Author: openjargon

PLS Group Ltd (ASX: PLS) shares came under heavy pressure in Monday afternoon trade, sliding around 5% to $5.60.

The move extends a weak patch for the lithium producer, with the stock now down about 11% over the past month. That stands in sharp contrast to the broader market, with the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) up roughly 2% over the same period.

Even so, PLS remains one of the ASX’s standout long-term performers, up 33% year to date and an extraordinary 302% over the past 12 months.

So why are PLS shares going backwards lately?

Lithium sentiment turns lower again

PLS sits at the centre of the global lithium cycle. That means its share price moves closely with spodumene and lithium carbonate pricing, which swing sharply with shifts in supply and demand expectations.

Today’s decline reflects renewed softness in lithium sentiment. Investors are once again questioning whether the market is still dealing with structural oversupply.

Global production has ramped up aggressively in recent years, while electric vehicle demand growth has cooled from earlier expectations. At the same time, the system is still working through elevated inventory levels built up during the boom.

When lithium sentiment weakens, the price of PLS shares almost always follows, even without any company-specific news.

Profit-taking after huge run

The selling is not isolated. Other lithium and battery materials stocks typically move in the same direction when sentiment turns.

The broader ASX resources sector has also been choppy, adding to the pressure. In softer market conditions, investors tend to rotate out of high-beta commodity names first, and lithium producers sit right at the centre of that trade. That rotation can easily amplify intraday moves, even when fundamentals remain unchanged.

PLS has also been volatile for months. After strong rallies driven by rebounds in lithium pricing, the stock often pulls back when momentum fades.

That’s the nature of cyclical commodities. Traders chase upside during rallies and exit quickly when sentiment shifts. That “hot money” effect can turn a normal trading day into a sharp 5% move.

What matters next for PLS shares

In the short term, PLS will focus on one of its key growth projects, P2000 at Pilgangoora. According to a release issued last week, PLS has approved early spending on the project, which it describes as the world’s largest independent hard-rock lithium operation.

Longer term, the key drivers for PLS shares remain unchanged: lithium pricing, electric vehicle demand growth, and supply discipline across the industry. They will determine the next major move for PLS shares.

The post PLS shares drop 5%: What’s driving the move? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Growthpoint Properties Australia matches FY26 guidance with 18.4c distribution
• Centuria Capital Group launches $300m equity raising for AI Factory and real estate expansion
• Why Humm, Metcash, PLS, and WiseTech shares are sinking today
• Metcash shares: FY26 profit edges lower, dividend maintained
• SGH announces $500m buy-back and highlights financial strength

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.

Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST) shares are marching higher today.

Shares in the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) gold stock closed on Friday trading for $20.87. In early afternoon trade on Monday, shares are changing hands for $21.12 apiece, up 1.2%.

For some context, the ASX 200 is down 0.1% at this same time amid news that Iran has once more closed the vital Strait of Hormuz shipping route.

Northern Star shares look to be catching some tailwinds today from an uptick in the gold price. Gold is currently fetching US$4,188.41 per ounce, up 0.8%.

Still, with the gold price now down 3.5% in 2026, and Northern Star flagging rising costs and lower production for the full 2026 financial year (FY 2026), shares in the Aussie gold giant are down 13.5% year to date.

That’s well behind the 1.1% gains posted by the benchmark index since market close on 2 January.

And that underperformance will have only been modestly eased by the miner’s 25 cent per share dividend payout on 26 March. Northern Star stock currently trades on a 2.6% fully-franked trailing dividend yield.

Which brings us back to our headline question.

Northern Star shares: Buy, hold, or sell?

Baker Young’s Toby Grimm recently ran his slide rule over the Aussie gold mining giant (courtesy of The Bull).

“The emergence of prominent US based activist investor Elliott Investment Management has prompted optimism surrounding the gold miner,” Grimm said.

If you missed it, in early June, the United States-based investment manager reported that it had upped its stake in Northern Star to more than $1 billion. That sees Elliot among the top five shareholders in the ASX 200 gold stock.

Citing a series of “operational missteps and repeated failures to execute capital projects on time and on budget”, the US fund manager suggested a major board shakeup, a strategic review, and potential sale of the gold miner.

But Grimm doesn’t believe these steps justify holding onto the stock at this time.

