The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is back in the red on Thursday as investors react to another jump in oil prices.

At the time of writing, the ASX 200 is down 0.53% to 8,738 points.

The move has the benchmark index on track for its third straight decline, with weakness across the big miners and banks weighing on the market.

At the latest check, 113 stocks are lower, 80 are higher, and 7 are unchanged.

Here’s a closer look at today’s fall.

Oil is back on the agenda

Oil prices are giving investors something else to worry about today.

According to Trading Economics, Brent crude rose to around US$78.80 a barrel after fresh US strikes on Iran, while WTI crude was trading near US$74.26 a barrel.

The move is helping parts of the energy sector, but it is not doing much for the broader mood across the ASX 200.

With inflation, rates, and global growth already weighing on the market, higher oil prices have only added to the pressure.

Miners and banks weigh on the market

Most of the damage is coming from the big miners and banks.

BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP) shares are down 1.93% to $56.40, while Rio Tinto Ltd (ASX: RIO) has fallen 3.98% to $157.33.

The major banks are also softer.

Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA) shares are down 0.42% to $167.47, National Australia Bank Ltd (ASX: NAB) has slipped 1.21% to $39.11, and ANZ Group Holdings Ltd (ASX: ANZ) is 1.23% lower at $35.43.

Westpac Banking Corp (ASX: WBC) is holding up better, edging 0.06% lower to $36.23.

Energy and defensives offer support

There is still some support around, which is stopping the ASX 200 from falling further.

Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS) shares are up 1.8% to $29.39, while Santos Ltd (ASX: STO) has added 1.67% to $7.625.

CSL Ltd (ASX: CSL) is also doing some work, rising 1.86% to $126.61.

The supermarkets are helping as well. Woolworths Group Ltd (ASX: WOW) shares are up 0.46% to $40.085, while Coles Group Ltd (ASX: COL) has lifted 0.96% to $23.635.

But even with those gains, the ASX 200 is still struggling to get back on the front foot.

Can the ASX 200 recover today?

The ASX 200 still has time to recover, but it needs more help from the usual heavyweights.

Energy stocks and defensives are doing their bit, but the weakness in miners and banks is making it hard for the index to turn positive.

A lot may depend on whether BHP, Rio Tinto, and the major banks can steady into the afternoon session.

If they do, the ASX 200 could claw back some of today’s losses.

The post Is the ASX 200 heading for a third straight fall as oil prices jump? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

Australia is in the midst of a new mining boom, largely driven by the green energy transition and the artificial intelligence (AI) build-out.

This is generating significantly higher demand for critical minerals, such as lithium, and batteries to power new infrastructure and EVs.

Lithium prices slumped in 2023-2025 due to an oversupply, but supply/demand finally rebalanced at the start of FY26.  

Lithium went on to top the charts of best-performing commodities in FY26 by a long way.

The lithium spodumene price rose about 280%, and carbonate soared 160% in FY26. 

So, it’s no surprise that ASX 200 lithium shares did well in terms of capital growth last year.

In fact, they shot the lights out.

Here are the top five of FY26.

1. Elevra Lithium Ltd (ASX: ELV)

This ASX 200 lithium share roared 327% higher to $9.60 apiece in FY26.

Elevra has a diversified portfolio of mines and development projects across Québec, North Carolina, Ghana, and Western Australia.

Formed through the merger of Piedmont Lithium and Sayona Mining, Elevra’s flagship is the North American Lithium Project (NAL). 

In 3Q FY26, NAL generated record revenue of US$81 million, up 22% on 2Q FY26.

Year-to-date revenue was US$167 million, up 68% on the prior corresponding period.

Elevra is undertaking an accelerated expansion at NAL to bring additional production online earlier than planned.

2. PLS Group Ltd (ASX: PLS)

Formerly known as Pilbara Minerals, PLS Group shares rocketed 275% to finish FY26 at $5.02. 

PLS Group is the largest lithium miner on the ASX 200 by market capitalisation. 

The company’s flagship is the Pilgangoora Operation, the world’s largest independent hard-rock lithium mine. 

PLS reported record quarterly production of 232.4kt in 3Q FY26, along with an 11% decline in unit operating costs.

The average estimated realised price for its lithium spodumene increased 61% over the quarter.

Management said the result reflected strong execution, improved plant reliability, increased run times, and consistently high lithium recovery.

3. Mineral Resources Ltd (ASX: MIN)

The Mineral Resources share price recovered 188% to finish the year at $62.65.

Value investors returned to Mineral Resources after corporate governance issues and financial concerns plagued the company in FY25. 

Founder Chris Ellison faced board-imposed financial penalties of $8.8 million and loss of remuneration of up to $9.6 million for reputational damage to the company.

