The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) finally recorded a positive day, reversing the four-for-four run of red days this week and closing the week’s trading on a high note.

After some initial wobbles, the ASX 200 spent most of the day in green territory and ended up closing a happy 0.5% higher. That leaves the index at a flat 8,806 points as we head into the weekend.

This optimistic Friday session for Australian investors follows a similarly bullish night on Wall Street.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average Index (DJX: .DJI) was cautiously optimistic, rising by 0.27%.

The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC) was much more decisive, though, gaining a healthy 1.3%.

But let’s return to the local markets now for a discussion of how the different ASX sectors handled today’s warm trading conditions.

Winners and losers

Despite the market’s sunny disposition today, there were still more than a few sectors that lost ground. 

Chief amongst those were healthcare stocks. The S&P/ASX 200 Healthcare Index (ASX: XHJ) was hit hard today, slumping 1.96%.

Consumer discretionary shares were on the nose as well, with the S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Discretionary Index (ASX: XDJ) sinking 1.13%.

We could say something similar for communications stocks. The S&P/ASX 200 Communication Services Index (ASX: XTJ) drifted 0.83% lower this session.

Tech shares weren’t in the good books either, evidenced by the S&P/ASX 200 Information Technology Index (ASX: XIJ)’s 0.6% tumble.

Consumer staples stocks were in a similar ballpark. The S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Staples Index (ASX: XSJ) shrank by 0.5% this Friday.

We could say the same for industrial stocks, with the S&P/ASX 200 Industrials Index (ASX: XNJ) dipping 0.39%.

Utilities shares got no reprieve. The S&P/ASX 200 Utilities Index (ASX: XUJ) slid down 0.33% this session.

Our final losers were energy shares, illustrated by the S&P/ASX 200 Energy Index (ASX: XEJ)’s 0.21% slip.

Turning to the winners now, the hottest corner of the market was gold stocks. The All Ordinaries Gold Index (ASX: XGD) ended up soaring 2.65% higher.

Broader mining shares were also in demand, with the S&P/ASX 200 Materials Index (ASX: XMJ) surging 2.32%.

Real estate investment trusts (REITs) were a little tamer. The S&P/ASX 200 A-REIT Index (ASX: XPJ) still managed a 0.59% addition, though.

Finally, financial stocks got home safe, as you can see from the S&P/ASX 200 Financials Index (ASX: XFJ)’s 0.55% bounce.

Top 10 ASX 200 shares countdown

Uranium company Silex Systems Ltd (ASX: SLX) was today’s index topper. Silex shares rocketed 9.4% higher to close at $5.70 each this Friday.

This decisive move came despite no obvious catalysts out from the company itself.

Here’s the rest of today’s best: 

ASX-listed company	Share price	Price change
Silex Systems Ltd (ASX: SLX)	$5.70	9.40%
Deep Yellow Ltd (ASX: DYL)	$1.45	7.43%
Mesoblast Ltd (ASX: MSB)	$2.24	6.67%
Capstone Copper Corp (ASX: CSC)	$13.04	6.45%
Resolute Mining Ltd (ASX: RSG)	$0.95	5.56%
South32 Ltd (ASX: S32)	$4.02	5.24%
Ora Banda Mining Ltd (ASX: OBM)	$1.12	5.16%
Develop Group Ltd (ASX: DVP)	$6.03	4.69%
West African Resources Ltd (ASX: WAF)	$2.85	4.40%
Paladin Energy Ltd (ASX: PDN)	$10.06	4.14%

Enjoy the weekend!

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.

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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 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.

The 5 best ASX 200 mining shares for growth in FY26 all more than doubled in value as Australia’s new mining boom continued.

The S&P/ASX 200 Materials Index (ASX: XMJ), dominated by miners, rose 47% and delivered a total return, including dividends, of 52%.

The S&P/ASX 300 Metals & Mining Index (ASX: XMM) rose 53% and produced a total return of 59%.

Experts say there is more growth ahead for ASX mining shares, with 5 key elements underpinning the current commodities supercycle.

Here are two ASX mining shares with buy recommendations from Bell Potter.

The broker believes these two stocks have the potential to more than double in value in the new financial year.

Minerals 260 Ltd (ASX: MI6)

The Minerals 260 share price is 63 cents, up 4.5% today and up 423% over 12 months.

The gold share was the second-fastest riser of the entire ASX 200 in FY26. (See the top five here.)

Minerals 260 is a mineral explorer that is building the Bullabulling Gold Project in Western Australia.  

Bullabulling is one of Australia’s largest near-term gold mines.

This week, Minerals 260 released an updated Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE) and the Pre-Feasibility Study (PFS) for Bullabulling.

The MRE increased 38% to 190Mt at 1.0g/t Au for 6.2Moz.

