The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) fell 0.28% to 8,772.3 points over the week.

Oil and gas prices surged last week as Iran-backed Houthi militants attacked two Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea.

The Saudis have been piping oil across to the Red Sea port of Yanbu for export while the Strait of Hormuz is effectively shut down.

The Brent crude oil price increased 13% to US$99.80 per barrel on Friday.

The US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) oil price rose 11.5% to US$91.25 per barrel.

UK and European gas prices rose 8% and German gas prices increased 13%.

On Friday, Trading Economics analysts said escalating tensions were raising fears of prolonged global energy supply disruptions.

The US launched a 13th straight day of strikes on Iran, with both sides ruling out near-term talks.

President Trump also threatened "major military punishment" against Iran and the Houthis over any further attacks on Red Sea shipping and said he was considering a "massive attack" on Iran.

Asian buyers have begun discussing rerouting Saudi crude shipments through the Suez Canal and around Africa.

Adding to supply constraints, the Caspian Pipeline Consortium suspended crude loadings at its Black Sea terminal after tanker attacks, disrupting around 80% of Kazakhstan's oil exports.

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

Let's recap.

Energy shares led the market last week

The Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS) share price rose 6.27% over the week to $32.37 on Friday.

The Santos Ltd (ASX: STO) share price lifted 3.78% to $7.97.

The Ampol Ltd (ASX: ALD) share price rose 2.98% to $38.67.

The Viva Energy Group Ltd (ASX: VEA) share price ascended 6.84% to $2.50.

The Karoon Energy Ltd (ASX: KAR) share price rocketed 19.33% to $1.79.

Beach Energy Ltd (ASX: BPT) shares increased 2.84% to 91 cents apiece.

The Paladin Energy Ltd (ASX: PDN) share price shot 14.96% higher to $9.68 on Friday.

The Boss Energy Ltd (ASX: BOE) share price rose 6.56% to $1.30.

The Yancoal Australia Ltd (ASX: YAL) share price jumped 12.87% to $6.05.

Whitehaven Ltd (ASX: WHC) shares rose 4.31% to $7.75.

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 6% as reignited US-Iran conflict continues appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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.

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.

As the new financial year begins, brokers are running their rulers over several ASX shares and adjusting their ratings and 12-month price targets. 

Let's take a look at some downgrades from the experts this week. 

JB Hi-Fi Ltd (ASX: JBH)

The JB Hi-Fi share price is $76,45, down 2.2% today and down 32% over 12 months. 

UBS downgraded the ASX consumer discretionary share to a hold rating on Tuesday. 

The broker shaved its 12-month price target from $85 to $83.

This suggest a potential 8% upside ahead.

Evolution Mining Ltd (ASX: EVN)

The Evolution Mining share price is $11.80, up 2.1% today and up 51% over 12 months. 

UBS downgraded the ASX 200 gold share to a hold rating on Tuesday.

The broker cut its 12-month price target from $14 to $12.60.

This implies a potential 7% upside ahead.

Whitehaven Coal Ltd (ASX: WHC)

The Whitehaven Coal share price is $7.50, up 0.2% on Thursday and up 34% over 12 months. 

UBS downgraded the ASX coal share to a hold rating on Tuesday. 

The broker lowered its 12-month price target from $9.10 to $8.70.

This indicates possible capital gains of 16% over the next year. 

Judo Capital Holdings Ltd (ASX: JDO)

The Judo share price is 90 cents, down 1.4% today and down 44% over 12 months. 

UBS downgraded Judo shares to a hold rating on Monday.

The broker has a 12-month target price of $1.05, indicating a potential 17% upside over FY27. 

Data#3 Ltd (ASX: DTL)

The Data#3 share price is $9.54, up 1.2% today and 25% higher over 12 months. 

Morgan Stanley downgraded the ASX tech share to a hold rating with a $10 target on Wednesday. 

This suggests potential capital growth of 5% over the next year. 

South32 Ltd (ASX: S32)

The South32 share price is $4.23, down 1.2% today and up 36% over 12 months. 