Summarising his sell recommendation on Northern Star shares, he concluded:

However, in our view, it doesn’t alter the underperformance of NST’s asset base involving production volumes, costs and capital expenditure requirements.

A new management team will likely rebase expectations. But we would seek alternative gold exposure for those still playing the theme. The shares have fallen from $31.73 on March 2 to trade at $21.44 on June 18.

The post With the gold price up on Monday, are Northern Star shares a good buy now? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Why CSL, Westpac, and this big-name ASX 200 share could be sells
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Monday
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Thursday
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Wednesday
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Tuesday

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.

It has been a huge year for Mineral Resources Ltd (ASX: MIN) shares, but Monday has brought a bit of selling pressure.

At the time of writing, the Mineral Resources share price is down 2.91% to $67.14.

Even after today’s fall, the ASX 200 mining stock is still up 23% in 2026 and around 220% higher than this time last year.

So, what is the market weighing up today?

Onslow Iron drives the turnaround

The latest attention comes after Mineral Resources posted what has been called the strongest 6-month period in its history.

The company has benefited from its iron ore business, particularly the Onslow Iron project, which has been ramping up after a difficult start.

Onslow Iron is currently running at a 35 million tonne annualised rate, with 40 million tonnes possible within two years.

Evidently, this has helped Mineral Resources return to a much stronger financial position of late.

The company generated a record EBITDA of $1.2 billion for the half, while revenue came in at $3.05 billion. It also posted a net profit of $573 million, compared with a heavy loss a year earlier.

Iron ore delivered $519 million in EBITDA, while lithium has also been helped by the recent recovery in spodumene prices.

Leadership remains in focus

While the numbers have improved, the leadership question is still hanging over the company.

According to The Australian, Mineral Resources has been working through a governance review after issues involving related-party dealings and company resources.

Chair Mal Bundey has indicated the search for a new chief executive is still underway, although the timing remains unclear.

The report suggests Ellison could stay in the top job until the completion of a major project in 2027 and then leave on his own terms.

That leaves investors with two things to weigh up.

On one hand, Mineral Resources is in a much better operating position than it was a year ago. On the other, the leadership issue still needs to be resolved before the company can fully move on from a messy period.

Could dividends return?

Another point getting attention is the possibility of dividends returning.

Mineral Resources stopped paying dividends in 2024 as it focused on reducing debt and protecting its balance sheet.

The company’s net debt has reportedly fallen slightly to $4.9 billion, while free cash flow improved to $292 million for the half.

While no dividend has been declared, the company has flagged that payouts could return if liquidity and leverage targets are met.

That would be a big change after a difficult period for shareholders.

The post Mineral Resources shares slide as CEO uncertainty weighs in appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• How these 3 ASX 200 mining stocks have more than tripled investors’ money in a year
• 6 ASX 200 shares with fresh buy ratings this week
• Up 200%: Can Mineral Resources shares keep rising?
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Tuesday
• Bell Potter just raised its price targets on these 2 ASX lithium stocks

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.

With lots of ASX shares to choose from on the Australian market, it can be difficult to decide which ones to buy. The good news is that brokers across the country are doing a lot of the hard work for you.

Three top ASX shares that leading brokers have named as buys this week are outlined below. Here’s why they are bullish on them:

ANZ Group Holdings Ltd (ASX: ANZ)

According to a note out of Citi, its analysts have retained their buy rating and $39.25 price target on this banking giant’s shares. Citi believes that the proposed changes to negative gearing could have a big impact on mortgage lending in the near term. In fact, it expects mortgage credit growth to slow to just 3.5% from 7%. The good news is that Citi believes business lending will be robust, especially given AI-related project investments. It thinks this bodes well for ANZ given its extensive business banking division. The ANZ share price is trading at $35.15 on Monday afternoon.

Electro Optic Systems Holdings Ltd (ASX: EOS)

A note out of Ord Minnett reveals that its analysts have retained their speculative buy rating on this defence and space company’s shares with an improved price target of $11.45. This follows the announcement of a new US$124 million order for its Slinger counter-drone remote weapon system from UAE-based Generation 5 Holding. The broker estimates that this contract gives its forward order book a big lift and covers all of Ord Minnett’s forecast revenues throughto FY 2028. It was also pleased to see the company sign a conditional joint venture with Generation 5 Holding to develop another next-generation high-energy laser weapon. The EOS share price is fetching $10.35 at the time of writing.

