A group of 12 ASX-listed companies are trading ex-dividend today, which means their share prices will no longer include the value of their latest payout.

That alone is expected to have a decent impact on the broader market.

According to The Australian, the combined ex-dividend moves could shave around 31 points from the ASX 200.

With futures already pointing lower, that could make market open look a little heavier than usual.

Here's the shares investors will want to keep an eye on.

The ex-dividend moves to watch today

There are a few larger payouts sitting near the top of today's list.

Sonic Healthcare Ltd (ASX: SHL) closed Tuesday at $19.64 and is trading ex-dividend for 63 cents per share. The payment is 60% franked and is due on 17 September.

Monadelphous Group Ltd (ASX: MND) is not far behind. Its shares closed at $28.78 before going ex-dividend for a 59-cent fully-franked payout.

Origin Energy Ltd (ASX: ORG) and Seek Ltd (ASX: SEK) also have decent-sized dividends dropping off today.

Origin's 30-cent fully-franked dividend comes off an $11.70 closing share price, while Seek's 25-cent fully-franked payment comes off a $14.32 close.

Furthermore, Newmont Corporation (ASX: NEM) closed at $176.04 and is trading without its 25.95-cent unfranked dividend.

More ASX shares joining the list

There are also several smaller payouts coming off the board as well.

Downer EDI Ltd (ASX: DOW) closed Tuesday at $6.55 and is trading ex-dividend for 16.3 cents per share. Steadfast Group Ltd (ASX: SDF) closed at $5.84 and is going ex-dividend for 12.75 cents.

Medibank Private Ltd (ASX: MPL) is also on the list. The shares closed at $4.81 on Tuesday, with a 10.9-cent dividend going ex today.

Among the miners, Yancoal Australia Ltd (ASX: YAL) is trading ex-dividend for 7 cents per share, and Whitehaven Coal Ltd (ASX: WHC) is doing the same for 6 cents.

PLS Group Ltd (ASX: PLS) is trading ex-dividend for 5 cents, with Karoon Energy Ltd (ASX: KAR) rounding out the group with a 1.2-cent payout.

All of the 7 dividends are fully franked.

Why today's moves could be misleading

Keep in mind, trading ex-dividend does not automatically mean a stock will fall on the day. There's still plenty happening in the broader market that can push shares either way.

Nonetheless, the ASX 200 futures are expected to open at a fall of around 0.9%.

The post Why these ASX shares are worth watching closely today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

As we previously reported, utilities shares paid a 5.98% dividend yield, energy paid 5.14%, and materials paid 4.63%.

Those yields were well above the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) average dividend yield for FY26 of 4.23%.

Energy and mining shares paid higher dividends in FY26 due to elevated earnings from stronger commodity prices.

Now remember, the dividends paid in the FY26 period mainly reflected final dividends for FY25 and interim dividends for FY26.

Over the next two months, the final dividends for FY26 are being paid following the end of the August reporting season today.

And we're seeing the same trend play out.

That is, big ASX resources shares are paying generous dividends again due to those strong commodity prices.

Take ASX 200 iron ore and copper miner, BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP), for example.

BHP declared a final dividend for FY26 of US 99 cents, which is equivalent to A$1.40 on today's exchange rate.

That's 65% higher than the final BHP dividend for FY25 of 91.9 AU cents.

That's a major lift in income for BHP shares investors.

In order to receive a dividend, you must own the ASX share before its ex-dividend date.

If you want to snatch the next BHP dividend, you need to buy BHP shares before they go ex-dividend this Thursday.

BHP is among 11 big names in the high-paying utilities, mining, and energy sectors scheduled to go ex-dividend this week.

If you're chasing dividend income, here are the dates you need to know.

ASX shares going ex-dividend this week

View more ASX shares going ex-dividend this week.

The post Chasing dividends? 11 ASX shares in top-paying sectors going ex-dividend this week appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Hundreds of S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) companies have announced their next dividends this month.

