The team at Bell Potter has provided updated guidance on one of Australia’s most popular defensive shares: Telstra Group Ltd (ASX: TLS). 

Why Telstra shares are in so many portfolios

Telstra is Australia’s largest and longest-running provider of telecommunications and information products and services. 

As one of the largest listed companies on the ASX, the telecommunications and information service provider also has a presence in 20 countries around the globe.

Its market dominance provides a defensive option for many investors, while also having a strong track record of paying healthy dividends.

These characteristics have helped Telstra shares climb 6% in 2026, while much of the ASX 200 has lagged amid global headwinds and inflation fears.

So is it a buy, hold or sell according to Bell Potter?

Here is what the broker is saying. 

Under the microscope

Bell Potter has updated its forecasts before the end of the financial year.

The changes reflect:

• Higher mobile plan prices introduced in early May.
• Higher NBN broadband prices for home and small business customers from 1 July.
• Growing competition from Starlink, especially in regional and remote Australia.
• More certainty about Telstra’s share buyback, which affects the number of shares on issue.

Bell Potter slightly increased its revenue forecasts (by less than 1%) to reflect Telstra’s recent price rises, but trimmed its underlying EBITDAaL profit forecasts by around 1% for FY26–FY28, as higher costs and increasing competition are expected to offset much of the additional revenue.

Overall, Telstra’s recent price increases should modestly boost revenue, but stronger competition (particularly from Starlink) and other factors slightly reduce profit expectations. 

Bell Potter still expects Telstra to deliver on its guidance and maintain its dividend.

Hold recommendation maintained

Based on this guidance, Bell Potter has a hold recommendation on Telstra shares along with a $5.10 price target. 

This target indicates that Telstra shares are currently trading close to fair value. 

We expect little if any surprises at the upcoming result so the focus shifts to the FY27 guidance and outlook. We and the market continue to forecast mid to high single digit growth in the key metrics of underlying EBITDAaL, cash EBIT and EPS.

Bell Potter said the key focus, therefore, is more likely to be on capital management and, in particular, whether any further share buy-back is announced. 

Telstra has already flagged growing dividends as part of its Capital Management Framework but there is perhaps some question over whether it can continue to fund share buy-backs consistent with the levels of the past two years.

The post What is Bell Potter’s updated view on Telstra shares? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Tuesday
• 2 ASX blue-chip shares offering big dividend yields
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• Why Telstra shares could be a top ASX buy for the new financial year
• 3 ASX shares I’d buy and hold for my kids

Motley Fool contributor Aaron Bell has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Telstra Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

On Monday, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) had a strong start to the week. The benchmark index rose 0.7% to 8,823.4 points.

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

ASX 200 to rise

The Australian share market looks set to rise again on Tuesday following a good night on Wall Street. According to the latest SPI futures, the ASX 200 is expected to open the day 10 points or 0.1% higher. In late trade in the United States, the Dow Jones is up 0.6%, the S&P 500 is up 1.15%, and the Nasdaq has stormed 2% higher.

Telstra shares rated as a hold

Telstra Group Ltd (ASX: TLS) shares are fully valued according to the team at Bell Potter. This morning, the broker has retained its hold rating and $5.10 price target on the telco giant’s shares, which is a touch below its current share price. The broker isn’t expecting any surprises in August, saying: “We expect little if any surprises at the upcoming result so the focus shifts to the FY27 guidance and outlook. We and the market continue to forecast mid to high single digit growth in the key metrics of underlying EBITDAaL, cash EBIT and EPS – consistent with the Connected Future 30 strategy – so, again, we see little prospect of surprise in the guidance.”

Oil prices rise

ASX 200 energy shares Beach Energy Ltd (ASX: BPT) and Santos Ltd (ASX: STO) could have a decent session after oil prices pushed higher overnight. According to Bloomberg, the WTI crude oil price is up 1.9% to US$70.51 a barrel and the Brent crude oil price is up 1.2% to US$72.85 a barrel. Traders were bidding oil higher despite easing US-Iran tensions. They may have doubts that peace talks will hold.