Morgans downgraded its rating on the ASX 200 mining share from accumulate to hold.

The broker cut its price target from $5 to $4.50, suggesting a potential 6% upside ahead.

Morgans said: 

S32 has agreed to sell its entire ali business for total consideration of US$5.6bn (US$4.1bn upfront), and transfer of US$1.2bn closure/rehab liabilities.

Our view on S32's aluminium sale is genuinely mixed. It leaves S32 a simpler and, in important respects, a better business, but also a smaller and less valuable one.

We reduce our valuation on S32's ali assets to in line with the agreed Alcoa deal… As a result we update our rating to HOLD (from Accumulate).

Turaco Gold Ltd (ASX: TCG)

The Turaco Gold share price is 48 cents, up 6.7% today and up 4% over 12 months. 

Morgans downgraded the ASX gold share from a buy to a speculative buy rating this week.

The broker slashed its 12-month price target from $2.19 to $1.18.

This still implies a potential 145% upside ahead.

The post 7 ASX shares downgraded by brokers this week appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

After opening sharply lower compared to yesterday's close, the ASX 200 remained in red territory all session and ended up closing down 1.13%. That leaves the index at 8,686.1 points.

This tough day on the local bourse for Australian investors came after a similarly bearish session on Wall Street last night.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average Index (DJX: .DJI) was in a foul mood, dropping 1.21%.

The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC) wasn't much better, falling 0.89%.

But let's return to ASX shares now and take a look at how today's tough trading conditions percolated down into the different ASX sectors today.

Winners and losers

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

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

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

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

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

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

Winners and losers

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

It's understandable that ASX coal shares have not been popular investments in the last few years because of environmental concerns.

But, it's hard to ignore the fact that coal has been an excellent investment in the past year.

In the past year, the Whitehaven Coal share price has risen around 50%, meaning $10,000 is now worth approximately $15,000, at the time of writing.

A company's latest result usually has the most material impact on its valuation. But, for a mining business, the commodity price can also be crucial.

Let's look at what has helped the Whitehaven Coal Ltd (ASX: WHC) share price in recent times.

Stronger commodity price

The business reported that in the three months to 31 March 2026, it saw both metallurgical and thermal coal prices improve, with the prices up 18% and 11% respectively, quarter-on-quarter.

The price of the commodity is particularly important for a miner because of the operating leverage that the business has. Operating costs don't typically change much month to month, so any increase in the resource price that boosts revenue dollars largely falls straight to the bottom line, aside from paying more to the government.

Whitehaven explained what's driving the coal prices in the short-term:

The PLV HCC Index strengthened through the quarter reflecting tighter supply due to wet-season disruptions in Queensland, highlighting the current finely balanced market conditions for metallurgical coal.

The gC NEWC Index also appreciated in the quarter reflecting geopolitical developments in the Middle East from late February. Tightening LNG supply and the potential of gas‑to‑coal switching by end users underpinned the March increase in the gC NEWC Index. Energy markets remain volatile during this period of uncertainty. Whitehaven's NSW thermal portfolio is well positioned to benefit from upward movements in the gC NEWC index.

It also gave some thoughts on the longer-term outlook too:

The expected structural shortfall in global metallurgical coal production, particularly the long-term depletion of HCC from Australian producers combined with increased seaborne demand from India, is anticipated to drive higher metallurgical coal prices over the long-term. Whitehaven's metallurgical coal portfolio is expected to benefit from these supply constrained market dynamics.

Long-term demand for seaborne high CV thermal coal, together with a structural supply shortfall from underinvestment in new mines and depletion of existing supply, remains a driver for longer-term price support for high CV thermal coal. In developing economies, thermal coal continues to play a critical role in delivering affordable and reliable access to electricity. This focus on energy security is expected to further support long-term demand for high-quality thermal coal. Disruptions are likely to continue to impact supply across the global energy complex for a period following cessation of Middle East tensions.

