On Wednesday, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) recorded a small gain. The benchmark index rose 0.1% to 8,978.7 points.

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

ASX 200 set to open flat

The Australian share market looks set for a subdued session on Thursday despite a relatively good night on Wall Street. According to the latest SPI futures, the ASX 200 is expected to open the day flat this morning. In late trade in the United States, the Dow Jones is down 0.25%, the S&P 500 is up 0.6% and the Nasdaq is 1.2% higher.

Buy Evolution Mining shares

Bell Potter thinks investors should be buying Evolution Mining Ltd (ASX: EVN) shares. This morning, the broker has retained its buy rating on the gold miner’s shares with a trimmed price target of $16.45. It said: “EVN offers effectively unhedged gold and copper exposure via a portfolio of high quality, long-life assets in Tier 1 jurisdictions, overseen by a high-quality management team. EVN has stated its intention to pass growing free cash flows on to shareholders.”

Oil prices mixed

ASX 200 energy shares Beach Energy Ltd (ASX: BPT) and Santos Ltd (ASX: STO) could have a subdued session on Thursday after oil prices traded mixed. According to Bloomberg, the WTI crude oil price is up 0.1% to US$91.30 a barrel and the Brent crude oil price is down 0.1% to US$88.12 a barrel. Traders appear to be waiting to see what happens with US-Iran peace talks.

Nufarm shares rated as a buy

Nufarm Ltd (ASX: NUF) shares could continue to rise after surging 11% on Wednesday. That’s the view of analysts at Bell Potter, who have put a buy rating and $3.60 price target on the agricultural chemicals company’s shares. It said: “NUF has provided a trading update, highlighting +16-19% YoY growth in 1H26 uEBITDA and a deleveraging of the balance sheet slightly ahead of expectations.”

Gold price softens

ASX 200 gold shares including Newmont Corporation (ASX: NEM) and Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST) could have a soft session on Thursday after the gold price dropped overnight. According to CNBC, the gold futures price is down 0.65% to US$4,817.9 an ounce. Traders continue to wait for news from the US-Iran peace talks before making any major moves.

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

More reading

• Why Evolution Mining, Mesoblast, Nufarm, and Virgin Australia shares are storming higher today
• Why is this $25 billion ASX mining stock charging higher today?
• Why Nufarm shares just exploded higher on Wednesday
• Has the ASX 200 or S&P 500 been a better investment this year?
• Virgin Australia’s FY26 update: Hedging cushions rising fuel costs

Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro 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.

If you are investing with a long time horizon, simplicity often wins.

Rather than constantly adjusting your portfolio or chasing short-term opportunities, a small number of well-chosen exchange traded funds (ETFs) can provide exposure to global growth, diversification, and compounding over many years.

Here are three ASX ETFs that could be strong buy-and-hold options for the next decade.

Vanguard MSCI Index International Shares ETF (ASX: VGS)

The first ASX ETF that could be a core long-term holding is the Vanguard MSCI Index International Shares ETF.

It offers investors exposure to a broad range of companies across developed markets, including the United States, Europe, and parts of Asia.

Its holdings include global leaders such as Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL), Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT), and NVIDIA (NASDAQ: NVDA).

What arguably makes the Vanguard MSCI Index International Shares ETF so powerful is its simplicity. It provides instant diversification across industries and geographies, allowing investors to benefit from global economic growth without needing to pick individual stocks.

Over a decade, this kind of broad exposure can form the backbone of a portfolio.

BetaShares Nasdaq 100 ETF (ASX: NDQ)

Another ASX ETF that could be worth considering is the BetaShares Nasdaq 100 ETF.

This fund focuses on the Nasdaq 100 index, which is heavily weighted towards technology companies.

Top holdings include NVIDIA, Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN), Netflix (NASDAQ: NFLX), Palantir Technologies (NASDAQ: PLTR), and Meta Platforms (NASDAQ: META).

This ETF offers more concentrated exposure to the companies shaping the future of the global economy. While it can be more volatile than broader funds, it also has the potential to deliver stronger growth over time.

For long-term investors, that trade-off can be worthwhile.

VanEck Morningstar Wide Moat ETF (ASX: MOAT)

A third ASX ETF that could be a top long-term pick is the VanEck Morningstar Wide Moat ETF.