IDP Education Ltd (ASX: IEL)

Analysts at Morgans have retained their buy rating on this language testing and student placement provider’s shares with an improved price target of $3.45. Morgans was pleased with IDP Education’s trading update, noting that it included a better-than-expected net cost out in FY 2026 ($30 million vs $25 million), potential further cost reductions in FY 2027, and strong capital management discipline. Morgans was also encouraged by management’s confidence in the progress of the multi-year business transformation, highlighted by a ~$50 million share buy-back and ongoing operational performance (yield strength) in a subdued volume backdrop. All in all, the broker feels the update incrementally supports its recent upgrade. As a result, it remains willing to look through a cyclically depressed valuation for a leaner market leader, underpinned by structural demand, ongoing tech/product development, and China testing optionality. The IDP Education share price is trading at $2.45 today.

The post Leading brokers name 3 ASX shares to buy today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 8 ASX shares with 30% to 220% upside ahead: Experts
• How many ANZ shares do I need to buy for $10,000 of passive income?
• Invested in ASX 200 bank shares for dividends? This fundie prefers other stocks
• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• Why A2 Milk, EOS, IDP Education, and SkyCity shares are charging higher today

Citigroup is an advertising partner of Motley Fool Money. 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 Electro Optic Systems. 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.

Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS) shares are slipping today.

Shares in the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) energy stock closed on Friday trading for $29.03. In early afternoon trade on Monday, shares are swapping hands for $28.71 apiece, down 1.1%.

For some context, the ASX 200 is up 0.1% at this same time.

Taking a step back, Woodside shares have strongly outperformed the benchmark index in 2026, fuelled by rising global oil and gas prices.

Down 1.4% over the weekend, the Brent crude oil price currently stands at US$79.47.

While that’s down some 33% from the 29 April peak, the oil price remains up more than 30% year to date amid ongoing negotiations to end the Middle East conflict and the resulting shipping restrictions in the vital Strait of Hormuz.

Spurred by higher oil prices and its own operational successes, Woodside stock has leapt 21.3% year to date, compared to the 1.3% gains delivered by the ASX 200 over this same period.

And we haven’t included the 83.5 cents per share fully-franked dividend that Woodside paid to eligible shareholders on 27 March. Adding in the 81.8 cent per share interim dividend the oil and gas giant paid on 24 September, and this ASX 200 energy stock trades on a 5.8% fully-franked trailing dividend yield.

Which brings us back to our headline question.

Should I buy Woodside shares today?

Peak Asset Management’s Niv Dagan recently analysed the outlook for the ASX oil and gas stock (courtesy of The Bull).

“Operationally, the energy giant continues to execute strongly,” Dagan said.

Explaining his hold recommendation on Woodside shares, Dagan said:

It achieved an 11% increase in the average realised price of a barrel of oil equivalent in the first quarter of 2026 when compared to the fourth quarter of financial year 2025. However, quarterly production fell by 8% due to seasonal weather events.

The Scarborough energy project was 96% complete and remains on track for first LNG cargo in the fourth quarter of 2026. Other major projects remain on budget and on schedule.

What’s the latest from the ASX 200 oil and gas stock?

Woodside shares created a buzz last Monday following media speculations that the company could be a takeover target for global energy giant Exxon Mobil Corp (NYSE: XOM).

This came after sources, who wished to remain anonymous, revealed that Exxon had been holding early-stage internal discussions on the potential to acquire Woodside.

However, Woodside’s management poured cold water on those rumours, stating:

Woodside is not aware of any proposal and confirms it is not in discussions regarding a potential transaction with Exxon Mobil Corporation.

The post Up 23% this year, should I buy Woodside shares today? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Buy, hold, sell: Life360, Woodside, CSL shares
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Monday
• How I’d aim for $10,000 a year in superannuation boosting passive income buying ASX shares
• Oil prices slump to pre-war levels as supply-risk premium evaporates
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Friday

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.

The Growthpoint Properties Australia (ASX: GOZ) share price is in focus after the company declared a final FY26 distribution of 9.2 cents per security, taking total distributions for the year to 18.4 cents and matching prior guidance.

What did Growthpoint Properties Australia report?

