Author: openjargon

When markets turn volatile, ASX growth stocks are often the first to come under pressure.

ASX growth stocks NextDC Ltd (ASX: NXT) and Mesoblast Ltd (ASX: MSB) lost big on Monday, falling 6.8% and 8% respectively. By comparison the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) started the week with a descend of nearly 3%.  

But short-term weakness doesn’t necessarily change the long-term opportunity. In fact, market uncertainty can create attractive entry points for investors willing to take a longer-term view.

With that in mind, let’s have a closer look at these 2 exciting ASX growth stocks.

NextDC: riding the AI-trend

The $9 billion ASX share is riding one of the market’s most powerful structural trends – artificial intelligence. Businesses are rapidly shifting to cloud platforms, deploying AI workloads, and demanding secure, scalable digital infrastructure.

NextDC sits right at the centre of that shift. The ASX growth stock is a leading data centre-as-a-service provider in the Asia-Pacific, supplying critical infrastructure to global cloud platforms, large enterprises, and government clients.

Demand for capacity is accelerating as the cloud transition and the AI boom gather pace. That trend underpins a long runway for earnings growth.

In its first half-year results for 2026, NextDC reported total revenue of $232 million, up 13% year-over-year. Customer demand for data centre capacity also continued to rise, 137% to almost 417 megawatts.

Heavy investment remains a core part of the strategy. The ASX growth stock is directing significant capital toward new facilities to expand its footprint and support growing customer demand.

Broker sentiment remains positive. Some analysts have set a maximum 12-month price target of $31.02, implying potential upside of about 142% from current levels.

The team at Morgans is more conservative but still bullish. The broker recently retained its buy rating on the ASX growth stock and a price target of $20.50, a potential plus of roughly 60% over 12 months.

Mesoblast: high-risk, high-reward biotech

This ASX growth stock offers a very different investment story. Mesoblast is a much higher-risk, potentially higher-reward biotech play.

Mesoblast is an Australian clinical-stage biotech developing and commercialising allogeneic cell therapies for complex diseases. Some treatments are already in use, while others are advancing through late-stage clinical trials.

The company has the potential for strong growth this year. Product adoption is increasing and the business is well funded to support its next phase of expansion.

Commercial momentum is also improving. The latest quarterly update showed US$30 million in net revenue, supported by rising demand for its therapy Ryoncil in the United States.

Even so, risks for the ASX growth stock remain substantial. Mesoblast has spent years funding clinical trials and has consumed significant capital along the way. The cell-therapy market is highly competitive, regulatory setbacks have previously delayed progress, and successful commercial execution is still crucial.

Despite those risks, brokers remain optimistic. According to TradingView data, all covering analysts currently rate the share a strong buy, with targets ranging from $3.21 to $4.92.

The average 12-month price target for the ASX growth stock sits around $4.05, implying potential upside of about 92%.

Analysts at Bell Potter Securities are also constructive. The broker believes the company is well positioned thanks to fresh debt funding and rising demand for Ryoncil, and it has placed a $4.45 price target on the stock. That suggests a possible gain of roughly 110%.

The post 2 exciting ASX growth stocks tipped to storm higher appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Should investors buy the dip on these ASX 200 shares?
• Is NextDC the ASX share closest to Nvidia?
• Buy, hold, sell: NextDC, WiseTech Global, and CBA shares
• 2 ASX growth stocks set up for massive gains in 2026+
• 2 Aussie stocks primed to surge in 2026

Motley Fool contributor Marc Van Dinther 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 Australian share market suffered one of its worst days in a long time yesterday. At the closing bell of Monday’s session, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) had crashed 2,85% lower to 8,599 points. That was after closing at 8,851 points on Friday and getting as low as 8,457.2 points (down almost 4.5%) during intra-day trading yesterday. Needless to say, were are a lot of people selling their ASX shares on the market on Monday – far more than are buying.

This market-wide sell-off could well continue today. As such, many investors might be preparing to hit the sell button as soon as the market opens.

