused by the 16-week war was the biggest on record.

Today, tankers are slowly moving out of the Strait of Hormuz.

The analysts said:

Tankers carrying previously stranded crude began exiting the waterway on Thursday, and Kuwait said it would begin increasing production.

As a result, oil prices have erased nearly all the gains recorded since the Middle East conflict began in late February.

While oil prices have slumped, many economists say we have yet to see the full inflationary impact of the supply shock.

In Australia, higher oil prices have contributed to three interest rate rises already this year.

What's happening with ASX 200 energy shares on Friday?

ASX 200 energy shares are in the red on Friday, with the S&P/ASX 200 Energy Index (ASX: XEJ) down 0.9%.

By comparison, the benchmark S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is down 1%.

The Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS) share price is up 0.1% to $28.66 today, but down 7.2% over the week.

The Santos Ltd (ASX: STO) share price is 1.5% lower at $7.23, and has fallen 8.9% over five days.

The Ampol Ltd (ASX: ALD) share price is 1.4% lower at $32.88, and is 8.1% lower over the week.

The Viva Energy Group Ltd (ASX: VEA) share price is down 0.5% to $2.14, and down 1.8% over five days.

Karoon Energy Ltd (ASX: KAR) shares are 2.3% lower at $1.41, and down 25.7% this week after production downgrades.

The Beach Energy Ltd (ASX: BPT) share price is 2.5% lower at 97 cents, and down 9.8% over five days.

The post Oil prices slump to pre-war levels as supply-risk premium evaporates appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

I've had a look through the research reports issued by Macquarie over the past week and filtered out a handful which the analyst team thinks will outperform over the next year.

Let's see who they like.

Megaport Ltd (ASX: MP1)

This company is in the midst of a major capital raise under which it is looking to raise $827 million, including $309 million from existing shareholders.

Despite the raise being conducted at $14.30 per share, Megaport shares have held up well and are currently changing hands for $18.88.

This can be explained by the fact that the company also announced some major contract wins at the same time as it announced the capital raise.

The new contracts were worth about $458.9 million and would require $369.5 million in infrastructure spending, "primarily for high-performance NVIDIA GPUs, network, and storage infrastructure".

Macquarie said Megaport provides AI exposure for investors with shorter lead times and less capital expenditure than data centre operators.

Macquarie has a price target of $27.80 on Megaport shares.

Viva Energy Ltd (ASX: VEA)

This company had a setback with a fire at its Geelong refinery in April, but Macquarie expects that repairs should be nearing completion.

Macquarie says Viva could deliver its best refining half in four years, even taking into account the fire impact.

A new head of the convenience division is also set to start soon, to help drive growth in what has been a "troubled" part of the business.

Macquarie has a $3.40 price target on Viva shares compared to $2.24 currently.

Fineos Corporation Ltd (ASX: FCL)

This company develops software for use by the global health insurance sector and has had recent contract wins in Australia and overseas.

The company recently reaffirmed revenue guidance in the range of €147m to €152m, and its closing cash balance at the end of March was €47.1m, up by €11.7m over the quarter.

Macquarie said the company was trading at a discount to one of its peers, GWRE, and its "medium-term revenue mix targets imply an acceleration in revenue vs Macquarie forecasts''.

Macquarie has a price target of $3.50 on Fineos shares compared to $2.15 currently.

 Ebos Group Ltd (ASX: EBO)

Ebos Group shares are down almost 50% over the past 12 months; however, the Macquarie team believes the company is well-placed for share price gains.

The company is also paying a dividend yield of 5.9% this year, with that figure expected to increase to 6.9% in 2028.

EBOS in April downgraded its FY26 underlying EBITDA guidance to $610 to $620 million, down from a previous range of $615 to $635 million, due to higher fuel and energy costs.

Macquarie said on the positive side of the ledger, a new First Pharmaceutical Wholesaler Agreement has been struck with the Federal Government, which will benefit EBOS' Symbion division.

Macquarie has a price target of NZ$36.44 on the stock compared with NZ$20.66 at the time of writing.

The post 4 ASX shares Macquarie says could return more than 40% appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

After recording losses at the start of the week, investors seemed to find their sense of optimism today, with the ASX 200 staying in green territory all session, and closing 0.7% higher. That leaves the index at 8,785.7 points.

This turn of fortunes for Australian investors followed an upbeat night over on Wall Street.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average Index (DJX: .DJI) recovered from an early slump to finish 0.45% higher.

