ASX 200 healthcare shares led the 11 market sectors last week with a 3.76% gain over the five trading days.

The broader S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) slipped 0.11% over the week to 8,731.2 points on Friday.

The market was volatile on increased bets of another interest rate hike due to persistently high inflation.

The market is pricing an 82% chance that the Reserve Bank will lift rates by another 0.25% at the end of the month.

Last week, the US Fed raised rates for the first time in three years, and Japan also increased rates to a 30-year high.

Elevated oil prices due to the US-Iran conflict continue to contribute to stubborn inflation worldwide.

Last week, eight of the 11 market sectors finished in the red.

Let’s review.

Healthcare led the market sectors last week

Healthcare is continuing its rapid rebound following a 29% slump over the 12 months to early June.

The S&P/ASX 200 Health Care Index (ASX: XHJ) hit a 9-year low on 3 June.

Healthcare shares have ripped 43% since then compared to a 0.6% fall for the ASX 200.

The CSL Ltd (ASX: CSL) share price popped 5.08% to $175.59 last week, and it’s up 90% since 3 June. 

Resmed CDI (ASX: RMD) shares rose 5.15% to $31.87, and are 23% higher since 3 June. 

Pro Medicus Ltd (ASX: PME) shares jumped 3.18% to $169.57 on Friday, and are up 6% since 3 June. 

The Ramsay Health Care Ltd (ASX: RHC) share price lifted 3.44% to $55.39, and is up 52% since 3 June. 

Sonic Healthcare Ltd (ASX: SHL) shares edged 1.26% higher to $19.24, and are up 2% since 3 June.

Telix Pharmaceuticals Ltd (ASX: TLX) shares jumped 13.91% to $17.85 on Friday, and are up 46% since 3 June.

The 4DMedical Ltd (ASX: 4DX) share price leapt 28.27% to $4.31, and is up 14% since 3 June. 

Chemist warehouse owner Sigma Healthcare Ltd (ASX: SIG) bucked the trend last week.

Sigma Healthcare shares fell 3.04% to $2.55, and are 12% lower since 3 June. 

The Cochlear Ltd (ASX: COH) share price also fell 0.18% to $133.90 last week.

Cochlear shares have recovered 41% since 3 June. 

ASX 200 market sector snapshot

Here’s how the 11 market sectors stacked up last week, according to CommSec data.

Over the five trading days:

S&P/ASX 200 market sector	Change last week
Healthcare (ASX: XHJ)	3.76%
Utilities (ASX: XUJ)	0.5%
Communication (ASX: XTJ)	0.03%
Industrials (ASX: XNJ)	(0.02%)
Consumer Discretionary (ASX: XDJ)	(0.14%)
Financials (ASX: XFJ)	(0.21%)
Materials (ASX: XMJ)	(0.32%)
Consumer Staples (ASX: XSJ)	(0.74%)
Information Technology (ASX: XIJ)	(0.81%)
Energy (ASX: XEJ)	(1.29%)
A-REIT (ASX: XPJ)	(1.89%)

The post ASX 200 healthcare shares lead a weaker market amid 82% chance of a rate hike appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Bronwyn Allen 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 CSL, Cochlear, ResMed, and Telix Pharmaceuticals. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has recommended Pro Medicus. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended ResMed. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended CSL, Cochlear, Pro Medicus, Sonic Healthcare, and Telix Pharmaceuticals. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

It was a busy week for Australia’s top brokers. This has led to a number of broker notes being released. 

Three broker buy ratings that you might want to know more about are summarised below. Here’s why brokers think these ASX shares are in the buy zone:

Guzman Y Gomez Ltd (ASX: GYG)

According to a note out of Morgans, its analysts have upgraded this quick service restaurant operator’s shares to a buy rating with a $31.00 price target. The broker has been looking at recent industry data and notes that consumer spending has been soft, particularly at the low income side of the market. And with interest rates potentially heading higher from here, the broker concedes that the industry outlook is challenging. Nevertheless, it feels that this is more than priced into Guzman Y Gomez shares at current levels following recent weakness. As a result, the broker feels now could be an opportune time to invest. The Guzman Y Gomez share price ended the week at $25.61.