It is always tempting to follow the crowd and sell your ASX shares amid this fear. For one, there always an evolution-induced comfort in moving with the crowd. For another, the temptation to sell a stock that has already lost you money ‘before it goes down any further’ can be hard to resist.

Yet I’m here to tell you that selling your stocks in a week this this one is almost always a mistake, and one that could cost you more money that it saves you.

Most of the time, markets behave rationally, assigning valuations based on a company’s expected future profits and cash flows. But occasionally, this rationality is overtaken by emotion, usually fear or greed. An excess of greed tends to builds up over months into what’s commonly called a bubble. The ‘dot-com crash’ of the early 2000s is a great example of how this usually ends.

But fear is the emotion that has clearly taken over investors’ minds this week. Unlike greed, fear can suddenly consume a market, often sparked by some kind of catalytic black swan event.

War roils ASX shares as investors sell

Enter the US-Iran War. Markets were certainly not expecting the major disruption to global energy supplies that this War has resulted in. And it has been major. Brent crude oil went from around US$82 a barrel at the end of last week to over US$110 on Monday. It cannot be overstated how much of a game-changer this could be for the global economy, given the importance of oil and its derivatives as an input to almost every kind of economic activity.

Hence the fear. Investors have cause to be fearful. However, fear isn’t a very good reason to just sell one’s shares. When we buy a share, we should be aiming to purchase a piece of a company that is growing and will continue to grow for the foreseeable future. I like to compare it to buying a house in a suburb with good growth characteristics. That suburb might have issues form time to time. A street might be closed for repair. A house on it could burn down. Vandals could graffiti a wall or trample a neighbourhood garden. The local pub might close for a few months for a renovation. All of these issues can cause short0term pain for residents. But none will conceivably damage that suburb’s long-term desirability.

Keep your eyes on the horizon

It is the same on the share market. Yes, companies could feel acute short-term pain from this latest Middle East war. But the ASX has seen far worse. After all, the 21st century has already seen many wars, a global financial crisis, a dot-com boom and bust, and, of course, a pandemic. Yet it has managed to come out of the other sides of all of these events to reach new record highs. I’d be happy to wager that this time will be no different.

So don’t sell your ASX shares this week because oil just spiked. Instead, do what Warren Buffett would do and try to buy shares of top companies trading at what might be temporarily cheap prices.

The post Thinking of selling your ASX shares today? Here’s why it would be a big mistake appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• Why almost every ASX sector is falling in today’s market sell-off
• US$100 oil is a big deal for every ASX share. Here’s why
• If I wanted to outperform the ASX 200 over the next 10 years, I’d focus here
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Monday

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.

On Monday, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) started the week with a very disappointing decline. The benchmark index sank 2.85% to 8,599 points.

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

ASX 200 set for massive rebound

The Australian share market looks set for a very strong session on Tuesday following a solid start to the week in the US. According to the latest SPI futures, the ASX 200 is poised to open the day 200 points or 2.3% higher. In late trade on Wall Street, the Dow Jones is up 0.5%, the S&P 500 is up 0.8%, and the Nasdaq is 1.4% higher.

Oil prices tumble

It could be a poor session for ASX 200 energy shares Karoon Energy Ltd (ASX: KAR) and Santos Ltd (ASX: STO) after oil prices pulled back overnight. According to Bloomberg, the WTI crude oil price is down 5.25% to US$86.13 a barrel and the Brent crude oil price is down 3.2% to US$89.71 a barrel. This was driven by comments from President Trump, suggesting that the US could take control of the Strait of Hormuz.

Buy Nickel Industries shares

Nickel Industries Ltd (ASX: NIC) shares could be in the buy zone according to analysts at Bell Potter. This morning, the broker has retained its buy rating and $1.45 price target on the nickel producer’s shares. It said: “While the conflict in the Middle East is resulting in an immediate market impact to key input costs and the duration is uncertain, we form the view that while margins may be impacted, NIC is insulated due to its diversified nickel product suite. There is also a potential offset from higher nickel prices to which NIC has strong leverage. We retain our Buy recommendation and leave our $1.45/sh Target Price unchanged.”