Meanwhile, the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC) only just managed to get over the line, gaining just 0.026%.

But let's get back to the local markets now and dive a little deeper into what was happening amongst the various ASX sectors this hump day.

Winners and losers

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

After ending what was a pretty sad week on a sour note last Friday, investors seemed to come back from the weekend with even colder feet. After opening with a significant drop, the ASX 200 ended the trading day with a nasty 1.45% fall. That leaves the index at just 8,505.3 points.

This horrid start to the Australian trading week follows a similarly pessimistic end to the American week on Friday night (our time).

The Dow Jones Industrial Average Index (DJX: .DJI) was in a bit of a panic, finishing down 1.07%.

The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC) fared even worse, dropping 1.54%.

But let's get back to this week and the local markets now, with a deeper dive into what was happening amongst the various ASX sectors today.

Winners and losers

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

Meanwhile, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) fell 1.3% to finish the week at 8,630.8 points.

The market turned pessimistic after changes to investment taxes were announced in the Federal Budget on Tuesday.

The changes contributed to the largest one-day fall in history for Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA) shares on Wednesday.

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

Let's review.

What happened with ASX 200 energy shares last week?

The Brent Crude oil price shot 5.5% higher to US$107 per barrel last week as negotiations to end the Iran war stalled.

The Strait of Hormuz, through which about 20% of the world's gas and oil supply is shipped, remained effectively shut down.

On Friday, Trading Economics analysts said:

The key shipping route remains under a dual blockade that has emerged as a central obstacle in negotiations, with President Donald Trump saying the current ceasefire was on "massive life support" after dismissing Tehran's latest response to his peace proposal.

Meanwhile, the IEA reported that crude and fuel flows through the Strait of Hormuz dropped by around 4 million barrels per day in March and April, warning that the global oil market could stay materially undersupplied through October even if the conflict is resolved next month.

Meanwhile on the market, the Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS) share price rose 3.99% to close at $31.25 on Friday.

The Santos Ltd (ASX: STO) share price lifted 4.79% to $7.88.

The Ampol Ltd (ASX: ALD) share price rose 2.49% to $35.05.

The Viva Energy Group Ltd (ASX: VEA) share price lifted 2.7% to $2.28.

Karoon Energy Ltd (ASX: KAR) shares ascended 6.63% to close the week at $2.09.

Beach Energy Ltd (ASX: BPT) shares swung 2.31% higher to $1.11 apiece.

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 rise as global oil shock drags on appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

That leaves the index at 8,630.8 points as we head into the weekend.

This disappointing end to the Australian trading week comes after a far more optimistic trading day on Wall Street last night.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average Index (DJX: .DJI) was in a jolly mood, gaining a healthy 0.75% and once again cruising over 50,000 points.

The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC) was even more bullish, rising 0.88%.

Let's get back to ASX shares now and dig a little deeper into what was going on with the different ASX sectors this Friday.

Winners and losers

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

Shares in the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) energy stock closed yesterday trading for $2.45. In early afternoon trade on Wednesday, shares are changing hands for $2.39 apiece, down 2.5%.

For some context, the ASX 200 is up 1.0% at this same time.

Taking a step back, Viva Energy shares remain up 33.5% over the past 12-months, racing ahead of the 7.5% one-year gains posted by the benchmark index.

And that's not including the 6.7 cents a share in fully franked dividends the energy company paid to eligible stockholders over this time. Viva Energy trades on a 2.8% fully franked trailing dividend yield.

But with investor concerns remaining over the 15 April fire at Viva Energy's Geelong refinery in Victoria – one of just two remaining in Australia – and with shares still down 5.5% since then, is this ASX 200 stock now a buy, hold or sell?

Should you buy Viva Energy shares today?

Baker Young's Toby Grimm recently analysed the outlook for this $4 billion ASX energy share (courtesy of The Bull).

According to Grimm:

Energy market dislocation highlights the strategic importance of Viva Energy's refining operations, particularly in light of the recently enhanced Federal government subsidy framework.

As for the refinery fire, Grimm noted, "While the recent fire at the Geelong facility is a setback, the financial impact appears manageable and unlikely to offset the benefit of elevated refining margins."

Connecting the dots, Grimm issued a hold recommendation on Viva Energy shares.

He concluded:

Higher fuel prices may weigh on convenience retail performance, which had shown signs of a recovery. Over time, refining margins are expected to normalise, but the stock appears well supported in the near term.