I'd also suggest that if energy demand by data centres continues to grow, a certain portion of it may end up being fulfilled by coal.

Higher production

It's also worth noting that the company's production of coal is increasing compared to the previous financial year.

In the financial year to March 2026, managed saleable coal production was up 9% year-over-year. Equity saleable coal production was also up 9%.

Higher production combined with higher coal prices is a powerful combination.

But, seeing as the coal price has already risen, there may be better opportunities out there.

The post $10,000 invested in Whitehaven shares 12 months ago is now worth… appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

The Australian dollar has actually been on a tear of late. It was only in April of 2025 that the local currency dropped to a COVID-era low of about 60 US cents. That was thanks to the subsequently-walked-back-and-then-declared-illegal 'liberation day' tariff announcement from the US President Donald Trump.

Today, just over a year later, things look quite different. It was only in late January that the Aussie dollar crossed 70 US cents for the first time since early 2023. Over the past week, we saw the Aussie hit, and then exceed, 72 US cents. Today, one Australian dollar will buy you about 72.5 US cents at the time of writing. That's the highest level the Aussie has traded at against the Greenback in almost exactly four years.

Many Australians only check the Aussie dollar exchange rate when they're about to book an international holiday. But our dollar's value is a vitally important economic catalyst, one that can have huge impacts on a variety of ASX shares. Let's dig into how that works.

To put it simply, a rising Aussie dollar makes exports more expensive for companies that send goods overseas, and makes importing goods from overseas into Australia cheaper, provided all other things remain equal.

Which ASX shares benefit from a higher Aussie dollar?

As such, the biggest losers from a higher Aussie dollar are arguably mining companies, as well as energy companies. Stocks like BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP), Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS), Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST) and Whitehaven Coal Ltd (ASX: WHC) are forced to sell their iron ore, oil, gold and coal in US dollars on the international market. If our dollar rises in value, these companies will receive fewer Aussie dollars when they bring the US dollars they receive upon the sale of their commodities back home to the ASX.

Any other ASX share that sends goods or services to countries beyond our shores, or brings back foreign currencies to the ASX, is also in the firing line. That might include Cochlear Ltd (ASX: COH) and CSL Ltd (ASX: CSL), for example.

But what about winners from a higher dollar? Well, we have those too. As you can probably gather, any country that imports goods to resell to Australians will benefit from a higher dollar. Some names that come to mind include Wesfarmers Ltd (ASX: WES), JB Hi-Fi Ltd (ASX: JBH), Harvey Norman Holdings Ltd (ASX: HVN) and Ampol Ltd (ASX: ALD).

Wesfarmers imports most of the goods sold at its retailers, like Kmart, OfficeWorks, Target, and Bunnings, from their country of manufacture, which is typically China. It would be a similar story with JB and Harvey Norman's televisions and appliances, or Ampol's imported fuels.

Unfortunately, the closure of the Strait of Hormuz is probably dampening, if not eliminating, the benefits of our higher dollar for these stocks right now. But whenever the Strait reopens, these stocks will feel the full benefits of a rising Aussie dollar. That's assuming the dollar stays where it is, or keeps going higher, of course.

The post The Aussie dollar just hit a 4-year high. Which ASX shares will benefit? 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.

I've selected three reports from Macquarie on companies which fit the bill, two of which reported just in recent days.

So let's have a look what they're saying.

Whitehaven Coal Ltd (ASX: WHC)

This week, Whitehaven Coal released its quarterly report. The company revealed it had generated sales of 6.8 million tonnes of coal for the March quarter, broadly in line with the December quarter.

But while production was flat, the company received better prices for both its metallurgical and thermal coal. Given the continued troubles in the Middle East, this is expected to continue.

As the company said:

Long-term demand for seaborne high caloric value thermal coal, together with a structural supply shortfall from underinvestment in new mines and depletion of existing supply, remains a driver for longer-term price support for high caloric value thermal coal. In developing economies, thermal coal continues to play a critical role in delivering affordable and reliable access to electricity. This focus on energy security is expected to further support long-term demand for high-quality thermal coal. Disruptions are likely to continue to impact supply across the global energy complex for a period following cessation of Middle East tensions.