Gold price tumbles

It could be a tough session for ASX 200 gold shares Newmont Corporation (ASX: NEM) and Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST) after the gold price tumbled overnight. According to CNBC, the gold futures price is down 1.7% to US$4,026.1 an ounce. Concerns over rising inflation and potential interest rate hikes weighed on the precious metal.

Consumer shares to buy

Bell Potter has named the consumer shares to buy in a difficult operating environment. They are JB Hi-Fi Ltd (ASX: JBH), Universal Store Holdings Ltd (ASX: UNI), and Nick Scali Limited (ASX: NCK). Commenting on its picks, the broker said: “We continue to favour our key preferences, JBH, UNI and NCK considering their market position, gross margin levers and balance sheet strength vs current valuation.”

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

More reading

• What is Bell Potter’s updated view on Telstra shares?
• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• ASX 200 rebounds as Middle East fears cool
• What are ASX 200 futures?
• Atlas Arteria reacts to Dulles Greenway litigation outcome

Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in Universal Store. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Telstra Group. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Nick Scali and Universal Store. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

Age pension eligibility criteria will change tomorrow, potentially enabling more Australians to access this social support.

Seniors will be able to earn a bit more income, and hold a higher value of assets, while still qualifying for the age pension.

The Department of Social Services announced indexation changes to the pension’s means testing last week.

That means the thresholds for the pension’s assets test and income test are going up.

Indexation occurs twice per year to mitigate the effect of inflation.

Australians born on or after 1 January 1957 can apply for the pension at age 67, whether retired or not.

Here are the details of the changes, effective tomorrow, 1 July.

Pension means testing on assets

Assessable items for the pension assets test include ASX shares, superannuation, bonds, managed funds, rental properties, and cash.

The only exception is your personal residence.

Under the changes, single homeowners will be able to own up to $333,000 in assets and still qualify for a full pension.

If you own assets worth between $333,001 and $733,500, you will qualify for a part-payment.

Single seniors who rent their homes will be able to own up to $600,000 in assets and still qualify for the full pension.

If you own assets worth between $600,001 and $1,000,500, you will be eligible for a part-pension.

Couples who own their residence will be able to have up to $499,000 in other assets while still being eligible for the full age pension.

If you have assets worth between $499,001 and $1,102,50, you will qualify for a part-payment.

Senior couples who rent their homes will be able to own up to $766,000 in assets and still be eligible for the full age pension.

Renters with assets worth between $766,001 and $1,369,500 can apply for a part-payment.

The full age pension is $1,200.90 per fortnight for singles, and $905.20 per person, per fortnight, for couples.

Means testing on income

Under the changes, senior Australians will be able to earn a bit more from tomorrow while still being eligible for the age pension.

Single seniors will be able to earn up to $226 per fortnight and still qualify for the full age pension.

If you earn between $227 and $2,627.80 per fortnight, you can apply for a part-pension.

Couples will be able to earn up to $396 per fortnight and still qualify for the full age pension.

If you earn between $397 and $4,016.80 per fortnight, you will be eligible for a part-pension.

Assessable income includes wages and investment income.

In order to calculate investment income, Centrelink relies on generous set deeming rates.

The lower deeming rate is 1.25% and the upper deeming rate is 3.25%.

The asset value threshold is increasing to $66,800 for singles and $110,600 for couples.

This means the first $66,800 of your financial assets, or $110,600 for couples, will have a 1.25% deemed rate of interest.

Everything above that will be deemed to have earned 3.25% interest.

Investment properties are the only exception to deeming rules.

Instead, actual net rental income is used in the pension income test.

As we reported last week, Australians overestimate how much they need for a comfortable retirement by 40%.