Gold price slips

ASX 200 gold shares Evolution Mining Ltd (ASX: EVN) and Ramelius Resources Ltd (ASX: RMS) could have a subdued session on Tuesday after the gold price slipped overnight. According to CNBC, the gold futures price is down 0.25% to US$5,146.5 an ounce. A stronger US dollar and higher rate expectations put pressure on the precious metal.

ASX 200 shares going ex-div

A number of ASX 200 shares are going ex-dividend today and could trade lower. This includes CSL Ltd (ASX: CSL), Coles Group Ltd (ASX: COL), Iress Ltd (ASX: IRE), News Corporation (ASX: NWS), and Qantas Airways Ltd (ASX: QAN). With respect to the latter, the airline operator is paying shareholders a fully franked 19.8 cents per share interim dividend next month on 15 April.

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

More reading

• 10 ASX 200 shares to buy after the market selloff
• 3 ASX 200 shares at 52-week lows I’d buy before they recover
• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• Why the CSL share price just hit a 9-year low
• Nosedive: Why did Qantas shares crash 9% today?

Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in CSL. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended CSL. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended CSL. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

Light & Wonder Inc (ASX: LNW) shares have been out of form over the past 12 months.

This has seen the ASX growth share down 36% from its 52-week high.

While this is disappointing for existing shareholders, it could be a buying opportunity for growth investors.

That’s the view of analysts at Bell Potter, who are tipping this gaming technology company’s shares to rise strongly from current levels.

What is the broker saying about this ASX growth share?

Bell Potter was pleased with Light & Wonder’s performance during FY 2025. It notes that its profits were ahead of expectations thanks to margin expansion initiatives. The broker explains:

LNW reported AEBITDA [adjusted EBITDA] of US$1,443m, +1% above BPe and VA consensus. [..] LNW reported +4% YoY revenue growth to US$3,314m below BPe of US$3,337m and consensus of US$3,330m, supported by +6% YoY growth in Gaming (BPe +7%), -3% YoY growth in SciPlay (BPe -2%) and +13% YoY growth in iGaming (BPe +11%). Adj. NPATA of US$567m was up +18% YoY (+1% beat vs. BPe). The Nth. Am. install base grew units to 48.33k, ahead of BPe of 48.00k, with the base business growing by 700 units. The beat to consensus was driven by margin expansion initiatives.

Also going down well with the broker was management’s outlook commentary. It notes that the ASX growth share is working towards its US$2 billion AEBITDA target and is expecting another year of strong profit growth. It adds:

LNW continues to work towards US$2.0b AEBITDA target. For CY26 LNW forecasts another year of strong Adjusted NPATA and EPSa growth. The company anticipates the shape of earnings to be broadly similar to CY25 reflective of a growing recurring revenue base and industry cyclicality. Strategic investments, tariff costs in Gaming and legacy costs pertaining to legal matters are anticipated in 1H26 (1Q26 in particular.)

Outsized returns

In light of this, Bell Potter has a buy rating and $220.00 price target on the ASX growth share.

Based on its current share price, this implies potential upside of over 75% for investors over the next 12 months.

The broker revealed that it is bullish on the stock due to its belief that artificial intelligence (AI) will not disrupt its business model. It explains:

We rate LNW a Buy due to a compelling GARP profile relative to the ASX 100 and ALL. We expect a continuation in the re-rate observed since the ASX sole listing in November 2025, as long as the company executes on its strategy. We believe LNW’s heightened investment in R&D will drive continued growth, particularly in the Premium leased market. Further, we believe LNW’s R&D engine is difficult to replicate by AI and therefore gives the company an enduring moat.

The post 1 ASX growth share down 36% to buy right now appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• What to make of these volatile ASX shares
• 3 shares dumped from the ASX 200 index (and 3 new additions)
• Top brokers name 3 ASX shares to buy next week
• Morgans names 3 ASX shares to buy in March
• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today

Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro 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 Light & Wonder Inc. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Light & Wonder Inc. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

The potential of assets to grow our wealth over the long term becomes increasingly powerful as the numbers compound. Putting money towards ASX shares each day, week, or month could make a huge difference to how much wealth we have in the coming years.