Macquarie has a price target of $9.75 on Whitehaven shares, compared with $8.28 currently.

Aurelia Metals Ltd (ASX: AMI)

Also this week, Aurelia Metals reported gold production of 13,000 ounces for the quarter, and that it had increased its cash balance from $85.6 million at the end of December to $94.7 million at the end of March.

Aurelia also increased its full-year production guidance, saying gold production was now expected to come in at 45,000 to 50,000 ounces, compared with the previous guidance of 35,000 to 40,000 ounces.

Forecast copper production, however, reduced from 3,000 to 4000 tonnes to 2.5-3000 tonnes.

Macquarie said in its research note on the company that gold production came in 17% higher than consensus estimates, although the company's base metals production was weak.

Macquarie maintained its price target of 40 cents on the company's shares. This is materially above its current share price of 31 cents, which increased 9.8% on Wednesday.

Amcor Ltd (ASX: AMC)

Amcor is yet to report its quarterly results, which are scheduled to come out on May 6, however Macquarie has put out a research note in advance.

The broker said they were expecting $200-$250 million in adverse working capital movements from an increase in raw materials costs, "which is likely to reduce AMC's $1.8-$1.9 billion full year free cash flow guidance''.

Macquarie has reduced their earnings per share assumptions and therefore reduced their price target on Amcor from $86.50 to $84.63, however this is still well above the current share price of $54.13.

The post Macquarie names 3 ASX shares to buy appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

This rather woeful Wednesday for the local markets comes after a similarly downbeat night over on the American stock exchanges.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average Index (DJX: .DJI) managed to snatch a loss from the jaws of victory, losing 0.053%.

The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC) was more decisive, though, dropping 0.9%.

But let's get back to ASX shares and assess the damage from today's trading amongst the different ASX sectors.

Winners and losers

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

Bell Potter has been running the rule over these updates from Coronado Global Resources Inc (ASX: CRN) and Whitehaven Coal Ltd (ASX: WHC). But has it seen enough to recommend either coal miner as a buy?

Let's see what the broker is saying about them:

Coronado Global Resources

Bell Potter notes that it was a challenging first quarter for Coronado, with production and sales down heavily quarter on quarter, and costs coming in higher than expected. It said:

CRN reported quarterly saleable coal production of 3.0Mt (down 30% QoQ; BPe 3.3Mt) and sales of 3.5Mt (down 20% QoQ; BPe 3.3Mt). Production was heavily impacted by a 6-week shutdown at Mammoth following a fatality; adverse weather and a planned 2-week CHPP shutdown at Curragh; and two longwall moves at Buchanan. Group mining costs were US$135/t produced (BPe US$113/t), up 41% QoQ. Group realised met coal pricing was US$165/t (70% realisation to the average HCC index). BP calculated quarterly group EBITDA was -US$88m (BPe US$8m) with unit mining costs elevated on lower sales.

In response, the broker has retained its speculative hold rating with a reduced price target of 30 cents.

Whitehaven Coal

Unlike Coronado Global, Bell Potter notes that Whitehaven Coal performed better than feared during the third quarter. It highlights that production and sales were ahead of expectations for the three months. The broker said:

WHC reported quarterly managed ROM production of 9.5Mt (BPe 9.6Mt), managed saleable production of 8.4Mt (BPe 7.8Mt) and equity coal sales of 6.9Mt (BPe 6.3Mt). Sales were supported by a stock drawdown with production impacted by heavy rainfall in Queensland and geotechnical issues at Narrabri. The next 8-week longwall changeout and maintenance period is scheduled for the December 2026 quarter. Group realised pricing was A$207/t, up 9% QoQ in line with higher met and thermal market prices. FY26 guidance was reiterated; ROM production and sales are tracking to the upper end and costs to the middle of the ranges provided.