The post You can own and earn more in retirement and still get the age pension from tomorrow appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• What is Bell Potter’s updated view on Telstra shares?
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Tuesday
• 3 super ASX shares that could be too good to ignore in July
• Why I’d buy and hold this growing ASX 200 share forever
• Where to invest $10,000 in ASX shares in July

Motley Fool contributor Bronwyn Allen has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

July is firmly on the horizon and I think it could be a good month to refresh the watchlist.

But which shares deserve your attention? Well, listed below are three ASX shares that could be too good to ignore.

Goodman Group (ASX: GMG)

Goodman could be an ASX share to watch in July. The company is best known as an industrial property giant, but that undersells what it has become.

It owns and develops the space that modern businesses need to move goods, hold inventory, serve online customers, and run increasingly complex supply chains.

Goodman’s sites are often close to major cities, transport routes, and customers, which makes them difficult to replace. In property, location still counts. In logistics property, it can be everything.

The company also has exposure to data centre demand with its huge development pipeline, giving it another growth avenue as artificial intelligence and cloud computing require more physical infrastructure.

Goodman shares are rarely cheap, but the company has a strong record of turning land, development skill, and customer demand into long-term value.

Megaport Ltd (ASX: MP1)

Megaport could be an ASX technology share to consider in July.

The company is best known for network-as-a-service technology, which helps businesses connect more easily to cloud providers, data centres, and digital services.

But the story is now broader than connectivity alone. Megaport has moved into compute through its acquisition of Latitude.sh, giving it exposure to another important part of the digital infrastructure market.

That shift is exciting because companies do not just need to move data between clouds and data centres. They also need access to flexible computing power in the right locations, particularly as artificial intelligence, gaming, streaming, software, and data-heavy applications keep growing.

Recent material contract wins suggest this side of the business is starting to gain traction, which bodes well for the future.

Netwealth Group Ltd (ASX: NWL)

Netwealth could be a third ASX share to consider buying in July.

It operates an investment platform used by financial advisers and wealth professionals to manage client money.

Its business is tied to a major shift in Australian wealth management. Advisers, investors, and institutions want better technology, cleaner reporting, broader investment menus, and more efficient administration. Netwealth has benefited from that shift by taking market share from older platform providers.

The company also has a powerful tailwind from Australia’s growing pool of retirement savings. As more money moves through superannuation, advice, and investment platforms, providers with strong technology and service can keep winning flows.

If it keeps attracting funds and advisers, the company could continue its growth long into the future.

The post 3 super ASX shares that could be too good to ignore in July appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in Goodman Group and Megaport. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Goodman Group, Megaport, and Netwealth Group. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Netwealth Group. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Goodman Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

Some S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) shares are best judged over years, not months.

I think TechnologyOne Ltd (ASX: TNE) is one of them.

The enterprise software company has been one of the ASX’s great long-term performers, and I think it remains the sort of business I would be happy to buy for the next decade.

I would still review the investment over time. No share should be ignored completely. But TechnologyOne has several qualities that make it well-suited to a long holding period.

Important software for important organisations

TechnologyOne provides enterprise software to organisations such as government bodies, councils, universities, and large enterprises.

That may sound dry, but I think the dullness is part of the charm.

Its software helps customers manage core functions such as finance, property and rating, student management, payroll, human resources, and supply chain operations. These are not nice-to-have systems, but part of how organisations operate.

Once software becomes deeply embedded in a customer’s workflows, changing providers can be disruptive, expensive, and risky.

That gives TechnologyOne a strong position.

A business that can keep improving

TechnologyOne has spent years shifting toward a software-as-a-service model.

I like that because recurring software revenue can provide visibility and scalability. As more customers use cloud-based products, the business can benefit from ongoing subscriptions, product upgrades, and deeper customer relationships.

The company also has a long runway in the UK. That opportunity will take time, but I think it gives TechnologyOne a second growth engine beyond Australia and New Zealand.

International expansion is not always easy. But the company has a focused product set and a clear customer niche, which should help.

Why I’d hold it for the long term

TechnologyOne is unlikely to be the cheapest share on the ASX 200.

Quality software companies often trade at premium valuations, and that can create risk if growth disappoints.