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

Here are the ASX shares going ex-dividend next week.

We've listed the dividend amounts investors will receive and when they'll receive them.

In order to receive a dividend, you must own the ASX share before its ex-dividend date.

ASX shares with ex-dividend dates next week

The post 37 ASX shares going ex-dividend next week appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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.

Shares in the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) coal stock closed yesterday trading for $5.68. At the time of writing, shares are changing hands for $5.96 apiece, up 4.9%.

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

Yancoal shares have been strong performers in 2026, up 20.2% since market close on 31 December. That compares favourably to the more modest 0.5% gain posted by the ASX 200 over this same period.

And that's not including the 12.2 cents per share fully-franked dividend Yancoal paid eligible stockholders on 15 April.

The ASX 200 coal stock trades on a fully-franked trailing dividend yield of 3.1%.

But following these strong share price gains, is the coal miner still a buy today?

Yancoal shares: Buy, hold, or sell?

Investor Pulse's Mark Elzayed recently analysed the outlook for the resurgent coal miner (courtesy of The Bull).

"Yancoal is balancing strong fundamentals against a near term overhang," he said.

Elzayed elaborated:

In April, YAL announced it would acquire 80% of the Kestrel metallurgical coal mine in the Bowen Basin for US$2.4 billion. The acquisition is accretive over the long term, but adds leverage.

Summarising his hold recommendation on Yancoal shares, Elzayed concluded:

Diesel cost inflation threatens to push 2026 unit costs toward the top end of its guidance range. Consensus targets of about $7.02 on July 15 imply upside, but integration and coal price risks argue for holding the stock rather than adding.

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

Yancoal reported its second-quarter (Q2 2026) results after market close on Monday.

Highlights for the three months to 30 June included a 20% quarter on quarter lift in attributable saleable coal production to 10.8 million tonnes. That presents a new quarterly production record.

The Yancoal share price also looks to be getting a lift today, with the company reporting that the average prices it received for most of its seaborne thermal coal increased by 14% to 19% over the quarter.

As for the rising diesel costs that Elzayed mentioned above, Yancoal noted:

While diesel price pressure has eased compared to early 2Q, some price uncertainty remains. We are still incurring higher prices, but the outlook for the overall impact on our 2026 operating costs has moderated.

Commenting on the company's recent US$2.4 billion acquisition, Yancoal CEO Sharif Burra said:

In April, we announced the acquisition of an 80% interest in the Kestrel Coal Mine. Adding a large, long-life asset that produces hard-coking coal at strong margins is a compelling step forward in Yancoal's growth strategy.

The post Up 20%, are Yancoal shares still a good buy right now? 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 fastest rising ASX 200 shares today are 4D Medical Ltd (ASX: 4DX), up 10%, and Deep Yellow Ltd (ASX: DYL), up 7.3%.

Among the biggest fallers are Alcoa Corporation CDI (ASX: AAI), down 3.8%, and Pexa Group Ltd (ASX: PXA), down 3.6%.

Let's check out 3 shares with new ratings from the experts today (courtesy The Bull). 

SKS Technologies Group Ltd (ASX: SKS)

The SKS Technologies share price is $7.95, down 5% today but up 250% over 12 months.

Mark Elzayed from Investor Pulse has a buy rating on this ASX 200 industrials share. 

He said: 

SKS specialises in electrical technologies and digital infrastructure. It offers services across audio visual, communications and electrical solutions in Australia.

In our view, it's a compelling buy in response to Australia's data centre electrification boom.

Sales revenue rose 13.6 per cent in the first half of 2026 when compared to the prior corresponding period, while profit before tax increased 52.8 per cent. EBITDA was up 42.9 per cent.

The company is forecasting full year revenue of $340 million in full year 2026 at a profit before tax margin of 10 per cent.

The forecast is underpinned by a robust order book and the Delta Elcom acquisition expanding its Sydney data centre footprint and representing a significant percentage of the domestic market.