The board decided to stop paying dividends in order to improve the balance sheet, and the company delivered its strongest half-year result ever in 1H FY26.

The miner reported record revenue of $3.1 billion and earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortisation (EBITDA) of $1.2 billion.

Soaring lithium commodity prices and the ramp-up of MinRes’s Onslow iron ore project contributed to the result. 

4. Liontown Ltd (ASX: LTR)

The Liontown share price jumped 197% to $1.58 in FY26.

Liontown owns one of Australia’s newest lithium operations, the Kathleen Valley Project, which only began production in early FY25. 

The company sought to ramp up production in FY26, and achieved a 70% increase in 1H FY26.

This, along with soaring lithium commodity prices, resulted in a doubling of revenue year over year to $207.5 million.

In 3Q FY26, Liontown became cash flow positive and achieved its 1.5Mtpa annualised underground run-rate early.

5. IGO Ltd (ASX: IGO)

This ASX 200 lithium share ascended 77% in FY26 to close out the year at $7.37.

The highlights of FY26 for IGO included a material improvement at the Kwinana Lithium Hydroxide Refinery.

Prroduction increased to 3,047t in 3Q FY26 vs. 2,120t in 2Q FY26, representing 51% of nameplate capacity.

Also in 3Q, nickel production at Nova increased 11% and the mine generated $52 million of free cash flow.

Greenbushes delivered a 75% EBITDA margin in the quarter.

For 3Q FY26, the lithium and nickel producer reported group underlying EBITDA of $119 million, up from $30 million in 2Q FY26.

Net cash increased to $327 million as at 31 March.

The post Top 5 ASX 200 lithium shares of FY26 appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Why are PLS shares still falling? Here’s what’s behind the sell-off
• 13 ASX 200 shares that doubled in value in FY26
• Sell alert! Why these experts are calling time on Endeavour and PLS shares
• Buy, hold, sell: BHP, Woodside, PLS Group shares
• Why did ASX 200 lithium stocks like PLS, Liontown and Mineral Resources shares get smashed in June?

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.

Not many ASX floats have managed to create much excitement lately.

But FDC Consolidated Holdings Ltd (ASX: FDC) has made a pretty strong first impression.

The construction and fit-out group listed on Thursday at an issue price of $3 per share.

Shortly after hitting the market, FDC shares are currently trading at $3.50 apiece.

That represents a 16.7% first-day jump and makes the new ASX stock pretty hard to miss.

Here’s what investors are buying into.

FDC makes its ASX debut

FDC officially hit the ASX boards at 12:30pm AEST today under the ticker code FDC.

The company raised $400 million through the issue of ordinary shares at $3 each.

UBS Securities Australia and MA Moelis Australia Advisory acted as underwriters and joint lead managers, with Ord Minnett as co-lead manager.

The initial public offering (IPO) involved 133.6 million shares, representing around 41% of the company.

Based on the offer price, FDC was valued at about $969 million before trading began.

Today’s strong debut shows investors are firmly backing the company’s profits, history, and position in the construction market.

What does FDC do?

FDC has been around for 35 years and works across construction, interior fit-out, refurbishment, data centres and building services.

It has offices in Sydney, Adelaide, Brisbane, Canberra, Melbourne and Perth.

The company works on offices, commercial buildings, hospitals, hotels, data centres, schools and other major projects.

Among those, data centres are probably the part investors will be watching most closely, given the amount of money still flowing into digital infrastructure.

Why are investors buying?

At this stage, the first-day jump looks like demand simply outstripping supply.

FDC is forecasting revenue of $1.9 billion in FY27, compared with $1.5 billion in FY25. The company also expects EBIT of about $100.1 million in FY27.

For FY25, FDC reported $1.5 billion in revenue and $112 million in profit before tax.

Those numbers give investors something to work with from day one.

The float included a large sell-down by existing holders, although the Cottle family and staff are still expected to retain a sizeable stake.

Can the strong start continue?

Today’s jump is a nice start, but the real test comes after today’s float.

FDC now needs to show it can keep winning work, manage costs, and turn its project pipeline into steady earnings.

There’s an obvious interest in the business, especially after a quiet run for ASX IPOs.

But once the first-day excitement settles, the market will want to see the numbers hold up.

The post This new ASX IPO has jumped 17% on its first day appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Is the ASX 200 heading for a third straight fall as oil prices jump?
• Top 5 ASX 200 lithium shares of FY26
• How low could WiseTech shares go?
• Dump ’em! Morgan Stanley slaps sell ratings on 5 ASX 200 shares
• 9 ASX 200 shares downgraded by analysts this week

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 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.