Bell Potter retained its speculative buy recommendation and lifted its 12-month target to $1.40.

This suggests Mineral 260 shares could more than double in FY27.

The broker said:

MI6 offers gold exposure via the 6.2Moz Bullabulling MRE, valuation uplift through discovery success, project advancement and de-risking as the BGP progresses towards production.

MI6 holds ~$250m cash, sufficient to fund to Final Investment Decision (FID) in early CY27, long-lead items and early site works.

WA1 Resources Ltd (ASX: WA1)

The WA1 Resources share price is $12.31, up 2.5% today and down 24% over 12 months.

Bell Potter has speculative buy rating on this ASX 300 copper share with a $27.20 target.

This suggests WA1 Resources shares could also more than double in the new financial year.

The broker said:

WA1 Resources Ltd (ASX: WA1) has announced scaled-up beneficiation testwork results across four composites representing key Indicated Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE) zones at its 100%-owned Luni Niobium Project (Luni) in Western Australia.

The testwork confirms a two-stage flotation regime can produce high-quality niobium concentrates with commercially relevant recoveries across the deposit, using raw site water.

The testwork is a significant metallurgical data point and materially de-risks the beneficiation stage of the processing flowsheet.

The post 2 ASX mining shares that could more than double in value in FY27: experts appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• This oversold ASX gold developer could more than double: Broker
• Which ASX 200 sectors paid the highest dividend yields in FY26?
• BHP shares may not double in 12 months but this ASX mining share could
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Thursday
• 13 ASX 200 shares that doubled in value in FY26

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.

The Aussie share market is on track to finish the week with a much-needed gain.

At the time of writing, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is 0.64% higher at 8,818 points, after briefly reaching 8,821.6 points earlier in the session.

The ASX 200 is now trying to break a run of 4 straight losses, after falling from 8,844 points last Friday to 8,762 points by Thursday’s close.

A stronger night on Wall Street has definitely helped, but the miners and major banks are doing most of the work today.

Here’s how the session is shaping up.

Miners lead the recovery

The S&P/ASX 200 Resources Index (ASX: XJR) is leading the market higher, climbing 2.13% as strength returns to copper, gold and lithium stocks.

BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP) shares are 2.74% higher at $58.43, while Rio Tinto Ltd (ASX: RIO) has gained 3.43% to $163.95.

South32 Ltd (ASX: S32) is one of the stronger performers, rising 5.37% to $4.025.

Gold miners are joining the move, with Evolution Mining Ltd (ASX: EVN) shares up 4.31% to $11.735 and Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST) adding 2.43% to $20.62.

Banks provide more support

The major banks are adding to the gains, with all of them trading higher.

Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA) shares have gained 0.74% to $169.35, while Westpac Banking Corp (ASX: WBC) is 1.05% higher at $36.58.

National Australia Bank Ltd (ASX: NAB) has added 0.79% to $39.59, and ANZ Group Holdings Ltd (ASX: ANZ) is up 1.15% to $36.17.

Macquarie Group Ltd (ASX: MQG) is also in positive territory, rising 0.78% to $254.16.

The miners and banks are doing most of the work for the index, but the rest of the market is still holding up reasonably well.

Around 109 of the ASX 200 shares are higher, compared with 75 trading lower and 16 unchanged.

Not every sector is joining in

The gains aren’t being shared evenly, with consumer discretionary, healthcare and energy stocks trading lower.

Wesfarmers Ltd (ASX: WES) shares are down 1.18% to $89.80, while Aristocrat Leisure Ltd (ASX: ALL) has slipped 0.97% to $61.795.

Healthcare is also weighing on the market. CSL Ltd (ASX: CSL) is 1.49% lower at $123.66, while Pro Medicus Ltd (ASX: PME) has fallen 3.74% to $202.56.

Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS) shares are down 0.92% to $29.03 as oil prices remain volatile.

Nonetheless, Wall Street’s overnight rebound helped sentiment. The S&P 500 Index (SP: .INX) rose 0.81%, the Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC) gained 1.3%, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJX: .DJI) added 0.27% as tech shares recovered and oil prices eased from their earlier spike.

After 4 days in the red, the ASX 200 is at least on track to finish the week with a gain.

The post ASX 200 snaps its losing streak as miners and banks rally appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 3 ASX mining shares to buy now: experts
• 9 ASX 200 shares with reiterated buy calls this week
• Here’s what brokers tip for BHP shares over the next 12 months
• Mesoblast shares: Q4 earnings top projections
• Ingenia Communities Group shares paused pending announcement

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 CSL, Macquarie Group, and Wesfarmers. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has recommended Pro Medicus. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended BHP Group, CSL, Macquarie Group, Pro Medicus, and Wesfarmers. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.