According to the note, the broker has retained its hold rating and $8.10 price target on Whitehaven Coal's shares.

Bell Potter then concludes:

We maintain a Hold recommendation. In the medium term, WHC are positioned to capitalise when coal markets sustainably improve with a diversified portfolio of assets in Queensland and New South Wales and strong organic growth optionality. We have a positive long term met coal outlook, driven by constrained supply and increased demand from steel producers reliant on seaborne met coal (i.e. India).

The post Should you buy Coronado Global and Whitehaven Coal shares? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

I've had a look at two brokers reports issued following the quarterly results. Both have bullish share price targets on the stock, which we'll get to shortly.

Solid quarterly results

Firstly, let's have a look at what Whitehaven reported this week.

The coal producer said it had generated sales of 6.8 million tonnes of coal for the March quarter, broadly in line with the December quarter.

On the upside, coal prices were much stronger over the period, with metallurgical coal prices up 18% and thermal coal prices up 11% quarter on quarter.

The company also said it was on track to deliver $60-$80 million in annualised cost savings by the end of June.

Managing director Paul Flynn said regarding the quarterly results:

Production in the March quarter was broadly in line with plan reflecting strong outcomes from NSW open cut operations and solid results from Queensland operations in a weather impacted quarter. For the first nine months of the year we have produced 29.5Mt of ROM, and we are on track to be firmly in the upper half of guidance for FY26. "Equity sales of 6.8Mt for the quarter were also strong and are tracking at the upper end of guidance for the year. Revenue mix for the quarter was ~58% from metallurgical coal sales and ~42% from thermal coal sales.

Mr Flynn said Whitehaven's financial position was strong, and the successful refinancing of the company's debt facilities would deliver considerable cost savings in the order of $50-$55 million per annum.

The company said in its statement to the ASX that coal prices were given a boost by the war in the Middle East, caused by the tightening of gas supplies and the potential for end users to switch from gas to coal for energy production.

The company said it was expecting strong pricing across both metallurgical and thermal coal.

It said:

The expected structural shortfall in global metallurgical coal production, particularly the long-term depletion of hard coking coal from Australian producers combined with increased seaborne demand from India, is anticipated to drive higher metallurgical coal prices over the long-term. Whitehaven's metallurgical coal portfolio is expected to benefit from these supply constrained market dynamics.

Shares looking like good value

The analyst team at Morgans had a look at the quarterly and said Whitehaven delivered exceptional results for saleable coal production and actual sales.

Morgans has an accumulate rating on the stock and a 12-month price target of $9.20, compared with $8.12 currently.

The analyst team at Macquarie said it was a strong result on the production front, and the company's focus on costs was a positive.

Macquarie has a price target of $9.75 on Whitehaven shares.

Whitehaven Coal is valued at $6.6 billion.

The post What are Whitehaven Coal shares worth following their quarterly results? 2 Brokers have their say appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

ASX 200 expected to fall again

The Australian share market looks set to fall again on Wednesday following a poor night on Wall Street. According to the latest SPI futures, the ASX 200 is expected to open the day 34 points or 0.4% lower. In the United States, the Dow Jones fell 0.05%, the S&P 500 dropped 0.5%, and the Nasdaq tumbled 0.9%.

Oil prices rise

It looks like ASX 200 energy shares Beach Energy Ltd (ASX: BPT) and Santos Ltd (ASX: STO) could have a solid session after oil prices pushed higher overnight. According to Bloomberg, the WTI crude oil price is up 2.5% to US$99.63 a barrel and the Brent crude oil price is up 2.45% to US$110.86 a barrel. This follows news that Donald Trump was not pleased with Iran's proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

Woodside Q1 update

Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS) shares will be on watch today when the energy giant releases its first-quarter update. According to a note out of Macquarie, for the three months ended 31 March, its analysts are forecasting production of 43.7mmboe, sales volumes of 46.6mmboe, and revenue of US$3.09 billion.