How much do we need to invest to become wealthy? Depends on how wealthy you want to be and how long you have to achieve that goal.

It’d be great to invest $100,000 every year, but not many households have a financial picture like that.

For Aussies serious about building wealth, reaching $1 million will require significant effort, choices, and patience. It’ll require attention on the expenses and/or income side of things.

I’m going to show how putting $50 per day into an ASX share portfolio can deliver results. But investing more or less than that would also be a worthwhile thing to do, depending on a household’s finances.

Investing $50 per day into ASX shares

I’m not suggesting that Aussies make an investment every single day. Doing so once a month or so would probably be a good call. If someone saved $50 per day for 30 days, that would be $1,500. I’d suggest around $1,000 would be a bare minimum because that could help minimise brokerage costs.

Over a year, saving $50 per day would translate into investing $18,250. Again, I’ll point out that investing $5,000, $10,000, or $25,000 over a year would also be a great thing to do for our finances. But I’ll show how $50 per day can develop.

I’d need a working crystal ball to know how good the returns are going to be in the coming years.

Past performance is not a guarantee, or even a reliable indicator, of future returns. But it shows the types of returns an investment can produce.

The ASX share market – which I think the Vanguard Australian Shares Index ETF (ASX: VAS) is a good proxy for – has returned an average of 10% per year over the ultra-long-term. If someone invested $50 per day and earned an average of 10% per year, it would grow to $1 million after 20 years.

The global share market could be a better place to invest for long-term returns because of the earnings growth potential and the strength of the businesses involved. I like the Vanguard MSCI Index International Shares ETF (ASX: VGS) as a way to invest in the global share market – it has returned an average of 13.4% per year over the past decade. Investing $50 per day would grow to $1 million in 17 years at that pace.

I think there are plenty of investments that could outperform these two over time, which is what I look for.

The post How investing $50 a day into ASX shares could become $1 million faster than you think appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 4 ASX ETFs to ride through recessions and market crashes
• What I’d buy if the ASX share market crashes
• 2 ETFs I’d buy and hold for the next 20 years
• 4 reasons not to panic-sell ASX shares during March
• The easy way to build a diversified ASX share portfolio

Motley Fool contributor Tristan Harrison 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 Vanguard Msci Index International Shares ETF. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

Well, it was about as bad a start to a trading week as can possibly be for the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) and most ASX shares this Monday. After a rough week last week, investors returned to the ASX boards in sheer panic today.

Thanks largely to shocks on global energy markets rolling through the world’s economy, investors hit the sell button hard this session, sending the ASX 200 down by a horrific 2.85%. That leaves the index at just 8,599 points after it finished at 8,851 points last Friday.

This depressing start to the Australian trading week comes after a tough end to the American week on Saturday morning (our time).

The Dow Jones Industrial Average Index (DJX: .DJI) suffered a sizeable drop of 0.95%.

The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC) was hit even harder, falling by 1.59%.

But let’s grit our teeth and return to this week and our local markets now for an autopsy of the various ASX sectors‘ performance this Monday.

The post Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Why almost every ASX sector is falling in today’s market sell-off
• Woodside shares edge higher as Meg O’Neill prepares to take the top job at BP
• Buy, hold, sell: Whitehaven Coal, Goodman, and Xero shares
• US$100 oil is a big deal for every ASX share. Here’s why
• Why Amplitude Energy, Cogstate, Dexus Convenience Retail, and Santos shares are charging higher

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

Trying to predict the next big individual stock is incredibly difficult. Even the most promising companies can stumble over time.

One way investors can tilt the odds in their favour is by focusing on powerful long-term trends instead. Exchange traded funds (ETFs) built around structural themes can capture entire industries that are expanding over time rather than relying on a single company.

With that in mind, here are three ASX ETFs that could potentially be massive winners by 2036.

