It’s another rough Friday on the ASX, and things aren’t looking much better as we head towards the weekend.

The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is currently down 0.48% to around 8,659 points, after dropping as low as 8,639.9 earlier in the session.

That’s the lowest we’ve seen the benchmark since 11 June, with the index now down almost 5% over the past month.

And it’s not just a few of the big names dragging the market lower.

At the latest check, 155 stocks in the ASX 200 are falling, while just 39 are moving higher and 6 remain unchanged.

With another RBA interest rate decision coming up on Tuesday, investors have plenty to think about.

So, could things get worse next week?

Oil jumps as bond yields hit 19-year high

Wall Street was fairly quiet overnight, but there was lots happening in oil and bond markets.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average Index (DJX: .DJI) fell 0.31%, while the S&P 500 Index (SP: .INX) slipped 0.02%.

The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC) managed to finish 0.01% higher.

In addition, the US 10-year Treasury yield climbed to approximately 5.12%, its highest level in 19 years.

Oil prices were also on the move, with Brent crude jumping more than 4% overnight to around US$107.53 a barrel.

Selling spreads across the ASX 200

The selling is pretty widespread today, with 10 of the 11 ASX sectors trading lower.

BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP) shares are down 0.66% to $60.62, while Rio Tinto Ltd (ASX: RIO) has slipped 0.88% to $164.99.

Property-related stocks aren’t having a great day either, with REA Group Ltd (ASX: REA) falling 2.51% to $148.27.

However, the big banks are managing to buck the trend and provide some support for the benchmark.

Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA) shares are up 0.28% to $150.405, and Westpac Banking Corp (ASX: WBC) has gained 0.56% to $34.32.

Will the RBA make things worse next week?

All eyes now turn to Tuesday, when the RBA announces its next interest rate decision.

According to The Australian, money markets are pricing a 90% chance of another 25-basis point increase.

This would take the cash rate to 4.60%.

Traders are also pricing approximately 40 basis points of additional tightening by the end of the year.

The RBA has already lifted rates 3 times in 2026, and another increase would add to borrowing costs for households and businesses.

And with the ASX 200 at its lowest level since June, I’ll be watching whether it can hold above 8,600 points.

The post ASX 200 sinks to June lows as investors brace for another RBA rate hike appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Friday
• How to top up your superannuation if you’re 40 and falling behind
• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• 6 ASX 200 shares scoring renewed buy calls this week
• ASX 200 slides as investors head for the exits. Is there more pain to come?

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.

Just when Netwealth Group Ltd (ASX: NWL) shareholders thought things couldn’t get much worse, another problem has come their way.

Netwealth shares have plunged 5.72% to $17.47 in midday trade, after falling as low as $17.22 earlier in the session.

The wealth management stock has now lost more than 20% over the past month and is trading almost 50% below its 52-week high of $33.62.

And today’s announcement has given investors another reason to be concerned.

So, what has happened this time?

Netwealth faces class action

The selling follows an ASX announcement confirming that Netwealth is facing a class action over the failed First Guardian Master Fund.

The company revealed that two of its subsidiaries have now been served with a Statement of Claim.

At the centre of the case are First Guardian investment options offered through the Netwealth Superannuation Master Fund.

These were available to adviser-led members from March 2021, before Netwealth stopped accepting new investments in December 2022.

The company says it intends to defend the claim.

According to the release, the allegations cover matters previously addressed through a court-enforceable undertaking with ASIC.

The regulator accepted that undertaking in December 2025 and began Federal Court proceedings over the same issues.

Netwealth also reminded investors that it completed a compensation program in January 2026.

That saw around $101 million paid to affected members, covering the net capital each had invested in First Guardian.

What happened to investors’ money?

There was a lot of money tied up in First Guardian before things went wrong.

Between March 2021 and December 2022, 1,303 Netwealth members invested approximately $128.5 million in the fund.

Then, in May 2024, fund operator Falcon Capital froze withdrawals.

By that stage, around 1,080 members still had approximately $100.7 million invested.

The matter eventually ended up in the Federal Court.

In August, the court found that Netwealth’s subsidiaries had breached the Corporations Act in how they handled the investments.

They hadn’t gathered enough information about First Guardian or made adequate independent checks into the risks involved.

Members also weren’t warned that they might struggle to access their money if the fund became illiquid.

ASIC didn’t seek a financial penalty, pointing to Netwealth’s timely compensation of affected investors.

What’s next for Netwealth shares?

Netwealth has already paid around $101 million in compensation, but it still has another legal battle on its hands.

And there’s still the question of what this latest case could mean financially.

With shares continuing to fall, investors clearly aren’t thrilled about another round of legal proceedings.

Personally, I wouldn’t rush in just because the stock has fallen so far.

