It has been a busy week for many of Australia’s top brokers. This has led to a number of broker notes hitting the wires.

Three broker buy ratings that you might want to know more about are summarised below. Here’s why brokers think these ASX shares are in the buy zone right now:

Goodman Group (ASX: GMG)

According to a note out of Citi, its analysts have retained their buy rating and $40.00 price target on this industrial property company’s shares. The broker has been looking at Goodman’s data centre developments and believes things are going well. It highlights that hyperscale customers are in negotiations in key markets, which could mean that lease agreements are signed in the near future. Citi believes this could lead to the company’s earnings growing ahead of consensus estimates. The Goodman share price is trading at $31.66 on Friday afternoon.

Nick Scali Limited (ASX: NCK)

A note out of Morgans reveals that its analysts have initiated coverage on this furniture retailer’s shares with a $17.84 price target. The broker believes investors should look past near-term consumer weakness and focus on its positive long-term growth outlook. It highlights the company’s best-in-class margins, operating leverage, strong cash generation, and robust balance sheet, which leave ample cash flow for dividends, property purchases, and growth ventures. In addition, looking to the future, the broker believes that further Plush and Nick Scali rollouts in the ANZ region and the Nick Scali rollout opportunity in the UK provide an attractive growth leg. The Nick Scali share price is fetching $15.47 at the time of writing.

WiseTech Global Ltd (ASX: WTC)

Analysts at Bell Potter have retained their buy rating on this logistics software company’s shares with a trimmed price target of $71.75. According to the note, the broker believes that WiseTech could be having difficulty moving its large customers over to CargoWise Value Packs this financial year. As a result, it has reduced its CargoWise revenue forecasts in the short to medium term given it expects this transition to provide a boost to revenue with the shift to transaction-based pricing. Nevertheless, Bell Potter remains positive and highlights that its valuation is a significant premium to the share price. It also believes the lack of progress with CargoWise Value Packs is already reflected in the share price as well as the risk of a revenue result at the low end of guidance. The WiseTech Global share price is trading at $37.56 today.

The post Brokers name 3 ASX shares to buy right now appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Morgans names 3 ASX shares to buy in June
• 2 incredible ASX 200 shares to buy and hold for 10 years
• Buy, hold, sell: Nick Scali, Nyrada, Wesfarmers shares
• 3 buy-rated ASX growth shares tipped to rise 30%+
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Friday

Citigroup is an advertising partner of Motley Fool Money. Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in Goodman Group and WiseTech Global. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Goodman Group and WiseTech Global. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended WiseTech Global. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Goodman Group and Nick Scali. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

CSL Ltd (ASX: CSL) shares have finally shown some life.

The biotechnology giant’s share price has risen around 15% since this time last week. That is a big move in a short period, particularly for a company that has been under such heavy pressure.

The question now is whether the recent bounce has taken away the opportunity, or whether it is simply the first sign that investors are starting to reassess the risk/reward.

I think it is the latter.

CSL shares still look reasonably valued

The first thing that stands out to me is the valuation.

Even after that rebound, CSL shares are trading around $108 and are down 55% over the past 12 months.

This means that based on consensus earnings per share estimates, CSL is trading on around 13.4 times FY26 earnings. That falls to about 12.9 times FY27 earnings and around 12.8 times FY28 earnings.

For a global healthcare company with CSL’s scale, those multiples do not look demanding to me.

Of course, the market is applying a lower valuation for a reason. Investors have become more cautious about earnings growth, execution, guidance, margins, and the pace of recovery.

But a lot of that caution now appears to be reflected in the share price.

At previous points in its history, CSL often traded at a far richer valuation because investors were willing to pay up for reliability and growth. The market is taking a much more sceptical view today.

That creates a different type of opportunity. Investors do not need the company to regain its old premium immediately. They need CSL to stabilise, improve execution, and show that earnings can start moving in the right direction again.

The dividend is more appealing

The dividend also looks more interesting after the share price falls.

Using consensus dividend per share estimates, CSL is forecast to pay $3.57 per share in FY26, $3.72 in FY27, and $3.79 in FY28.

At a $108 share price, that implies forward dividend yields of around 3.3%, 3.4%, and 3.5%, respectively.

CSL has rarely been viewed as an income stock. Investors have usually owned it for growth, global healthcare exposure, and long-term compounding.