What's the latest from the ASX 200 energy stock?

In an update on the Geelong refinery fire released on 4 May, Viva Energy revealed that the coming weeks will see it produce diesel and jet fuel at around 80% of capacity. And petrol production will be limited to around 60% capacity while the refinery's Residue Catalytic Cracking Unit (RCCU) remains offline.

Viva Energy said it expects the required repair work to restart the RCCU to take around six weeks. In June, the company is aiming to ramp production back up to more than 90% of capacity following the restart of the RCCU.

As for any potential impact on Viva Energy shares from the Iran war, the company noted:

The Geelong refinery does not typically source Middle Eastern crude, with current crude sourced predominantly from North and South America, South-East Asia, and Australia. These crude supply flows have not been impacted, and the Geelong refinery has firm crude supply through to July with high confidence that this supply can continue.

The post Viva Energy shares: Buy, hold or sell? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

This follows the US announcing it would escort commercial ships from nations uninvolved in the conflict through the critical waterway.

Iranian drones hit South Korean and United Arab Emirates (UAE) vessels, as well as the UAE's Fujairah oil terminal, causing a large fire.

ASX 200 energy shares are leading the market today, up 1.3%, due to the correlation between a rising Brent crude oil price and earnings.

However, the market is also aware that rising energy costs may lead to resurgent global inflation and higher interest rates.

This is contributing to a 0.6% fall for the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) as the market braces for the Reserve Bank's next interest rate decision at 2.30pm on Tuesday.

No end in sight

The Strait of Hormuz, through which about 20% of the world's gas and oil supply is shipped, remains effectively shut down.

The Brent crude oil price has lifted 12% over the past week. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude is up 9% to US$105 per barrel.

US gas prices have also lifted 10% over the week. US heating oil prices are up 4% and European gas prices have increased 9%.

Trading Economics analysts said Middle East tensions have intensified sharply over the past 24 hours.

They commented:

The US and Iran exchanged fire in the Strait of Hormuz, raising uncertainty over the durability of the four-week ceasefire.

US forces repelled Iranian attacks while escorting two US-flagged vessels through the strategic waterway, stating they had "defended all commercial ships" from drones and small boats deployed by Tehran.

CBA senior economist Ryan Felsman said the four-week-old ceasefire between the US and Iran was now in jeopardy.

Overnight, gold futures fell "as Middle East risks pushed the US dollar higher and kept inflation fears in focus", he said.

Interest rates in Australia

CBA expects the Reserve Bank to raise interest rates for a third consecutive month today.

Felsman said:

We expect the RBA to lift the cash rate 25bp at their meeting … to 4.35%. However, the decision will be finely balanced.

We anticipate another split vote with the softer March trimmed mean CPI print and recent falls in sentiment surveys strengthening the case to the leave the cash rate unchanged and wait to see how the data evolves.

Those arguing for a hike, by contrast, will focus on inflation being persistently too high, a labour market that remains too tight and rising cost pass through from the war in Iran

The market is pricing in a 74% chance of an interest rate rise today.

What's happening with ASX 200 energy shares?

At the time of writing, the Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS) share price is up 2.2% to $32.83.

The Santos Ltd (ASX: STO) share price is up 0.7% to $7.97.

The Ampol Ltd (ASX: ALD) share price is 1.5% higher at $35.80.

The Viva Energy Group Ltd (ASX: VEA) share price is up 1.7% to $2.46.

Karoon Energy Ltd (ASX: KAR) shares are up 2.9% to $2.14 apiece.

The Beach Energy Ltd (ASX: BPT) share price is 1.9% higher at $1.17.

The post Brent crude oil price rips to 4-year high amid missile strikes in Strait of Hormuz appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Here's what they are recommending this week:

Deep Yellow Ltd (ASX: DYL)

The team at Fairmont Equities thinks investors should be buying this uranium producer's shares.

It is expecting uranium prices to move meaningfully higher, which could underpin a re-rating for Deep Yellow shares, especially given how Fairmont thinks they look cheap at current levels. It said:

The uranium sector remains promising because demand should continue to outpace supply for the next few years. Although the uranium price has edged higher in the past several months, I'm expecting a much bigger move to occur soon when utilities return to contract for future supplies. This uranium developer, based in Namibia, appears cheap at these levels and it's highly leveraged to any increase in the underlying uranium price.

IGO Ltd (ASX: IGO)

Alto Capital has named this lithium producer's shares as a sell this week.