The post Why are Netwealth shares crashing 6% on Friday? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• Netwealth faces class action after compensation payments
• 3 ASX shares down 40% to 80% I’d buy on the cheap
• Buy, hold, sell: Netwealth, Tabcorp, Healius shares
• Should I buy Coles shares for passive income?
• 2 ASX 200 shares to buy and 1 to sell now

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

Premier Investments vs Myer Holdings shares: which ASX retailer stacks up best?

When everyday investors look for steady returns and income from retail stocks, Premier Investments Ltd (ASX: PMV) and Myer Holdings Ltd (ASX: MYR) are frequent contenders. Both are household names on the ASX with passionate customer followings and large store footprints, but their investment cases have diverged after a major restructuring. If you’re deciding between Premier Investments and Myer shares, here’s how the fundamentals compare right now.

The case for Premier Investments

Premier Investments is a specialist retail group now focused on two leading brands: Peter Alexander, a premium sleepwear and home lifestyle name, and Smiggle, a much-loved children’s stationery retailer famous for its colourful products. After spinning off its apparel chains (like Just Jeans and Jay Jays) to Myer in 2025, Premier now embraces a simpler model that’s less exposed to discount apparel cycles and more to lifestyle and gift-buying. It still retains a large shareholding in Myer.

Highlights of Premier Investments right now:

• Strong dividend yield: Premier is offering an attractive 8.51% dividend yield, all fully franked. Its dividend per share sits at $0.95, a show of confidence in returning capital.
• Solid profitability: With earnings per share of $0.902 and a P/E ratio of 12.38, Premier trades on markedly lower earnings multiples than Myer at present.
• Resilience through refocus: The company has pivoted to two brands with defensible niches (sleepwear and kids’ stationery), and international growth potential continues with Smiggle and Peter Alexander’s expansion into the UK and Asia, according to its company profile.

The case for Myer Holdings

Myer is one of Australia’s largest department store operators, now even bigger following its acquisition of Premier’s former apparel brands (Just Jeans, Jay Jays, Portmans, Dotti, and Jacqui E) in 2025. Alongside its network of around 60 MYER-branded department stores (as of its public company description), Myer now controls a vast stable of retail brands with national reach, targeting value-conscious fashion and home shoppers across the country.

Key considerations for Myer Holdings today:

• High yield for income seekers: Myer’s dividend yield edges out Premier’s at 8.57%, fully franked, with a current dividend per share of $0.02 as per the latest data.
• Wider retail footprint: Myer now operates both large format department stores and hundreds of specialty apparel outlets. This broad network potentially diversifies sales streams and brand risks.
• Turnaround challenge: Myer’s recent financials show strain after integration: it records a negative earnings per share of -$0.178 and carries a higher P/E ratio of 23.70. Note: Myer’s reported P/E ratio may be based on a different earnings measure (e.g. underlying or forward earnings) than the EPS figure shown, which is why they may appear inconsistent.

Valuation comparison

Here’s how key metrics stack up side by side for income, value, and risk:

	Premier Investments	Myer Holdings
Market Cap	$1.91 billion	$337.50 million
P/E Ratio	12.38	23.70
Earnings per Share	$0.902	-$0.178
Dividend Yield	8.51% (100% franked)	8.57% (100% franked)

Premier is the much larger business by market cap and currently trades at a far lower P/E ratio, supported by positive earnings. Myer, despite a slightly higher yield, has negative EPS at the latest read and a notably higher multiple—usually a signal investors expect future profit recovery, but with added risk.

Recent share price performance

Comparing recent momentum using both companies’ closing prices as of 23 September 2026:

• Premier Investments closed at $11.95, up 7.08% on the day, but its year-to-date return sits at -15.8%.
• Myer Holdings closed at $0.18, unchanged for the day, but its year-to-date return is -60.0%.

So while both shares are down for 2026, Myer has dramatically underperformed Premier over the year, with its stock falling much further.

Which is the better buy?

Looking at both the numbers and the business setup, I think Premier Investments makes the stronger case at present. It’s profitable, sports a healthy fully franked yield, and is trading on a much lower P/E ratio than Myer. Its focus on brands with pricing power and some international growth runway adds conviction. By contrast, Myer faces a tough turnaround task post-demerger, with negative earnings and a much weaker share price, despite its large footprint and similar headline yield. If I had to pick a retail stock between these two today, my choice would be Premier Investments.

The post Premier Investments vs Myer: Which ASX Retail Stock is Best? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• This ASX 200 share offers 30% upside and a 7% yield
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Friday
• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• Down 64%: Has the market lost interest in Myer shares?
• Why are Premier Investments shares trading higher today?

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 Myer and Premier Investments. 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.