Just when it looked like CBA shares might find some support around $150, today has given shareholders another reason to worry.

Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA) shares dropped to $147.41 during the session, taking them back to levels not seen since February.

That put the stock just 43 cents above its 52-week low of $146.98, although buyers have since stepped back in.

At the moment, CBA has recovered to $149.45, but it is still down 1.06%.

September hasn’t been particularly kind, with the stock losing around 6% since the beginning of the month.

And with another RBA interest rate decision coming up next Tuesday, there’s plenty for investors to think about.

So, could $140 be the next stop?

Why are CBA shares falling?

Interest rates are back in the spotlight, and that’s not exactly what CBA shareholders want to hear right now.

The RBA has already lifted rates three times this year, taking the cash rate to 4.35%.

In its FY26 results, CBA reported that home loan applications fell 15% following May’s changes, while investor applications dropped 28%.

That’s quite a slowdown for Australia’s largest mortgage lender, particularly when housing demand is such an important part of its business.

CBA still expects housing credit growth of around 4% to 5% over the next 12 months, so it’s not all bad news.

But there’s another issue investors need to consider.

Despite the recent share price decline, CBA is still trading on a price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of roughly 23x.

Keep in mind, that’s a hefty price to pay with borrowing costs climbing and mortgage demand showing signs of slowing.

Could $140 be next?

The first level I’m watching is $146.98, which is CBA’s 52-week low and a price it came close to testing today.

If that level gives way, $140 is only around 5% below today’s intraday low, so it’s not really a big move.

And brokers aren’t exactly expecting a quick recovery either.

According to TipRanks, 8 analysts have an average 12-month price target of $123.08, with forecasts ranging from $90 to $144.99.

That implies an 18% downside from the current share price, although broker forecasts don’t always play out as expected.

It’s worth remembering that CBA is still making plenty of money.

The bank reported a record FY26 cash profit of $10.98 billion, up 7%, and paid shareholders $5.05 in fully franked dividends.

Nonetheless, I think $140 is a realistic level to watch if CBA breaks below its February low.

The post CBA shares hit their lowest level since February. Could $140 be next? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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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.

The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) plunged below 8,650 points, shedding almost 120 points from Wednesday’s close.

Buyers have since returned, but the benchmark remains down 0.69% at approximately 8,705 points in early afternoon trade.

The selling has reached some of our biggest companies, leaving investors with little relief across several sectors.

And with another interest rate decision approaching, the next few sessions could prove very important.

So, is there more pain to come?

Wall Street gives investors little to cheer about

Aussie shares followed Wall Street lower after all 3 major US indices finished Wednesday’s session in negative territory.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average Index (DJX: .DJI) declined 0.68%, while the S&P 500 Index (SP: .INX) slipped 0.75%.

The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC) suffered the largest drop, falling 1.13%.

According to Reuters, rising oil prices and US Treasury yields weighed on sentiment, with the 10-year yield climbing above 5.1%.

That marked its highest level since 2007, as investors considered the possibility of further interest rate increases.

Mining heavyweights take a hit

Closer to home, BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP) has fallen 1.61% to $61.07 following an incident at its Escondida copper mine in Chile.

A worker reportedly died during maintenance work yesterday, prompting BHP to suspend all operational activities at the site.

The company hasn’t indicated when production will resume at the world’s largest copper mine.

Rio Tinto Ltd (ASX: RIO), which holds a 30% stake in Escondida, is also trading lower, slipping 0.93% to $166.06.

Banking shares aren’t providing much relief either.

Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA) has declined 0.84% to $149.775, and Westpac Banking Corp (ASX: WBC) is down 1.32% to $34.30.

Jobs data adds another twist

Today’s employment figures have given investors something else to consider ahead of next week’s RBA meeting.

The Australian Bureau of Statistics reported that unemployment rose to 4.6% in August, compared with 4.5% in July.

Employment increased by 39,500 people, although all the growth came from part-time positions.

Full-time employment declined by 6,300, while the participation rate increased to 67.1%.

Higher unemployment shows the labour market is easing, which could give the RBA more reason to hold interest rates next week.

The RBA will announce its next interest rate decision on Tuesday, 29th September.

Can the ASX 200 hold 8,700 points?

The immediate test is whether the benchmark can stay above 8,700 heading into today’s close.

Another break below 8,650 would put this morning’s low back in focus.

With the RBA’s decision on Tuesday and inflation figures due next Wednesday, I wouldn’t be surprised to see further volatility.