Lovisa Holdings Ltd (ASX: LOV)

A note out of Bell Potter reveals that its analysts have upgraded this fashion jewellery retailer’s shares to a buy rating with a $27.00 price target. Bell Potter has been looking ahead to the company’s annual general meeting in November. The broker highlights its belief that Lovisa will experience relatively easier comparables and retain most of the growth reported at the start of FY 2027 when it provides its trading update. It notes that this will be supported by the fact that around 80% of revenue occurs outside Australia. The exit of a key competitor should also provide further support and offset risks in the local market. In light of this and recent share price weakness, the broker sees the current valuation as attractive. The Lovisa share price was fetching $22.62 at Friday’s close.

Megaport Ltd (ASX: MP1)

Analysts at Citi have retained their buy rating and $24.60 price target on this network solutions company’s shares. According to the note, the broker believes Megaport is well-placed to continue benefiting from increased spending on artificial intelligence inference. In fact, Citi believes the only risk is executing on its strong compute pipeline. And with its strong balance sheet and attractive contract economics, the broker believes Megaport is positioned to pursue further contract wins. Though, it concedes that significant contracts could require another equity raising to fund. The Megaport share price was trading at $18.54 at the end of the week.

The post Top brokers name 3 ASX shares to buy next week appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Citigroup is an advertising partner of Motley Fool Money. Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in Lovisa and Megaport. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Lovisa and Megaport. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Lovisa. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

Single pensioners will get an extra $36.80 per fortnight under inflation adjustments to the age pension effective today.

This raises the full pension payment to $1,237.70 per fortnight.

Couples on the full pension will receive an extra $27.80 per partner, per fortnight, or $55.60 combined per fortnight, from today.

This increases the full pension to $933 per partner, per fortnight, or $1,866 combined per fortnight.

Is the pension enough to fund your retirement?

No, it’s not.

Annually, the newly adjusted full age pension totals $32,180.20 for singles and $48,516 for couples.

The ASFA Retirement Standard, which is considered Australia’s benchmark retirement budgeting tool, lays out the costs of living today.

AFSA says a comfortable retirement costs $56,166 per year for single homeowners and $78,998 per year for couple homeowners.

A modest retirement costs $36,548 per year for single homeowners and $52,690 per year for couple homeowners.

For renters, a modest lifestyle costs $51,418 per year for singles and $69,376 for couples.

ASFA does not provide a cost estimate for a comfortable retirement for renters.

These figures are in today’s dollars, and ASFA adjusts them quarterly to account for inflation.

ASFA lays out exactly what it means by a ‘comfortable’ retirement and a ‘modest’ lifestyle here.

What’s the gap?

For a comfortable retirement, single homeowners receiving the full age pension need to plug a $23,985.80 hole every year.

Couple homeowners aiming for a comfortable retirement need to find $30,482 per year to cover the gap.

For a modest retirement, single homeowners receiving the full pension need another $4,367.80 to cover their living costs.

Couple homeowners getting the full pension need to find $4,174 per year to fund a modest retirement lifestyle.

Single renters on a full pension face a gap of $19,237.80 per year to fund a modest retirement.

Couple renters on a full age pension need to find $20,860 per year to fund their costs of living.

So, how do you find that extra money?

The most obvious way, of course, is superannuation.

When people retire, they typically transfer their superannuation from the accumulation phase into an account-based pension.

This moves their super into what’s known as the retirement phase, where investment earnings are generally tax-free.

Pension payments from your superannuation are also generally tax-free once you’re aged 60 or over.

But there’s a catch…

If you have a large amount of money in superannuation, you’re unlikely to be eligible for the full age pension from Centrelink.

However, as you draw down your super throughout retirement, you may eventually become eligible for the full payment, depending on the value of all your assets combined.

The pension is means tested using an assets test and an income test.

Assessable assets include your superannuation, ASX shares, bonds, investment properties, cash, and home contents.

Under the assets test, single homeowners whose assets are worth less than $333,000 qualify for the full age pension.

Single homeowners whose assets are worth between $333,001 and $745,750 are eligible for a part-payment.

Couple homeowners whose assets are worth less than $499,000 qualify for the full age pension.

Couple homeowners who have between $499,001 and $1,121,000 in assets are eligible for a part-payment.

The post Age pension rises $37 per fortnight today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Bronwyn Allen 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.