The Middle East conflict has entered a new phase.

Washington launched strikes against Iran in response to attacks on three commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz. This has reversed what had briefly appeared to be a path toward a negotiated peace just weeks earlier.

ASX shares initially slid lower, with broad selling pressure across materials, technology, and financial shares.

The energy sector is the notable exception.

On news of the new outbreak of conflict, WTI crude rose 2.66% to US$72.32 and Brent crude rose 2.55% to US$76.05 as supply disruption fears return.

Here is what that means for these energy focused ASX shares.

Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS)

Woodside shares were up yesterday, a strong move against a broadly falling market.

The company is the most direct ASX beneficiary of higher oil prices, with LNG and oil production revenue rising almost in lockstep with the global oil price.

The Scarborough LNG project is 94% complete with first cargo targeted for Q4 2026, adding earnings support at exactly the moment oil prices are recovering.

A sustained return to US$90 per barrel would upgrade Woodside’s second-half FY26 revenue and dividend capacity.

The risk is equally clear: another ceasefire could reverse the trade just as rapidly as it did in June for ASX shares.

Santos Ltd (ASX: STO)

Santos shares also surged yesterday, reflecting Santos’ historically higher sensitivity to oil price swings.

When the original peace deal broke in June, Santos fell 8% in a single session. Today’s move reflects the reverse trade as war risk returns.

The underlying business is not dependent on geopolitical volatility to perform.

The company’s Barossa LNG plant is already producing at 75% of planned 2026 production rates. Moreover, the first oil from Pikka Phase 1 in Alaska provides an additional production stream that should insulate cash flow regardless of where oil settles.

Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST)

Northern Star Resources may benefit from yesterday’s escalation in a different way.

Gold is the market’s preferred safe-haven asset in periods of geopolitical stress.

The gold price has already risen to US$4,187 per ounce in recent sessions, and renewed Middle East conflict adds a further layer of safe-haven demand.

Northern Star is Australia’s largest listed gold miner, and the Elliott Management activist campaign continues to add a corporate catalyst dimension, with calls for a strategic review still unresolved heading into FY27.

A gold price above US$4,000 combined with an in-depth strategic review gives Northern Star shareholders two potential catalysts for future growth.

The broader picture for ASX shares

Beyond energy and gold, the renewed escalation is weighing on the rest of the ASX.

BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP) was down yesterday as rising oil prices increase mining operating costs, while the four major banks were all under pressure yesterday morning.

The pattern is familiar: geopolitical escalation benefits energy and gold while weighing on almost everything else.

Foolish Takeaway for ASX shares

Washington’s fresh strikes on Iran have put supply risk back in the spotlight.

Woodside and Santos are today’s direct beneficiaries as oil prices climb.

Northern Star benefits through the safe-haven gold price tailwind.

How long any of these moves last depends entirely on whether diplomacy reasserts itself, as it has done multiple times already in 2026.

The post Washington just launched fresh strikes on Iran. Here is what that means for ASX shares appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Mark Verhoeven 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.

Retiring with $1 million in superannuation is a big goal.

It is also more realistic for some Australians than others. A strong salary can make a major difference because employer super contributions are based on income, and higher earners may have more room to make extra contributions along the way.

But I do not think the goal should be dismissed as impossible.

With time, discipline, sensible investment choices, and a focus on increasing contributions where possible, a $1 million super balance can be a realistic long-term target for some investors.

Know what the target means

The first tip is to understand what $1 million actually represents.

According to ASFA, the lump sum needed at retirement for a comfortable lifestyle is estimated at $630,000 for a single homeowner and $730,000 for a couple. That assumes a partial Age Pension.

So, a $1 million super balance is above that benchmark. It could give retirees more flexibility, more income options, and a larger buffer against inflation, healthcare costs, market volatility, and the risk of living longer than expected.

That does not mean everyone needs exactly $1 million.

A homeowner with modest spending needs may need less. Someone renting, retiring early, travelling often, or wanting to leave money behind may need more.

I think the key is to set a target based on the lifestyle you actually want, then work backwards.

Use income to your advantage

The second tip is to take contributions seriously.

Australia’s superannuation system does a lot of the work automatically, with employers required to contribute 12% of ordinary time earnings. That is a strong starting point, especially for people on good salaries.

For example, someone earning $120,000 a year would receive around $14,400 in employer super contributions before tax. Over decades, that can become a meaningful foundation.

But relying only on compulsory contributions may not be enough for everyone.

That is where salary sacrifice or personal deductible contributions can help, as long as investors stay within the relevant contribution caps. At the time of writing, the general concessional contributions cap is $32,500.