Gold price sinks

ASX 200 gold shares Newmont Corporation (ASX: NEM) and Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST) could have a poor session on Wednesday after the gold price tumbled overnight. According to CNBC, the gold futures price is down 1.9% to US$4,606 an ounce. Soaring oil prices have sparked inflation and rate hikes fears.

Hold Whitehaven Coal shares

Bell Potter thinks Whitehaven Coal Ltd (ASX: WHC) shares are fully valued at current levels. In response to its third-quarter update, the broker has retained its hold rating and $8.10 price target on the coal miner's shares. It said: "We maintain a Hold recommendation. In the medium term, WHC are positioned to capitalise when coal markets sustainably improve with a diversified portfolio of assets in Queensland and New South Wales and strong organic growth optionality. We have a positive long term met coal outlook, driven by constrained supply and increased demand from steel producers reliant on seaborne met coal (i.e. India)."

The post 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Wednesday 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.

Two of the large-cap ASX shares are racing ahead of the 0.6% losses posted by the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) in late morning trade, while one is trailing the benchmark's performance.

Here's what's happening.

Beach Energy shares sink on guidance downgrade

Beach Energy shares are the laggard of the pack, down 1.7% at $1.18 apiece.

This follows the release of the ASX 200 energy stock's March quarter update (Q3 FY 2026).

While the company achieved a 7% quarter-on-quarter increase in production to 4.8 million barrels of oil equivalent (MMboe), sales volumes of 5.3 MMboe were down 10% from Q2 FY 2026.

This saw sales revenue decline by 6% from the prior quarter to $419 million.

With some of Beach Energy's operations impacted by inclement weather, the ASX 200 oil and gas company lowered its full-year FY 2026 production guidance to between 19.4 and 20.3 MMboe, down from prior guidance of 19.7 to 22.0 MMboe.

Deep Yellow shares lift on uranium project advancement

Unlike Beach Energy shares, Deep Yellow shares are shaking off the wider market malaise today and charging higher.

Shares in the ASX 200 uranium stock are up 2.6% at the time of writing, changing hands for $1.99 apiece.

This follows the release of Deep Yellow's own third-quarter update.

Deep Yellow is grabbing investor interest after reporting on significant progress across its major projects.

At its Tumas Project, located in Namibia, the uranium miner said that detailed engineering progressed to 68% completion by the end of the quarter, with 91% of the bulk earthworks completed.

"Deep Yellow entered the March 2026 quarter with clear momentum across the business, underpinned by continued advancement of our flagship Tumas development project and a disciplined focus on creating long-term shareholder value," Deep Yellow CEO Greg Field said.

Whitehaven shares lift on improved coal prices

Joining Deep Yellow and Beach Energy shares in the financial headlines today, Whitehaven shares are up 2.5%, trading for $7.90 each.

This outperformance comes after, you guessed it, the release of the ASX 200 coal stock's March quarterly update.

Whitehaven also did not escape impacts from heavy rains, which saw its managed run of mine (ROM) coal production slide 14% quarter on quarter to 9.5 million tonnes.

But the Aussie coal miner is finding support, achieving an 8% quarter-on-quarter increase in its average Queensland coal price to $242 per tonne, while New South Wales coal prices were up 7% from Q2 FY 2026 to $175 per tonne.

Management also reaffirmed Whitehaven's full-year FY 2026 production guidance, with expectations that this will come in towards the top end of guidance.

The post Why is everyone talking about Whitehaven, Deep Yellow and Beach Energy shares on Tuesday? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

At the time of writing, the coal producer's share price is up 3.77% to $7.99. That follows a weaker stretch, with the stock down around 15% over the past month.

Here's what came through in the update.

Output falls after wet weather in key state

According to the release, Whitehaven reported managed ROM coal production of 9.5 million tonnes for the March quarter. That was down 14% on the December quarter, mainly due to wet weather in Queensland.

The drop was most visible, with Queensland production falling 28% quarter-on-quarter to 4.1 million tonnes.

New South Wales operations were steadier. Production came in at 5.4 million tonnes, broadly in line with the prior quarter.