Yancoal Australia Ltd (ASX: YAL)

The Yancoal share price is $5.69, up 6.1% today and down 6.5% over 12 months.

The coal producer is the third fastest-rising share of the ASX 200 today.

Elzayed has a hold rating on this ASX 200 energy share. 

He explained:  

Yancoal is balancing strong fundamentals against a near term overhang.

In April, YAL announced it would acquire 80 per cent of the Kestrel metallurgical coal mine in the Bowen Basin for $US2.4 billion. The acquisition is accretive over the long term, but adds leverage.

Diesel cost inflation threatens to push 2026 unit costs toward the top end of its guidance range.

Consensus targets of about $7.02 on July 15 imply upside, but integration and coal price risks argue for holding the stock rather than adding.

Wesfarmers Ltd (ASX: WES) 

The Wesfarmers share price is $92.64, down 0.2% today and up 10.6% over 12 months.

Tony Locantro from Alto Capital has a sell rating on the ASX 200's largest consumer discretionary share.

He said:

The company delivered a strong first half result in full year 2026, reporting net profit after tax of $1.603 billion, up 9.3 per cent, reflecting continued earnings growth across its retail portfolio amid disciplined operational execution.

Despite these strong fundamentals, much of the company's quality and long term growth outlook appear fully reflected in its premium valuation.

While Wesfarmers remains an outstanding long term business, future upside may be constrained by elevated market expectations.

Given the strong share price performance and demanding valuation, the current risk-reward balance supports taking profits at current levels.

The post Buy, hold, sell: SKS Technologies, Yancoal, Wesfarmers shares appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

The ASX 200 didn't record a gain for the day, though. It didn't record a loss either. Instead, it ended the day exactly where it started. Yep, the index was completely flat this Tuesday, moving precisely 0.00% and finishing at 8,808.5 points, where it was 24 hours ago. A rare occurrence indeed.

This fascinating result for the local markets followed a decisively negative night to kick off the American trading week on Wall Street, though.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average Index (DJX: .DJI) wasn't in a good mood, dropping 0.26%.

The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC) fared even worse, falling 1.55%

But let's return to ASX shares now and take stock of how the different ASX sectors navigated this Tuesday's tepid trading conditions.

Winners and losers

As you may expect, we had a fairly even break between winners and losers this session.

Leading the latter were real estate investment trusts (REITs). The S&P/ASX 200 A-REIT Index (ASX: XPJ) was hit hard today, tumbling 1.64%.

Consumer staples shares didn't hold their value either, with the S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Staples Index (ASX: XSJ) tanking 0.81%.

Financial stocks also had a rough time. The S&P/ASX 200 Financials Index (ASX: XFJ) retreated 0.54%.

Industrial shares were on the nose too, illustrated by the S&P/ASX 200 Industrials Index (ASX: XNJ)'s 0.47% slide.

That's it for the red sectors though, so let's get to the winners. Leading said winners were energy stocks. The S&P/ASX 200 Energy Index (ASX: XEJ) rocketed 1.98% this Tuesday.

Utilities shares were in demand as well, with the S&P/ASX 200 Utilities Index (ASX: XUJ) soaring 1.37%.

Mining stocks ran hot, too. The S&P/ASX 200 Materials Index (ASX: XMJ) surged 0.67% by the closing bell.

Healthcare shares were right behind that, as you can see by the S&P/ASX 200 Healthcare Index (ASX: XHJ)'s 0.66% jump.

Gold stocks were also in that ballpark. The All Ordinaries Gold Index (ASX: XGD) leapt 0.62% higher this session.

Consumer discretionary shares came next, with the S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Discretionary Index (ASX: XDJ) advancing 0.39%.

Communications stocks got out ahead as well. The S&P/ASX 200 Communication Services Index (ASX: XTJ) lifted 0.21% today.

Finally, tech shares were lucky to come out intact, evident by the S&P/ASX 200 Information Technology Index (ASX: XIJ)'s 0.07% bump.