It takes a more selective approach, focusing on companies with sustainable competitive advantages and attractive valuations.

Its holdings change periodically but currently include businesses such as drinks giant PepsiCo (NASDAQ: PEP), sporting goods leader Nike (NYSE: NKE), and entertainment behemoth Walt Disney (NYSE: DIS).

This quality-focused strategy can help reduce downside risk while still capturing long-term growth.

By targeting companies with durable moats, the ETF aims to build a portfolio that can perform well across different market environments.

The post 3 ASX ETFs to buy and hold for the next decade appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• Has the ASX 200 or S&P 500 been a better investment this year?
• 3 top ASX ETFs I’d buy and hold for 10 years (and why)
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• How ASX ETF investors repositioned as the Iran war shook markets
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Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in BetaShares Nasdaq 100 ETF, Nike, VanEck Morningstar Wide Moat ETF, and Walt Disney. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Amazon, Apple, BetaShares Nasdaq 100 ETF, Meta Platforms, Microsoft, Netflix, Nike, Nvidia, and Walt Disney and is short shares of Apple and BetaShares Nasdaq 100 ETF. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended BetaShares Nasdaq 100 ETF. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Amazon, Apple, Meta Platforms, Microsoft, Netflix, Nike, Nvidia, VanEck Morningstar Wide Moat ETF, Vanguard Msci Index International Shares ETF, and Walt Disney. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

A new report from Canaccord Genuity has outlined how investors can position their portfolios for the emerging artificial intelligence build-out. 

AI adoption is scaling rapidly, and it is now being considered a structural growth theme in global equities.

Rising earnings and visible demand

According to the report, the investment in infrastructure required to build, train, and deploy AI systems at scale represents a multi-year capital cycle with visible demand, rising earnings, and strong competitive positions across the supply chain. 

The commercial applications for AI are broad: 

• automating software engineering
• improving ad targeting
• accelerating scientific research
• optimising supply chains
• transforming enterprise workflows. 

Deploying these systems at scale requires substantial infrastructure, spanning advanced semiconductors, hyperscale data centres, high-performance networking, and significant power generation capacity. 

The depth of this capital requirement, combined with the breadth of end-market demand, is what makes AI a structural rather than cyclical investment theme.

The pillars supporting AI infrastructure

Canaccord said that adoption and monetisation are accelerating. 

Data shows ChatGPT reached 900 million weekly active users in February 2026 – a 350% increase in 18 months. 

AI adoption has moved well beyond  early experimentation. Revenue has followed. Enterprise generative AI spending surged from approximately US$11.5 billion in 2024 to May-24 US$37 billion in 2025, a threefold increase.

At the same time, falling AI costs are accelerating demand and valuations have de-rated while earnings revisions remain positive. 

The pullback in AI-linked equities over the past six months has compressed valuations to levels where the market appears to be pricing in deceleration risk. 

What should investors be targeting?

Canaccord’s preferred exposure is to AI semiconductors and capital equipment. 

It listed 6 stocks for AI themed exposure: 

• Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN)
• ASML (NASDAQ: ASML)
• Broadcom (NASDAQ: AVGO)
• Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT)
• Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA)
• Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing (NYSE: TSM). 

NVIDIA dominates AI-training GPUs, Broadcom leads custom silicon design, TSMC fabricates the leading edge chips both depend on, and ASML holds a monopoly in the lithography systems underpinning advanced production. 

Amazon and Microsoft offer the largest and most profitable cloud platforms, where AI workloads are driving revenue reacceleration and backlog growth.

For investors looking to basket these companies together, Canaccord pointed towards the Global X Semiconductor ETF (ASX: SEMI). 

The report said SEMI is the most accessible option for Australian-based investors: ASX-listed in Australian dollars, across the 30 largest global semiconductor companies, with meaningful weight in TSMC, ASML, Nvidia, and Broadcom.

However it did note that no single ETF isolates the combination of semiconductors and selective hyperscalers from the report. 

The post How to invest in the AI Build-Out: Expert appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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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 positions in and has recommended ASML, Amazon, Broadcom, Microsoft, Nvidia, and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended ASML, Amazon, Microsoft, and Nvidia. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

Mesoblast Ltd (ASX: MSB) shares are on the rise on Wednesday afternoon.

