Author: openjargon

On Thursday, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) had a subdued session and dropped into the red. The benchmark index fell 0.25% to 8,955 points.

Will the market be able to bounce back from this on Friday and end the week on a high? Here are five things to watch:

ASX 200 expected to edge higher

The Australian share market looks set to edge slightly higher on Friday following a poor night in the United States. According to the latest SPI futures, the ASX 200 is expected to open 1 point higher this morning. On Wall Street, the Dow Jones was down 0.35%, the S&P 500 fell 0.4% and the Nasdaq dropped 0.9%.

Oil prices rise

It could be a good finish to the week for ASX 200 energy shares Santos Ltd (ASX: STO) and Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS) after oil prices charged higher overnight. According to Bloomberg, the WTI crude oil price is up 3.85% to US$96.54 a barrel and the Brent crude oil price is up 3.95% to US$105.95 a barrel. This was driven by rising tensions in the Strait of Hormuz.

Fortescue update

Fortescue Ltd (ASX: FMG) shares will be on watch on Friday when the iron ore giant releases its third-quarter update. The market is expecting the miner to report iron ore shipments of approximately 49Mt for the three months. In addition, all eyes will be on its costs after the surge in diesel prices following the war in the Middle East. PLS Group Ltd (ASX: PLS) is also scheduled to release its quarterly update.

Gold price falls

ASX 200 gold shares Evolution Mining Ltd (ASX: EVN) and Newmont Corporation (ASX: NEM) could have a poor finish to the week after the gold price pulled back overnight. According to CNBC, the gold futures price is down 0.8% to US$4,714.1 an ounce.  This was driven by inflation and interest rate hike concerns.

Buy Regis Resources shares

Regis Resources Ltd (ASX: RRL) shares could be great value according to analysts at Bell Potter. This morning, in response to the gold miner’s quarterly update, the broker has retained its buy rating on its shares with an improved price target of $9.45. It said: “We remain attracted to RRL’s all-Australian, multi-mine asset portfolio, its demonstrated leverage to the gold price, highly competitive cash generation and its fully unhedged, debt free position. Our NPV-based valuation lifts 1%, to a rounded $9.45/sh. We retain our Buy recommendation with forecast dividends supporting shareholder returns.”

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

More reading

• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• What key update is fueling Ampol shares today?
• Buy, hold, sell: NextDC, Hub24, PLS Group shares
• 5 ASX 200 shares with renewed buy ratings this week
• Why Deep Yellow, Develop Global, Resolute Mining, and Santos shares are pushing higher today

Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in Woodside Energy Group Ltd. 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.

In what’s been a tumultuous year on the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) so far, Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA) shares have been strong performers.

Despite closing down 0.9% at $173.46 apiece on Wednesday, shares in the ASX 200 bank stock have gained 7.7% in 2026. That’s well ahead of the 0.5% year to date gains posted by the benchmark index.

And that’s not including the $2.35 a share fully franked interim dividend CBA paid to eligible stockholders on 30 March.

If we add that back in, then the cumulative gains for CBA shares in 2026 come to 9.1%, with some potential tax benefits from those franking credits.

But after five years of outperformance from Australia’s biggest bank, Catapult Wealth’s Dylan Evans believes now could be an opportune time for investors to take profits (courtesy of The Bull).

Time to sell CBA shares?

“CBA is a high-quality company, with a strong management team and consistent track record,” Evans noted.

“However, in our view, the bank was recently trading on a lofty price-earnings ratio well above its long-term average and that of its competitors,” he added.

Indeed, CBA shares currently trade on a P/E ratio of around 29 times.

As for its chief competitors, Westpac Banking Corp (ASX: WBC) trades on a P/E ratio of around 20 times; ANZ Group Holdings Ltd (ASX: ANZ) trades on a P/E ratio of around 19 times; and National Australia Bank Ltd (ASX: NAB) trades on a P/E ratio of around 19 times.

According to Evans:

This multiple expansion has driven much of CBA’s share price outperformance in the past five years. However, the company’s high multiple is supported by only single digit growth and a recent modest dividend yield below 3% on April 16.

Evans concluded, “We believe the company is overvalued.”

What’s the latest from the ASX 200 bank stock?

CBA reported its half-year results (H1 FY 2026) on 11 February.

And it was another profitable six months for the big four bank, with CBA reporting a cash net profit after tax (NPAT) of $5.45 billion, up 6% year on year.

“Customer outcomes remain central to our approach. We have continued to invest in technology and frontline teams to improve customer experiences,” CommBank CEO Matt Comyn said.