Even so, I think this is a business where time can do a lot of work. The company has recurring revenue, a strong customer base, a long record of execution, and products that solve essential operational problems.

That combination is rare. For a long-term investor, the ideal outcome is not a big change. It is a steady improvement: more customers, better products, higher recurring revenue, and deeper penetration in existing markets.

TechnologyOne has shown it can build value in that kind of way.

Foolish Takeaway

The ASX 200 has plenty of shares that grab attention for a week or two. TechnologyOne is more interesting to me because it has the ingredients to stay relevant for a decade.

Its software sits inside the daily operations of organisations that need reliability. Its revenue model has become more recurring, and its UK opportunity gives it room to expand beyond its home market.

The valuation will always need watching, but I think the underlying business is the sort of company that can reward patient investors.

For me, this is a share I would buy with a 10-year mindset and give the business time to keep doing what it has already done well.

The post Why I’d buy and hold this growing ASX 200 share forever appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• Why these top fundies are buying REA and TechnologyOne shares
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• Down 16%: What on earth is going on with TechnologyOne shares?
• I’d invest $500 a month in ASX 200 shares to retire early

Motley Fool contributor Grace Alvino has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Technology One. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Technology One. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

A new month can be a good time to put fresh money to work.

If you have $10,000 ready to invest in July, there are some high-quality ASX shares that could be worth a closer look.

Here are three that stand out as long-term options.

Breville Group Ltd (ASX: BRG)

Breville could be an ASX share to consider in July.

The company has built a global business around premium kitchen appliances, with products across coffee machines, cooking, food preparation, and other household categories.

The attraction here is not just that Breville sells appliances. It is that the company has found a way to turn everyday household products into aspirational purchases.

A coffee machine can become part of a routine. A better oven, air fryer, or food processor can become part of how people cook at home. This gives Breville exposure to consumer habits that can last well beyond the initial purchase.

The company also has a long international growth runway. Its brand has already travelled successfully across key markets, but there is still room to build awareness, expand distribution, and launch more products over time.

ResMed Inc (ASX: RMD)

Another ASX share that could be worth buying in July is ResMed.

It operates in sleep apnoea treatment and connected respiratory care, helping patients manage breathing-related conditions through devices, masks, software, and ongoing support.

The company sits in an area of healthcare where demand is being supported by awareness, diagnosis, ageing populations, and the need for better long-term patient management.

One of ResMed’s strengths is that treatment does not usually end with the first device sale. Patients may need replacement masks, accessories, software support, and continued care over time. That creates a repeat revenue profile that can be attractive over the long term.

With a global market position and a large pool of untreated patients, ResMed could be a high-quality healthcare share to buy and hold.

Xero Ltd (ASX: XRO)

A third ASX share to look at is Xero. It provides cloud accounting software for small businesses, accountants, and bookkeepers.

Xero’s platform helps users manage invoicing, payroll, bank feeds, reporting, compliance, payments, and adviser workflows. That puts Xero close to the financial engine room of small businesses.

The company’s opportunity is bigger than accounting alone. As small businesses become more digital, they need tools that reduce admin, improve visibility, and connect them more easily with advisers, banks, and payment systems.

Xero already has a strong position in markets such as Australia, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom, while other international markets, such as the United States, provide room for longer-term growth.

In addition, artificial intelligence could become an important part of the platform over time by automating routine tasks and improving the usefulness of the software. This could give its annual recurring revenue a big boost over the next decade.

The post Where to invest $10,000 in ASX shares in July appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• The Nasdaq just had its worst week in months. Here’s what that means for ASX tech stocks
• 3 reasons why the Xero share price is a buy in July
• Buy, hold, sell: Woodside, Xero, BHP shares
• ASX 200 retail shares outperform on growing hopes interest rates have peaked
• How to invest $500, $5,000, and $50,000 on the ASX

Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in ResMed and Xero. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended ResMed and Xero. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended ResMed and Xero. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

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

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Zip Co Ltd (ASX: ZIP) shares are pushing higher again on Monday as buyers return to the buy now, pay later (BNPL) stock.

