S&P/ASX All Ords Index (ASX: XAO) shares increased 2.43% and provided total returns, including dividends, of 5.69% in FY26. 

The All Ords underperformed the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO), which rose 2.77% and delivered total returns of 7%.

Fifteen ASX All Ords shares delivered between 200% and 400% growth last financial year.

Here, we take a look at five of them. 

1. Weebit Nano Ltd (ASX: WBT)

The Weebit Nano share price skyrocketed 414% in FY26 to close out the year at $8.35.

Weebit was one of few ASX All Ords tech shares that had a great year amid a broader tech sector rout. 

Weebit develops advanced semiconductor memory technology.

The company’s Resistive Random Access Memory (ReRAM) is a high-performance, low-cost type of Non-Volatile Memory (NVM) technology used in complementary metal oxide semiconductors (CMOS), which are the building blocks of digital integrated circuits. 

2. Elsight Ltd (ASX: ELS) 

The Elsight share price ripped 300% to finish FY26 at $7.10. 

Elsight’s flagship product, Halo, provides Beyond the Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) connectivity for drones, UAVs, and other unmanned systems in the air and on land.

Halo was launched in 2020, and today, more than 100 drone and UAV manufacturers and operators are using it for connectivity. 

Elsight’s market cap growth elevated it into the top 10 stocks within the ASX 200 tech sector last year. 

3. PLS Group Ltd (ASX: PLS)

The market’s largest ASX 200 lithium share soared 275% to close out FY26 at $5.02. 

Formerly known as Pilbara Minerals, PLS Group is the largest lithium miner on the ASX by market cap.

The company’s flagship is the Pilgangoora Operation, the world’s largest independent hard-rock lithium mine. 

Like all ASX lithium miners, PLS Group benefitted from skyrocketing lithium commodity prices last year. 

4. Wildcat Resources Ltd (ASX: WC8)

The Wildcat Resources share price ascended 225% in FY26 to close out the year at 52 cents.

The mineral explorer is building the Tabba Tabba Lithium-Tantalum project and the Bolt Cutter project in the Pilbara.

Bell Potter analyst James Williamson says Tabba Tabba is the only large-scale near-term Australian lithium development positioned to commence production during the current lithium price cycle.

Wildcat has completed its pre-feasibility study at Tabba Tabba and is working towards a definitive feasibility study.

5. Macmahon Holdings Ltd (ASX: MAH) 

This ASX All Ords materials share increased 213% to finish the year at 96 cents on 30 June. 

Macmahon is a contract mining and civil infrastructure company providing operational services to gold, copper, and coal mines in Australia and Southeast Asia.

For 1H FY26, Macmahon reported a 61% increase in reported net profit after tax (NPAT) to $48.2 million.

The post 5 ASX All Ords shares that ripped 200% to 400% in FY26 appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• Top 5 ASX 200 lithium shares of FY26
• Why are PLS shares still falling? Here’s what’s behind the sell-off
• 13 ASX 200 shares that doubled in value in FY26
• Sell alert! Why these experts are calling time on Endeavour and PLS shares
• Buy, hold, sell: BHP, Woodside, PLS Group shares

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.

Australian borrowers have been given a glimmer of hope that interest rates could begin falling sooner than previously thought.

This follows news that Westpac Banking Corp (ASX: WBC) has brought forward its forecast for the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA)’s first rate cut to August 2027.

However, interest rates could still rise again before any relief arrives next year.

Here’s what the bank is expecting.

Why Westpac changed its forecast

According to The Australian, Westpac Chief Economist Luci Ellis expects inflation to ease more quickly during 2027.

The bank believes inflation could fall enough for the RBA to start cutting rates in August next year, rather than waiting until early 2028.

Westpac sees those cuts coming gradually, at 0.25 percentage points each quarter.

However, the outlook for the next few months remains less positive for borrowers.

Rates could rise before they fall

At its meeting last month, the RBA left the cash rate unchanged at 4.35%.

