ASX shares have had a choppy start to the year. Inflation concerns, geopolitical uncertainty, and interest rate changes have all put pressure on investor sentiment.

But when markets are volatile, it’s a good time to look at the investment opportunity hiding among oversold shares.

Here are three that spring to mind.

Pantoro Gold Ltd (ASX: PNR)

Pantoro is a gold producer and exploration company based in Western Australia. The company’s flagship operation is the 100%-owned Norseman Gold Project in the state’s Eastern Goldfields region, and the ASX gold producer is also exploring a portfolio of regional targets in the Kimberly region. The gold miner’s shares crashed by around 48% in March after it released its drilling results from its Norseman project and cut its production guidance following weather disruptions. The update overshadowed what were otherwise strong financial results. But subsequent updates have suggested the disruption was temporary and brokers are very bullish that Pantoro’s share price can rebound quickly. Market Index data shows that the majority of brokers have a buy rating on the shares. The $4.99 target price implies an impressive potential 115% upside at the time of writing. 

Qoria Ltd (ASX: QOR)

Qoria is a small-cap cybersecurity company that offers online safety technology for children, including school and parental controls. The company aims to become the global leader in children’s digital safety and well-being within three years. The ASX company has reached 30 million students in 32,000 schools and earns a significant annual recurring revenue from ongoing school contracts. In its half-year FY26 result, Qoria announced a 25% increase in revenue and a 68% hike in EBITDA. And brokers think the strong rate of expansion can continue. Market Index shows brokers have a consensus strong buy rating on the ASX shares and an average 58 cents target price. That implies a huge potential 138% upside at the time of writing.

Amplitude Energy Ltd (ASX: AEL)

Amplitude is an Australian energy company that supplies gas and oil to the domestic market. The company has a number of major gas supply contracts with customers, including AGL Energy Ltd (ASX: AGL) and Origin Energy Ltd (ASX: ORG). Its gas segment accounts for the vast majority of the company’s revenue. Its share price crashed in March after the company announced that its Isabella gas discovery was not commercially viable, despite earlier encouraging drilling results. But Ampitude continues to produce and sell gas from its other existing projects, and Isabella wasn’t the only growth project in the works. Brokers see the sell-off as excessive. The majority hold a buy rating, and they tip a 99% upside to an average $2.51 target price over the next 12 months. 

Xero Ltd (ASX: XRO) 

The ASX 200 tech shares have been beaten down over the past year after concerns about the company’s valuation and earnings outlook. Xero was caught up in a sector-wide sell-off late last year and in early 2026 as investors rotated away from tech stocks amid concerns about AI competition. But now I think the sell-off has been way overdone. Xero benefits from an incredibly sticky subscription base and high customer retention rates. This means its revenue is relatively predictable. As a relatively small market player, it also has a lot of growth potential. Most analysts have a strong buy rating on the shares. They tip an upside of around 90% to an average target price of $141.56. 

The post Are these oversold ASX shares too good to pass up? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• Xero shares are down 60%, is it time to buy, hold or sell?

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

The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is back in negative territory on Tuesday, despite a stronger lead from Wall Street overnight.

At the time of writing, the ASX 200 is down 0.37% to 8,798 points.

That puts the benchmark index close to its intraday low of 8,790.3 points and below yesterday’s close of 8,831 points.

It’s not a heavy fall, but it is another reminder that the local market is still finding it hard to build momentum.

Here’s what is weighing on the ASX 200 today.

Wall Street rally fails to lift our local share market

The fall comes after a positive night in the United States.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJX: .DJI) lifted 0.29% to a record close of 53,055.91 points, while the S&P 500 Index (SP: .INX) rose 0.72% and the Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC) climbed 1.12%.

Normally, that sort of lead would give local shares a better platform.

However, the ASX 200 has not been able to make much of it. Instead, selling across miners, gold shares, and parts of the energy sector is offsetting gains from the banks and tech stocks.

The broader market is also mostly in the red.

At the latest check, 121 of the top 200 shares were falling, compared with 75 rising and 4 trading flat.

Miners drag on the ASX 200

Resources stocks are doing much of the damage today, with the S&P/ASX 200 Resources Index (ASX: XJR) sliding 2.3% to 7,397 points.

BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP) shares are down 1.08% to $59.375, while Rio Tinto Ltd (ASX: RIO) shares are shedding 1.76% to $168.15.

Gold stocks are also under pressure with the gold price slipped to US$4,127 per ounce, down 0.91%.

Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST) shares are tumbling 3.17% to $21.08, while Evolution Mining Ltd (ASX: EVN) shares are falling 3.57% to $12.16.

Banks and tech stocks provide some support

The major banks are helping soften the fall.

Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA) shares are up 1.23% to $166.69, while Westpac Banking Corp (ASX: WBC) shares have added 0.85% to $35.59.

National Australia Bank Ltd (ASX: NAB) shares are 0.96% higher at $39.02, while ANZ Group Holdings Ltd (ASX: ANZ) shares have lifted 0.49% to $35.17.

Macquarie Group Ltd (ASX: MQG) shares are also stronger, rising 0.92% to $253.03.

Tech stocks are helping too, with WiseTech Global Ltd (ASX: WTC) shares jumping 8.4% to $38.34 after the company announced Raelene Murphy had been appointed independent chair.

Xero Ltd (ASX: XRO) shares are 1.5% higher to $74.66.

The post ASX 200 slips again: Why the market can’t follow Wall Street higher appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• WiseTech shares surge 10% as Richard White steps back from chair role
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• Qube Holdings: Supreme Court approves takeover scheme
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Motley Fool contributor Aaron Teboneras has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Macquarie Group, WiseTech Global, and Xero. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended WiseTech Global and Xero. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended BHP Group and Macquarie Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

Australians aged 67 years or older are eligible for a fortnightly Age Pension payment to help fund basic living expenses in retirement.

The Age Pension, which is paid by Centrelink, is an important safety net that ensures that older Australians are able to meet basic living requirements, regardless of the amount of savings, income, assets, or superannuation they own.

The catch is that it isn’t available to everyone. Your eligibility is subject to several key criteria, including your age, residency, and an income and asset test.

The problem is that while many understand that their income could affect the payment they receive, many overlook asset limits.

Here’s a breakdown of everything you need to know about the Age Pension and the asset test.

The maximum Age Pension payment

The Age Pension is paid on a fortnightly basis up to a maximum total payment of $1,200.90 per fortnight for singles and $1,810.40 for couples combined. 

These sums include the maximum basic rate, the maximum pension supplement, and the energy supplement.

As I mentioned above, the final amount you’ll receive (if anything) is heavily dependent on Centerlink’s income and asset test. 

What is the Age Pension asset test?

Then an asset test includes any stocks, like S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) shares, property, or possessions you own in full, in part, or have an interest in. This includes assets held outside Australia and any debts owed to you. It generally excludes the home you live in.

Note, however, that Centrelink assesses you under both tests and applies what it calls the ‘lower rule of two’. 

This means your potential fortnightly Age Pension is calculated under both tests. The one that results in the lower payment is the amount you will actually receive.

What are the asset test limits?

In order to receive the full Age Pension, single homeowners can own assets (including superannuation) up to a value of $333,000. For single non-homeowners, this will be up to $600,000 in retirement.

But a couple has a different threshold, and it’s not double the amount of one person. From the 1st of July, a couple combined can own up to $499,000 in total if they own a property, or $766,000 if they don’t.

How are assets calculated?

In order to determine how much income you make from your assets, Centrelink uses a deeming rule. 

Deeming assumes your financial assets earn a fixed, set rate of income, regardless of what they actually earn.

This assumed income is then added to your other income to determine your Age Pension rate.

For single Australians, the first $66,800 of their financial assets has a deemed rate of 1.25%. Everything over that is deemed to earn 3.25% interest.

Couples will have a 1.25% deeming rate on their first $110,600 of combined financial assets (this includes superannuation). Anything over $110,600 is deemed to earn 3.25%.

What if I own over that threshold?

If your assets are over the limit explained above, it’s still possible to receive a part Age Pension payment

From the 1st of July, the cut-off point for single homeowners is $733,500, and $1,000,500 if you’re single and a non-homeowner. If your assets come in above the initial limits but below these thresholds, you’re still entitled to some level of payment.

Couples are also entitled to a part-payment, so long as their combined assets don’t exceed $1,102,500 for homeowners. Non-homeowners can own assets totalling up to a limit of $1,369,500.

The post What assets can I own in retirement and still qualify for the Centrelink Age Pension? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• ASX 200 slips again: Why the market can’t follow Wall Street higher
• Here’s what brokers tip for NAB shares over the next 12 months
• Why are PLS shares still falling? Here’s what’s behind the sell-off
• Why this beaten-down ASX media stock is rising today
• WiseTech shares surge 10% as Richard White steps back from chair role

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.