Top 10 ASX 200 shares countdown

Gaming technology company Light & Wonder Inc (ASX: LNW) took out this Tuesday's top spot. Light & Wonder shares vaulted 7.98% higher today to finish at $111.60 each. We dove into this jump earlier today.

Here's how the other winners pulled up at the kerb: 

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.

Not only does your super help to build wealth for later on in life, but it also comes with the added bonus of low tax rates and the benefit of long-term compounding.

But how much do you actually need to be able to get the passive income you want when you transition to your pension phase?

Let's investigate using a $6,000-per-month passive income as a guide.

How much do I need in superannuation to get $6,000 of monthly passive income?

If you want to earn $6,000 in passive income every month from your superannuation, that equates to $72,000 per year in dividend payments.

In order to work out what superannuation balance you'd need to get that level of income, simply divide your annual passive income by the dividend yield.

The tricky part of the calculation is that the answer varies widely depending on the dividend yield of your portfolio. 

For example, a portfolio with a dividend yield of around 6% only needs to be half the size of one with a dividend yield of around 3% to generate the same level of passive income. 

How much do I need if my portfolio yields 3% to 7%?

If your overall portfolio has a dividend yield of around 3%, you'll need a balance of around $2.4 million to earn $72,000 per year in passive income.

A $2.4 million portfolio isn't achievable for many Australian investors, but the good news is that, as the dividend yield of your portfolio increases, the superannuation balance needed to earn the same passive income goes down.

Say the yield of your portfolio is around 4% or 5%, for example, your balance would need to be closer to $1.8 million or $1.44 million to earn the same dividend income. Again, these are huge numbers for a superannuation portfolio, but if you raise the yield a little higher, it's even more achievable.

A superannuation investment portfolio yielding around 6% would need to be around $1.2 million in order to earn $72,000 per year in dividend payments.

Meanwhile, a 7% dividend yield would need closer to $1 million to earn the same amount in passive income. 

Note, though, that while it's tempting to build a portfolio with a lower amount and a high yield, it can be risky from an investment perspective. Generally, the higher the yield, the higher the risk associated with that ASX stock. Instead, you should concentrate on good-quality stocks that are proven to stand the test of time.

Ok, so what ASX shares can I buy around these dividend yields?

There is a huge range of shares available, but here are some of my favourites.

Lower-yielding ASX dividend-paying shares such as Wesfarmers Ltd (ASX: WES), Evolution Mining Ltd (ASX: EVN), and Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Co Ltd (ASX: SOL) are solid and reliable shares that offer a yield of around 2% to 3%.

For a mid-range yielding ASX dividend option, I'd look at defensive assets like Telstra Group Ltd (ASX: TLS). Qantas Ltd (ASX: QAN) is a good option if you want travel exposure. Meanwhile, Yancoal Australia Ltd (ASX: YAL) and blue-chip majors like BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP) pay a decent dividend of around 3% to 4%.

For a higher 5% to 6% dividend yield, I'd look at reliable payers like APA Group (ASX: APA) or Origin Energy Ltd (ASX: ORG).

If you want to take on more risk and go for a much higher-yielding ASX stock, my picks would be something like IPH Ltd (ASX: IPH) or the BetaShares Australian Top 20 Equities Yield Maximiser Complex ETF (ASX: YMAX). These typically yield around 9% or more.

The post How much do I need in my superannuation to get $6,000 per month in passive income? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Despite the hold, the cash rate target remains at its equal highest level since 2011. 

Yesterday investors were quick to buy ASX 200 stocks right after the decision, before cooling off in the afternoon. 

How does the cash rate impact investors?

In a statement from the RBA yesterday, the central bank said it held rates at 4.35% because, after three consecutive hikes, financial conditions have tightened and the economy is showing signs of slowing. 

Essentially, the board wants to wait and see how much work those previous rises are doing before acting again. 

Inflation remains too high due to both domestic capacity pressures and Middle East oil supply disruptions, and the board has left the door firmly open to further hikes if needed.

