Author: openjargon

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.

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• 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.

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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.

If you are looking for exposure to the mining sector, then read on.

That’s because the team at Bell Potter has named two ASX mining shares as top picks this month.

Here’s what it is recommending to clients and why they could be top options for a $2,000 investment:

BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP)

The first ASX mining share that could be worth a look is BHP.

Bell Potter has named the Big Australian in its Core Portfolio, which is a diversified, benchmark aware portfolio of 25-35 Australian shares, with a bias towards growth-orientated, quality companies.

Commenting on BHP, the broker said:

BHP Group is the world’s largest diversified miner, with a portfolio increasingly oriented toward commodities with structural demand tailwinds from energy transition and data centre buildout. The investment case centres on a copper volume upgrade cycle, with FY26 group production guidance recently lifted and further upgrades flowing through to FY27, underpinned by record throughput at Escondida and a pipeline of Tier 1 growth projects.

Longer-dated optionality is provided by the Jansen potash project, with first production expected mid-2027. The balance sheet is in excellent shape, supporting a material step-up in the interim dividend and a portfolio expected to generate significant free cash flow over FY26-30, providing capacity to sustain strong shareholder returns through the cycle.

Nickel Industries Ltd (ASX: NIC)

Another ASX mining share that gets the thumbs up is Nickel Industries.

It is the largest listed pure-play nickel producer globally with an 80% economic interest in four operating RKEF plants in Indonesia.

Bell Potter has named it among its Australian equities small cap panel. This is its panel of favoured small cap Australian equities that it believes offer attractive returns over the long term.

Bell Potter believes the nickel producer is well-placed to deliver a major uptick in production and cash flow generation in the coming years. It said:

NIC is the only material ASX way to gain exposure to the nickel price, has a growth story, and is diversifying earnings to span Type 1 and Type 2 nickel. NIC continues to generate positive cash flows in a tough nickel market and is set to deliver major growth milestones in CY25 across its highest margin nickel operations.

All up, given the forecast high production growth and potential for a very large free cash flow uplift in the next 2 years or so, NIC presents a compelling story and appears cheap at current valuation.

The post 2 ASX mining shares to buy with $2,000 appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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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 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.

The Federal Government has this week flagged changes to how it funds residential aged care, with Jarden analysts saying the changes will be a tailwind for the sector.

More specifically, the Jarden team has singled out Regis Healthcare Ltd (ASX: REG) as a beneficiary of the changes, and the team has a bullish share price target on the company, which we’ll get to later.

Simplifying the system

So, what has been announced?

Health Minister Mark Butler said on Wednesday that the government would be pumping another $3 billion into delivering more aged care beds, more packages and better care for older Australians.

Mr Butler said in a statement:

At the heart of the Labor Government’s reforms has always stood a commitment to provide dignified, quality care to every older Australian, no matter their means. This $3 billion investment builds on our commitment to deliver more beds, more packages and better care for older Australians, to ensure they get the support they deserve.

Jarden said this regarding the sector more broadly, in its research note released on Thursday:

The Aged Care Sector in Australia has been challenged with a growing supply-demand imbalance as the baby boomer generation reaches an age where residential care intensifies and supply remains stagnant, given the inadequate funding environment. This has seen occupancy hit record levels and providers faced with shifting resident mix away from concessional residents to drive an improvement in returns. As a precursor to the Federal Budget, Health Minister Mark Butler announced some changes to help address the funding gap for concessional residents and incentivise the industry to build more beds to address a chronic shortage.

Jarden said it appeared the $3 billion came about in part through a planned reduction in private health insurance rebates for the elderly.

The government’s changes announced this week were in response to the Independent Review of Residential Aged Care Accommodation Pricing also released this week. This is pertinent to Regis, as it affects the government reimbursement the company receives for its concessional residents, among other changes.

The new system which Mr Butler announced and which picked up on the recommendations of the pricing review, will involve a $ 5-per-resident-per-day increase for concessional residents, as well as restructuring the current tiered payments system.