Betashares Global Robotics and Artificial Intelligence ETF (ASX: RBTZ)

The first ASX ETF that could be a big long-term winner is the Betashares Global Robotics and Artificial Intelligence ETF.

Automation is steadily reshaping how the global economy operates. From warehouse robots and autonomous vehicles to machine learning software and advanced manufacturing systems, businesses are increasingly relying on intelligent machines to boost productivity.

This fund invests across the companies building this new infrastructure. Its holdings include Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA), which supplies the high-performance chips powering artificial intelligence (AI) systems, Intuitive Surgical (NASDAQ: ISRG), a leader in robotic-assisted surgery, and Keyence, which develops advanced factory automation sensors.

The interesting thing about automation is that its adoption often accelerates over time. As labour shortages, rising costs, and productivity demands increase, businesses have strong incentives to automate more processes.

That dynamic could support strong growth across the robotics and AI ecosystem for many years. It is partly for this reason that the fund was recently recommended by analysts at Betashares.

Global X Battery Tech & Lithium ETF (ASX: ACDC)

Another ASX ETF that could become a major long-term winner is the Global X Battery Tech & Lithium ETF.

The shift toward electrification is changing multiple industries simultaneously. Electric vehicles, renewable energy storage, and portable electronics all depend on advanced battery technology.

This fund focuses on companies involved throughout the battery supply chain. This includes lithium producers such as Albemarle (NYSE: ALB), battery manufacturers like Contemporary Amperex Technology, and electric vehicle giant Tesla (NASDAQ: TSLA).

As countries push to decarbonise their economies, the demand for energy storage solutions is expected to rise significantly. Batteries will be central not only to electric transport but also to stabilising renewable-heavy electricity grids.

If those trends continue to gather momentum, the companies enabling this transition could see strong growth over the next decade.

This fund was recently recommended by analysts at Global X.

Betashares Nasdaq 100 ETF (ASX: NDQ)

A final ASX ETF that could still deliver impressive returns over the long term is the Betashares Nasdaq 100 ETF.

Rather than focusing on a single theme, this fund provides exposure to a collection of companies that are driving the modern digital economy. The Nasdaq 100 index includes businesses involved in cloud computing, artificial intelligence, ecommerce, semiconductors, and software.

Its holdings include companies such as Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT), which provides the global infrastructure behind cloud computing, Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL), whose devices form a massive consumer technology ecosystem, and Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA), which sits at the centre of the AI computing boom.

Importantly, the index evolves over time. New innovators enter the benchmark as industries change, allowing investors to remain exposed to emerging technology leaders.

Over the long run, that adaptability has helped the Nasdaq 100 remain closely aligned with the companies shaping the future of the global economy.

The post 3 ASX ETFs that could be massive winners by 2036 appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 3 of the best ASX ETFs to buy and hold forever
• Don’t overthink it: The best $10,000 approach to start investing in 2026
• 5 excellent ASX ETFs flying under the radar
• 3 world-class ASX ETFs to buy and hold
• 3 of the best ASX ETFs to buy in March

Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in BetaShares Nasdaq 100 ETF. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Apple, BetaShares Nasdaq 100 ETF, Intuitive Surgical, Microsoft, Nvidia, and Tesla and is short shares of Apple and BetaShares Nasdaq 100 ETF. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has recommended the following options: long January 2028 $520 calls on Intuitive Surgical and short January 2028 $530 calls on Intuitive Surgical. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended BetaShares Nasdaq 100 ETF. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Apple, Microsoft, and Nvidia. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

The Computershare Ltd (ASX: CPU) share price has slipped to its lowest level in around 2 years.

On Monday, shares in the financial admin company fell to $29.26, marking the stock’s weakest point since 2024.

At the time of writing, the Computershare share price has recovered slightly to $29.60, though it remains down 3.30% for the day.

The decline continues a difficult stretch for investors. Computershare shares are now down more than 13% since the start of 2026 and have fallen roughly 25% over the past 12 months.

So, what could be behind the sell-off?