At the time of writing, the ASX biotechnology stock is up 8% to $2.17, outperforming a relatively flat ASX 200 index.

Why are Mesoblast shares rising today?

Investors have been bidding the company’s shares higher following the announcement of a strategic acquisition that could enhance its product pipeline in the future.

According to the release, Mesoblast has secured an exclusive worldwide licence to a patented chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) technology platform.

This technology is designed to improve the effectiveness of the company’s existing mesenchymal stromal cell (MSC) therapies by enhancing their ability to target diseased tissue.

Mesoblast advised that its current MSC therapies already have natural anti-inflammatory and tissue repair capabilities.

However, by incorporating CAR technology, the company aims to significantly improve how these therapies home in on inflamed or damaged tissue.

The goal is to increase both the precision and potency of its treatments, particularly in inflammatory and autoimmune diseases.

Management highlights that this could create opportunities to develop more effective treatments for conditions such as ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease, as well as Lupus Nephritis.

Backed by leading research

The underlying CAR technology was developed by researchers at the prestigious Mayo Clinic in the United States and published in a leading scientific journal.

Mesoblast has obtained the intellectual property through the acquisition of a startup established to advance the platform.

As part of the agreement, Mayo Clinic will also provide support to further develop the technology, including assistance with manufacturing processes.

The acquisition was completed through the issuance of shares rather than cash, allowing the company to strengthen its technology base without a direct cash outlay.

Management commentary

Mesoblast’s chief executive, Silviu Itescu, said the acquisition aligns closely with the company’s strategy to build on its leadership in cellular therapies. He commented:

This innovative genetic modification technology fits well with our strategy to extend our market leadership by creating products with even greater efficacy and new target indications.

Following today’s move higher, Mesoblast shares continued to outperform the market and are now up 27% since this time last year.

As a comparison, the ASX 200 index is up by around 15% over the same period.

The post Why are Mesoblast shares jumping 8% today? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro 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.

Many of Australia’s top brokers have been busy adjusting their financial models and recommendations again. This has led to a number of broker notes being released this week.

Three ASX shares that brokers have named as buys this week are listed below. Here’s why their analysts are feeling bullish on them right now:

Capstone Copper Corp (ASX: CSC)

According to a note out of Morgans, its analysts have retained their buy rating on this copper producer’s shares with a trimmed price target of $15.40. The broker has adjusted its FY 2026 production estimates to reflect the phasing of maintenance across assets and a revised production mix between cathode and sulphide output at Mantos Blancos and Mantoverde. While this has resulted in a slightly lower valuation, the broker remains very positive. It highlights that Capstone Copper has a very strong growth outlook and looks cheap compared to peers. The Capstone Copper share price is trading at $12.85 on Wednesday afternoon.

Qantas Airways Ltd (ASX: QAN)

A note out of Macquarie reveals that its analysts have retained their outperform rating on this airline operator’s shares with a trimmed price target of $11.00. This follows the release of a market update which revealed higher fuel costs compared to previous expectations. However, Macquarie was pleased to see that Qantas’ yields have improved, which has led to international and domestic revenue growing more than expected. In addition, it thinks Qantas is well-placed to adapt to the war in the Middle East through its accelerated fleet retirement. The Qantas share price is fetching $9.12 at the time of writing.

Zip Co Ltd (ASX: ZIP)

Analysts at Citi have retained their buy rating and $2.60 price target on this buy now pay later provider’s shares. According to the note, the broker has been looking at app data and believes it points to steady growth in downloads in March. In addition, app sessions data suggests that users are making more transactions. Citi believes this reflects the company’s focus on transaction growth ahead of just new customer acquisitions. In light of this, the broker feels optimistic that Zip will release a solid quarterly update later this week. However, it will be keeping a close eye on US net bad debts. The Zip share price is trading at $1.85 on Wednesday.

The post Top brokers name 3 ASX shares to buy today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• What does this broker have to say about Cleanaway Waste Management and Capstone Copper shares?
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• Why Clarity, Qantas, Universal Store, and Westpac shares are falling today
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Citigroup is an advertising partner of Motley Fool Money. Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro 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.