Jarden said it expected the changes to deliver about $7 million per annum in pre-tax earnings uplift for Regis, translating into a 6.5% upgrade to consensus net profit estimates.

Soft loans on the way

Another recommendation of the pricing review was to make $2 billion in interest-free loans available for 10 years to new developments.

Jarden said this is “clearly an attractive funding option for Regis with its existing pipeline likely to qualify for this funding, considering the government will prioritise providers who have development approval, appointed a qualified builder and have construction finance already”.

Jarden has an $8.50 price target on Regis shares compared with the current price of $6.80, which was up 12.6% on Thursday.

Regis was valued at $1.82 billion at the close of trade on Wednesday. The company delivered an 18% jump in revenue in its most recently half year report.

The post A Budget announcement has put a rocket under this ASX aged care provider’s shares appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

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Motley Fool contributor Cameron England has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) financial shares are among 10 of 11 market sectors in the red on Thursday.

The only sector doing well today is energy, up 2.5%, indicating the market’s pessimism due to the ongoing global oil shock.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has warned of a global recession given the long-tail impact of energy shocks.

Higher energy prices and supply constraints feed through to all corners of modern economies, including grocery prices.

This has sparked fears of higher inflation and the prospect of several more interest rate rises in Australia this year.

The market is already pricing in a 72% chance of an interest rate rise after the next Reserve Bank board meeting on 5 May.

Federal Treasurer Jim Chalmers says it’s a dangerous time for the world economy, as he continues to work on the May Budget.

Dr Chalmers said (courtesy Australian Financial Review):

The IMF’s World Economic Outlook shows it’s a dangerous moment for the global economy.

The world is expecting slower growth, higher inflation, and extreme volatility arising out of the conflict in the Middle East, and we are, too.

Both Chalmers and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese continue to signal reform in the upcoming Budget, to be unveiled on 12 May.

Reform may include cuts to the capital gains discount for property investors and changes to negative gearing.

The Australian property market, which the ASX 200 banks are heavily leveraged to, is already cooling following two rate rises this year.

Additionally, consumer confidence has plummeted.

This month, the Westpac-Melbourne Institute Consumer Sentiment Index recorded its biggest fall since the start of the pandemic in 2020.

ASX 200 financial shares are down 2.5% over six months, and up 2.1% in the year to date (YTD).

This compares to a 2.9% fall over six months for the benchmark index, and just an 0.5% gain in the YTD.

Experts call time on 3 ASX 200 financial shares

Amid all this economic upheaval, experts have slapped sell ratings on three ASX 200 financial shares.

Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA)

The CBA share price is $173.78, down 0.7% today, and up 7.9% in the YTD.

Dylan Evans from Catapult Wealth has a sell rating on CBA shares.

Evans said (courtesy The Bull):

CBA is a high quality company, with a strong management team and consistent track record.

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. 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 per cent on April 16.

Bendigo and Adelaide Bank Ltd (ASX: BEN)

The Bendigo Bank share price is $10.56, down 0.5% today, and down 0.5% in the YTD.

Christopher Watt from Bell Potter has a sell rating on this ASX 200 financial share, explaining:

The market responded positively to the company’s third quarter trading update for fiscal year 2026.

Unaudited cash earnings were up 7.6 per cent on the first half quarterly average. The net interest margin of 1.98 per cent was up 6 basis points on the second quarter of 2026.

In our view, catalysts to drive improvement from here are limited.

The risk-reward profile lags other peers, so we would be inclined to cash in gains in this volatile environment.

ASX Ltd (ASX: ASX)

The ASX share price is $58.92, down 0.5% today, and up 14.6% in the YTD.

ASX is the predominant stock market operator in Australia.

Watt also has a sell rating on this ASX 200 financial share, stating:

The ASX appears challenged, in our opinion, with structural pressures emerging across its core listings and trading businesses.

Our research indicates limited growth in listings activity and ongoing scrutiny around system reliability may weigh on investor confidence.

While the ASX benefits from monopoly-like characteristics, its earnings growth profile is moderating, in our view, and regulatory risk remains elevated.

