On Friday, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) finished a relatively flat week in the red. The benchmark index fell 0.5% to 8,796.7 points.

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

ASX 200 expected to rise

The Australian share market looks set for a good start to the week despite a poor session on Wall Street on Friday. According to the latest SPI futures, the ASX 200 is expected to open the day 55 points or 0.6% higher. In the United States, the Dow Jones fell 0.75%, the S&P 500 dropped 1%, and the Nasdaq sank 1.4%.

Oil prices jump

ASX 200 energy shares Santos Ltd (ASX: STO) and Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS) could have a strong start to the week after oil prices jumped on Friday night. According to Bloomberg, the WTI crude oil price was up 4.5% to US$81.49 a barrel and the Brent crude oil price was up 4.6% to US$88.10 a barrel. Traders were bidding oil prices higher in response to an escalation in US-Iran tensions.

Buy WiseTech shares

WiseTech Global Ltd (ASX: WTC) shares are seriously undervalued according to analysts at Bell Potter. This morning, the broker has retained its buy rating and $71.75 price target on the logistics software provider’s shares. It commented: “We believe the stock looks value on an FY27 EV/EBITDA multiple of c.15x and is trading at an excessively large discount to the Technology One multiple of c.27x. We note WiseTech has higher forecast earnings growth than Technology One over the next few years given the expected margin recovery post the e2open acquisition.”

Gold price rises

It could be a decent start to the week for ASX 200 gold shares Newmont Corporation (ASX: NEM) and Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST) after the gold price rose on Friday night. According to CNBC, the gold futures price was up 0.65% to US$4,018.8 an ounce. This couldn’t stop the gold price from recording a weekly decline on increased US interest rate bets.

Hold BHP shares

Morgans thinks that BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP) shares are around fair value right now. In response to its quarterly update, the broker has retained its hold rating and $60.20 price target on the mining giant’s shares. It said: “A good end to FY26 for BHP, with an operational result largely in line with consensus and a touch ahead of our estimates in places. […] Best-in-breed global diversified miner in what remains a healthy upcycle for resources. We maintain our HOLD rating and A$60.20 target price.”

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

More reading

• Buy, hold, sell: BHP, CBA, and Rio Tinto shares
• Does Macquarie rate BHP shares a buy, hold or sell right now?
• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• Could Woodside Energy be a takeover target?
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Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in WiseTech Global and Woodside Energy Group Ltd. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended WiseTech Global. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended WiseTech Global. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended BHP Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

A wide range of S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) shares can deliver good returns, and even outperformance, if investors buy at the right price.

Cyclical stocks can deliver great investments if we buy at the weak point of the cycle. Be greedy when others are fearful, as the saying goes.

The investment team in charge of listed investment company (LIC) L1 Long Short Fund Ltd (ASX: LSF) have a great knack for picking out undervalued stocks that have a relatively low price-earnings (P/E) ratio. Its portfolio has returned an average of 16.9% per year over the prior five years, showing its stock-picking prowess.

We’re going to look at these ASX 200 shares that could be compelling businesses to own.

Qantas Airways Ltd (ASX: QAN)

L1 noted that the Qantas share price rose 27% in the three months to June 2026 following an approximate 50% decline in jet fuel prices after the easing of Middle East tensions, though fuel costs were still around 20% above pre-war levels.

The fund manager also noted that oil refining margins remain Qantas’ key residual headwind, which is still roughly double the pre-war level.

L1 highlighted that during an investor trip to the Airbus factory in Toulouse (France), management reiterated the $400 million operating profit (EBIT) opportunity from Project Sunrise ahead of the planned Sydney to London route service launch, which is scheduled for October 2027.

The fund manager said that overall, while the Middle East conflict has created near-term earnings volatility, it sees Qantas’ strong underlying competitive positioning and medium-term outlook as unchanged.

James Hardie Industries plc (ASX: JHX)

James Hardie is one of the largest building products ASX 200 shares. L1 noted that the James Hardie share price rose 46% in the three months to June 2026, amid easing Middle East tensions and management’s constructive FY27 outlook.

That positive outlook included a pathway to return the core North American fibre cement business to volume growth, despite a subdued US housing market.

