The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) endured a tough Thursday session today, dragging the value of many ASX shares lower. After what has been a relatively positive week for the share market, investors were not in a good mood today, with the ASX 200 opening sharply lower and staying down all session.

By the time trading wrapped up, the index had lost 0.71%, closing at a flat 8,702 points.

This rough day for the ASX followed a similarly bearish session over on the US markets.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average Index (DJX: .DJI) was not in favour, losing 0.68% of its value.

The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC) was even worse, diving 1.13%.

But let’s return to the local markets now though and dig a little deeper into what was happening with the different ASX sectors today.

Winners and losers

There were only a handful of sectors that managed to come out unscathed from today’s trading.

But first, it was gold stocks that were hit the hardest. The All Ordinaries Gold Index (ASX: XGD) was smashed, tanking 2.25%.

Real estate investment trusts (REITs) were punished too, with the S&P/ASX 200 A-REIT Index (ASX: XPJ) plunging 1.95%.

We could say the same for mining shares. The S&P/ASX 200 Materials Index (ASX: XMJ) cratered by 1.46% this session.

Communications stocks weren’t popular either, evident from the S&P/ASX 200 Communication Services Index (ASX: XTJ)’s 1.07% tumble.

Financial shares weren’t riding to the rescue. The S&P/ASX 200 Financials Index (ASX: XFJ) had 1.07% shaved from its value.

Industrial stocks were our last losers of the day, with the S&P/ASX 200 Industrials Index (ASX: XNJ) dipping 0.2%.

Turning to the green sectors now, it was energy shares that were treated the most kindly. The S&P/ASX 200 Energy Index (ASX: XEJ) saw its value surge 1.17% this Thursday.

Consumer staples stocks held their value too, illustrated by the S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Staples Index (ASX: XSJ)’s 0.36% rise.

Utilities shares were also in that ballpark. The S&P/ASX 200 Utilities Index (ASX: XUJ) jumped 0.29% today.

Tech stocks were right behind, with the S&P/ASX 200 Information Technology Index (ASX: XIJ) advancing 0.25%.

Healthcare shares tied that result. The S&P/ASX 200 Healthcare Index (ASX: XHJ) also added 0.125% to its value.

Finally, consumer discretionary stocks managed to stay above water, as you can see by the S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Discretionary Index (ASX: XDJ)’s 0.09% bump.

Top 10 ASX 200 shares countdown

Our Thursday winner was retail stock Premier Investments Ltd (ASX: PMV). Premier shares rocketed 7.08% higher today, finishing up at $11.95 each.

This big move came after the company reported its full-year results, which clearly impressed the market.

Here’s how the other top stocks landed their planes:

ASX-listed company	Share price	Price change
Premier Investments Ltd (ASX: PMV)	$11.95	7.08%
Sunrise Energy Metals Ltd (ASX: SRL)	$23.13	6.84%
Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Co Ltd (ASX: SOL)	$48.33	6.20%
Elsight Ltd (ASX: ELS)	$5.16	5.74%
Data#3 Ltd (ASX: DTL)	$11.31	2.35%
Ansell Ltd (ASX: ANN)	$43.71	2.20%
BlueScope Steel Ltd (ASX: BSL)	$30.70	2.30%
TechnologyOne Ltd (ASX: TNE)	$29.65	2.14%
Breville Group Ltd (ASX: BRG)	$30.56	2.10%
Santos Ltd (ASX: STO)	$8.55	1.79%

Our top 10 shares countdown is a recurring end-of-day summary that shows which companies made big moves on the day. Check in at Fool.com.au after the weekday market closes to see which stocks make the countdown.

The post Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Sebastian Bowen has positions in Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Company Limited. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Company Limited. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Company Limited. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Ansell, Data#3, and Premier Investments. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) shares are down 0.7% to 8,703.9 points on Thursday.

Meanwhile, brokers have maintained a positive view on several stocks this week.

Let’s take a look.

Zip Co Ltd (ASX: ZIP)

The Zip share price is $1.97, down 12% despite no news from the company today.

Over the past month, this ASX 200 financial share has fallen 22%.

UBS renewed its buy rating on Zip shares today.

The broker has a 12-month price target of $4.70.

This suggests a potential 134% upside ahead.

Insurance Australia Group Ltd (ASX: IAG)

The IAG share price is $7.82, down 0.8% today.

The ASX 200 insurance share has risen 3% over the past month.

UBS reiterated its buy rating on IAG shares yesterday with a price target of $9.25.

This implies potential capital gains of 18% ahead.

BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP)

The BHP share price is $61.02, down 1.7% on Thursday. 

Over the past month, this ASX 200 mining share has tumbled 9%.

Morgan Stanley reaffirmed its buy rating on BHP shares yesterday.

The broker has a 12-month target of $68.

This suggests a potential 11% upside ahead.

Pro Medicus Ltd (ASX: PME)

The Pro Medicus share price is $162.88, up 1% today. 

This ASX 200 healthcare share has fallen 16% over the past month.