The RBA’s May forecasts showed trimmed mean inflation staying above 3% until the middle of 2027, before easing to 2.5% by early 2028.

Westpac still sees an August rate rise as likely, although what happens after that is less certain.

A second increase in September also remains possible, but Ellis said it could be pushed back or dropped if inflation begins to ease.

The June quarter inflation figures, which are due on 29 July, will be crucial in deciding whether either increase goes ahead.

Any further increase would place more pressure on variable mortgage rates and borrowing costs, especially for those households already dealing with larger repayments.

But keep in mind, higher rates would not affect every borrower straight away.

Households on fixed-rate loans may be protected until their current term ends, while those on variable rates would usually feel the impact almost immediately.

The effect would also depend on whether banks pass on any RBA increase in full.

Why the RBA may take its time

Even if inflation starts to improve next year, Westpac doesn’t expect the RBA to rush into cutting rates.

The central bank lowered rates in 2025, only for inflation to pick up again. Because of that, Westpac thinks the RBA will want clearer signs that inflation is under control before lowering rates again.

The bank is still expecting rates to come down slowly, with much lower borrowing costs unlikely to return quickly.

For mortgage holders, the change gives some hope that relief could arrive sooner than previously thought.

However, the next move may still be higher, with Westpac tipping another rate rise in August.

The post Could the RBA start cutting interest rates sooner than expected? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Expert warns: These ASX bank shares could disappoint in FY27
• Dump ’em! Morgan Stanley slaps sell ratings on 5 ASX 200 shares
• How many Westpac shares do I need to buy for $10,000 of passive income?
• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
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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.

Aussies born on or after 1 January 1957 can apply for the age pension when they turn 67, whether retired or not.

To be eligible for the full pension, or a part-payment, you have to pass an assets test and income test.

The thresholds for those tests changed earlier this month.

So, let’s take a look at the new thresholds, and also assess whether the pension is enough to see you through retirement.

Is the age pension enough?

On the face of it, the age pension is not enough on its own to cover life’s expenses in retirement.

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

That translates to $31,223 per year for singles and $47,070 per year for couples.

Australia’s benchmark retirement budgeting tool, the ASFA Retirement Standard, says retirement costs more than this.

A ‘modest’ retirement costs $36,434 per year for singles and $52,473 per year for couples — if you own your own home.

If you’re renting, a modest lifestyle costs $51,164 per year for singles and $69,002 per year for couples.

A ‘comfortable’ retirement costs even more: $55,923 per year for single homeowners and $78,566 per year for couple homeowners.

You can find out exactly how ASFA defines modest and comfortable retirement lifestyles here.

ASFA does not provide an estimate for comfortable retirement costs for renters.

So, how do you fill the gap given the age pension doesn’t cover all living expenses?

Ideally, you’ll have some superannuation, other investment income, or wages income to do exactly that.

But Centrelink has limits on how much you can own and earn while still qualifying for the age pension.

So, let’s go over the newly-revised thresholds for the pension asset and income tests.

Asset test

Your assessable assets include ASX shares, super, bonds, managed funds, rental properties, and cash. Your home is excluded.

Single homeowners can 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 renters can 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.

Couple homeowners can own up to $499,000 in 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.

Couple renters can own up to $766,000 in assets and still be eligible for the full age pension.

If you own assets worth between $766,001 and $1,369,500, you can apply for a part-payment.

Income test

Singles can 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 can 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.

Rental income must be reported each year. For everything else, Centrelink uses generous deeming rates to estimate your annual investment income.

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

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

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

Everything above that is deemed to have earned 3.25% interest.

 

The post How much can you own and earn while still qualifying for the age pension? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Could the RBA start cutting interest rates sooner than expected?
• How much must I invest in BHP shares to earn a $1,000 passive income in 2027?
• 10 fantastic ASX shares to buy for FY27
• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• 2 ASX mining shares that could more than double in value in FY27: experts

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.