L1 expects volume recovery to be supported by: normalisation of channel inventory after the 2025 destocking period; improved execution in repair and remodel; smaller-builder channels; the trim-over installation method; competitor exits; and continued material conversion from vinyl and wood.

In the fund manager’s view, the market is still applying a discounted multiple to the ASX 200 share to reflect recent execution, governance, and housing-cycle concerns. As those issues are addressed, L1 believes there is scope for both earnings growth and recovery in the P/E ratio multiple over time.

Goodman Group (ASX: GMG)

The final ASX 200 share in this article is industrial property developer and owner Goodman Group.

The Goodman share price rose 22% in the three months to June 2026, during a growing investor focus on its expanding data centre opportunity and the scarcity value of its powered land bank.

L1 said that the business has advanced its data centre strategy with the announcement of a 50:50 joint venture with DataBank for a 32MW co-location facility in Los Angeles. Its update also reaffirmed its FY26 operating earnings per security (EPS) guidance of growth of “at least 9%” and flagged work in progress (WIP) growth from $14.5 billion to around $18 billion by June.

Overall, the outlook for these ASX 200 shares looks positive, though they’re not the only shares I’d want to look at.

The post Experts say these ASX 200 shares have great potential appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Are Macquarie, Qantas, and WiseTech shares buys?
• Project Sunrise incoming: Are Qantas shares a buy?
• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• Buy, hold, sell: James Hardie, Adairs, Minerals 260 shares
• Top brokers name 3 ASX shares to buy next week

Motley Fool contributor Tristan Harrison has positions in L1 Long Short Fund. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Goodman 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.

One of the biggest decisions you can make about your superannuation is the investment option you choose.

Most funds offer a menu.

Two of the most popular are “balanced” and “high growth.” The choice sounds arbitrary, but over the decades, making the right choice can be worth a fortune.

Let’s compare them.

How the two options differ

A balanced option spreads your money across shares, property, bonds, and cash.

A balanced portfolio typically holds around 60% to 76% in growth assets, while the rest sits in more defensive assets.

A high growth option tilts far harder towards shares and often holds 85% or more in growth assets.

That means bigger swings, but higher expected returns over time.

What the returns tell us about your superannuation

History gives us a useful guide.

Over the 10 years to 30 June 2026, AustralianSuper’s balanced option returned an average of 8.47% a year.

Its high growth option returned 9.64% a year over the same period.

That difference may look small, but it is anything but.

On a large balance compounded over decades, roughly one extra percent a year adds up to serious money.

However, the trade-off is volatility.

High growth options fall harder when markets wobble, and if investors panic and switch at the bottom, they lock in the loss.

Discipline is the price of those higher returns.

Which option suits you?

The answer depends on your time horizon. If retirement is 20 years away, you can usually ride out the bumps, and as such, high growth may suit you.

If you are close to retirement, a steep fall could hurt.

A more balanced mix may help you sleep at night. Many people shift towards safer assets as they near retirement.

On top of that, your risk tolerance matters just as much as your age. The best strategy is the one you can actually stick with.

Three ASX funds that lean growth

Some investors also hold ASX-listed funds directly, inside or alongside their superannuation. Three growth-tilted ETFs stand out.

The Vanguard Australian Shares Index ETF (ASX: VAS) tracks the biggest ASX companies, and the iShares Core S&P/ASX 200 ETF (ASX: IOZ) offers similar broad local exposure. By contrast, the BetaShares Nasdaq 100 ETF (ASX: NDQ) adds global technology heavyweights.

Together, they show what a growth tilt can look like. Just remember that more growth means more volatility.

Foolish Takeaway for your superannuation

There is no single right answer for your superannuation.

High growth has historically delivered more over the long run. Balanced offers a smoother ride.

Match the option to your timeline and your temperament. Then leave it alone and let compounding do the work.

The post Should I target high growth or balanced strategies for my superannuation? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 3 super ASX ETFs to buy and hold until 2046
• Why it’s vital for investors to look to international shares for growth: Expert 
• Own Vanguard ASX ETFs? It’s dividend payday!
• Own NDQ, GAME, or other Betashares ASX ETFs? It’s pay day for you!
• 3 amazing ASX ETFs I’d buy this month

Motley Fool contributor Mark Verhoeven 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 BetaShares Nasdaq 100 ETF. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended BetaShares Nasdaq 100 ETF. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.