On Friday, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) finished the week in a positive fashion. The benchmark index rose 0.8% to 8,682.1 points.

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

ASX 200 expected to rise

The Australian share market looks set for a positive start to the week following a strong session on Wall Street on Friday. According to the latest SPI futures, the ASX 200 is expected to open the day 26 points or 0.3% higher. In the United States, the Dow Jones was up 0.5%, the S&P 500 rose 0.75%, and the Nasdaq stormed 1.2% higher.

Oil prices soften

ASX 200 energy shares Santos Ltd (ASX: STO) and Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS) could have a subdued start to the week after oil prices fell on Friday night. According to Bloomberg, the WTI crude oil price was down 1.9% to US$91.11 a barrel and the Brent crude oil price was down slightly to US$102.25 a barrel. This appears to have been driven by optimism that the Strait of Hormuz could reopen soon.

Buy Artrya shares 

Artrya Ltd (ASX: AYA) shares could have major upside potential according to analysts at Bell Potter. This morning, the broker has retained its buy rating and $6.00 price target on the AI stock. It said: “AYA has secured its fourth customer for its Salix platform which improves the detection and management of coronary artery disease (CAD). Huntsville Hospital Health System (HH) is a 14-hospital system (and 19 care centres) across Alabama and Tennessee in the US. […] The material rise in the share price illustrates how significant the HH signing is, albeit completing integration of NGHS / Cone, as well as the FFR-CT FDA submission / approval are more significant catalysts at present.”

Gold price drops

It could be a subdued start to the week for ASX 200 gold shares Capricorn Metals Ltd (ASX: CMM) and Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST) after the gold price dropped on Friday night. According to CNBC, the gold futures price was down 0.95% to US$4,162.3 an ounce. A strong US dollar and elevated Treasury yields weighed on the gold price last week.

Buy NextDC shares

Dolphin Partners has named NextDC Ltd (ASX: NXT) shares as a buy this week according to The Bull. Commenting on its recommendation, it said: “NXT has invested heavily in infrastructure during the past three years. The recent share price decline enables longer term investors to gain entry into a growth stock with structural tailwinds.”

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

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Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in Nextdc and Woodside Energy Group Ltd. 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.

When it comes to your superannuation, it’s important to keep on track of how much you should have stashed away.

How else will you know if you have enough money to retire when the time comes?

Age 50 and age 60 are important milestones. 

Age 50 marks the final 10-15 years before quitting work. At this point, Australians are usually earning around their peak income, and compound growth is in full force.

At 60, you can access your superannuation if you meet the conditions of release.

These two milestones are important because they mark the lifestyle shift between actively building your wealth, to when you can start drawing down on it.

So, how does your super balance compare to other Aussies the same age?

Let’s take a look.

What is the average superannuation balance of Australian men and women aged 50 in Australia?

There aren’t exact figures for the average balance at age 50, but the Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia (ASFA) provides a handy guide.

The average 50-54 year old male in Australia has around $254,071 in their superannuation. 

But age 50 is right at the bottom of that age bracket. So it can help to look at the one below, too.

The average balance for men aged 45-49 is $193,501.

Meanwhile, women aged 50-54 have an average of $190,175 in superannuation. Those aged 45-49 have less, at around $147.146.

What is the average superannuation balance for 60-year-old men and women?

Again, there aren’t exact figures for the average balance at age 60, but ASFA has some ranges to keep in mind.

The data shows that the average Australian male aged 60 to 64 has around $395,852 in their superannuation.

Looking at the bracket below, ASFA’s data shows that the average superannuation balance for Australian men aged 55-59 is $319,743.

Once again, women the same age have less.

The average balance for Australian women aged 60 to 64 is around $313,360. That’s a huge gap of around $83,000 compared to men the same age.

For the age bracket below, the gap is a little lower. Women aged 55-59 have around $242,945 saved in their superannuation for retirement.

How does your super balance compare with that of men or women your age?

Is it possible to retire comfortably off these average balances?

Unfortunately not.

ASFA calculates that a comfortable retirement will cost single Australians $56,166 per year and couples closer to $78,998 per year.

To fund that, individuals need at least $630,000 saved in their super, and couples need at least $730,000 combined.

These figures also assume you’ll start your retirement at age 67. It also assumes that you’ll receive a part Age Pension around this time and that you own your home outright.

That’s significantly less than the average balances of Australians across all the age brackets mentioned above. 

To reach these figures, all individuals need a superannuation balance of $254,500 at age 50. This increases to $457,500 by the time you reach age 60.

The post The average superannuation balance at ages 50 and 60. How does yours compare? 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.

PLS vs BHP shares: Which ASX 200 mining stock is the better buy?