The ANZ Group Holdings Ltd (ASX: ANZ) share price is down 1% to $38.07 at the time of writing on Wednesday afternoon.

It’s been a pretty volatile start to the year for the Australian banking giant.

ANZ shares were relatively flat between early-December and early-February, but they jumped over 11% off the back of the banking giant’s stronger-than-expected quarterly update. 

The bank reported a first-quarter cash profit of $1.94 billion, which was up a whopping 75% on the second-half average of FY25 and came in ahead of expectations.

After a couple of ups and downs the shares ended the month 9% higher before crashing over 10% throughout March. ANZ wasn’t alone here though. ASX bank stocks slumped across the board as geopolitical tensions, ongoing conflict in the Middle East, soaring fuel prices, and interest rate growth caused concerns about an economic slowdown.

It wasn’t long until the ANZ share price took another turn, climbing 5.9% in the first couple of weeks of April. Shares are also up 4.5% for the year to date and 37.8% higher than 12 months ago.

Why is the ANZ share price being so volatile?

There are a few reasons.

April has been a good month for the banking sector as a whole. ASX bank shares have rallied after macro fears eased. These were driven by geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, oil shocks, and trade uncertainties.

Expectations that the US and Iran could soon reach a peace agreement to end the war is also helping to boost markets.

At the same time, economists are not predicting higher and sustained interest rate levels. ANZ economists anticipate that the Reserve Bank will hike interest rates in May. 

Banks like ANZ benefit from interest rate increases over the short term because higher net interest markets help to support earnings levels.

Meanwhile, ANZ’s stable earnings, predictable cash flow, and diversified portfolio mean that it looks better value versus its peers. It’s likely some investors could have been rotating into the stock in the dip.

But why are the shares tumbling again this week?

There isn’t any price-sensitive news out of ANZ to explain the latest share price tumble, so its likely to be the result of investors taking gains after a jump earlier this month, combined with some softening across the sector.

What do brokers expect out of the ANZ share price this year?

Brokers are undecided about the outlook for ANZ shares over the next 12 months. Out of 16 analysts, six have a buy or strong buy rating, and six have a hold rating. Another four have a sell or strong sell rating on the bank’s shares.

The average target price of $36.43 implies a potential 4.2% downside at the time of writing. But the maximum target price is $43, which represents a potential 13% upside from here.

For context, brokers hold a sell or strong sell rating on all the other big four major Aussie banks. 

The post What’s going on with the ANZ share price? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Samantha Menzies 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.

The team at Morgans has been busy running the rule over a number of ASX shares this week.

Three that the broker has been looking at are named below. Let’s see if it is bullish on these:

A2 Milk Company Ltd (ASX: A2M)

Morgans was disappointed to see this infant formula company downgrade its guidance this week. However, it acknowledges that the reasons for the downgrade were out of A2 Milk’s control.

And with concerns that the issues could linger, the broker has trimmed its forecasts. Nevertheless, due to share price weakness, Morgans has upgraded A2 Milk’s shares to an accumulate rating with an $8.70 price target. It said:

A2M’s FY26 earnings downgrade was due to factors largely out of its own control, being higher freight/supply chain costs associated with the conflict in the Middle East and delays getting product released (enhanced testing and customs clearance) following peer recalls. Importantly, the demand for its products is strong. Guidance has been revised due to supply constraints (lower sales and product mix issues dilute margins) and higher costs.

We have revised our forecasts. In our view, while some of the issues are one-off in nature, increased costs associated with the conflict are likely to continue into FY27. Despite this, we still expect strong growth in FY27 given A2 Pokeno is expected to break even and new China label (CL) IF products will be launched. Following material share price weakness, we upgrade to an ACCUMULATE recommendation with a new price target of A$8.70 (was A$9.50).

BMC Minerals Ltd (ASX: BMC)

Morgans notes that this mineral exploration company has received a major boost from authorities in Yukon, Canada.

This has de-risked the Kudz Ze Kayah Project, leaving it well-placed to benefit from strong precious metal prices. As a result, it has retained its speculative buy rating with an improved price target of $5.70. It said:

BMC has received a positive Decision Document from the Government of Yukon for development of the ABM deposit at the Kudz Ze Kayah (KZK) Project. This represents the key de-risking milestone for KZK, addressing what has historically been the primary development headwind.