He added:

We continue to watch the competitive intensity and its implications across the financial system. We are well placed to compete effectively and will continue to adjust our settings as appropriate.

CBA shares closed up 6.8% on the day of the results release.

The post Sell alert! Why this expert is calling time on CBA shares appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 3 ASX 200 financial shares to sell: experts
• How does Morgans rate ANZ, BOQ, CBA, NAB, and Westpac shares?
• Stagflation: How to position an ASX stock portfolio
• 5 powerhouse ASX dividend shares to buy and hold until 2050
• 3 ASX 200 shares tipped to tumble 10% (or more) in the next 12 months

Motley Fool contributor Bernd Struben 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.

When I think about ASX dividend stocks, it’s hard to look past Telstra Group (ASX: TLS) shares.

At the close of the ASX on Thursday afternoon, Telstra shares were 0.19% higher at $5.34 a piece.

Thursday’s uptick continued the impressive gains the telco has made over the past 12-18 months. Earlier this month, Telstra shares reached a 10-year high of $5.44, and they’re still trading just shy of that level.

At the time of writing, Telstra shares are nearly 10% higher year to date and 20% higher than this time last year. That growth has been pretty gradual but consistent too.

For context, at the time of writing, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is 0.75% higher year to date and 11% higher than 12 months ago.

Some investors might be put off by Telstra’s near-high share price, but I still see it as a great opportunity to buy into a high-quality ASX dividend stock at a good price.

Here’s why. 

Telstra is a strong and reliable business

Telstra is a classic defensive stock. 

These days, internet access and mobile phone connectivity are basic daily necessities rather than luxuries.

That means that regardless of how high inflation or the cost of living gets, or how severe global uncertainty becomes, the company’s offerings will remain a high priority for Australians. 

In other words, the ASX dividend stock is likely to perform steadily regardless of the stage of the economic cycle. 

Take Telstra’s  latest first-half FY26 update, for example.

In February, the telco posted that group underlying EBITDA had risen across all major business lines. Its mobile services revenue was 5.6% higher and group cash EBIT was 14% higher, for the six-month period. Underlying operating expenses were also reduced by 2.4%.  

The results show that the company has a predictable cash flow and reliable earnings. This is classic for a strong ASX defensive share. 

And this is great news for investors who want to hedge against potential volatility elsewhere in the index.

It pays a reliable and growing passive income to its shareholders

Because of its defensive, natural, and reliable earnings, Telstra can pay investors a reliable passive income with a good dividend yield.

The company historically pays its shareholders two dividends every year, in March and September. Investors were paid an interim 10.5 cent dividend, 90.48% franked, in March. 

The telco is expected to pay a total dividend of 20 cents for FY26, representing a 5.25% year-on-year increase. At the time of writing that implies a dividend yield around 3.8%

For FY27 the dividend payout is expected to increase again to 21 cents per share. 

Analysts are tipping much more upside to come for the ASX dividend stock

Even after this year’s share price rally, brokers rate Telstra shares as a buy. Market Index data, however, shows that the average $5.30 target price currently implies a 1.5% downside for the ASX dividend stock. 

The post 1 ASX dividend stock up 20% that I’d hold through any market appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 3 reasons I’d buy Telstra shares today
• Where I’d invest $5,000 in ASX blue-chip shares
• Stagflation: How to position an ASX stock portfolio
• Why I don’t own Telstra shares (yet)
• How to build a second income from ASX shares without taking big risks

Motley Fool contributor Samantha Menzies 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 positions in and has recommended Telstra Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

There are plenty of global exchange-traded funds (ETFs) available to Australian investors.

One of the best for growth investors, in my opinion, is the Vanguard MSCI International Small Companies Index ETF (ASX: VISM).

It focuses on smaller companies across developed economies, which is an area that often flies under the radar.

For growth-focused investors, I think that creates a very interesting opportunity.

Exposure to a different part of the market

Most global portfolios tend to lean heavily toward large-cap companies.

This Vanguard ETF offers something different. It provides exposure to around 3,700 small-cap stocks across developed markets, with a median market capitalisation of about $7.6 billion.

These are businesses that are still growing into their markets.

They are often earlier in their expansion phase, which means there is more room to scale over time. That can translate into stronger earnings growth compared to more established large-cap names.

The fund’s underlying earnings growth rate of around 11.5% highlights that point.

Built-in diversification across industries and regions

Another feature I like is how diversified the ETF is.