Although the investment firm concedes that IGO is a high-quality company, it thinks its shares are overvalued, especially given uncertainty in near term commodity prices. It explains:

IGO is a diversified battery metals company with exposure to lithium, nickel and copper, including a strategic interest in the Greenbushes lithium operation. The company has benefited from strong investor interest in the energy transition theme, supported by long term demand expectations for battery materials.

While IGO remains a high quality operator, the share price appears to reflect a recovery in underlying commodity prices. In our view, uncertainty in near term commodity prices amid earnings volatility are likely to persist. The risk-reward balance supports taking profits.

Viva Energy Group Ltd (ASX: VEA)

The team at Baker Young has named this fuel retailer and refiner's shares as a hold.

While there are things to like about Viva Energy, there is not quite enough to warrant a buy rating right now. Baker Young commented:

Energy market dislocation highlights the strategic importance of Viva Energy's refining operations, particularly in light of the recently enhanced Federal Government subsidy framework. While the recent fire at the Geelong facility is a setback, the financial impact appears manageable and unlikely to offset the benefit of elevated refining margins.

Higher fuel prices may weigh on convenience retail performance, which had shown signs of a recovery. Over time, refining margins are expected to normalise, but the stock appears well supported in the near term.

The post Buy, hold, sell: Deep Yellow, IGO, and Viva Energy shares appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

During the Monday lunch hour, two of the big name S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) shares are underperforming the 0.1% loss posted by the benchmark index at this time, while one is trading in the green.

Here's what's grabbing investor interest.

NAB shares slide on half year results

NAB shares are down 1.8% at time of writing, changing hands for $39.10 each.

This follows the release of the ASX 200 bank stock's half year results (H1 FY 2026).

Over the half year, NAB recognised a "large notable item" of $949 million relating to a change in its software capitalisation policy.

This was reflected in an 18% half on half decline in the big four bank's statutory net profit after tax (NPAT) to $2.75 billion. Underlying profit was up 6.4%.

Excluding notable items, NAB's half year cash earnings of $3.59 billion were up 2.3% from H2 FY 2025.

On the passive income front, management declared a fully franked interim dividend of 85 cents per share, in line with last year's interim payout.

Investors may be selling the ASX 200 bank stock with NAB forecasting slower credit growth ahead amid ongoing geopolitical risks and inflationary pressures.

Which brings us to…

Transurban shares lift on April traffic increase

Unlike NAB shares, Transurban shares are marching higher today following an update on April's monthly traffic.

Shares in the ASX 200 toll road developer and operator are up 0.6% today, trading for $14.15 each.

The company reported that April traffic in Melbourne was up 1.6%, spurred by growth from the West Gate Tunnel project, while Brisbane traffic increased by 0.7%.

Although Sydney April traffic was down 1.2%, Transurban reported that overall Australian commercial vehicle traffic was up by 10.8%.

And finally…

Viva Energy shares pressured on ongoing refinery slowdown

Viva Energy is joining Transurban and NAB shares in the financial headlines today after the company released an update on its Geelong Refinery, located in Victoria.

The ASX 200 energy stock has come under pressure following the outbreak of a fire at the refinery – one of just two remaining in Australia – on 15 April.

Viva Energy shares are down 1.8% at time of writing today, trading for $2.46 each, after the company confirmed that over the coming weeks it will produce diesel and jet fuel at approximately 80% of capacity and petrol at approximately 60% while its Residue Catalytic Cracking Unit (RCCU) remains offline.

Management expects that repairs to impacted units necessary to restart the RCCU will take around six weeks.

The ASX energy stock expects that production will ramp back up to more than 90% of capacity following the restart of the RCCU in June.

The post Why Viva Energy, Transurban and NAB shares are turning heads on Monday appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

What did Viva Energy report?

• The Geelong Refinery incident on 15 April 2026 impacted operations, particularly the Alkylation unit and Residue Catalytic Cracking Unit (RCCU).
• Production of diesel and jet fuel currently at approximately 80% of capacity, petrol at 60% of capacity.
• Repairs to affected units are estimated to take six weeks, with a return to over 90% capacity expected after the RCCU restarts in June.
• Viva Energy states sufficient fuel stocks are available to meet normal supply commitments.
• The company is liaising with insurers on possible property damage and business interruption claims.

What else do investors need to know?