But the yield now adds another layer to the investment case. It gives shareholders a reasonable income stream while they wait for the business to rebuild confidence.

Foolish Takeaway

I do not think the recent rebound means investors have missed the chance to buy CSL shares.

The share price has moved higher quickly, but it remains far below where it was a year ago. The valuation still looks reasonable, the dividend yield has become more attractive, and expectations are much lower than they used to be.

CSL still has work to do, and this is unlikely to be a smooth recovery story. But if the business starts rebuilding earnings momentum, today’s share price could still prove to be an attractive entry point.

The post Up 15% in a week, is it too late to buy rebounding CSL shares? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• The ASX shares I’d pick in a FIFA World Cup first eleven
• Where to invest $50,000 in ASX 200 shares in FY27
• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• 8 ASX 200 shares with renewed buy ratings this week
• How much does UBS think CSL will bounce back?

Motley Fool contributor Grace Alvino has positions in CSL. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended CSL. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended CSL. 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 enjoying one of its strongest sessions in months on Friday.

At the time of writing, the benchmark index is up 1.82% to 8,790 points after reaching an intraday high of 8,809 points.

That leaves the ASX 200 within 4.3% of its 52-week high and on track to finish the week comfortably higher.

The buying has also been spread widely across the market. Around 154 companies are trading higher, compared with only 38 fallers and 8 unchanged stocks.

Let’s take a closer look at what is driving the market today.

Wall Street sets the tone

Australian shares followed Wall Street higher after a strong overnight session.

The gains came after US President Donald Trump said a deal with Iran could be signed as early as this weekend.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average Index (DJX: .DJI) rose 1.9%, the S&P 500 Index (SP: .INX) gained 1.8%, and the Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC) climbed 2.5%.

Investors are hoping a deal could bring the conflict to an end and reduce the risk of further disruption to oil supplies through the Strait of Hormuz.

Oil prices have fallen as those concerns ease, with Brent crude dropping below US$89 a barrel. That has taken some pressure off inflation expectations after weeks of concern about higher energy costs.

Excitement surrounding the US listing of Elon Musk’s SpaceX (NASDAQ: SPCX) is also helping the mood. The company raised US$75 billion through its initial public offering (IPO), valuing it at around US$1.77 trillion.

Miners and banks lead the rally

During mid-afternoon trade, 9 of the ASX’s 11 sectors are trading higher, with resources leading the way after jumping 3.11%.

BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP) shares are up 3.22% to $62.76, while Rio Tinto Ltd (ASX: RIO) shares have gained 2.67% to $184.80.

Fortescue Ltd (ASX: FMG) shares are also 2.63% higher at $20.12.

The major banks are also helping push the index higher. Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA) shares are up 2.26% to $159.96, while National Australia Bank Ltd (ASX: NAB) shares have climbed 2.09% to $36.43.

ANZ Group Holdings Ltd (ASX: ANZ) shares are 2% higher at $34.51, and Westpac Banking Corp (ASX: WBC) shares have gained 1.65% to $35.07.

There’s also plenty of strength in consumer discretionary shares, with Wesfarmers Ltd (ASX: WES) shares up 2.58% to $86.49.

Energy shares miss out

Unfortunately, the rally is not helping every part of the market.

The S&P/ASX 200 Energy Index (ASX: XEJ) is shedding 1.13% as falling oil prices weigh on producers.

Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS) shares are down 1.84% to $30.94, making the company one of the few ASX 200 shares trading lower.

The post Why is the ASX 200 surging nearly 2% today? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• Woodside Energy lifts Browse JV stake under pre-emption deal
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• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Friday

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 Wesfarmers. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended BHP Group and Wesfarmers. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

When it comes to stock picking it can pay to listen to the experts.

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

Let’s see who they like.

Megaport Ltd (ASX: MP1)

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

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

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

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

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

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

Viva Energy Ltd (ASX: VEA)

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

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

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

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

Fineos Corporation Ltd (ASX: FCL)

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

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

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

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

 Ebos Group Ltd (ASX: EBO)

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

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

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

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

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

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

More reading

• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• 5 ASX 200 shares downgraded by the experts this week
• 2 ASX tech shares I’d buy that aren’t Xero or WiseTech
• If you invested $10,000 in Megaport shares in April, here’s how much you’d have now
• Megaport launches retail entitlement offer after $827 million capital raise

Motley Fool contributor Cameron England has positions in Megaport. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended FINEOS Corporation, Macquarie Group, and Megaport. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended FINEOS Corporation. 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 charging higher on Friday as investors look ahead to next week’s Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) interest rate decision.

