Author: openjargon

The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is out of form on Thursday and dropping into the red. In afternoon trade, the benchmark index is down 0.45% to 8,631.7 points.

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

KMD Brands Ltd (ASX: KMD)

The KMD Brands share price is down 55% to 7 cents. Investors have been selling the Kathmandu and Rip Curl owner’s shares after it raised funds to recapitalise. The company’s placement and institutional entitlement offer raised combined gross proceeds of approximately $44.2 million at an offer price of NZ$0.06 per new share. KMD’s CEO and managing director, Brent Scrimshaw, said: “We are pleased with the support for the institutional component of the equity raising. The raise will strengthen KMD’s balance sheet and position us to continue executing our Next Level transformation. We now look forward to inviting our retail shareholders to participate in the equity raising.”

Tamboran Resources Corp (ASX: TBN)

The Tamboran Resources share price is down 10% to 30 cents. This morning, the energy explorer announced flow rates from the Shenandoah South 6H. Despite the market’s negative reaction to the results, the company’s CEO, Todd Abbott, was pleased. He said: “The SS‑6H flow test has safely and successfully delivered the technical information we were seeking, with the well demonstrating strong, stable performance and low decline characteristics. Over the last five days of the test, we noted behavior of the gas rate similar to the performance of the SS2H ST1 well. This aligns with our view that these wells will continue to clean up with extended production testing and deliver shallower decline profiles in early production.”

Whitehaven Coal Ltd (ASX: WHC)

The Whitehaven Coal share price is down 1.5% to $9.09. This may have been driven by profit taking from some investors after strong gains over the past 12 months. During this time, the coal miner’s shares have risen over 70%.

WiseTech Global Ltd (ASX: WTC)

The WiseTech Global share price is down 4% to $38.82. Investors have been selling WiseTech Global and other ASX tech stocks today after Donald Trump gave an update on the US-Iran war. It seems that optimism that the war could end very soon is fading, which has led to oil prices rebounding and sentiment shifting negatively. This has led to tech stocks reversing much of the strong gains they made on Wednesday. According to CNBC, Trump has said the U.S. is going to “hit” Iran “extremely hard” over the next two or three weeks.

The post Why KMD, Tamboran Resources, Whitehaven Coal, and WiseTech Global shares are falling today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Why is this ASX stock crashing 60% today?
• The best time to buy shares? It might be right now
• Are investors running scared of WiseTech shares?
• Why are ASX 200 tech stocks like WiseTech and Life360 going gangbusters on Wednesday?
• These were the best-performing ASX 200 shares in March

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.

In afternoon trade, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) has given back its morning gains and is on course to record a decline. At the time of writing, the benchmark index is down 0.2% to 8,650.7 points.

Four ASX shares that are rising today despite the market decline are listed below. Here’s why they are pushing higher:

Greatland Resources Ltd (ASX: GGP)

The Greatland Resources share price is up 5% to $13.66. This appears to have been driven by a broker note out of Citi this morning. According to the note, in response to positive drilling results, the broker has upgraded the gold miner’s shares to a buy rating (from neutral) with an improved price target of $16.00 (from $15.30). This implies potential upside of 17% for investors even after today’s strong gain.

Newmont Corporation (ASX: NEM)

The Newmont share price is up 3.5% to $164.14. This has been driven by a decent rise in the gold price overnight after the US dollar softened. It isn’t just Newmont shares that are rising on Thursday. Most ASX gold stocks are rising today, which has led to the S&P/ASX All Ordinaries Gold index outperforming with a 1.3% gain at the time of writing.

Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST)

The Northern Star share price is up over 2% to $22.60. This morning, this gold miner released a production update and announced an on-market share buyback. Northern Star revealed that preliminary gold sales for the March quarter totalled 381,000 ounces. It also advised that it is not currently experiencing any supply issues with diesel fuel. However, it concedes that this remains a focus for the business and a key risk for the broader mining industry in Australia. With respect to the share buyback, the company plans to buy back up to $500 million of its shares as part of a proactive capital management strategy. Northern Star’s managing director, Stuart Tonkin, said: “Today’s announcement reflects our confidence in the strength of our business, the structural uplift in cash generation expected from the commissioning of the KCGM Mill Expansion and the compelling value we see in our share price.”

Qantas Airways Ltd (ASX: QAN)

The Qantas Airways share price is up over 1% to $8.76. This appears to have been driven by optimism that the war in the Middle East could soon come to an end and oil prices could be heading lower. Fuel costs are a major expense for Qantas, so higher oil prices can impact profitability.

The post Why Greatland Resources, Newmont, Northern Star, and Qantas shares are rising today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Up 33% in 2 weeks, Northern Star share price surging again today on $500 million news
• Northern Star Resources posts Q3 gold sales, on track for FY26
• Should you buy the dip on gold shares? Expert
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Thursday
• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today

Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has 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.

St Barbara Ltd (ASX: SBM) shares are slipping on Thursday despite the company announcing a major milestone for its next phase of growth.

In midday trade, the shares are down 0.46% to 65.2 cents.

The decline comes even though the update materially improves the company’s funding position and clears the way for its next major development phase.

After the stock’s strong recovery in recent months, it appears some investors may be using the news as an opportunity to lock in gains.

Here’s what the market is weighing up.

Simberi deal completion clears the way for construction

According to the release, St Barbara has completed the strategic investment by Lingbao Gold Group and received $389 million in cash proceeds.