Viva Energy has prioritised safety by securing and isolating the impacted Alkylation unit to enable repairs. Early assessments show no major hindrances to the repair schedule, and preparatory work for returning the RCCU to service is underway.

The ongoing investigation into the fire's cause and scope of damage is progressing, alongside regular engagement with insurers. Customers are expected to see no disruptions to fuel supply throughout the repair period, as the company believes its existing stocks are sufficient.

What's next for Viva Energy?

Viva Energy anticipates bringing the RCCU and associated units back online during June. Once repairs are finished, refinery production should return to over 90% capacity, supporting steady supply to customers.

The company remains focused on repair works and is committed to transparent communication with stakeholders as the situation develops. Investigations continue while management works closely with insurers to address business impacts.

Viva Energy share price snapshot

Over the past 12 months, Viva Energy Group shares have risen 43%, outperforming the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) which has risen 7% over the same period.

View Original Announcement

The post Viva Energy updates investors on Geelong Refinery operations appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) rose 0.74% on Friday to finish the week at 8,729.8 points.

This equated to a weekly fall of 0.65%.

The market was pessimistic last week as negotiations between the US and Iran stalled and oil prices surged again.

Only three of the 11 market sectors finished the week in the green.

Let's review.

Global fuel shock drags on with no end in sight

Energy prices lifted again last week as the market anticipated continuing supply disruption as the war in Iran continued.

On Friday, Brent Crude was trading at US$111.85 per barrel, up 6% over the week.

West Texas Intermediate Crude was US$106.40 per barrel, up 12.3% for the week.

Also last week, US heating oil rose 5.6%, US gas prices lifted 5.5%, and European gas prices increased 4.3%.

The Strait of Hormuz, through which about 20% of the world's gas and oil supply is shipped, remains effectively shut down.

On Friday, Trading Economics analysts painted a grim picture as the US and Iran both dug in their heels:

President Donald Trump reaffirmed that the US would maintain its naval blockade of Iranian ports to intensify economic pressure.

Iran's supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei also dampened prospects for a deal, pledging not to relinquish the Islamic Republic's nuclear or missile capabilities and indicating that Tehran would retain control over the strait.

Economists have been warning that oil supply shocks have a long-tail impact that is yet to fully play out in Western economies.

The analysts added:

… several countries could soon face acute oil shortages, as the final shipments that departed the Persian Gulf have already arrived at their destinations.

US crude exports surged to record levels last week, with global buyers increasingly turning to American producers to offset disrupted Middle Eastern supply.

What happened with ASX 200 energy shares last week?

The Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS) share price rose 1.56% to close at $33.12 on Friday.

The Santos Ltd (ASX: STO) share price lifted 2.95% to $8.02.

The Ampol Ltd (ASX: ALD) share price ascended 4.74% to $35.82, after reaching a 52-week high of $36.04 on Friday.

The Viva Energy Group Ltd (ASX: VEA) share price rose 4.17% to $2.50.

Karoon Energy Ltd (ASX: KAR) shares fell 3.13% to close the week at $2.17.

Beach Energy Ltd (ASX: BPT) shares dropped 4.1% to $1.17 apiece.

ASX 200 coal shares also rose last week alongside a 3.8% lift in the thermal coal price.

The thermal coal price was US$134 per tonne on Friday, up almost 9% since the war began.

The Yancoal Australia Ltd (ASX: YAL) share price bounced 6.96% to close at $7.68 on Friday.

The Whitehaven Coal Ltd (ASX: WHC) share price increased 8.83% to $8.63.

New Hope Corporation Ltd (ASX: NHC) shares lifted 3.75% to $5.53 apiece.

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 and market finally cracks 8-day losing streak appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

This unhappy Thursday session for ASX investors follows a more mixed night on Wall Street last night.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average Index (DJX: .DJI) was in a foul mood, dropping by 0.57%.

However, the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC) managed to stay above ground, inching 0.038% higher.

But let's return to the local markets now and check out what was happening amongst the various ASX sectors today.

Winners and losers

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

By the time trading wrapped up this afternoon, the ASX 200 had fallen 0.64%. That leaves the index at 8,710.7 points.

This unhappy day for ASX investors follows a mixed start to the American trading week last night.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average Index (DJX: .DJI) gave up an early spike to close down 0.13%.

Things were better on the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC) though, which pushed 0.2% higher.

But let's return to the local markets now, and take stock of how today's miserable trading conditions filtered down into the various ASX sectors.

Winners and losers

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