At the time of writing, the benchmark index is up 1.93% to 8,800 points.

The market appears confident that the RBA will leave the cash rate unchanged at 4.35% on Tuesday after three increases since February.

But what happens after next week is less clear.

Some economists now believe the rate-hiking cycle is finished and the next move will be a cut. Westpac Banking Corp (ASX: WBC), however, is sticking with its forecast for another two increases.

So, could Australian borrowers really be heading towards lower interest rates?

Westpac still expects more rate hikes

Westpac Chief Economist Luci Ellis expects the RBA to keep rates unchanged next week before raising the cash rate again at its August and September meetings.

Ellis said inflation and labour market data had been mixed enough to support a pause. However, she believes higher fuel costs, stronger wages, and continued spending on data centres could keep inflation elevated.

Australia’s annual inflation rate eased from 4.6% in March to 4.2% in April. However, trimmed mean inflation edged higher from 3.3% to 3.4%, keeping it above the RBA’s target range.

Westpac still expects two more rate rises as the RBA tries to bring inflation back under control, despite signs that the economy is slowing.

Other economists see a rate cut coming

National Australia Bank Ltd (ASX: NAB) Chief Economist Sally Auld has dropped her previous forecast for another rate rise in August.

She now believes the next move will be a cut, although she is less certain about when it will happen.

NAB expects the cash rate to fall to 3.6% by the end of 2027 as slower economic growth and tighter financial conditions weigh on housing and credit demand.

HSBC Chief Economist Paul Bloxham has gone further, arguing that the hiking cycle is already over. He expects interest rate cuts to begin during the second half of next year.

The latest employment figures have added some weight to that view. Australia’s unemployment rate rose from 4.3% to 4.5% in April, while employment fell by 18,600.

What should investors expect next?

A rate cut still looks unlikely in the near-term while inflation remains above the RBA’s target range.

The central bank is expected to leave rates unchanged next week as it waits for more inflation, employment, and wage data.

But the big question is what happens after that, especially if inflation stays high while the economy continues to slow.

The post Could the RBA really cut interest rates next? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 3 ASX 200 stocks leaping higher this week on big announcements
• 5 ASX ETFs for beginners with $500
• Oil prices are falling again. Here’s what is driving the drop
• Why Brazilian Rare Earths, Evolution Mining, Magellan, and Qantas shares are racing higher today
• SpaceX IPO: Should you buy an ASX space ETF to cash in?

HSBC Holdings is an advertising partner of Motley Fool Money. 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 recommended HSBC Holdings. 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.

With just a few hours of trade left in this King’s Birthday shortened trading week, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is up 2.1% since last Friday’s close, with plenty of help from these three surging ASX 200 stocks.

Here’s what’s been stoking investor interest this week.

Super Retail Group Ltd (ASX: SUL)

Super Retail shares closed last Friday trading for $11.32. At the time of writing, shares are changing hands for $12.42. That sees this ASX 200 stock up 9.7% for the week.

The ASX retail giant, whose brands include Supercheap Auto, Macpac, Rebel, and BCF, has finished in the green every day this week.

On Thursday, the company made financial headlines following the release of its new five-year growth strategy.

The company is aiming to increase its store numbers from 790 to more than 900 by 2031.

“Our new group strategy puts the customer at the centre of everything we do as we build our business for its next phase of growth,” Super Retail CEO Paul Bradshaw said.

“This will require deliberate short-term investments in our systems and unlock a sustainable cost advantage over time,” he added.

Super Retail expects the transformation project to cost around $30 million a year for the next three years.

Lendlease Group (ASX: LLC)

The second ASX 200 stock racing higher this week on big news is property developer and investment manager Lendlease.

Lendlease shares closed last Friday trading for $2.46 and are currently swapping hands for $2.84 each. This sees the Lendlease share price up 15.5% for the week.

Lendlease shares have finished in the green every day this week and closed up 4.6% on Thursday following a major leadership announcement.

The company revealed that Tony Lombardo will step down from the top role before the end of the month. Nick O’Neil will take over as CEO and managing director starting on 10 September.