For investors, today's hold at 4.35% is less a victory lap and more a pit stop. 

The RBA's decision was unanimous, with the board noting that following three consecutive rate hikes since the start of the year, financial conditions are now tighter and there are signs the economy is slowing as expected – exactly what they were gunning for.

Where to invest in high interest rate environments?

The board made clear that inflation is still too high and that it judged leaving the cash rate unchanged appropriate while it assesses the response to previous hikes and the ongoing impact of the oil supply disruption.

In other words, the RBA isn't done – it's watching. 

For ASX investors, that means the rate-sensitive sectors like REITs, utilities, and consumer discretionary stocks remain in the pressure cooker for now. 

The silver lining? Mortgage demand has already plummeted, dropping 6.6% year-on-year in May, suggesting the hikes are doing their job and that if inflation keeps cooling, the next move from the RBA could eventually be a cut, not another hike. 

The investors who position themselves in quality companies now, before rate relief arrives, are the ones history tends to reward. 

Stocks generating positive outlooks from experts 

For those looking to position themselves targeting quality companies, there are several generating positive outlooks right now. 

In the energy sector, brokers continue to tip further upside for Yancoal Australia Ltd (ASX: YAL). 

The coal miner is up 21% year to date however has targets indicating as much as 130% upside in the next 12 months. 

After facing several headwinds in 2026, experts now see a long-term recovery for Qantas Airways Ltd (ASX: QAN). 

Brokers are tipping a 30% rebound from current levels. 

Moving to bank shares, Judo Capital Holdings Ltd (ASX: JDO) remains the high upside choice of many experts. 

It has been tipped to rise roughly 40% in the next 12 months. 

The post RBA keeps cash rate at 4.35% – What does it mean for investors? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

But here are six ASX 200 shares that could turn the index around over the next 12 months. And they're all rated a strong buy by brokers, with upsides of up to 227% ahead.

Goodman Group (ASX: GMG) 

Goodman shares are up around 0.5% to $32.22 at the time of writing on Tuesday. The company owns strategic industrial land in major cities and has been shifting more of its development pipeline toward data centre projects. Despite concerns about property valuations and global growth, Goodman recently confirmed its FY26 guidance. It is targeting at least 9% earnings per security (EPS) growth. The combination has helped drive market interest. TradingView data shows the majority of brokers have a strong buy rating on the ASX 200 shares. They tip a 24% upside to a maximum $40 target price over the next 12 months.

Aristocrat Leisure Ltd (ASX: ALL)

Aristocrat shares are down around 1.7% at the time of writing on Tuesday, at $52.19 a piece. The company has gained a dominant share of the gaming industry and posted a positive first-half result last month. It posted a 6.4% increase in normalised revenue in constant currency, a 14% increase in normalised EBITA in constant currency, and increased its on-market share buyback program by $1 billion. Brokers are incredibly bullish that its share price can keep going higher over the next 12 months. The majority have a strong buy rating on the ASX 200 shares and tip a potential 33% upside to a maximum target price of $69.40 at the time of writing.

Yancoal Australia Ltd (ASX: YAL)

Yancoal shares are flat at the time of writing and trading for $6.07 a piece. The ASX 200 coal stock has outperformed this year, driven by higher-than-expected production figures and demand for metallurgical coal, which is used in steel production. Brokers think the coal miner's shares can fly even higher in the next 12 months. Again, the majority have a strong buy rating, and they forecast a maximum price target of $14.16, which implies a potential 133% upside ahead.

Evolution Mining Ltd (ASX: EVN)

Evolution shares are up around 1.5% in Tuesday's trade, to $13.10 a piece. The ASX 200 gold miner's shares have enjoyed a rebound in the price of gold recently, as expectations that a US-Iran peace agreement would reopen the Strait of Hormuz eased fears of an energy-driven inflation shock. Evolution recently highlighted solid growth in both gold and copper reserves, along with encouraging exploration results. Brokers tip a maximum target price of $19.55 over the next 12 months. This implies a potential 48% upside at the time of writing.