At current valuation levels, the risk-reward equation looks unfavourable relative to other opportunities in the market.

The post 3 ASX 200 financial shares to sell: experts appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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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 positions in and has recommended Bendigo And Adelaide Bank. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

Ampol Ltd (ASX: ALD) shares pushed higher on Thursday after a fresh update on its major acquisition plans.

The energy company’s stock jumped as much as 3.4% in morning trade before easing slightly to $33.21 in the afternoon, still up around 1.3% at the time of writing. The catalyst? Progress on clearing regulatory hurdles tied to its proposed EG Australia acquisition.

Over the past 12 months, Ampol shares have climbed an impressive 49%, comfortably outperforming the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO), which has gained just 12% over the same period.

So what changes did Ampol make in its final remedy with the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC)?

Tackling competition concerns

Ampol revealed it is now offering 41 retail fuel sites for divestment, up from the previously proposed 37. This move is aimed at addressing competition concerns raised by the ACCC.

The company also noted it continues to engage constructively with regulators, suggesting discussions are moving in the right direction. The ACCC is expected to deliver its Phase 2 determination by 5 June 2026, though this deadline may be extended up to 15 business days. Subject to clearance and meeting other requirements, Ampol is targeting a mid-2026 completion date for the transaction.

Just as importantly, talks with potential buyers for those divested sites have “materially advanced.” That’s a key signal to the market and investors in Ampol shares. It shows the ASX energy company isn’t just proposing solutions, it’s actively executing them.

Why does this matter so much?

The EG Australia acquisition is a major strategic play for Ampol. It would significantly expand its retail footprint and strengthen its position in the fuel and convenience market. But like any large deal, it hinges on regulatory approval.

By increasing the number of sites it is willing to sell and progressing negotiations with buyers, Ampol is effectively reducing the risk that the deal gets blocked or delayed.

Investors tend to reward that kind of clarity.

Unlock scale benefits

There’s also a broader implication. Successfully completing the acquisition could unlock scale benefits, improve distribution, and potentially boost long-term earnings. That’s why even incremental updates like this can move the price of Ampol shares.

Of course, risks remain. The deal is not yet approved, and regulatory processes can be unpredictable. There’s also execution risk—integrating a large acquisition always comes with challenges, from operational alignment to cost control. Still, today’s update suggests momentum is building in Ampol’s favour.

What next for Ampol shares?

For now, the market appears to be focusing on the positives: active engagement with regulators, tangible progress on divestments, and a clearer pathway toward completing a key strategic acquisition.

If that progress continues, Ampol shares could have further fuel left in the tank.

The post What key update is fueling Ampol shares today? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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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.

A couple of very popular ASX 200 shares have released updates this week and the team at Morgans has been digging into them.

Does the broker rate them as buys this week? Let’s see what it is saying after running the rule over their updates:

Cochlear Ltd (ASX: COH)

This hearing solutions company’s shares came crashing down to earth on Wednesday after making a major downgrade to its FY 2026 guidance.

While some of this downgrade has been driven by geopolitical impacts, the main driver was a surprising decline in demand in developed markets.

Morgans notes that this demonstrates that cochlear implant (CI) demand is more cyclical and macro-sensitive than previously assumed. As a result, it has put a hold rating on its shares with a heavily reduced price target of $107.17 (from $214.93). This compares to its current share price of $92.88. It said:

COH has delivered a material downgrade to FY26 earnings, cutting guidance by c30% at the midpoint. While FX, geopolitics and cost actions contributed, the key takeaway is more fundamental, with CI demand, especially in developed markets, proving to be more cyclical and macro-sensitive than previously assumed.

This challenges the market’s long-held view as a structural, volume-driven growth story largely insulated from economic cycles. While we view long-term fundamentals as intact, near-term earnings visibility has deteriorated materially, so we wait for demand stabilisation before re-engaging. We adjust our FY26-28 estimates and lower our target price to A$107.17 HOLD.

Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST)

Another ASX 200 share that Morgans has been looking at is gold miner Northern Star.

It was pleased with the company’s performance, noting that gold sold came in above its revised expectations thanks to improvements following production issues.