Currently the head of Australian Real Assets at Australian Super, O’Neil has more than 25 years of experience across corporate and investment strategy, M&A, governance, capital markets, and real asset management.

Lendlease also reaffirmed its full-year FY 2026 earnings guidance for its IDC business at 28 cents to 34 cents per share.

Which brings us to…

ASX 200 stock Steadfast Group Ltd (ASX: SDF) leads the pack

Leading the pack higher this week is insurance brokerage company Steadfast Group.

Steadfast shares closed last week at $3.96 and are currently trading for $5.23 each. That puts this ASX 200 stock up an impressive 32.1% over four trading days.

Steadfast shares closed up 36.2% on Wednesday, after the company announced that it had received a conditional, non-binding, and indicative takeover offer from Amwins and Dragoneer.

The consortium is seeking to acquire 100% of Steadfast’s shares for $6 a share. That represents a 51.9% premium to Steadfast’s closing price on Tuesday.

The post 3 ASX 200 stocks leaping higher this week on big announcements appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• ASX 200 slips as oil shock puts investors on edge
• Why Larvotto, Newmont, Qantas, and Steadfast shares are dropping today
• Why Lendlease, Meteoric Resources, Super Retail, and Woodside shares are rising today
• Guess which ASX 200 stock is avoiding the selloff and charging higher on big news
• Down 53% in a year, guess which $1.8 billion ASX 200 stock is jumping today on big leadership news

Motley Fool contributor Bernd Struben 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 Steadfast Group and Super Retail Group. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Steadfast Group and Super Retail Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

Starting your investment journey and have $500 ready to invest?

The good news is that this can be more than enough to start building an investment portfolio with ASX exchange traded funds (ETFs).

Listed below are five ASX ETFs that beginners could choose from, depending on the type of exposure they want.

Betashares Asia Technology Tigers ETF (ASX: ASIA)

The first ASX ETF to look at is the Betashares Asia Technology Tigers ETF.

This fund gives investors exposure to leading technology companies across Asia, but excluding Japan. That can include businesses involved in semiconductors, ecommerce, digital payments, online platforms, and hardware.

It is a higher-risk option than a broad market fund because it focuses on one region and one sector. But for beginners who want exposure to Asian technology growth, this ASX ETF could be a great place to start.

Betashares Global Cybersecurity ETF (ASX: HACK)

Another ASX ETF that beginners could consider is the Betashares Global Cybersecurity ETF.

Cybersecurity has become an essential part of modern life. Businesses, governments, and individuals all need protection as more activity moves online.

This fund gives investors exposure to global companies working in areas such as threat detection, network security, identity protection, and cloud security.

It is a thematic ETF, so it can be more volatile than a broad index fund. But the long-term demand for cybersecurity services appears unlikely to disappear.

Betashares Nasdaq 100 ETF (ASX: NDQ)

A third ASX ETF to look at is the hugely popular Betashares Nasdaq 100 ETF.

This fund provides exposure to 100 of the largest non-financial companies listed on the Nasdaq exchange. Many of them are global leaders in technology, online retail, cloud computing, artificial intelligence, and digital services.

For beginners, this can be a simple way to invest in some of the world’s most influential growth companies through one ASX trade. This includes NVIDIA (NASDAQ: NVDA), Tesla (NASDAQ: TSLA), and Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL).

iShares Global Consumer Staples ETF (ASX: IXI)

Another option for beginners to look at is the iShares Global Consumer Staples ETF.

This fund invests in global companies that sell everyday products such as food, beverages, household items, and personal care goods.

These businesses may not grow as quickly as technology companies, but demand for their products can be more stable. That can make this ASX ETF useful for investors wanting global exposure with a more defensive tilt.

Vanguard MSCI Index International Shares ETF (ASX: VGS)

A final ASX ETF for beginners to consider is the Vanguard MSCI Index International Shares ETF.

It gives investors broad exposure to developed markets outside Australia. It holds companies across the United States, Europe, Japan, and other major markets.

For beginners, this can be one of the simplest ways to diversify globally. It will still rise and fall with share markets, but it spreads money across many countries, sectors, and companies in a single investment.