The post ASX 200 slides as investors head for the exits. Is there more pain to come? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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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 recommended BHP Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

Boss Energy vs Paladin Energy shares

With the global push for clean, reliable energy accelerating, uranium producers on the ASX have become a focus for Aussie investors. Two names leading the charge are Boss Energy Ltd (ASX: BOE) and Paladin Energy Ltd (ASX: PDN). Both companies aim to supply the growing demand for nuclear fuel, but their business scale, valuations, and recent share price histories diverge in interesting ways. If you’re weighing up Boss Energy shares versus Paladin Energy shares, here’s what stands out.

The case for Boss Energy

Boss Energy is an Aussie-based uranium producer with a 100% stake in the Honeymoon uranium project in South Australia, which came online in 2024. It also holds a minority stake in the Alta Mesa project in South Texas, operated by enCore Energy. Boss’s recent transformation from uranium developer to producer puts it in an exciting position as the uranium market heats up.

A few key metrics jump out:

• Market cap: $691.27 million – much smaller than Paladin Energy, making Boss a potential growth story if production ramps up successfully.
• P/E ratio: 263.93 – this reflects minimal reported earnings so far, as the Honeymoon mine is only just coming online.
• Dividend yield: 0.00% – Boss isn’t paying a dividend at present, which is no surprise for a company focused on ramping up production.
• Year-to-date (YTD) return: 9.9% – Boss’s share price has delivered a solid gain for investors this year.

For those who like early-stage producers with room to grow, Boss Energy represents a more agile uranium play compared to its much bigger rival.

The case for Paladin Energy

Paladin Energy is a seasoned operator in the global uranium sector, with its flagship Langer Heinrich Mine in Namibia – one of the world’s largest uranium mines. According to its most recent public description, although Paladin put its mine on care and maintenance in recent years (due to softer uranium prices), it’s well-placed to capitalise as global nuclear demand returns.

Here’s what stands out in the numbers:

• Market cap: $4.57 billion – Paladin is much larger than Boss, commanding a major presence among global uranium players.
• P/E ratio: 575.80 – Paladin’s earnings are still slim relative to its price, likely reflecting its transitional state, ramp-up costs, or perhaps adjustments for underlying earnings.
• Dividend yield: 0.00% – like Boss, Paladin isn’t returning cash to shareholders just yet.
• YTD return: 2.5% – shares have risen modestly this year, trailing Boss’s performance but reflecting the bigger, steadier nature of the business.

Paladin’s established global asset base may appeal to those who want scale and operational experience in uranium, albeit at a bigger company valuation.

Valuation comparison

Comparing these two uranium producers uncovers stark gaps:

Metric	Boss Energy Ltd	Paladin Energy Ltd
Market Cap	$691.27 million	$4.57 billion
P/E Ratio	263.93	575.80
Earnings per Share (EPS)	0.006	0.012
Dividend Yield	0.00%	0.00%
YTD Return	9.9%	2.5%

Note: Both companies’ reported P/E ratios are extremely high, reflecting the fact that each is in the early stages of commercial production, with limited earnings against their market valuations. Paladin’s P/E is nearly double that of Boss, but in both cases, current earnings are so slim that these multiples should be interpreted with caution. Also, note that the P/E ratios may be based on differing earnings measures, which could explain the disconnect with the corresponding EPS figures.

Neither company is offering dividends, so for now their investment appeal is about growth and positioning.

Recent share price performance

Comparing recent share price momentum:

• Boss Energy shares rose from $1.42 (31 Aug 2026) to $1.67 (21 Sep 2026), representing a bumpy but upward trend with some sharp swings.
• Paladin Energy shares fluctuated from $11.61 (31 Aug 2026) to $10.16 (21 Sep 2026), experiencing some big down days, including a -9.59% move on 11 Sept, before stabilising near $10.
• YTD, Boss is up 9.9%, while Paladin has returned just 2.5% according to the figures supplied.

Which is the better buy?

Based on the data discussed, I’d pick Boss Energy. Here’s why: Boss offers a smaller, more nimble uranium pure-play with a recent production start-up, stronger share price momentum this year, and a valuation multiple (while still sky-high!) that is lower than Paladin’s. Both companies currently offer zero yield and trade on lofty earnings multiples due to their early-stage or transitional earnings, but Boss appears to have delivered better recent returns and could have more upside if its Honeymoon ramp-up goes well.

Paladin, with its mega-market cap and established Namibian asset, offers scale and operational pedigree – and may ultimately prove the steadier uranium bet over time. But given the contrast in YTD returns and relative valuation, I think there’s more excitement and growth potential in Boss Energy at current prices.

The post Boss Energy vs Paladin Energy: Which ASX uranium stock wins? 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 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. 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.