We maintain our SPECULATIVE BUY rating and A$5.70ps price target (previously A$4.90), with the uplift driven by refreshed precious metals price assumptions and reduced permitting risk. The recent de-risking supports our assumption of future equity funding at 0.7x NAV (previously 0.6x NAV), resulting in lower dilution and a reduced forecast SOI.

Cleanaway Waste Management Ltd (ASX: CWY)

The broker highlights that this waste management company has downgraded its guidance due to negative impacts from the war in the Middle East.

While the broker has downgraded its forecasts to reflect this, it remains positive and has put a buy rating and $2.95 price target on its shares. It commented:

CWY has revised down its FY26 EBIT guidance as a result of the impacts of the war in the Middle East. We have updated our forecasts for the EBIT guidance downgrade and higher interest rate environment.

EBITDA downgrades are relatively small but EPS downgrades are material in the short term given the funding and depreciation costs of CWY’s asset base. Target price $2.95/sh. BUY retained. Potential upside catalyst is next Tuesday’s strategy briefing.

The post What is Morgans saying about A2 Milk and these ASX shares? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

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Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro 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.

In the last 6 months, there have been three new ASX ETFs launched by Global X. 

Global X has carved out a portfolio of available ETFs, with many of them existing as thematic options. 

Thematic ASX ETFs focus investing according to a certain sector or focus.

There are no hard-and-fast rules as to what themes qualify, but they tend to focus on future changes such as disruptions, new technologies and megatrends, sustainability, founder-led companies, or subsectors like electric vehicles and cybersecurity.

In the last 6 months, Global X has introduced three such funds that focus on humanoid robotics, silver miners, and Japanese equities. 

Let’s see how they are performing. 

Global X Japan Topix 100 Etf (ASX: J100)

Late last year Global X released this Japanese focused ASX ETF. 

This fund tracks the Topix 100 Total Return Index, which is a subset of the broader TOPIX (Tokyo Stock Price Index) and represents the 100 largest and most liquid companies on the Tokyo Stock Exchange.

According to Global X, after years of lying relatively quiet, the perception is beginning to shift on Japanese stocks. 

Global X believes the economic environment in Japan is starting to shift for a few reasons: 

• Japanese inflation is normalising
• Reforms driven by the Tokyo Stock Exchange and regulators are pushing companies to repurpose excess cash, increase dividends, and engage in buybacks
• Blue-chip firms are engaged in global megatrends like AI, EVs, and energy transition

Despite these emerging tailwinds, this ASX ETF has only risen 0.8% since its inception late last year. 

Global X Silver Miners ETF (ASX: SLVM)

This ASX ETF includes a basket of roughly 39 diversified silver miners. 

It first listed on the ASX in January this year. 

According to Global X, silver’s increased industrial usage, including in photovoltaics, grid expansion, and semiconductor manufacturing, has reshaped investor perceptions and underpins a more structural, long-term investment case.

However, since its inception, global silver prices have fallen, leading to a 10% drop for this ASX ETF. 

Global X Humanoid Robotics ETF (ASX: HMND)

The newest ASX ETF from Global X is this thematic fund focused on investing in companies across the humanoid robotics value chain, including robot developers and the key components that enable movement, sensing, and control.

According to Global X, it provides diversified exposure across builders, components, and enablers required to scale embodied AI systems.

At the time of writing, it includes a total of 30 holdings. 

Since its inception late last month, it has already risen more than 6%. 

The post How have these new ASX ETFs been performing since inception? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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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 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.

The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is having a relatively positive session on Wednesday. In afternoon trade, the benchmark index is up 0.1% to 8,982 points.

Four ASX shares that have failed to follow the market higher today are listed below. Here’s why they are falling:

Boss Energy Ltd (ASX: BOE)

The Boss Energy share price is down 11% to $1.54. Investors have been selling the uranium producer’s shares after it downgraded its guidance. Boss Energy now expects FY 2026 production for the Honeymoon operation to be between 1.40 million and 1.45 million pounds of U3O8. This is down from previous guidance of 1.6 million pounds. The company’s managing director, Matthew Dusci, said: “We recognise this downgrade is disappointing, particularly after maintaining guidance as recently as March. At that time, our expectation was that site access and reagent deliveries would normalise during the month. Subsequent unexpected rainfall, combined with the degraded baseline condition of access roads, extended disruption materially beyond that assumption. This has impacted both production and the timing of commissioning critical infrastructure during ramp-up.”