The post 5 ASX ETFs for beginners with $500 appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• Which ASX ETF should I buy?
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• Want to invest in the future? These technology ETFs are killing it

Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in BetaShares Nasdaq 100 ETF and Betashares Capital – Asia Technology Tigers Etf. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Apple, BetaShares Global Cybersecurity ETF, BetaShares Nasdaq 100 ETF, Nvidia, and Tesla. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended BetaShares Nasdaq 100 ETF. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Apple, Nvidia, and Vanguard Msci Index International Shares ETF. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

Oil prices are heading lower on Friday as traders react to signs of easing tensions between the United States and Iran.

At the latest check, West Texas Intermediate crude oil is down 1.1% to US$86.80 a barrel. Brent crude is also down 1.14% to US$89.35 a barrel.

Both benchmarks are now trading near their lowest levels in almost 2 months after spending much of the past 3 months above their pre-war levels.

So, what is putting pressure on oil prices today?

Progress with Iran

The latest fall came after US President Donald Trump cancelled planned military strikes on Iran and said a peace agreement could be reached as early as this weekend.

The announcement reduced concerns that the conflict could immediately escalate and cause further damage to Iran’s oil facilities.

However, there is still no confirmed agreement.

Iran’s semi-official Fars news agency said Tehran was likely to accept a deal, but no final text had been approved. The proposed agreement would reportedly include reopening shipping through the Strait of Hormuz and restrictions on Iran’s nuclear program.

The Strait remains a major risk for the oil market. Iran has threatened vessels attempting to pass through the waterway, although commercial ships have continued to make the journey.

Brent crude has now fallen around 15% over the past month, while WTI is down about 14%.

China is buying much less oil

China’s lower oil imports are also helping keep prices below US$100 a barrel.

The Asian giant imported about 7.8 million barrels of crude oil per day in May. That was 29% lower than a year earlier and the weakest monthly result in more than 8 years.

Before the Iran conflict, China was importing close to 11 million barrels per day. That means around 3 million barrels of daily demand has dropped out of the market.

Chinese refiners have been drawing down existing stockpiles instead of buying more oil at higher prices.

Fuel demand has also weakened. Petrol sales at Sinopec fell 8% in April, while diesel sales dropped 6%.

The uptake of electric vehicles and weaker refinery activity have both reduced China’s need for imported crude.

US exports have helped fill the gap

Higher US oil exports have added more supply to the market.

Crude exports climbed above 5 million barrels per day during April and May, compared with an average of about 4 million barrels per day in recent years.

Those additional barrels have helped make up for some of the supply disruption caused by restricted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.

What happens next?

Oil prices will continue to move with news from the United States and Iran.

A confirmed deal that allows ships to move freely through the Strait of Hormuz would ease concerns about oil supply.

However, global oil stockpiles are still falling. The International Energy Agency (IEA) expects demand to remain higher than supply until the final quarter of 2026.

Until there’s more certainty, oil prices could keep seesawing in the short term.

The post Oil prices are falling again. Here’s what is driving the drop appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 5 ASX ETFs for beginners with $500
• Why Brazilian Rare Earths, Evolution Mining, Magellan, and Qantas shares are racing higher today
• SpaceX IPO: Should you buy an ASX space ETF to cash in?
• Why EOS, Karoon Energy, REA Group, and Woodside shares are falling today
• Down 60%, are Cochlear shares now a bargain buy?

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.

In afternoon trade, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is on course to end the week with a strong gain. At the time of writing, the benchmark index is up 1.9% to 8,799.1 points.

Four ASX shares that are rising more than most today are listed below. Here’s why they are storming higher:

Brazilian Rare Earths Ltd (ASX: BRE)

The Brazilian Rare Earths share price is up 4% to $5.33. This may have been driven by a broker note out of Ord Minnett. According to the note, the broker has upgraded the rare earths stock to a speculative buy rating (from hold) with a $6.95 price target. The broker made the move in response to encouraging drilling results from the Velhinhas prospect.

Evolution Mining Ltd (ASX: EVN)

The Evolution Mining share price is up 6% to $11.60. Investors have been buying Evolution Mining and other ASX gold stocks today after the price of gold rebounded. The catalyst for this was US President Donald Trump stating that a US-Iran peace deal was close. This led to oil prices pulling back, easing inflation and rate hike concerns. The S&P/ASX All Ordinaries Gold index is trading 5% higher on Friday afternoon.