The portfolio spans multiple sectors, including industrials, financials, technology, consumer discretionary, and healthcare. Industrials make up about 20.9% of the fund, followed by financials at 14.4% and technology at 11.5%.

Geographically, the United States accounts for about 63% of the portfolio, with meaningful exposure to Japan, Canada, and the United Kingdom as well.

That spread is important, in my opinion. It means you are not relying on a single sector or country to drive returns. Instead, you are tapping into a wide range of industries and economic drivers.

A simple way to access global small-cap growth

Picking individual small-cap ASX stocks globally is not easy.

There are thousands of companies, and information can be harder to access compared to large-cap names.

This Vanguard ETF solves that problem.

It tracks the MSCI World ex-Australia Small Cap Index, giving investors access to a broad group of companies in one investment. Holdings include businesses like Sandisk, XPO, and Woodward, which operate across technology, transport, and aerospace.

That simplicity can be valuable, especially for investors who want exposure to growth without having to research dozens of individual stocks.

Long-term growth potential with a reasonable valuation base

Even though this is a growth-oriented ETF, the valuation profile still looks balanced.

According to Vanguard, the ETF trades on a price-to-earnings ratio of around 17.4 times and a price-to-book ratio of 1.87 times, which are not excessive for a portfolio of growing companies.

Return on equity sits close to 10%, which reflects a solid level of profitability across the portfolio.

There is also a dividend yield of around 1.9%, which adds a small income component alongside growth.

Foolish takeaway

This Vanguard ETF offers exposure to a large and diverse group of smaller companies across global markets.

For growth investors, I think that is where the appeal lies. These businesses are still expanding, and the ETF provides a simple way to access that opportunity.

With broad diversification, steady earnings growth, and a reasonable valuation base, I see it as a compelling option for long-term investors looking beyond the usual large-cap names.

The post Why I think Australian growth investors would love this Vanguard ETF appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Vanguard ETF dividends to be paid today
• Why I’d buy and hold NDQ and these ASX ETFs for 10 years
• Why I think these Vanguard ETFs could be top buys for next month (and forever)
• Own ASX VAS or other Vanguard ETFs? Dividends just announced

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 recommended XPO. 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.

BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP) shares have experienced a fair amount of ups and downs over the years. 

While the mining giant has been a very solid performer, its share price is cyclical, and heavily influenced by swings in commodity prices.

Five years ago, back in April 2021, BHP shares were trading at $42.35 a piece. That means that a $5,000 investment would have bought you 118 shares in the mining giant.

At the time of writing, BHP shares are changing hands at $55.95. That’s a 32% increase from five years ago.

It also means that the same $5,000 investment right now will buy you just 89 BHP shares.

What’s the latest out of BHP?

The ASX 200 mining giant posted its operational review, covering the nine months to 31st of March, earlier this week. 

The miner reported a 2% year-on-year increase in iron ore production for the nine months to 197 million tonnes. This was supported by record production at the miner’s integrated Western Australia Iron Ore (WAIO) systems.

But  copper production went the other direction, slipping 3% from the same period in FY 2025 to 1.461 million tonnes. 

As part of the update, BHP also confirmed that CEO Mike Henry is stepping down from his role after six and a half years. He will be replaced by Brandon Craig, current president Americas, on the 1st of July. 

Can BHP shares climb higher?

TradingView data shows analysts are pretty divided about the outlook for BHP shares over the next 12 months.

Potentially the miner’s share price could be entering the next stage of the cycle after a strong annual rally.

Out of 20 analysts, 11 have a hold rating on the shares. Another seven have a buy or strong buy rating and two rate the miner as a sell. 

The average target price of $54.06 implies a potential 4% downside at the time of writing.

Is there any other reason to invest in the stock?

As I mentioned earlier, BHP’s share price is cyclical heavily tied to the commodities market. 

While cyclical stocks are closely tied to the broader economic cycle, they often outperform during periods of economic recovery.

It’s also worth noting that the long-term outlook for ASX mining shares is positive right now, with some stating that Australia is in the early stages of a new mining boom. 

This boom is expected to be driven mostly by a transition to green energy. This could support long-term demand for metals like copper. Copper is essential for green energy, acting as a key conductor in renewable technologies, electric vehicles (EVs), and power grids.

On the other hand, iron ore prices are expected to trend lower in 2026 thanks to a supply surge from Africa and Brazil and combined with slowing Chinese demand. 

BHP is heavily exposed to both of these markets.

Not only could sentiment quickly shift for BHP, it also has the added drawcard of paying its shareholders attractive and reliable dividend payments.