• Final distribution: 9.2 cents per security for six months to 30 June 2026
• Full-year FY26 distribution: 18.4 cents per security
• Distribution aligned with the company’s FY26 guidance
• Distribution Reinvestment Plan remains suspended

What else do investors need to know?

Growthpoint’s final distribution covers the period to 30 June 2026, with an ex-distribution date of 29 June, a record date of 30 June, and payment scheduled for 28 August 2026. The company confirmed that the Distribution Reinvestment Plan will continue to be paused for this period.

Growthpoint remains an internally managed REIT with a portfolio that spans office and industrial properties, alongside funds management activities for institutional clients. Growthpoint also highlights progress on sustainability targets, including achieving Net Zero for directly owned operational office assets and corporate activities by July 2025.

What’s next for Growthpoint Properties Australia?

Growthpoint says it is dedicated to creating long-term value and maintaining prudent management through modern, high-quality Australian real estate. The REIT’s ongoing focus on sustainability and disciplined capital allocation aims to support future distributions in line with investor expectations.

Looking forward, Growthpoint is expected to keep collaborating with tenants and investors, while remaining agile and committed to sustainable practices in its property and funds management businesses.

Growthpoint Properties Australia share price snapshot

Over the past 12 months, Growthpoint Properties shares have declined 8%, trailing the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) which has risen 4% over the same period.

View Original Announcement

The post Growthpoint Properties Australia matches FY26 guidance with 18.4c distribution appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• PLS shares drop 5%: What’s driving the move?
• Centuria Capital Group launches $300m equity raising for AI Factory and real estate expansion
• Metcash shares: FY26 profit edges lower, dividend maintained
• SGH announces $500m buy-back and highlights financial strength
• AFIC reveals 2026 dividend plans for shareholders

Motley Fool contributor Laura Stewart 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. This article was prepared with the assistance of Large Language Model (LLM) tools for the initial summary of the company announcement. Any content assisted by AI is subject to our robust human-in-the-loop quality control framework, involving thorough review, substantial editing, and fact-checking by our experienced writers and editors holding appropriate credentials. The Motley Fool Australia stands behind the work of our editorial team and takes ultimate responsibility for the content published by The Motley Fool Australia.

The Centuria Capital Group (ASX: CNI) share price is in focus as the company announces a $300 million fully underwritten equity raising to support accelerated growth in its AI Factory pipeline and real estate funds management platforms.

What did Centuria Capital Group report?

• $300 million equity raising via $200 million institutional placement and $100 million entitlement offer
• New securities issued at $2.00 per security, a 6% discount to the adjusted last close of $2.18
• Approximately 150 million new securities to be issued, representing 17.6% of existing securities
• FY26 operating earnings per security guidance reaffirmed at 13.6 cents (up 11.5% from FY25)
• Proceeds to accelerate growth across ResetData (AI Factories) and real estate equity and credit funds

What else do investors need to know?

Centuria’s equity raising is designed to provide the flexibility needed for rapid expansion, particularly for its AI Factory projects through ResetData (of which Centuria owns 50%). Strong customer demand for AI capacity is driving the need to bring more AI Factories online and prepare for larger-scale GPU deployments.

A portion of the funds will also help originate and underwrite new real estate transactions and seed larger unlisted funds, in line with Centuria’s strategy to scale and diversify its platform. Growth initiatives targeting Centuria’s private credit funds will also receive support, aiming to increase market share in a sector growing around 13% annually.

What did Centuria Capital Group management say?

Joint CEOs John McBain and Jason Huljich said:

The Centuria and ResetData combination has created a differentiated NVIDIA neocloud partner with scalable sovereign AI Factories and access to Centuria’s real estate, land and potential 200MW+ power pipeline. ResetData is one of three Australian NVIDIA Cloud Partners and is uniquely placed to take advantage of an upswing in international demand for the establishment of Australian-based AI Factory capacity uptake. It is worth noting that comparable neocloud platforms in Australia have experienced rapid re-ratings as contracts and scale have emerged and we have this firmly in mind as we respond to increased AI demand and build out our capability in this area.

What’s next for Centuria Capital Group?

Centuria will use proceeds from this equity raising to accelerate expansion in both AI infrastructure and real estate funds management. Further investments are planned in customer onboarding and in scaling private credit funds, while continuing to develop larger real estate assets for future funds.