Magellan Financial Group Ltd (ASX: MFG)

The Magellan share price is up 5% to $9.51. This has been driven by news that the ACCC has given the thumbs up to its proposed merger with Barrenjoey. If the merger goes ahead, Magellan advised that it plans to change its name to Barrenjoey. Magellan’s chair, Andrew Formica, said: “As we bring these two businesses together it is important that our brand reflects both the expanded capabilities of the combined Group and the opportunities ahead. The decision to adopt the Barrenjoey name recognises the transformational nature of the Merger and follows feedback from our clients, our people and our shareholders since announcement of the Merger. A unified brand will provide greater clarity while reflecting the innovative culture, alignment of interests and commitment to clients that will define the combined organisation.”

Qantas Airways Ltd (ASX: QAN)

The Qantas share price is up over 4% to $9.41. Investors have been buying the airline’s shares after oil prices pulled back overnight. As fuel is a significant cost for an airline operator, any weakness in the price of oil is good news for its margins. In addition, the potential US-Iran peace deal could give travel markets a boost.

The post Why Brazilian Rare Earths, Evolution Mining, Magellan, and Qantas shares are racing higher today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Magellan shares race 6% higher on big merger news
• Magellan Financial Group shares: ACCC backs merger and rebrand plans
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Friday
• Why Larvotto, Newmont, Qantas, and Steadfast shares are dropping today
• Why Evolution Mining, REA Group, Sigma Healthcare, and TechnologyOne shares are tumbling today

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 haven’t heard, the launch, sorry IPO, of SpaceX (NASDAQ: SPCX) on the American stock market is imminent. Soon, we will know how this company’s first day of trading on the public markets turned out.

The initial public offering (IPO) of SpaceX has been the talk of the investing town over the past few months. Even in Australia, investors have seemingly been keen, as we’ve documented, to get amongst the hype.

Although SpaceX is scheduled to list on the American NASDAQ exchange, Australians have been given unprecedented access to the IPO, with CommSec offering investors the chance to directly participate.

But of course, many ASX investors will not be comfortable owning SpaceX shares directly. Holding an asset outside our local stock market, and in US dollars, can be daunting. Perhaps to get ahead of this, the past few months have seen more than one new ASX exchange-traded fund (ETF) that specialises in space stocks sprout.

Space ETFs flood the ASX amid SpaceX IPO

A few weeks ago, we checked out the launch (forgive the pun) of the BetaShares Space Industry ETF (ASX: RCKT). And, just a few days ago, ETF provider Global X (no relation to SpaceX) debuted its Global X Space Tech ETF (ASX: MOON).

Both of these funds offer investors indirect access to some of the leading space companies of the world. Of course, they don’t feature SpaceX yet, as the company is just now making its stock market entrance.

But it is almost certain that SpaceX will find itself in both of these ETFs’ portfolios in the very immediate future. In fact, it does not strain credulity to posit that the IPO of SpaceX is in fact the very reason for the birth of these funds in 2026.

So, if you want to invest in SpaceX, but aren’t comfortable with buying a US stock, is one of these ETFs a good alternative?

Well, in my view, yes. If you wish to be exposed to SpaceX, as well as other leading companies in the space industry, either RCKT or MOON would fill the role nicely.

Foolish Takeaway

However, a word of caution. As we’ve previously discussed, SpaceX can arguably be described as a speculative investment. The market capitalisation it is aiming for (US$1.77 trillion) is a long way from its revenues last year of US$18.7 billion, and even further from the operating loss of UD$4.2 billion that it recorded.

Space is clearly the hype sector of the month, and many investors are pouring in their dollars in the literal hope things will go to the moon. Hype bubbles tend to pop eventually, though, and investors eventually turn to profits as an indicator of value, rather than lofty plans. If that happens, investors in a space ETF are highly exposed. As such, I would argue that investors should think twice before betting the farm on SpaceX or any of these space-themed ETFs.

The post SpaceX IPO: Should you buy an ASX space ETF to cash in? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• SpaceX starts trading today. Here’s what ASX investors need to know
• Are space ASX ETFs the next big growth opportunity or overhyped?
• The SpaceX and Anthropic IPOs will massively impact ASX AI shares
• The SpaceX IPO is coming. Here’s how ASX investors can benefit from the excitement
• What are the best performing thematic ASX ETFs right now?

Motley Fool contributor Sebastian Bowen 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.