Even with the softer production result, sales held up better. Equity sales reached 6.8 million tonnes for the quarter, which was consistent with December.

Stronger coal prices help offset lower volumes

One of the more supportive parts of the quarterly update came from pricing.

Whitehaven reported stronger realised prices across both metallurgical and thermal coal during the quarter.

In Queensland, average realised prices lifted, supported by stronger metallurgical coal benchmarks.

In New South Wales, pricing also improved, with realised thermal coal prices tracking above the NEWC index.

The company noted that tightening supply, partly linked to wet weather disruptions, helped support prices through the period.

Evidently, that helped offset some of the impact from lower production volumes.

Debt edges lower as buybacks continue

Whitehaven ended the quarter with net debt of around $600 million, down from $700 million at the end of December.

The company also completed a refinancing during April, which is expected to lower interest costs going forward.

Share buybacks continued throughout the quarter, with around $51 million of shares repurchased.

That brings total buybacks for the financial year to roughly $56 million.

Currently, Whitehaven has 824.73 million shares on issue.

Full-year outlook unchanged

Management left full-year guidance unchanged.

Managed ROM production is still expected to land between 37 million and 41 million tonnes for FY26.

Unit costs and capital expenditure are also tracking within previously guided ranges.

Looking ahead, development work continues across key projects including Vickery and Winchester South.

While these are longer-term projects, they are expected to support future production as development progresses.

What the market is focusing on next

This quarter was a bit messy, mainly due to weather, but pricing did a lot of the heavy lifting for Whitehaven.

The next step is seeing whether production can bounce back as conditions improve.

If volumes pick up and prices hold, that is where things start to look more interesting again.

The post Why Whitehaven Coal shares are rising today despite a rough month appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

What did Whitehaven Coal report?

• Managed ROM coal production: 9.5Mt in Q3 FY26 (down 14% on previous quarter due to seasonality)
• Equity sales of produced coal: 6.8Mt, broadly in line with the December quarter
• Average achieved prices: QLD A$242/t (up 8% QoQ); NSW A$175/t (up 7% QoQ)
• Net debt: A$0.6 billion as at 31 March 2026, down from A$0.7 billion at 31 December
• Refinancing secured: US$900 million in senior secured notes and US$600 million bank funding, aiming for annual interest savings of A$50–55 million
• On track for A$60–80 million of targeted annualised cost savings by 30 June 2026

What else do investors need to know?

Operationally, there was a sharp 28% drop in QLD managed ROM coal production due to wet-season disruptions, but sales rose 9% as stock drawdowns continued. NSW managed ROM production held steady, supported by strong results at Maules Creek, offsetting lower longwall output at Narrabri.

The business continued its capital management initiatives, repurchasing 1.4 million shares for A$11 million in the quarter. Full-year FY26 share buy-backs have reached 7.7 million shares for a total of A$56 million. The refinancing of debt facilities should lower funding costs and extend Whitehaven's average debt maturity.

Development work continued at the Winchester South and Vickery projects, with A$4 million spent on development and an additional A$1 million on exploration. The company remains disciplined in allocating capital to future opportunities, subject to board review and market conditions.

What did Whitehaven Coal management say?

CEO & Managing Director Paul Flynn said:

Production in the March quarter was broadly in line with plan reflecting strong outcomes from NSW open cut operations and solid results from Queensland operations in a weather impacted quarter. For the first nine months of the year we have produced 29.5Mt of ROM, and we are on track to be firmly in the upper half of guidance for FY26. Equity sales of 6.8Mt for the quarter were also strong and are tracking at the upper end of guidance for the year… Our successful refinancing of the acquisition debt facility and smaller finance facilities will deliver considerable savings in the order of ~A$50-55 million per annum.

What's next for Whitehaven Coal?

Whitehaven Coal has left FY26 guidance unchanged, expecting to land in the upper range for ROM coal production and coal sales, with unit costs tracking near the guidance midpoint. Capital expenditure is trending toward the lower end of the range, and ongoing cost discipline remains a focus.