Citi renewed its buy rating on Pro Medicus shares yesterday with a $225 target.

This implies potential capital growth of 38% over the next year.

Nickel Industries Ltd (ASX: NIC)

The Nickel Industries share price is 82 cents, down 3% today. 

Over the past month, this ASX 200 nickel share has fallen 8%.

Bell Potter renewed its buy rating on Nickel Industries shares this week.

The broker has a 12-month price target of $1.45.

This suggests a potential 77% upside ahead.

The broker said:

NIC is one of the world’s largest listed nickel producers and offers exposure across a range of nickel products and markets.

It has a track record of maintaining margins through low nickel prices, benefitting from its diversified product suite and margin exposure across an integrated value chain.

Stockland Corp Ltd (ASX: SGP)

The Stockland share price is $4.13, down 1.8% today. 

Over the past month, this ASX 200 property share has fallen 13%.

UBS renewed its buy rating on Stockland shares today.

The broker has a 12-month price target of $5.12.

This suggests a potential 24% upside ahead.

The post 6 ASX 200 shares scoring renewed buy calls this week appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• ASX 200 slides as investors head for the exits. Is there more pain to come?
• Buy, hold, sell: BHP, CSL, and Westpac shares
• Is the Zip share price a bargain at $2.09?
• BHP shares fall as mining operations grind to a halt

Citigroup is an advertising partner of Motley Fool Money. Motley Fool contributor Bronwyn Allen has positions in Zip Co. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has recommended Pro Medicus. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended BHP Group and Pro Medicus. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

If you ask any investor, whether Australian or not, what the flavour of the month on the markets is right now, I’m sure the vast majority would say ‘artificial intelligence (AI)‘. AI is arguably the talk of the world right now. With commentators singing from the potential benefits of this powerful technology, to the possible dangers, and back to how it might enrich us through various stocks or exchange-traded funds (ETFs).

If you’re bullish on this technology, you might want to know which is the best way to put your money where your mouth is. So today, let’s go through what the best way to invest in AI might be here on the ASX.

Right off the bat, you might see a thematic ASX ETF with ‘AI’ in its name as the best port of call. The Global X Artificial Intelligence ETF (ASX: GXAI) is a great example. A fund of this nature will certainly get you some of the world’s most prominent and dominant AI stocks. For example, some top holdings of GXAI include Palantir Technologies, SpaceX, Microsoft Corporation, Meta Platforms, and Tesla. Those are just some of this fund’s (current) 88 holdings.

Another option might be the BetaShares NASDAQ 100 ETF (ASX: NDQ). Now, this ASX ETF doesn’t have AI in its name or in its mission statement. However, the index that it tracks, the NASDAQ 100, naturally contains most of the leading AI stocks on the US markets. AI leaders like NVIDIA, Alphabet, Micron Technologies, Advanced Micro Devices, and Apple are all amongst its largest holdings. As are Meta Platforms, Microsoft, SpaceX, Palantir and Tesla.

Plus, you get some high-quality companies that aren’t necessarily AI leaders thrown in too. That includes Amazon, Walmart, and Netflix.

Either (or both ) of these ASX ETFs would give an ASX investor plenty of exposure to artificial intelligence, all in one easy place.

ASX AI ETFs? Think outside the box for a cheaper fee

However, there is a cheaper option. See, neither of the two ASX ETFs named above are cheap, relatively speaking. The Global X Artificial Intelligence ETF charges an annual management fee of 0.57%. NDQ asks 0.48% per annum.

In contrast, a market-wide US index fund, such as the iShares S&P 500 ETF (ASX: IVV) asks just 0.04% per annum. That’s a difference between paying $64 a year for every $10,000 invested and paying $4 a year for that same $10k. That may not sound like a lot, but it does add up if one is investing for long periods of time.

Sure, the iShares S&P 500 ETF doesn’t invest in AI specifically. It is a lot more diversified than even the BetaShares Nasdaq 100 ETF. But it still offers significant exposure to many of the companies that are leading the AI race. Amongst its top holdings, you’ll find Nvidia, Apple, Microsoft, Alphabet, Meta Platforms, Micron Technology, Tesla, and AMD.

To round up, all of these ASX ETFs will provide an investor with some level of exposure to some of the world’s best AI stocks. If you want the purest, most direct AI investment, then the Global X Artificial Intelligence ETF is your best bet. But less-picky investors may want to consider the far cheaper, yet still AI-centred S&P 500 ETF.

The post Want to invest in AI? Here are the best ASX ETFs for 2027 appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

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Motley Fool contributor Sebastian Bowen has positions in Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, Meta Platforms, Microsoft, and Netflix. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, BetaShares Nasdaq 100 ETF, Meta Platforms, Micron Technology, Microsoft, Netflix, Nvidia, Palantir Technologies, Tesla, Walmart, and iShares S&P 500 ETF. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended BetaShares Nasdaq 100 ETF. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, Meta Platforms, Microsoft, Netflix, Nvidia, and iShares S&P 500 ETF. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.