When you think Australian mining, two names jump to mind: PLS Group Ltd (ASX: PLS) and BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP). Both find themselves among the ASX 200’s go-to stocks for anyone keen on Aussie resources exposure, whether it’s booming lithium demand or diversified mining muscle. But with different focuses—PLS charging hard on the lithium front and BHP spanning iron ore, copper, and more—the comparison isn’t apples for apples. If you’re torn between PLS and BHP shares, let’s break down the case for each and see which one might be the better buy right now.

The case for PLS

PLS Group, previously known as Pilbara Minerals, has carved out a spot at the centre of the global lithium story. Its flagship project, the Pilgangoora Lithium-Tantalum Project in Western Australia, is among the world’s largest hard-rock lithium-tantalum deposits. The company also expanded overseas, adding the Colina lithium project in Brazil via an acquisition in 2025. PLS moved from exploration to production remarkably fast and keeps building its international sales channels as electric vehicle demand surges.

From the fundamentals, a few points stand out:

• Market cap: $11.77 billion—a sizeable player in its space but dwarfed by BHP’s heft.
• P/E ratio: 23.92, suggesting investors are paying up for the growth and excitement around lithium, even as the broader market cools on battery metals this year.
• Dividend yield: 1.3% (fully franked), offering returns, but modest compared to mature resource companies.

EPS sits at $0.161, with a dividend per share of $0.05, and 100% franking for Australian investors. Year to date, its shares are down 7.4%, showing how exposed PLS remains to commodity cycles and market sentiment.

The case for BHP

BHP Group is mining royalty—one of the world’s largest diversified mining giants with a vast portfolio that includes iron ore, copper, coal, and nickel. Since unifying its corporate structure in 2022, BHP’s focus has stayed on stable cash flows from its gigantic operations spanning Australia and overseas. With one of the deepest track records on the ASX, BHP is often viewed as a defensive core holding for income and scale.

Notable fundamentals include:

• Market cap: $306.37 billion—massively larger than PLS, reflecting global reach, asset variety, and institutional confidence.
• P/E ratio: 22.09, actually a touch lower than PLS’s (despite the size difference), highlighting steady profits and mature business appeal.
• Dividend yield: 3.98% (fully franked), making BHP an income hunter’s favourite among resource stocks.

EPS sits at $1.932, with dividends per share at $2.42, a hefty payout. Year to date, BHP shares have soared 39.0%, outstripping many on the ASX and dwarfing PLS’s recent performance.

Valuation comparison

Comparing key valuation metrics side by side:

	PLS	BHP
Market Cap	$11.77 billion	$306.37 billion
P/E Ratio	23.92	22.09
Dividend Yield	1.30% (100% franked)	3.98% (100% franked)
EPS	$0.161	$1.932
Dividend per share	$0.05	$2.42

Both companies’ earnings are fully franked—a plus for Australian dividend seekers. Interestingly, PLS’s P/E multiple is a touch above BHP’s, which might look surprising given BHP’s mature, stable cash flows. However, that premium suggests the market is betting on stronger growth for PLS versus more “steady as she goes” from BHP.

Recent share price momentum

Comparing recent share price performance up to 1 October 2026:

• PLS Group Ltd closed at $3.65, having dropped 5.4% on the day. Year to date, PLS is down 7.4%.
• BHP Group Ltd closed at $60.26, declining 0.9% on the day, but its year to date gain is an impressive 39.0%.

Both stocks have seen volatility, but BHP’s share price has gained serious momentum in 2026, while PLS has had a tougher year.

Which is the better buy?

If I had to pick one ASX 200 mining stock right now, my vote would go to BHP. The numbers just stack up better at the moment—BHP offers a much higher, fully franked dividend yield (3.98% versus 1.3%), which is a big plus with interest rates still high and investors returning to income stocks. BHP’s year to date share price run (+39.0%) also tells me the market is rewarding its scale and steady cash generation, especially compared to PLS Group’s negative year to date return.

PLS is exciting, no doubt, and will ride every updraft in lithium demand—the P/E premium reflects that optimism. But for income, stability, and sheer momentum, I think BHP is the clearer buy in this head-to-head. If I were seeking higher risk and growth, I might take a deeper look at PLS. But today, BHP’s fundamentals, dividend payout, and recent performance make it my pick of these two ASX mining heavyweights.

The post PLS vs BHP: Which ASX 200 mining stock looks better today? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Laura Stewart 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 recommended BHP Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips. This article was prepared with the assistance of Large Language Model (LLM) tools for the initial draft. Any content assisted by AI is subject to our robust human-in-the-loop quality control framework, involving thorough review, substantial editing, and fact-checking by our experienced writers and editors holding appropriate credentials. The Motley Fool Australia stands behind the work of our editorial team and takes ultimate responsibility for the content published by The Motley Fool Australia.