On Wednesday, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) was out of form and edged lower. The benchmark index fell 0.2% to 9,053.8 points.

Will the market be able to bounce back from this on Thursday? Here are five things to watch:

ASX 200 expected to rise

It looks set to be a good session for Australian investors on Thursday following a positive night on Wall Street. According to the latest SPI futures, the ASX 200 is expected to open the day 28 points or 0.3% higher this morning. In the United States, the Dow Jones rose 0.2%, the S&P 500 climbed 0.2% and the Nasdaq pushed 0.15% higher.

ASX 200 result releases

Earnings season is going into overdrive on Thursday with a very large number of ASX 200 shares due to release their results. This includes Goodman Group (ASX: GMG), Medibank Private Ltd (ASX: MPL), Megaport Ltd (ASX: MP1), Super Retail Group Ltd (ASX: SUL), and Zip Co Ltd (ASX: ZIP).

Oil prices rise

ASX 200 energy shares including Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS) and Santos Ltd (ASX: STO) could have a good session after oil prices rose overnight. According to Bloomberg, the WTI crude oil price is up 0.85% to US$85.65 a barrel and the Brent crude oil price is up 0.5% to US$91.49 a barrel. This was driven by an escalation in Middle East tensions.

Buy Evolution Mining shares

Evolution Mining Ltd (ASX: EVN) shares are in the buy zone according to analysts at Bell Potter. This morning, in response to the gold miner’s record results, the broker has retained its buy rating with an improved price target of $15.55. It said: “EVN offers fully unhedged gold and copper exposure via a portfolio of high quality, long-life assets in Tier 1 jurisdictions, overseen by a high-quality management team. EVN has demonstrated its intention to increase shareholder returns and gold price exposure.”

Gold price jumps

It could be a very positive session for ASX 200 gold shares Newmont Corporation (ASX: NEM) and Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST) on Thursday after the gold price jumped overnight. According to CNBC, the gold futures price is up 3.6% to US$4,581.1 an ounce. This was driven by a heavy decline in US bond yields and the US dollar.

The post 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Thursday appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• Why this ASX 200 stock is a buy after posting record results
• 3 ASX 200 shares I’d buy for the next decade
• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today

Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in Goodman Group, Megaport, and Woodside Energy Group Ltd. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Goodman Group, Megaport, and Super Retail Group. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Super Retail Group. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Goodman Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

The goal for most of us is to save enough in our superannuation such that we can fund a relatively comfortable retirement.

Whether that occurs at age 60, when we can access our superannuation, or later depends on various factors, but the amount of superannuation is, of course, important.

This begs the question: how much do you need to fund your retirement?

Australian superannuation amounts coming up short

It’s instructive to look at the statistics on how much superannuation Australians currently have.

At the moment, for men aged 60-64 the average amount is $395,852, while for women the amount comes in at $313,360.

For those aged 65-69 the numbers come in at $448,518 and $392, 274, with all of these figures calculated by the Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia (ASFA).

Meanwhile, ASFA has calculated that to have a comfortable retirement, using superannuation and a part pension, and assuming you own your own home, couples will need $730,000 in super while singles will need $630,000.

How much passive income will superannuation generate?

Now let’s look at what those aged 60-64 could expect to earn from their superannuation in passive income.

If a retiree had $395,852 in superannuation and earned 10% on their investments (a lofty sum to assume on a yearly basis), they would earn $39,585. This is well below the $55,923 per year which ASFA says would afford a comfortable retirement.

If they earned just 5%, this figure would drop to $19,792.

What this tells us is that many people do not have enough in their superannuation to sole-fund their lifestyle.

So, what can you do to prepare if you think your superannuation needs a top-up?

Strategies to boost your superannuation balance

Extra contributions can be made to superannuation in the form of concessional and non-concessional contributions.

Concessional contributions are taxed at just 15% and include money contributed by your employer, salary sacrifice contributions, and extra contributions you make up to a cap of $32,500.

If funds permit, and your superannuation balance was less than $500,000 in the last financial year, you can also carry forward any unused concessional contribution cap amounts from the previous five financial years.

The amount you are able to contribute in this way can be found in your myGov account.

A notice of intent to claim must be lodged with your super fund for concessional contributions so they know to deduct the 15% tax from the amount.

It is also possible to make non-concessional contributions up to an amount of $130,000, and it is also possible to contribute more than this amount using the bring forward rule.  

The post Does the average superannuation balance at 60 generate enough passive income? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Thursday
• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Wednesday
• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• CSL shares surge 18% as ‘reset year’ points to a return to growth

Motley Fool contributor Cameron England 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.

There have been many ASX shares that have delivered their latest numbers to investors so far this earnings season. Some have been impressive, others middling. But one report turned my head faster than any other. That would be the earnings from ASX tech stock and dividend share Pro Medicus Ltd (ASX: PME).

The medical imaging software company posted its earnings for the full 20206 financial year on Tuesday of this week.

As we covered at the time, there wasn’t much to turn one’s nose up at. Pro Medicus announced that its revenue for the 12 months to 30 June 2026 came in at $261.7 million, up a whopping 22.9% year on year.

Meanwhile, underlying earnings before interest and tax rose 24.4% to $$16.1 million. That helped to increase the company’s underlying net profits after tax (NPAT) by 24.1% to $144.7 million.

On the bottom line, Pro Medicus reported a statutory NPAT of $265.3 million, up 130.3%.

Those metrics are all well and good, pointing to a company whose growth engine is firing on all cylinders. But it was the dividend that Pro Medicus revealed that really drew my eye.

A massive pay rise from a stellar ASX dividend share

Pro Medicus unveiled a final dividend of 37 cents per share for FY2026. That alone represents a 23.33% hike over the final dividend of 30 cents per share from 2025.

Together with the interim dividend of 32 cents per share from March, it takes Pro Medicus’ 2026 payouts to 69 cents per share. That’s a 25.45% increase over 2025’s total of 55 cents per share.

As is this ASX dividend’s habit, all of those dividends came with full franking credits attached.

If this ascension from 55 to 69 cents per share for Pro Medicus’ payouts was a one-off, that would be one thing. However, this latest increase is just the latest in a long line of dramatic payout rises from this ASX dividend share.

Pro Medicus delivered a dividend hike almost every year of the past 15 years. The last time investors saw a cut was back in 2011. Since 2018, this stock has gone from paying out 6 cents a share to 2026’s 69 cents. That’s a compounded annual growth rate of 35.7%. Wealth-making stuff.

This incredible trajectory exemplifies why I’ve always wanted to own this ASX dividend share. Hopefully, I’ll get my chance before the next dramatic dividend hike.

The post This ASX dividend share just blew me away appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Healthcare results wrap: Are Cogstate and Pro Medicus shares a buy, hold or sell?
• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• Why are Pro Medicus shares surging more than 10%?
• Why is everyone talking about CSL, Pro Medicus and BHP shares on Tuesday?
• Pro Medicus FY26: Strong earnings growth and higher dividend

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