Interest rate outlook may be weighing on sentiment

One factor that often influences Computershare’s performance is the direction of global interest rates.

The company generates a portion of its earnings from interest earned on client balances. When rates are higher, that income tends to rise. When rates begin to fall, the benefit can fade.

In recent months, markets have increasingly priced in potential interest rate cuts across several major economies, including the United States.

If rates move lower over time, it could reduce the tailwind that previously supported parts of Computershare’s earnings.

That shift in expectations looks to be contributing to a more cautious view among investors.

Market volatility also playing a role

Broader market conditions could also be affecting sentiment.

Equity markets have been volatile in recent weeks amid geopolitical tensions and uncertainty around the global economic outlook.

During periods of market stress, investors often rotate away from stocks that previously performed strongly and toward more defensive areas.

Computershare delivered strong returns in previous years, so some investors may now be locking in profits as the outlook becomes more uncertain.

A business with global reach

Despite the recent share price decline, Computershare remains one of the largest providers of shareholder services and corporate administration in the world.

The company provides a range of services including share registry operations, corporate trust administration, employee share plan management, and mortgage servicing.

Its clients include thousands of listed companies across markets such as Australia, the US, the United Kingdom, and Canada.

Computershare’s global operations mean its earnings are influenced by several factors, including corporate activity, financial market conditions, and interest rate movements.

Foolish takeaway

The Computershare share price has fallen sharply over the past year and is now trading near a 2-year low.

Shifting expectations around interest rates and broader market volatility may be weighing on sentiment in the near term.

However, the company still operates a large global platform and generates significant recurring revenue from long-term client relationships.

The key question now is whether the recent decline represents a temporary pullback or a continued downward trend.

The post Computershare shares fall to a 2-year low. Is this the bottom? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 3 ASX 200 shares trading well below brokers’ targets
• ASX shares with ex-dividend dates next week
• Bargain buys! – Scoop up these ASX 200 stocks after yesterday’s crash
• Why Computershare shares are wobbling despite a solid half
• Computershare lifts outlook and dividend after solid 1H26 earnings

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.

The CSL Ltd (ASX: CSL) share price has fallen to its lowest level in almost a decade.

On Monday, shares in the biotech giant dropped to $140.93, marking the lowest level since December 2017.

At the time of writing, the CSL share price has edged slightly higher to $141.30, though it remains down 3.40% for today.

The decline caps off a difficult period for investors. CSL shares have now fallen more than 20% over the past month and are down roughly 45% over the past year.

This makes it one of the weakest performers among ASX healthcare heavyweights.

Investor sentiment turns bearish

One major factor behind the weakness appears to be a major shift in investor sentiment.

CSL was once widely viewed as one of the ASX’s most dependable growth companies. However, recent years have been more challenging. Earnings growth has slowed, and several operational pressures have weighed on the company’s outlook.

Higher plasma collection costs, inflation across global operations, and changing demand patterns following the pandemic have all placed pressure on margins. These factors have made it harder for the company to deliver the strong earnings growth investors had become accustomed to.

In addition, the recent departure of Chief Executive Paul McKenzie has added further uncertainty for investors. McKenzie stepped down in February after three years in the role.

Share price now well below previous highs

The current share price represents a significant fall from CSL’s previous peak.

In August 2025, the company’s shares traded above $270. Since then, the stock has been trending steadily lower as investors reassess growth expectations for the biotech group.

Technical indicators also highlight the extent of the decline. The chart shows CSL recently trading near the lower end of its Bollinger Bands, while the relative strength index (RSI) has moved into oversold territory.

This suggests the stock has come under heavy selling pressure in recent weeks and highlights its weak momentum.

Long-term fundamentals remain closely watched

Despite the recent weakness, CSL remains one of Australia’s most globally recognised healthcare companies.

Founded in Melbourne more than a century ago, the group operates across 3 major divisions: CSL Behring, CSL Seqirus, and CSL Vifor. Its therapies focus on areas such as plasma-derived medicines, vaccines, and treatments for rare diseases.