Qantas Airways Ltd (ASX: QAN)

Qantas shares are slightly higher in Tuesday's trade, up around 0.2% to $9.96 a piece. The ASX 200 airline's shares were smashed lower earlier this year but have staged an impressive comeback over the past month, on the back of stronger-than-expected travel demand and a weakening oil price, thanks to news of a potential US-Iran peace deal. Brokers tip a maximum $12.80 target price. This implies a potential upside of up to 29% at the time of writing.

Xero Ltd (ASX: XRO) 

Xero shares are down around 1.5% at the time of writing to $72.35 each. It's been a difficult year for the ASX 200 tech stock after a sector-wide sell-off saw its share price plunge. But the company benefits from an incredibly sticky subscription base and high customer retention rates. This means its revenue is relatively predictable. As a relatively small market player, it also has a lot of growth potential. Most analysts have a strong buy rating on the shares. They tip an upside of up to 227% to a maximum target price of $237.40. 

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After starting sharply lower this morning, the ASX 200 spent most of the day recovering and broke into positive territory for a brief moment this afternoon. But it was not to last, and the index ended up closing 0.23% lower at 8,633.2 points.

This tantalising day for ASX investors followed a much rougher night on Wall Street.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average Index (DJX: .DJI) was smashed, dropping a nasty 1.87%.

The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC) was hit even harder, falling 1.98%.

But let's get back to ASX shares now and take a look at what was going on 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.

Shares in the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) coal stock closed yesterday trading for $6.95. In early morning trade on Thursday, shares are changing hands for $6.95 apiece. (I'll let you do the maths!)

For some context, the ASX 200 is down 1% at this same time.

Here's what's happening.

Yancoal shares outerperforming amid AGM

Yancoal shares are outpacing the losses posted by ASX 200 today as the miner holds its annual general meeting (AGM).

On the environmental front, the company said it intends to develop a Climate Transition Plan to "strengthen climate resilience" and support its P4 Sustainability Strategy. Yancoal published its annual sustainability report in April.

Reviewing the company's 2025 performance, management highlighted that run of mine (ROM) coal production of 67 million tonnes (on a 100% basis) was up 7% from 2024, while saleable production of 50.8 million tonnes increased by 6%.

However, with 2025's average realised coal prices sliding 17% from 2024 to $146 per tonne, Yancoal's full-year revenue declined by 13% to $5.95 billion.

Underscoring the premium price of steel making coal, Yancoal received an average price of $203 per tonne for its metallurgical coal compared to $136 per tonne for its thermal coal, which is more broadly used for power generation.

Indeed, in April, Yancoal inked a deal valued at some US$2.4 billion to acquire an 80% interest in the Kestrel Coal Mine, a long-life metallurgical coal mine located in Queensland's Bowen Basin.

"Kestrel delivers increased scale and diversification to Yancoal's portfolio and is expected to contribute premium metallurgical coal into our product mix," Yancoal CEO Sharif Burra noted.

On the passive income front, Yancoal noted that it has now paid out more than $4 per share of unfranked and fully-franked dividends since 2018. That equates to some 58% of the current Yancoal share price.

What's next for the ASX 200 coal stock?

Looking to what could impact Yancoal shares in the months ahead, the miner provided full-year 2026 guidance for attributable saleable production of 36.5 million to 40.5 million tonnes. That compares to 38.6 million tonnes in 2025.

As for the impact of the Middle East conflict, Yancoal expects 2026 cash operating costs of $90 to $98 per tonne. That's up from $92 per tonne last year, with higher diesel costs expected to drive some of that increase.

On the capex front, Yancoal forecasts attributable full-year capital expenditure of $750 million to $900 million, compared to $750 million in 2025.

Management noted that, "Continual reinvestment ensures assets remain large-scale and low cost."

The post Buying Yancoal shares? Here's why the ASX 200 coal stock is outperforming 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.

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.