At the time of writing, the Zip share price is up 8.33% to $3.12.

That extends a strong recent run for the ASX 200 stock. Zip shares are now up around 40% over the past month, although they remain below their 52-week high of $4.93.

More than 18 million shares had changed hands by early afternoon, with Zip trading between $2.93 and $3.14.

Here’s what appears to be helping sentiment today.

Profit momentum is doing the work

The main reason buyers are returning is that Zip is no longer being judged only on transaction growth.

According to Zip’s latest quarterly update, total transaction volume (TTV) rose 22.4% to $4 billion in the third quarter of FY26.

Total income increased 20.2% to $335.2 million.

More importantly, record cash EBTDA rose 41.5% to $65.1 million, while the operating margin expanded to 19.4%.

That was enough for management to upgrade FY26 group cash EBTDA guidance to at least $260 million.

The US business is still doing much of the heavy lifting though.

Zip said US transaction volume and revenue both grew more than 43% in US dollar terms, while US active customers increased 9%.

Bad debts are still being watched

While the growth is certainly positive, bad debts still remain one of the key risks.

Group net bad debts rose to 1.93% of transaction volume in the third quarter, up from 1.64% a year earlier.

However, Zip advised US net bad debts were steady at 1.86% of transaction volume and are expected to fall below 1.75% in the fourth quarter.

Nonetheless, the next update will be very important. Zip has the profit momentum, but it still needs to show that its bad debts are under control.

Brokers still see some upside

The broker backdrop also looks supportive.

Recent price targets include $3.10 from UBS, $3.40 from Macquarie, $3.80 from Jefferies, and $4.00 from Ord Minnett.

TradingView data also shows analysts have an average 12-month price target of $3.82 for Zip, with estimates ranging from $2.60 to $5.40.

At $3.82, the average target still sits above where Zip shares are trading today.

However, the stock has moved quickly.

The relative strength index (RSI) is sitting around 70, which points to strong momentum. But after a 40% monthly gain, it also tells us that Zip may be running a little hot in the short-term.

Can the rally keep going?

Zip is in a much better position than it was a few months ago.

The company is growing, earnings are improving, brokers remain positive, and the share buyback is still running in the background.

Zip announced an on-market buyback of up to $50 million in February, with regular buyback updates continuing through June.

However, the stock has already moved quickly over the past month, so the next update will need to excite the market.

The post Zip shares are flying again. Is this ASX 200 stock finally back in favour? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Aaron Teboneras has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

Turaco Gold Ltd (ASX: TCG) has caught the eye of a few brokers recently, after it released a positive prefeasibility study for its Afema Gold Project in southeast Côte d’Ivoire.

This time, we’re having a look at what the team at Morgans is saying about the company and how much they think its shares are worth.

First, let’s look at the company’s project.

New mine to drive share price growth

Turaco earlier this month declared a maiden ore reserve of 1.91 million ounces of gold, which it says will sustain a mine producing more than 200,000 ounces of gold per year.

And in terms of the mine’s revenue generation, the company published figures for a range of gold prices, but at US$4,000 per ounce – close to the current spot price of US$4,071.84 – the mine would generate gross revenue of US$8.095 billion over its life of 10.3 years.

The project would also have a payback period of 10 months, or 17 months if the gold price was US$3,000 per ounce.

Turaco said there was the possibility of extensions to the mineral resources, with all deposits open at depth and along strike, and there were also “numerous” additional exploration targets.

The company has immediately started a definitive feasibility study, which will also include commencing detailed design and engineering.

On the exploration front, the company will be continuing drilling with between three and five rigs operating.