In addition, it notes that a $500 million buy back has been announced, that is commencing today.

In response to the update, the broker has retained its buy rating and $30.00 price target on Northern Star’s shares. This implies potential upside of 33% for investors. It said:

Gold sold of 381koz at AISC of A$2,709/oz beat our revised expectations, with sequential improvement across all three production centres following ongoing production issues. KCGM Mill Expansion on track for commissioning in early FY27; FY26 guidance has been provided and is above 1,500koz at AISC of A$2,600–2,800/oz. Net cash of A$320m; A$500m on-market buy-back announced, commencing ~23 April. We maintain our BUY rating, price target A$30.00ps (unchanged).

The post What is Morgans saying about Cochlear and Northern Star shares? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) shares are down 0.9% to 8,763 points on Thursday.

The market is nervously awaiting a fresh round of negotiations between the US and Iran to begin in Islamabad.

Today, the only market sector in the green is energy, which is up strongly by 2.5%.

This follows four straight trading sessions of rises in the Brent Crude oil price, which is now at US$103.40 per barrel at the time of writing.

The Strait of Hormuz, through which 20% of the world’s oil and gas is transported, remains effectively shut down.

Investors now fear a global recession if the global energy supply shock does not end soon.

Amid all this pessimism, two experts have revealed their views on three ASX 200 shares.

Let’s see what they think.

NextDC Ltd (ASX: NXT)

The NextDC share price is $14.63, up 2.2% today and down 8% over the past six months.

John Athanasiou from Red Leaf Securities has a buy rating on this ASX 200 tech share.

Athanasiou said (courtesy The Bull):

Australia’s leading data centre operator provides connectivity and colocation services to cloud, enterprise and government clients across Australia and the Asia Pacific.

Its network of certified facilities underpin critical digital infrastructure amid surging demand for cloud, artificial intelligence and high performance computing. A strong forward order book reflects institutional confidence in its long term growth.

The company continues to build new facilities and sign strategic partnerships, positioning it to capture structural tailwinds in digital transformation and infrastructure demand.

PLS Group Ltd (ASX: PLS)

The PLS Group share price is $5.68, down 4.1% today and up 92% over six months.

PLS Group shares rose to a new record high of $6.14 apiece last Friday.

This follows a substantial rebound in lithium commodity prices since mid-2025.

Dylan Evans from Catapult Wealth has a hold rating on this ASX 200 lithium share.

Evans said:

Demand for lithium is well supported, driven by consistent growth and adoption of technologies, including battery energy storage and electric cars.

Demand is revealed in the group’s recently signed off-take agreement with China’s Canmax Technologies, a deal that included a record $US1000 a tonne price floor.

Looking forward, PLS is well placed to grow as it has the means for substantial expansion potential at its existing Pilgangoora operations in Western Australia.

Hub24 Ltd (ASX: HUB)

The Hub24 share price is $85.17, down 0.7% on Thursday and 25% over the past six months.

Athanasiou has a sell rating on this ASX 200 financial share.

Athanasiou commented:

The company’s diversified financial services platform provides investment and superannuation administration technology to advisers and institutions.

Despite its strong technology footprint, current multiples imply high future growth expectations that may be difficult to meet, in our view.

Any slowdown in adoption or execution could put pressure on its share price.

Given what we consider an elevated valuation and the inherent risks in scaling further, HUB24 presents limited upside from current levels, making it a candidate for investors to reduce holdings.

The post Buy, hold, sell: NextDC, Hub24, PLS Group shares appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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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 positions in and has recommended Hub24. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Hub24. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

Shares in Omega Oil and Gas Ltd (ASX: OMA) have piled on fresh gains after the company said it had raised an expanded $60 million to advance its drilling programs in Queensland.

New high water mark

The company’s shares hit a new 12-month high of 99 cents in early trade on Thursday before settling back slightly to 12.8% higher at 97 cents at the time of writing.

The shares have increased more than 300% over the past 12 months from lows of just 20 cents.