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:

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The benchmark index rose 2.2% this month despite peace negotiations between the US and Iran stalling and oil prices continuing to surge.

The Brent Crude oil price rose 8.8% during April to trade above US$113.50 per barrel today, its highest level since 2022.

The Strait of Hormuz remains shut down, and the global fuel supply crisis worsens by the day.

We saw the impact in yesterday's Australian inflation data, with automotive fuel prices spiking 33% in March alone.

This contributed to annual inflation rising from 3.7% over the 12 months til the end of February to 4.6% in March.

This is well outside the Reserve Bank's target band of 2% to 3%.

The market is now pricing in a 69% chance of a third interest rate increase for 2026 in Australia next week.

What's happening with the Iran war today?

There are reports that the US military will brief US President Donald Trump on potential further action against Iran.

This follows the President's rejection of Iran's latest peace proposal.

Trading Economics analysts summarised the situation:

Trump … reaffirmed that the US will maintain its naval blockade until a nuclear agreement is reached, further weakening prospects for a diplomatic resolution.

Iranian authorities warned of retaliation if the blockade continues, accusing Trump of attempting to force Tehran into submission through economic pressure and internal destabilization.

Amid this uncertainty and fears of a global recession, here are the ASX shares and ETFs that investors bought and sold most this month.

Most bought ASX shares in April

The following ASX shares and ETFs were the most bought by investors using the Bell Direct trading platform this month.

The rankings are based on order of net value of buy orders, minus sell orders, placed by Bell Direct customers.

Source: Bell Direct

Most sold ASX shares this month

Source: Bell Direct

The post Top 10 ASX shares bought and sold in April appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

However, two ASX 200 stocks that are bucking the trend and charging higher are Yancoal Australia Ltd (ASX: YAL) and Regis Healthcare Ltd (ASX: REG). 

At the time of writing, Regis Healthcare shares are almost 7% higher on Thursday, while Yancoal shares are rising 4%. 

Why are these ASX 200 stocks rising?

It seems investors are scooping up Regis Healthcare shares this morning after the company announced that FY26 underlying EBITDA is expected to be about $135 million, hitting the top end of its guidance amid strong occupancy across its mature homes.

As The Motley Fool's Laura Stewart reported earlier today, Regis Healthcare announced: 

• FY26 underlying EBITDA expected to be approximately $135 million
• Average Q3 FY26 occupancy in mature homes reached 95.9%, up on the prior period
• Net refundable accommodation deposit (RAD) inflows of $223 million year to date (March FY26)
• Total paid-up RAD balance at $2.3 billion as at 31 March 2026
• One-off profit before tax of $25 million from divestment of two homes in Far North Queensland

This has sent the stock price soaring more than 6% higher. 

Its share price is now up 18% since April 20. 

It's worth noting that the ASX 200 company also named a new CEO yesterday.

Meanwhile, ASX 200 company Yancoal is also storming higher this morning. 

This marks a third consecutive day in the green, despite no price-sensitive news out of the company this week. 

The coal miner is now up 55% year to date. 

What are experts saying?

At the time of writing, Yancoal shares are trading for $7.78 per share. 

This is below yearly highs of $8.70 hit by the coal miner in late March. 

However, estimates from brokers indicate it could race past this price in the next 12 months. 

Huatai Securities has a buy rating on Yancoal with a $14.40 share price target.

This indicates an upside potential of 85% from current levels. 

Meanwhile, for Regis Healthcare, the company is being tipped to benefit from ageing populations in the long term. 

The ASX 200 company offers aged care facilities, retirement villages, home care, day therapy, and day respite programs. 

At the time of writing, Regis Healthcare shares are trading at $6.76 per share. 

This is down 26% from 12-month highs. 

However, 5 analysts' forecasts via TradingView place a fair price estimate of $8.48 on the ASX 200 stock. 

This indicates upside potential of 25% from current levels. 

The post What are experts saying about these ASX 200 stocks soaring higher today? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.