The company has reaffirmed guidance for operating earnings per security, highlighting confidence in its growth path. Investors can expect Centuria’s next phase to focus strongly on innovation in property and AI-driven platforms.

Centuria Capital Group share price snapshot

Over the past 12 months, Centuria Capital Group shares have risen 26%, outperforming the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) which has risen 4% over the same period.

View Original Announcement

The post Centuria Capital Group launches $300m equity raising for AI Factory and real estate expansion appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• PLS shares drop 5%: What’s driving the move?
• Growthpoint Properties Australia matches FY26 guidance with 18.4c distribution
• Metcash shares: FY26 profit edges lower, dividend maintained
• SGH announces $500m buy-back and highlights financial strength
• AFIC reveals 2026 dividend plans for shareholders

Motley Fool contributor Laura Stewart 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 Nvidia. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Nvidia. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips. This article was prepared with the assistance of Large Language Model (LLM) tools for the initial summary of the company announcement. Any content assisted by AI is subject to our robust human-in-the-loop quality control framework, involving thorough review, substantial editing, and fact-checking by our experienced writers and editors holding appropriate credentials. The Motley Fool Australia stands behind the work of our editorial team and takes ultimate responsibility for the content published by The Motley Fool Australia.

The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is having a subdued start to the week. In afternoon trade, the benchmark index is down almost 0.1% to 8,823 points.

Four ASX shares that are falling more than most today are listed below. Here’s why they are dropping:

Humm Group Ltd (ASX: HUM)

The Humm share price is down 20% to 46.7 cents. This follows news that a proposed takeover by Credit Corp Group Ltd (ASX: CCP) has collapsed. Credit Corp stated: “Following a period of commercial due diligence, Credit Corp raised a number of matters which it was unable to gain comfort on following further discussions with Humm. Consequently, it informed Humm on the evening of Friday 19 June that its bid was materially reduced relative to its non-binding indicative offer. Humm has confirmed over the weekend that a mutually acceptable transaction cannot be agreed between the two parties.”

Metcash Ltd (ASX: MTS)

The Metcash share price is down 2% to $3.11. Investors have been selling this wholesale distributor’s shares following the release of its FY 2026 results. For the 12 months ended 30 April, Metcash reported a modest 0.2% increase in revenue (excluding charge-through sales) to $17.35 billion and a 2.4% decline in underlying net profit after tax to $268.8 million. Metcash’s CEO, Doug Jones, said: “Our FY26 performance demonstrates the strength and resilience of the Metcash business model. Despite mixed trading conditions across our markets, we delivered solid earnings, strong cash generation and continued progress on our long-term strategic priorities. Our scale, our national supply chain, and our deep relationships with independent retailers remain powerful competitive advantages. We now support ~105,000 customers, ~6,300 bannered stores and reach ~95% of Australians – a unique platform that continues to generate resilient, high-quality cashflows.”

Pls Group Ltd (ASX: PLS)

The PLS share price is down 5% to $5.59. This is despite there being no news out of the lithium miner. However, it is worth noting that most lithium miners are falling on Monday. On Friday, Contemporary Amperex Technology shares tumbled around 4% on the Paris stock exchange.

WiseTech Global Ltd (ASX: WTC)

The WiseTech Global share price is down 14% to $31.72. Investors have been rushing to the exits today following reports that the Australian Federal Police (AFP) is investigating founder Richard White over alleged trafficking matters. It has been claimed that White exploited a former cleaner’s immigration status and financial position and provided false information on a visa application. WiseTech has not responded to the reports.

The post Why Humm, Metcash, PLS, and WiseTech shares are sinking today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• WiseTech shares crash 12% as founder scandal deepens
• ASX 200 stock drops on FY 2026 results
• Metcash shares: FY26 profit edges lower, dividend maintained
• Down but not out: 3 ASX tech shares ripe for a rebound
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Monday

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

Shares in Renascor Resources Ltd (ASX: RNU) were trading 10% higher after the company said it had started processing graphite through its demonstration plant, in a major milestone for the critical minerals aspirant.

Value-added graphite targeted

The company is aiming to become a supplier to the global battery supply chain, mining graphite from its Siviour deposit on the Eyre Peninsula, then processing a “purified spherical graphite” product for export.