The business expects to benefit from positive market dynamics, with higher metallurgical and thermal coal prices and a healthy balance sheet. Board reviews of new developments such as Vickery and Winchester South remain in progress, depending on project approvals and market opportunities.

Whitehaven Coal share price snapshot

Over the past 12 months, Whitehaven Coal shares have risen 59%, outperforming the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) which has risen 10% over the same period.

View Original Announcement

The post Whitehaven Coal shares: Q3 FY26 shows steady sales, improved pricing appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

The world is waiting for a second round of negotiations between the US and Iran to start as the global energy shock continues.

It was initially reported that Iran had refused to participate in further discussions unless the US withdrew its blockade of Iranian ports.

Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump said he is not inclined to extend the ceasefire if an agreement is not reached this week.

The US has reportedly seized an Iranian vessel trying to run the blockade, while Iran has fired at ships in the Strait of Hormuz.

The war is causing large daily market fluctuations depending on what the President says and what occurs at sea each day.

In a newsletter, Tim Riordan and Michael Teran from Blackwattle said the market "showed a decisive defensive rotation" last month.

Energy (+19%) was the standout sector, the only one to post a gain, as Brent crude spiked 43% on supply disruption fears.

Defensives also held up well, with Utilities (+5%), Insurance (+4%) and Staples (+2%) outperforming.

The ASX 200 was sold off in early March. The market began rebounding later in the month, but has yet to fully recover.

Meanwhile, the US S&P 500 Index (SP: .INX) and Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC) have both recovered to new record highs.

Riordan and Teran, who run Blackwattle's Mid Cap Quality Fund, said:

Despite the volatility, equity sentiment remains well short of outright fear, with the market expecting the energy disruption to be short lived.

Amid all this noise, Riordan and Teran have highlighted an ASX 200 energy share that they think has "material long-term upside" ahead.

Whitehaven Coal Ltd (ASX: WHC)

The Whitehaven Coal share price rocketed 18% in March, but has fallen 14.4% in April, as energy prices continue to fluctuate.

Blocked shipments of gas in the Strait of Hormuz have pushed many power plants to switch to thermal coal.

Riordan and Teran commented:

Thermal coal rose 23% in March as buyers sought alternative energy sources, with coal a key beneficiary of the supply disruption to global LNG markets.

The analysts said Whitehaven is one of the ASX 200's largest and highest quality coal producers.

We continue to see material long-term upside for WHC as an 'improving / enduring quality' business and view WHC as one of the highest quality mining companies on the ASX, with strong financials and a management team with an excellent track record of capital deployment.

While coal prices have been volatile in recent months, the longer-term supply and demand dynamics remain favourable, and WHC
continues to generate strong free cash flow whilst maintaining a net cash balance sheet.

We back WHC to execute on numerous multi-year internal levers to maintain and improve the business quality beyond commodity prices, including cost reduction and production improvement in their metallurgical coal mines, paydown of the deferred BHP acquisition payments, Vickery expansion and sell down, Daunia/Winchester South expansion and sell down, and further disciplined capital management.

ASX 200 energy share price snapshot

Whitehaven shares have risen 66% over the past 12 months compared to a 53% ascension for the S&P/ASX 200 Energy Index (ASX: XEJ).

The post ASX 200 energy share with 'material long-term upside' ahead: fundie appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) endured a volatile, yet negative, session this Tuesday. After initially spiking in early trading this morning, the ASX 200 spent the rest of the day in negative territory. Saying that, it could have been a lot worse, with the index eventually closing down just 0.044%, leaving it at 8,949.4 points.

This miserly trading day for Australian investors comes after a similarly lacklustre start to the American trading week last night.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average Index (DJX: .DJI) couldn't quite clinch a rise either, dropping by a tiny 0.0099%

The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC) was a little more decisive, though, falling 0.26%.

But let's get back to the ASX now for a look at how the different ASX sectors handled today's interesting trading conditions.

Winners and losers

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