BHP is a reliable, high-yield dividend stock that often yields around 4% to 6%, fully franked. It has a long history of regular dividend payments dating back to 2006. 

As a major diversified miner, it maintains dividend payouts even when commodity prices fluctuate thanks to its low-cost operations. 

The post 5 years ago, $5,000 bought 118 BHP shares. How many would it buy now? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 2 ASX mining shares to buy with $2,000
• 3 key takeaways from BHP’s latest results you need to know
• Why Northern Star, DroneShield and BHP shares are making waves on Wednesday
• BHP shares charge higher following third-quarter update
• BHP Group delivers record copper and iron ore output, announces CEO succession

Motley Fool contributor Samantha Menzies 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.

Uncertain markets can make investing feel uncomfortable.

Prices move quickly, headlines turn negative, and it can seem like the worst possible time to put money to work. But in reality, these periods are often when some of the best opportunities with ASX shares are created.

The challenge is knowing how to approach them.

Accept that uncertainty is normal

The first step is understanding that uncertainty never really goes away.

There is always something to worry about. Interest rates, inflation, geopolitics, or economic growth. Waiting for everything to feel safe usually means waiting forever.

Instead of trying to avoid uncertainty, successful ASX share investors learn to operate within it.

Break your investing into smaller steps

One of the easiest ways to reduce risk is to avoid investing everything at once.

Rather than committing a large amount in a single trade, consider spreading your investments over time. This approach, often called dollar-cost averaging, allows you to buy across different price levels.

It takes the pressure off trying to time the perfect entry point and helps smooth out volatility.

Focus on businesses

When markets are volatile, it is easy to get caught up in daily news.

But share prices can move for reasons that have little to do with a company’s long-term prospects.

Instead, focus on the underlying business. Is it growing? Does it have strong cash flow? Does it operate in a market with long-term demand?

If the answers are yes, short-term price movements may matter less than they seem.

Keep some cash ready

Uncertain markets often create opportunities.

Having some cash available gives you the flexibility to act when prices fall. It allows you to take advantage of situations where high-quality ASX shares become temporarily undervalued.

This does not mean trying to pick the exact bottom. It simply means being prepared.

A good example of this right now might be ResMed Inc. (ASX: RMD). It continues to deliver strong earnings growth, but recently hit a 52-week low.

Stay consistent with your plan

Perhaps the most important step is sticking to a plan.

Uncertain markets can trigger emotional decisions, whether it is panic selling or hesitation to invest. Having a clear strategy helps remove some of that emotion.

By continuing to invest in ASX shares regularly and staying focused on long-term goals, you give yourself the best chance of success.

Turning uncertainty into opportunity

Uncertainty is not something to avoid. It is something to use.

By staying disciplined, investing gradually, and focusing on quality, investors can turn volatile periods into opportunities to build long-term wealth.

It may not feel comfortable in the moment, but that is often where the best results begin.

The post How to invest in ASX shares when the market feels uncertain appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Are ASX healthcare shares the next to rally?
• How to start investing in ASX shares with $1,000
• 2 ASX healthcare shares I think can beat the market
• 3 ASX 200 blue chip shares to buy with $20,000
• How to build a $500,000 ASX share portfolio step by step

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

It has been a tough period for growth investors, with a number of popular ASX growth shares down heavily from their highs.

But every cloud has a silver lining. The silver lining here is that you can now buy some quality shares at a deep discount to what investors were willing to pay just a year ago.

With that in mind, let’s look at two ASX growth shares down over 50% that Bell Potter is tipping as strong buys this month. They are as follows:

Catapult Sports Ltd (ASX: CAT)

The Catapult Sports share price is down 59% from its 52-week high. This is despite the sports technology company continuing to deliver impressive and profitable growth.

Bell Potter appears to believe this could be a buying opportunity for investors. This is especially the case given its leadership position in a market that is expected to double in size by the end of the decade.

Commenting on the ASX share, the broker said:

Catapult Sports is a leading global provider of elite athlete wearing tracking solutions and analytics for athlete tracking. The key target market of Catapult is elite sporting teams and organisations and the acquisition of SBG also now gives the company a presence in motorsports.

The pro sports technology market is currently valued at US$36bn in 2025 and is forecast to double to US$72bn by 2030. We view CAT as a market leader entering a stronger phase of cash generation and operating leverage, with an underpenetrated global customer base and expanding analytics suite providing a long runway for subscription growth and valuation upside.