The critical minerals company said on Monday:

The introduction of graphite and reagents into the integrated purification flowsheet marks the commencement of graphite processing under operating conditions at the demonstration plant. These activities are intended to demonstrate the ability to produce battery-grade graphite using Renascor’s HF-free purification process, which is designed to achieve the purity requirements for lithium-ion battery anodes without the use of HF (hydrofluoric acid) while supporting a more environmentally sustainable and cost-competitive purification pathway. The campaign will also support the generation of qualification samples for prospective customers.

Renascor said all of the major process systems had now been operated at target operating parameters.

The company added:

Activities are progressing in line with schedule, with the current phase focused on validating operation of the integrated purification flowsheet under operating conditions. This phase is expected to continue into the next quarter before larger operating runs aimed at generating optimised operating data and larger-scale qualification samples for prospective customers.

Renascor Managing Director David Christensen said:

The commencement of graphite processing through our integrated purification flowsheet represents an important milestone for the PSG demonstration plant and the broader development of Renascor’s downstream battery materials strategy. For the first time, we are operating the process under production conditions with graphite and reagents, with the objective of demonstrating the production of battery-grade graphite and generating qualification material for prospective customers. The demonstration plant was built to validate our HF-free purification process, generate operating data and support customer qualification programs. The activities now underway are an important step in demonstrating that capability and progressing toward commercial-scale production.

Government-backed strategy

The demonstration plant was built with the aid of a $5 million grant from the Australian Government under its Critical Minerals Program.

Renascor said it believed its process “has the potential to provide a commercially competitive and more environmentally sustainable alternative to conventional purification methods through lower reagent consumption, reagent recycling and reduced environmental handling requirements”.

Renascor shares were up 10% to 5.5 cents on Monday. The company is valued at $127.3 million.

The post Why is this junior critical minerals company up 10%? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Why Humm, Metcash, PLS, and WiseTech shares are sinking today
• This ASX lithium stock just reached a key milestone. Why is it down?
• Why A2 Milk, Lindian Resources, Perenti, and SGH shares are pushing higher today
• The Strait of Hormuz is closed again! What does that mean if you’re buying ASX shares?
• Buy, hold, sell: JB Hi-Fi, Westpac, Santos shares

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.

Core Lithium Ltd (ASX: CXO) shares were moving around early on Monday before falling into the red.

This comes after the company released a new update from its Finniss Lithium Project in the Northern Territory.

At the time of writing, the Core Lithium share price is down 2.62% to 29.7 cents.

Despite today’s fall, the lithium stock is still up 8% since the start of 2026 and has rocketed 238% over the past 12 months.

Let’s take a closer look at what was in today’s announcement.

Underground work begins at BP33

In a statement to the ASX, Core Lithium said underground decline development has now started at the BP33 deposit.

This is a major step for Finniss, which sits about 88 kilometres by sealed road from Darwin Port.

The company said BP33 is expected to provide a long-life, low-cost underground production base, with a mine life of more than 10 years. It also remains open at depth, which means there could be room to extend the operation over time.

The underground development will run alongside the current open-pit mining at Grants.

Core Lithium expects Grants to deliver around 780,000 to 790,000 tonnes of ore and 130,000 to 140,000 tonnes of spodumene concentrate.

Ore from Grants is expected to be processed during the September quarter, with shipments to continue soon after and run through 2027.

First shipment leaves Darwin

The update also included some progress on shipments.

Core Lithium confirmed that its Finniss logistics chain is now fully operational after the first shipment of lithium fines and spodumene concentrate left Darwin Port.

The shipment included 20,000 tonnes of lithium fines and 5,000 tonnes of spodumene concentrate.

The company expects to receive payment before the end of the June quarter, giving it another cash inflow while activity at Finniss ramps up.

Managing Director Paul Brown said the start of underground development at BP33 was a major milestone for the company.

He also said the first shipment showed that Core Lithium’s port and logistics network was now operating as planned.

Core Lithium still has work to do

Core Lithium has had a difficult few years, along with much of the lithium sector, after spodumene prices dropped from their highs.

Today’s update is a step in the right direction, with BP33 moving underground and the first shipment leaving Darwin Port.

However, the company now needs to keep the momentum going at Finniss if the share price run is to continue.

The post This ASX lithium stock just reached a key milestone. Why is it down? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• What’s Core Lithium’s big news today?
• Guess the ASX lithium stock racing higher on big news

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.