It was a pleasant end to a bumpy week for the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) and the broader Australian share market this Friday. After yesterday’s depressing session, investors returned to trading this morning with a renewed sense of optimism, with ASX shares starting strong and staying in positive territory all day.

By the time the closing bell rang, the ASX 200 had added 0.64% to its total. That leaves the index at 8,716.6 points as we head into the weekend.

This happy ending for the local trading week came after a more nuanced morning on Wall Street.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average Index (DJX: .DJI) put on a decent show, rising 0.1%.

However, the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC) wasn’t so lucky, dropping a hefty 1.25%.

But let’s get back to the ASX now and take a closer look at how the various ASX sectors fared this Friday.

Winners and losers

There were only two corners of the market that missed out on a gain today.

The first, and worst, of those unlucky sectors was communications shares. The S&P/ASX 200 Communication Services Index (ASX: XTJ) was left out today, falling 0.56%.

Mining stocks were also unlucky, with the S&P/ASX 200 Materials Index (ASX: XMJ) sliding down 0.03%.

It was all smiles everywhere else, though. Leading the winners were tech shares. The S&P/ASX 200 Information Technology Index (ASX: XIJ) had a veritable party, rocketing 2.23% higher.

Consumer discretionary stocks were right behind that, illustrated by the S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Discretionary Index (ASX: XDJ)’s 2.16% surge.

Real estate investment trusts (REITs) also ran hot. The S&P/ASX 200 A-REIT Index (ASX: XPJ) soared up 1.88% this session.

Gold shares were in demand too, with the All Ordinaries Gold Index (ASX: XGD) galloping 1.87% higher.

Next came utilities stocks. The S&P/ASX 200 Utilities Index (ASX: XUJ) added 1.75% to its total.

Consumer staples shares didn’t miss out either, as you can see from the S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Staples Index (ASX: XSJ)’s 1.25% jump.

Healthcare stocks were in a similar boat. The S&P/ASX 200 Healthcare Index (ASX: XHJ) was upgraded by 1.15%.

Next, we had industrial shares, with the S&P/ASX 200 Industrials Index (ASX: XNJ) leaping 0.87%.

Financial stocks also had a day to remember. The S&P/ASX 200 Financials Index (ASX: XFJ) ended up lifting 0.49%.

Finally, energy shares recorded a win, evidenced by the S&P/ASX 200 Energy Index (ASX: XEJ)’s 0.22% uptick.

Top 10 ASX 200 shares countdown

Topping the charts this session was financial services stock Generation Development Group Ltd (ASX: GDG). Generation Group shares roared 7.31% higher this session to close at $2.79.

There wasn’t any news out from the company, but perhaps this was a rebound from recent lows.

Here’s the rest of today’s best:

ASX-listed company	Share price	Price change
Generation Development Group Ltd (ASX: GDG)	$2.79	7.31%
West African Resources Ltd (ASX: WAF)	$3.69	5.43%
Lovisa Holdings Ltd (ASX: LOV)	$23.57	5.04%
Lottery Corporation Ltd (ASX: TLC)	$5.19	4.64%
Pro Medicus Ltd (ASX: PME)	$165.73	4.50%
Light & Wonder Inc (ASX: LNW)	$116.00	4.50%
Magellan Financial Group Ltd (ASX: MFG)	$8.56	4.39%
WiseTech Global Ltd (ASX: WTC)	$33.63	4.25%
Life360 Inc (ASX: 360)	$20.34	4.15%
Genesis Minerals Ltd (ASX: GMD)	$7.37	3.95%

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.

More reading

• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Friday
• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• Why are Lovisa shares crashing 9% today?
• Life360 vs Droneshield: Which ASX tech stock is a better buy?
• Could WiseTech shares be worth $50 again?

Motley Fool contributor Sebastian Bowen 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 Life360, Light & Wonder Inc, Lovisa, The Lottery Corporation, and WiseTech Global. 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 Life360 and WiseTech Global. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Generation Development Group, Light & Wonder Inc, Lovisa, Pro Medicus, and The Lottery Corporation. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

The average dividend yield of the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is 4.2%, or 6% gross with 100% franking.

That compares to a risk-free return rate of 5.5% on plain old savings accounts these days.

Some investors may feel the risk-reward of ASX dividend shares and ETFs is less than compelling right now.

However, some ASX ETFs can deliver higher than average dividends if their strategies work out.

One ETF that aims to maximise income is the Australian Top 20 Equities Yield Maximiser Complex ETF (ASX: YMAX).

At the time of writing, YMAX ETF is trading on a trailing 12-month gross distribution yield of 10.5%.

What this ASX dividend ETF does differently

The first part of this Betashares ETF’s strategy is obvious: it invests in the top 20 stocks, which all pay reliable dividends.

The top holdings are BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP) (18.6%), Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA) (14.8%), National Australia Bank Ltd (ASX: NAB) (7.1%), Westpac Banking Corp (ASX: WBC) (6.9%), and ANZ Group Holdings Ltd (ASX: ANZ) (6.7%) shares.

In addition, YMAX ETF also sells covered call options on its shares to generate extra income from the option premiums.

How it works is that YMAX sells options to investors, and each option has a strike price.

If a share’s value rises above the strike price, the option owner has the right to buy the shares from YMAX at that price.

They can then sell the shares and make a profit on the difference between the strike price and current market value.

If the share does not go above the strike price, the option holder is unlikely to exercise the option.

YMAX simply keeps the premium, and no trade occurs.

The income from the options premiums provides a partial hedge against share price falls. This protects YMAX investors in falling markets.