WiseTech Global Ltd (ASX: WTC)

The WiseTech Global share price is down 63% from its 52-week high.

While there are a number of reasons for this decline, the main one appears to have been artificial intelligence (AI) disruption fears.

Bell Potter doesn’t appear to believe this is warranted and is urging investors to buy the ASX share while it is down in the dumps.

WiseTech is a leading global provider of software solutions to the logistics industry, with its market-leading CargoWise One platform used by many of the world’s largest logistics providers. The company’s quality is underpinned by a highly predictable business model, with around 95% of its revenue being recurring and a customer churn rate of less than 1%. This provides clear and consistent cash flow, enabling a distinct path to deleverage, with management confident in reducing ND/EBITDA from ~3x in FY26 to 1.7x in FY27.

We note that WiseTech is currently trading at >30% discount to Technology One on an EV/EBITDA basis in both FY26 and FY27. While we believe some sort of discount is now warranted, we believe the current discount is excessive given WiseTech has greater forecast earnings growth over the medium term and also a similar strong competitive moat due to 30 years of proprietary data, deeply embedded software and high switching costs.

The post 2 top ASX shares down over 50% to buy now appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 3 stellar ASX growth shares to buy now with 30% to 70% upside
• Top brokers name 3 ASX shares to buy today
• Buy, hold, sell: ANZ, NAB, and WiseTech shares
• Still down 40% over the past year, how high could WiseTech shares recover?
• 5 oversold ASX shares to buy before the end of April

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

If you are fortunate enough to have $1,000 to invest in the share market, but don’t know where to put it, then it could be worth considering an ASX exchange traded fund (ETF).

But with so many to choose from, it can be hard to decide which ones to buy.

Don’t worry, I will now narrow things down by picking out three that could be best buys as the month of May approaches rapidly.

Here’s why they could be worth considering for a $1,000 investment:

BetaShares Nasdaq 100 ETF (ASX: NDQ)

The first ASX ETF to consider is the BetaShares Nasdaq 100 ETF.

This ETF provides exposure to 100 of the largest non-financial companies listed on the Nasdaq exchange. It is heavily weighted towards technology and growth-oriented businesses.

Its holdings include companies such as Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL), Netflix (NASDAQ: NFLX), Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN), Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT), and NVIDIA (NASDAQ: NVDA).

Demand for AI, cloud computing, and digital services continues to support growth across this group of companies. This could make the BetaShares Nasdaq 100 ETF a strong performer over the next decade and beyond.

iShares S&P 500 ETF (ASX: IVV)

Another ASX ETF to consider is the iShares S&P 500 ETF.

This ETF tracks the performance of the S&P 500 Index, giving investors access to 500 large-cap US stocks.

Its holdings include companies such as Apple, Microsoft, Amazon, Walmart (NYSE: WMT), and McDonald’s (NYSE: MCD).

This means that the iShares S&P 500 ETF provides broad exposure to the US economy, which remains the largest and most influential market globally. It also offers diversification across sectors and tends to be less concentrated than more thematic ETFs.

VanEck Morningstar Wide Moat ETF (ASX: MOAT)

A third ASX ETF to consider is the VanEck Morningstar Wide Moat ETF.

This ETF focuses on companies that are judged to have sustainable competitive advantages, often referred to as economic moats.

Its holdings include companies such as Alphabet (NASDAQ: GOOGL), Visa (NYSE: V), and Airbnb (NASDAQ: ABNB). Visa stands out due to its global payments network, which benefits from high margins and strong network effects.

In addition, the VanEck Morningstar Wide Moat ETF incorporates a valuation overlay, selecting companies that are not only high quality but also trading at what is considered an attractive price.

This combination of quality and valuation offers a different approach compared to traditional index tracking ETFs.

The post Are these the best ASX ETFs to buy with $1,000 in May? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• ASX ETF investors exit US stocks in favour of Aussie shares: Betashares
• How I’d use the iShares S&P 500 ETF (IVV) to create $50,000 annual passive income
• How to start investing in ASX shares with $1,000
• Stagflation: How to position an ASX stock portfolio
• 3 reasons I’d invest $5,000 in the iShares S&P 500 IVV ETF

Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in BetaShares Nasdaq 100 ETF and VanEck Morningstar Wide Moat ETF. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Airbnb, Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, BetaShares Nasdaq 100 ETF, Microsoft, Netflix, Nvidia, Visa, and iShares S&P 500 ETF. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has recommended the following options: long January 2028 $320 calls on McDonald’s and short January 2028 $340 calls on McDonald’s. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended BetaShares Nasdaq 100 ETF. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Airbnb, Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, Microsoft, Netflix, Nvidia, VanEck Morningstar Wide Moat ETF, Visa, and iShares S&P 500 ETF. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) suffered another red day for this Thursday’s session, building on the negativity we saw on the markets yesterday. By the time trading wrapped up, the ASX 200 had closed 0.57% lower. That leaves the index back under 8,800 points at 8,793.4.