Adding extra money early can be especially powerful because it gives compounding more time to work.

A good salary helps, but the habit matters too. Small increases after pay rises, bonuses, or debt repayments can make a real difference over a long working life.

Invest for long-term growth

The third tip is to make sure the money is actually working.

Superannuation is usually invested for decades, so I think younger members should pay close attention to their investment option. A very conservative option may feel safe, but it may also reduce the chance of building a large balance over time.

Growth assets, such as shares, can be volatile. But they have historically played an important role in long-term wealth creation.

Fees also matter. Small differences in fees and performance can make a big difference to a final super balance.

That is why I would regularly review my super fund, investment option, insurance settings, and fees. I would also avoid having multiple super accounts unless there is a clear reason.

Foolish takeaway

Retiring with $1 million in superannuation will not be easy for everyone.

A good salary can help enormously, and starting early makes the task much easier. But the main ingredients are still simple: contribute consistently, invest for growth where appropriate, keep fees under control, and give compounding enough time to work.

For Australians with decades ahead of them, I think a $1 million super balance is a goal worth taking seriously.

The post 3 tips for retiring with $1 million in superannuation appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Grace Alvino 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.

Of the economic data releases that regularly move ASX shares, few matter more than China’s monthly inflation figures.

Today, China’s National Bureau of Statistics publishes June CPI and PPI data.

The reading will provide the most current picture of whether China’s economy is reflating amid commodity and energy price pressures from the Middle East conflict, or whether domestic demand remains too weak to sustain higher prices.

Shareholders in BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP), Rio Tinto Ltd (ASX: RIO), and Fortescue Ltd (ASX: FMG) should keep a close eye on these developments.

What the recent trend shows

May CPI held steady at 1.2% year-on-year, slightly below the 1.3% market expectation. This confirmed that consumer-level inflation remained contained and gave Beijing room to maintain accommodative policy settings.

May PPI told a more inflationary story, rising 3.9% year-on-year, the fastest pace since July 2022.

This was driven by surging commodity and energy prices from the Iran war supply disruptions.

Mining prices rose 15.8% year-on-year and raw materials climbed 9.2%.

Both categories are directly relevant to the revenue BHP, Rio Tinto, and Fortescue generate from selling iron ore and copper into the Chinese market.

What it means for BHP

BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP) is the most diversified of the three ASX shares, with earnings spread across iron ore, copper, and potash.

Its copper exposure makes it particularly sensitive to any sign that Chinese industrial activity is weakening.

BHP is also down after workers announced plans to strike at its WA iron ore terminal on 16 July.

This adds to a company-specific complication alongside the broader China data sensitivity.

What it means for Rio Tinto

Rio Tinto Ltd (ASX: RIO) is the most diversified across commodities, with exposure to iron ore, copper, aluminium, and lithium.

That breadth means Rio’s earnings are sensitive to a wider array of Chinese demand signals simultaneously.

Rio Tinto shares fell 7.1% in June as the temporary ceasefire eased oil prices and pulled commodity sentiment lower.

A strong PPI print tomorrow confirming China’s factory inflation remains elevated would be positive for Rio’s revenue outlook across all three of its primary commodities.

What it means for Fortescue

Fortescue Ltd (ASX: FMG) is the most purely exposed of the three to China’s iron ore demand, with virtually all revenue coming from a single commodity sold almost exclusively into the Chinese steel market.

Fortescue fell 4.2% in June, underperforming both BHP and Rio Tinto. This partly reflected the company’s higher sensitivity to Chinese demand deterioration.

Furthermore, Bloomberg has reported that China’s state-backed iron ore buyer has signalled plans to blacklist Fortescue’s Super Special Fines product from 15 July, a company-specific headwind that adds to the near-term risk around tomorrow’s data.

A constructive June PPI print would help offset that headwind. On the other hand, a weak print would amplify it.

A note on the data for these ASX shares

June’s figures cover a period when the Strait of Hormuz briefly reopened following the ceasefire before last night’s fresh US strikes reversed that dynamic.

Investors should not interpret a softer June PPI print purely as a sign of Chinese demand weakness.

It may also reflect the brief period of ceasefire-driven commodity price relief before hostilities resumed.

Foolish takeaway for ASX shares

China’s June CPI and PPI data drops today and will give the most current indication on whether Chinese industrial activity can sustain the commodity demand underpinning BHP, Rio Tinto, and Fortescue.

A positive print would reinforce the bull case for all three ASX shares.

A surprise to the downside, combined with the other headwinds each stock is currently carrying, would add further near-term pressure.

The post China’s CPI and PPI data drops today. Here is the potential impact for these ASX shares appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Mark Verhoeven 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.