Turaco Managing Director Justin Tremain said regarding the study:

In just a little over 2 years since acquiring Afema, the Turaco team has not only delivered extraordinary JORC Resource growth to 4.65 million ounces but has now also delivered a detailed development study with a maiden JORC Probable Ore Reserve estimate of just under 2 million ounces of gold based on a conservative gold price of US$2,000/oz and an AISC of just over US$1,500/oz, all within a granted mining permit. This progress is unmatched. The Study is the culmination of an extensive body of work including over 100,000m of drilling, comprehensive metallurgical variability test work, geotechnical test work, process and mine design, costing and scheduling.

Mr Tremain said the company was aiming to finish the definitive feasibility study by the second quarter of calendar year 2027 and to commence early works to allow first gold production in 2029.

Shares still looking cheap

The team at Morgans likes the project, but has sharply downgraded its price target for the company in its recent note to clients.

The analysts said:

While the prefeasibility study reinforces our conviction in Afema, following the transition of coverage, we have updated our forecasts to reflect the study outcomes and revised our valuation methodology. We also revise our recommendation to speculative buy, reflecting our reassessment of sovereign risk, together with the increased funding and execution risks associated with TCG’s transition from explorer to developer.

Morgans has a price target of $1.18 on Turaco shares, compared to $2.19 previously.

Macquarie also recently published a research report on Turaco with a price target of $1 per share.

Turaco shares are currently valued at 47 cents. The company is valued at $506.2 million.

The post Want a 151% return? One broker thinks this ASX gold company could deliver appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Cameron England has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Macquarie Group. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Macquarie Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is back in the green on Monday as investors take a slightly calmer view of the Middle East.

At the time of writing, the benchmark index is up 0.22% to 8,783 points.

It was a stronger move earlier in the day, with the ASX 200 rising as high as 8,822 points before giving back a large part of its morning gain.

The gains came after reports that the United States and Iran have agreed to pause recent attacks and return to talks over the Strait of Hormuz.

Oil prices are still higher, with crude trading around US$70.03 a barrel, up 1.16%.

US futures are also pointing higher, giving local investors a better lead after a choppy finish to last week.

Here are some of the ASX 200 shares helping keep the market in positive territory today.

Banks and healthcare shares lift the index

The big four banks are doing a fair bit of the work today.

Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA) shares are up 0.73% to $163.21, while National Australia Bank Ltd (ASX: NAB) shares are up 0.88% to $37.84.

Westpac Banking Corp (ASX: WBC) shares are also higher, rising 0.34% to $35.26, and ANZ Group Holdings Ltd (ASX: ANZ) shares are up 0.03% to $35.05.

Healthcare shares are giving the market another boost after a rough patch for parts of the sector.

CSL Ltd (ASX: CSL) shares are up 1.23% to $116.28, while Pro Medicus Ltd (ASX: PME) shares are 2.99% higher at $194.53.

Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Corporation Ltd (ASX: FPH) shares are also trading higher, rising 1.60% to $32.075.

Aristocrat Leisure Ltd (ASX: ALL) is another large-cap name helping the index, with its shares up 3.19% to $60.56.

But there are still plenty of losers

Even with the ASX 200 higher, there are still some large-cap shares holding it back.

Transurban Group (ASX: TCL) shares are down 4.55% to $14.69, making it one of the bigger drags on the index today.

BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP) shares are down 0.09% to $58.94, while Rio Tinto Ltd (ASX: RIO) shares are down 1.20% to $171.55.

Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST) shares are also under pressure, falling 1.89% to $20.20.

On the other hand, Fortescue Ltd (ASX: FMG) shares are moving the other way, rising 1% to $19.26.

What investors are watching now

Today’s move is a welcome lift for the ASX 200, but the index is still up just 0.8% since the start of 2026.

The next test is whether the ASX 200 can hold onto its gain into the close.

If the banks and healthcare stocks keep pushing higher, the market should have a better chance of finishing in positive territory.

The post ASX 200 rebounds as Middle East fears cool appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Aaron Teboneras has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended CSL and Transurban Group. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has recommended Pro Medicus. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Transurban Group. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended BHP Group, CSL, and Pro Medicus. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.