Thursday’s share price appreciation is even more impressive, given the new money was raised at 84 cents per share.

The company said it had intended to raise $50 million but had increased the raise to $60 million after strong demand from existing and new investors.

Cornerstone investors in the raise included the Flannery family and Tri-Star Group.

Omega Managing Director Trevor Brown said the company was well-positioned to execute its plans.

We are moving decisively to capitalise on a unique window of opportunity in the Taroom Trough, with government support and market dynamics aligning to accelerate basin development and unlock badly needed new supplies of oil and gas.

This raise underpins an evolution of our execution strategy – undertaking larger diameter, longer, production-ready horizontal wells, with larger stimulation programs and extended flow testing.

This exciting program, scheduled to commence in June, will deliver maximum impact in the shortest possible timeframe, drilling across both our PCA Area and ATP 2081 to provide evidence of the scale and commercial potential of Omega’s extensive acreage area.

At the same time, we are well placed to capture additional growth opportunities as they emerge.

The capital raise means that Omega is fully-funded to drill four vertical wells and one or two horizontal wells, including well stimulation and six-month flow testing.

The company is targeting an initial resource upgrade and reserves estimate in the fourth quarter of 2026.

Shares still looking attractive

The analyst team at Canaccord Genuity has had its eye on Omega for some time and earlier this month reiterated its $1.30 price target and buy recommendation.

The analyst team said, “In our view, regulatory tail risk is fast evaporating, and that could lead to higher corporate activity in a play which is proximal to existing infrastructure and underutilised LNG facilities.”

Omega Oil and Gas was valued at $402.6 million at the close of trade on Wednesday.

The post Up more than 300% over a year, this ASX energy share is hitting new highs appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

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Motley Fool contributor Cameron England has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

Pantoro Gold Ltd (ASX: PNR) shares are moving higher on Thursday after the company released a new update to the market.

The stock is up 4.26% to $3.92 in early afternoon trade, after climbing as high as $3.97 earlier in the session.

Here’s what investors are reacting to.

Deal opens pathway to expand Norseman

According to the release, Pantoro has entered into a partnership with Mega Resources to develop the Norseman Gold Project.

The agreement centres on advancing the Rama Open Pit, with funding and operational support provided by Mega.

Under the deal, Pantoro can advance up to $20 million to support mining activities at Rama.

An initial $15 million loan facility has been agreed, with an option to increase that by a further $5 million.

The funding will be repaid through gold deliveries, set at a fixed price of $1,000 per ounce.

That structure allows Pantoro to advance the project without immediate balance-sheet pressure.

Production and processing terms outlined

Mega will mine and deliver ore to Pantoro’s Norseman run-of-mine pad, where ownership passes to Pantoro.

Pantoro will then process the ore and reconcile gold content under agreed sampling terms.

Payments to Mega will be made on a batch basis, with recovery rates expected between 70% and 80% depending on grade.

Mega has committed to delivering around 115,000 tonnes at an average grade of 4.7 grams per tonne.

The agreement also requires a minimum delivery of 17,700 ounces.

Pantoro’s revenue will come from both processing margins and profit-sharing arrangements.

Underground option adds another layer

The agreement also includes an option for Pantoro to move into underground development at Rama.

This option runs for 12 months and allows Pantoro to propose a work program once open pit mining is completed.

If exercised, the underground phase would also operate under a profit-sharing structure.

Management flagged this as a potential extension to the mine life beyond the current open pit plan.

Pantoro said the high-grade nature of Rama could replace lower-grade stockpiles currently being processed at Norseman.

Foolish takeaway

Pantoro’s latest update adds another growth lever to the Norseman operation.

The funding structure reduces upfront pressure while still bringing new ore into production.

The open pit is the first step, but the underground option could carry more weight over time.

The share price reaction suggests the market is starting to factor that into expectations.

At these levels, I would not be chasing it. The move makes sense, but much of the near-term upside is already priced in after the recent run.

I would be more interested in a pullback, especially if progress at Rama continues to track as expected.

The post This ASX gold stock just made a key move. Here’s why investors are watching closely 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 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.