Telix Pharmaceuticals Ltd (ASX: TLX)

The Telix Pharmaceuticals share price is down 6% to $14.50. This has been driven by news that the radiopharmaceuticals company is raising US$600 million through a convertible bonds offering. The bonds are expected to carry a relatively low coupon of between 1.50% and 1.75% and will be issued with a conversion price of US$13.85 (~A$19.55). This is a premium of approximately 37.5% to the current share price. Telix’s managing director and group CEO, Dr. Christian Behrenbruch, said: “The successful completion of the convertible bonds refinance is in line with our capital management strategy and provides financial flexibility for Telix. We are pleased with the support we have received from both existing and new investors as part of the concurrent repurchase and new issue of convertible bonds.”

Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS)

The Woodside Energy share price is down 2.5% to $33.13. Investors have been selling the energy producer’s shares today in response to reports that the US and Iran have re-entered peace talks. This caused oil prices to tumble overnight. It isn’t just Woodside shares that are falling. The S&P/ASX 200 Energy index is down 2% at the time of writing.

Yancoal Australia Ltd (ASX: YAL)

The Yancoal Australia share price is down 2.5% to $7.06. This is despite the coal miner announcing a major acquisition today. Yancoal revealed that it has agreed to acquire an 80% interest in the Kestrel coal mine in Queensland’s Bowen Basin for up to US$2.4 billion. This includes an upfront payment of US$1.85 billion, as well as contingent payments of up to US$550 million that are linked to future coal prices.

The post Why Boss Energy, Telix, Woodside, and Yancoal shares are falling today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

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

The team at Morgans have updated their outlook on ASX shares Cleanaway Waste Management Ltd (ASX: CWY) and Capstone Copper Corp (ASX: CSC). 

Both ASX shares have fallen so far in 2026, but the broker is confident these companies can rebound.

Buy rating retained for Cleanaway Waste Management

Cleanaway Waste Management is Australia’s largest waste management business, with a national footprint. Its services span collection, midstream waste processing, treatment, recycling, and downstream waste disposal.

Its share price is down 13% year to date.

Yesterday, the company released a trading update due to the impacts of the conflict in the Middle East. 

The company said the war has increased fuel, supplier, and logistics costs, reduced Middle East Contract Resources activity, and created uncertainty, especially in projects. 

Cleanaway expects to recover much of the fuel cost increases over time but is closely monitoring impacts. The combined effect is an estimated ~$20 million reduction in FY26 EBIT, with revised guidance of $460 to $480 million (down from $480 to $500 million).

In response, the team at Morgans updated its forecasts for the EBIT guidance downgrade and higher interest rate environment. 

EBITDA downgrades are relatively small but EPS downgrades are material in the short term given the funding and depreciation costs of CWY’s asset base. Target price $2.95/sh. BUY retained. Potential upside catalyst is next Tuesday’s strategy briefing.

From the current share price of approximately $2.26, the price target from Morgans indicates an upside potential of 30%. 

Capstone Copper Corp still a buy

Capstone Copper shares also received updated guidance from the team at Morgans. 

The company operates as a copper producer with a diversified portfolio of operating assets focused in the Americas, with an extensive pipeline of near-term organic growth opportunities.

In 2026, its share price has fallen roughly 11.5%. 

However over the last 12 months, it has benefited from rising global copper prices and its stock price is up more than 80% in that span. 

Today, its share price has climbed approximately 1.4%. 

The team at Morgans slightly reduced its share price target for Capstone Copper shares. 

We have adjusted our CY26 production forecasts to better reflect the phasing of maintenance across assets and a revised production mix between cathode and sulphide output at Mantos Blancos and Mantoverde. Net these changes our target price moves to A$15.40ps (previously A$16ps) and we maintain our BUY rating.

From today’s share price of $12.84, the updated price target indicates an upside potential of approximately 20%. 

The post What does this broker have to say about Cleanaway Waste Management and Capstone Copper shares? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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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 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.