In the calendar year to date, the ASX 200 has fallen 0.2%.

Fundie explains why ‘we’re not fans’

The YMAX ETF is currently $7.27 per unit, up 1% on Friday.

The Market Matters team is neutral towards the YMAX ETF around the $7 mark.

In a recent newsletter, James Gerrish from Market Matters said:

We aren’t fans of the YMAX, its performance has been lacking in our opinion, just when it should have shined.

The fundie explained:

The YMAX has struggled in 2026 relative to its peers, gaining just +3.1% year-to-date.

Given its income-focused strategy and the current choppy market environment, we would have expected more from the fund, particularly compared to its peers.

YMAX ETF’s management fee and expenses are 0.64%.

The post Do you own this ASX dividend ETF? Fundie explains why ‘we aren’t fans’ appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 3 ASX dividend stocks to provide passive income through retirement 
• Why it could be time to shift from growth to income: Expert
• 2 ASX dividend shares yielding 9.5% (or even more)

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

Fortescue vs BHP shares: Which ASX miner pays a better passive income?

When it comes to picking ASX mining shares for passive income, Fortescue Ltd (ASX: FMG) and BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP) are two household names. Both have significant scale, long track records, and consistently franked dividends. But for investors focused on dividend income, the details matter—especially when there are major differences in yield, payout trends, and recent share price movements. Here’s what stands out as I weigh up Fortescue vs BHP shares for passive income right now.

The case for Fortescue

Fortescue is a Perth-based iron ore giant operating across the Pilbara in Western Australia. As the world’s fourth largest iron ore producer, Fortescue has built an integrated network of mines, rail, and port infrastructure. Its operations span the Chichester, Solomon, and Western mining hubs, and run one of the world’s fastest heavy haul railways.

Three fundamentals make Fortescue particularly conspicuous for income seekers:

• Dividend yield: Its current dividend yield sits at 6.67%, well above the average for the ASX 200 and higher than that of BHP, making it appealing for those after regular cash returns.
• Franking: Fortescue dividends are 100% franked, maximising after-tax returns for Australian investors.
• P/E and earnings: With a price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 12.06 and earnings per share (EPS) of $0.931, the company looks reasonably valued versus BHP when focusing on income.

On the downside, Fortescue’s share price has dropped -21.5% year-to-date, which some might see as a red flag, but for income hunters this could make for an attractive entry on higher yield.

The case for BHP

BHP is a true blue-chip, diversified mining giant with global operations spanning iron ore, copper, coal and more. Formerly known as BHP Billiton, BHP unified its company structure in 2022 and is consistently one of the largest companies on the ASX. It’s well known for its scale, resilience, and ability to ride out commodity cycles.

For passive income investors, BHP has the following on its side:

• Dividend consistency: The company’s dividend per share this year is $2.42, with strong history of regular semi-annual fully franked payouts.
• Balance sheet and stability: BHP’s vast scale (market cap $319.59 billion) and diversified earnings make its dividends feel more robust across the resource cycle.
• Recent momentum: The share price is up an impressive 41.4% year-to-date, suggesting investor confidence and sector tailwinds.

While BHP’s current dividend yield of 3.91% trails Fortescue, its size, stability, and impressive recent returns may justify the lower yield for investors prioritising long-term security and reliable payments.

Valuation comparison

With dividend income in mind, here’s how Fortescue and BHP stack up on key metrics:

	Fortescue	BHP
Market Cap	$50.53 billion	$319.59 billion
P/E Ratio	12.06	22.22
Dividend Yield	6.67%	3.91%
Earnings per share	$0.931	$1.932
Dividend per share	$1.08	$2.42
Franking	100%	100%
YTD Return	-21.54%	41.37%

Note: BHP’s P/E ratio of 22.22 and EPS of $1.932 appear mathematically inconsistent under the usual P/E formula. This could mean BHP’s reported P/E is based on underlying or forward earnings, not the same EPS shown.

The biggest point of difference is dividend yield—Fortescue is nearly 70% higher than BHP on this metric. BHP’s much larger market cap and higher nominal dividend per share are balanced against a much higher share price, keeping its yield lower.

Recent share price momentum

Comparing recent share price performance up to 6 October 2026:

• Fortescue closed at $16.41, up 1.4% for the day but down -21.5% year-to-date.
• BHP closed at $62.86, up 1.6% for the day and up a striking 41.4% year-to-date.
• BHP has significantly outperformed Fortescue in share price terms over the past year.

Which is the better buy?

If my main goal was maximising fully franked passive income today, I’d lean toward Fortescue. Its dividend yield is meaningfully higher (6.67% vs 3.91%), and the fully franked payments provide a strong after-tax cash flow. Yes, the share price has had a rough year, but to me that’s a risk many income-focused investors are often willing to accept for a juicier yield—particularly as Fortescue’s payout has been consistent in recent years, as reflected in its dividend history.

BHP certainly offers greater diversification and recent share price momentum, with a nearly $320 billion market cap and a strong track record. If I wanted stability and a lower-yielding but potentially more sustainable dividend over time, I’d consider BHP. But purely on current yield and franking, Fortescue is my pick for passive income in the mining sector right now.

The post Fortescue vs BHP: Which ASX miner is better for passive income in October? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 6 ASX shares downgraded by experts this week
• Is the Fortescue share price a bargain buy?
• Buy, hold, sell: Rural Funds Group, Imdex, Fortescue shares
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Friday
• Is BHP the best ASX mining share to buy for the next 5 years?

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.