This disappointing session on the local markets comes despite a far rosier night over on the American boards.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average Index (DJX: .DJI) was playing nice, rising 0.69%.

The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC) did even better, gaining 1.64%.

But let’s get back to the ASX now and check out how today’s market losses affected the different ASX sectors.

Winners and losers

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

More reading

• What key update is fueling Ampol shares today?
• Buy, hold, sell: NextDC, Hub24, PLS Group shares
• 5 ASX 200 shares with renewed buy ratings this week
• Why Deep Yellow, Develop Global, Resolute Mining, and Santos shares are pushing higher today
• Why is everyone talking about Core Lithium, Ampol and Santos shares on Thursday?

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.

Investors ploughed $5.6 billion into ASX exchange-traded funds (ETFs) last month, despite the start of the war in Iran.

Aussies now have $329 billion invested in ETFs, and March was the third-highest month for net inflows ever.

In recent years, ASX investors have used ETFs to gain easy exposure via the local exchange to US stocks amid runaway gains.

US stocks outperformed ASX shares for a third consecutive year in 2025.

The S&P 500 Index (SP: INX) delivered total returns of 17.88% last year vs. 10.32% for S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) shares.

While Aussie investors have been keen on US shares since 2023, ETF provider, Betashares, says the trend is now changing.

Betashares chief economist David Bassanese says investors are pulling out of ETFs exposed to US stocks in favour of local shares.

Bassanese estimates that the split in daily inflows into Betashares’ domestic-based and international-based ETFs is now about 50:50.

Data shows on 3 March, the daily inflows into Betashares’ global shares-based funds was $52 million vs. $13 million into ASX shares.

On 30 March, about a month into the Iran war, the inflows were $68 million into global shares-based ETFs and $50 million into ASX shares.

Bassanese told The Weekend Australian:

We can see the flows between local and international are lineball now, so this is a big shift.

I think people are hunkering down closer to home.

Due to the size of the American economy, US stocks typically form a large chunk of international shares-based ASX ETFs.

This means an exodus from international ETFs signals less confidence in the US market, in particular.

Flight to perceived safety

During economic upheaval, it’s not uncommon for Aussie investors to focus on the perceived safety of ASX shares.

And we have a little upheaval afoot, right?

A global oil shock with no end in sight, plummeting consumer confidence, resurgent inflation, the likelihood of further interest rate rises in Australia this year, and an upcoming Federal Budget that is expected to raise property taxes and provide limited cost-of-living relief.

The main reason investors switch to ASX shares is their relatively high dividend returns of 3.5% to 4.5% per annum.

Many ASX dividend shares also offer the benefit of 100% franking credits.

This means dividend income is virtually tax-free for those on the personal tax rate of 30 cents in the dollar.

Another appealing element to ASX shares-based ETFs is their exposure to mining stocks amid the new mining boom.

Top 10 ASX ETFs for inflows and outflows last month

Betashares analysed ASX and CBOE data to determine the top 10 ETFs for inflows and outflows last month.

The top ASX ETF for outflows was the largest exchange-traded fund by market capitalisation exposed to US shares.

About $460 million flowed out of the iShares S&P 500 ETF (ASX: IVV) last month, however, $232 million flowed into the iShares S&P 500 AUD Hedged ETF (ASX: IHVV), indicating investors haven’t given up on US shares but want some protection from the weaker US dollar.

The top ETF for inflows was Vanguard Australian Shares Index ETF (ASX: VAS), which received about $896 million.

The post ASX ETF investors exit US stocks in favour of Aussie shares: Betashares appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• How I’d use the iShares S&P 500 ETF (IVV) to create $50,000 annual passive income
• How to start investing in ASX shares with $1,000
• 3 reasons I’d invest $5,000 in the iShares S&P 500 IVV ETF
• 3 ASX ETFs to build a portfolio around in 2026
• Best and worst case scenarios this week for global equities: Expert

Motley Fool contributor Bronwyn Allen has positions in iShares S&P 500 Aud Hedged ETF. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended iShares S&P 500 ETF. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended iShares S&P 500 ETF. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.