Demand for plasma-based therapies continues to grow globally, driven by ageing populations and increasing diagnoses of chronic conditions.

Foolish Takeaway

CSL’s fall to a 9-year low shows how much investor sentiment has deteriorated toward the biotech giant.

While the company still operates a large global healthcare business, investors are waiting for clearer signs that earnings growth is improving.

With shares now trading at levels last seen in 2017, CSL has become one of the most closely watched healthcare stocks on the ASX.

The post Why the CSL share price just hit a 9-year low appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 3 amazing Australian shares for beginners to buy in March
• Sell alert! Why this top analyst is calling time on Xero and CSL shares
• 32 ASX shares about to go ex-dividend
• Why CSL shares are rebounding today after falling to an 8-year low
• 3 reasons why the CSL share price could leap 87% to $274!

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

The Australian share market is under heavy pressure on Monday as escalating geopolitical tensions shake investor confidence.

At the time of writing, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is down more than 4%, with almost every sector trading lower.

The sell-off follows rising concerns about the conflict involving the United States, Israel, and Iran. Oil prices have surged as the conflict threatens global energy supply.

Let’s take a closer look at how each major sector of the ASX is performing today.

Materials stocks lead the decline

The S&P/ASX 200 Materials Index (ASX: XMJ) is the worst-performing sector today, down 5.69%.

Mining and commodity companies are highly sensitive to changes in the global economic outlook. Many of these stocks have been heavily sold as traders move to reduce risk during the broader market downturn.

Technology shares tumble

Technology stocks are also under significant pressure.

The S&P/ASX 200 Information Technology Index (ASX: XIJ) has fallen 5.32%, making it one of the weakest sectors in today’s session.

The sector includes a number of high-growth companies whose share prices have been volatile during recent market swings.

Financials and industrials fall sharply

The S&P/ASX 200 Financials Index (ASX: XFJ) has dropped 3.95%.

Australia’s major banks make up a large portion of the ASX 200, and heavy selling in the sector is adding to the broader market decline.

Meanwhile, the S&P/ASX 200 Industrials Index (ASX: XNJ) is down 4.34%.

This sector includes transport operators, infrastructure companies, and engineering businesses that are closely tied to economic activity.

Healthcare and property under pressure

The S&P/ASX 200 Health Care Index (ASX: XHJ) has declined 3.38%.

Several large healthcare names have already experienced a difficult year, and the sector is continuing to track lower today.

Property stocks are also sliding. The S&P/ASX 200 Real Estate Index (ASX: XRE) has fallen 4.30% as investors reassess interest rates and economic growth outlooks.

Consumer sectors retreat

Consumer-facing sectors are also in the red today.

The S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Discretionary Index (ASX: XDJ) has dropped 3.35%, with retail and other consumer businesses retreating during the broader market sell-off.

Meanwhile, the S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Staples Index (ASX: XSJ) is down 2.66%.

The S&P/ASX 200 Communication Services Index (ASX: XTJ) has slipped 2.51%, while the S&P/ASX 200 Utilities Index (ASX: XUJ) is down 1.59%.

Energy stands out as the only winner

The one sector holding up today is energy.

The S&P/ASX 200 Energy Index (ASX: XEJ) is up about 0.9% after oil prices surged to around US$109 per barrel.

Higher oil prices are supporting Australian oil and gas producers, helping the sector outperform the rest of the market during today’s sell-off.

Foolish Takeaway

Today’s trading session highlights how broadly the market is being affected, with almost every ASX sector moving lower at the same time.

Energy stocks are the only major area of strength as rising oil prices support the sector while the rest of the market trades lower.

The post Why almost every ASX sector is falling in today’s market sell-off appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• US$100 oil is a big deal for every ASX share. Here’s why
• If I wanted to outperform the ASX 200 over the next 10 years, I’d focus here
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Monday
• Northern Star Resources to join S&P/ASX 20 in March 2026 index shake-up
• Don’t overthink it: The best $10,000 approach to start investing in 2026

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.