This includes the previously agreed $370 million plus a $19 million adjustment linked to working capital and cash holdings.

At the same time, both parties approved the final investment decision to begin construction of the New Simberi Gold Project. The total construction cost is estimated at US$333 million.

St Barbara said its share of the remaining development funding is fully covered, with only 50% of remaining costs to be funded from this point following the ownership reset.

Site works are expected to begin immediately.

The company also expects to recognise an unaudited gain on sale of about $500 million in its FY26 results. Management said there should be no tax leakage from the Lingbao transaction.

Management says execution risk has now eased

Managing Director and CEO Andrew Strelein said the transaction completion and final investment decision mark a major turning point in the company’s outlook.

He said:

Today’s completion of the Lingbao transaction and approval of the FID represents a major milestone for St Barbara.

Strelein added that the deal leaves the company fully funded for development and said the FID reduces execution risk as Simberi moves into its next production phase.

The expanded operation is expected to increase ore treatment capacity to 10Mtpa from 3.5Mtpa and lift annual gold production to more than 200,000 ounces.

St Barbara also said the updated mine plan points to an expected all-in sustaining cost of between US$1,100 and US$1,400 per ounce.

Ore reserves alone are expected to support a mine life of at least 13 years.

Foolish Takeaway

With the funding now locked in and development approved, the next phase for investors is all about execution.

The key question is whether management can keep the Simberi build on schedule and within the US$333 million budget while progressing toward the targeted annual production.

If management delivers on that pathway, today’s share price weakness could prove to be a buying opportunity.

The post This beaten-down ASX gold stock just cleared a major hurdle. So why are investors selling? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Guess which newly minted ASX 300 gold stock is lifting off today on $500 million news
• Up 148% in a year, ASX All Ords gold stock sinking today amid $370 million 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.

The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) fell 7.8% in March, with two of the big three ASX 200 mining shares outperforming that loss and one falling harder.

All three of the Aussie miners lost ground in the month just past. That came despite a 6% increase in the iron ore price, with the industrial metal ending the month at US$106 per tonne. Copper prices went the other way, however, falling 8% to end March trading for US$12,225 per tonne, according to data from Bloomberg.

Investors will also have been eyeing the impacts from the Iran war. Atop guaranteed higher upcoming fuel costs for the ASX 200 mining shares, they could also potentially be facing diesel supply shortages, which could impact their operations in the months ahead.

Now, as we’ll look at below, the three Aussie miners all traded ex-dividend over the month. We’ll need to take those passive income payments into account as they’ll mitigate the share price declines.

So, how did the ASX 200 mining shares stack up?

I’m glad you asked!

How did the big three ASX 200 mining shares perform in March?

On 27 February, Rio Tinto Ltd (ASX: RIO) shares closed at $167.33. When the closing bell sounded on 31 March, shares were swapping hands for $161.43 apiece. This saw the Rio Tinto share price down 3.5% over the month.

Rio Tinto traded ex-dividend on 5 March. The miner will pay the (rounded) $3.60 a share fully-franked dividend on 16 April. If we add that back into the March closing price, then investors holding Rio Tinto shares over the month will have only lost 1.4%.

Turning to Fortescue Ltd (ASX: FMG), the miner closed out February trading for $21.14 a share and ended March trading for $20.31. This saw the Fortescue share price down 3.9% over the month just past.

Fortescue traded ex-dividend on 2 March. The ASX 200 mining share paid out its fully-franked 62 cents a share dividend on 30 March. Adding that back into the March closing price, and investors holding the stock over the month will have lost a lesser 1.0%.

Trailing the pack in March, we have Australia’s biggest mining stock, BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP).

BHP shares ended February trading for $58.41 and closed out March trading for $50.39 each. This put the ASX 200 mining share down 13.7%.

BHP traded ex-dividend on 5 March. BHP paid its (rounded) $1.04 a share fully-franked dividend on 26 March. But even after we add that back in, investors holding BHP shares over March will have lost 12.0%.

In March, investors also learned that Brandon Craig will take the reins as BHP’s new CEO on 1 July.

The post Buying ASX 200 mining shares? Here’s how Rio Tinto, Fortescue and BHP stacked up in March appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Why sitting out this ASX share market chaos could cost you big
• Why now could be the perfect time to buy ASX dividend stocks
• $7,500 invested in Rio Tinto shares 10 days ago is now worth…
• 3 reasons why the Rio Tinto share price could be a buy
• How are these 5 ASX share giants really tracking in 2026?

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 recommended BHP Group. 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 Health Care Index (ASX: XHJ) shares have tumbled 27% over six months as the sector faces multiple challenges.

Blackwattle Large Cap Quality Fund portfolio managers Joe Koh and Elan Miller cite unfavourable currency changes, tariffs, and higher labour and cost pressures for Australian healthcare companies.

These challenges, in part, have led to 8 of the 10 largest healthcare shares on the market trading at or close to multi-year lows.

This week on The Bull, analysts reveal buy ratings on three ASX 200 healthcare shares, and why they see value in them today.

Pro Medicus Ltd (ASX: PME)

The Pro Medicus share price is $124.94, up 0.8% on Thursday.

This ASX 200 healthcare share has dropped 60% over six months, and hit a two-year low of $107.75 in late February.

Blake Halligan from Catapult Wealth has a buy recommendation on Pro Medicus shares.

Halligan explains:

With an underlying earnings before interest and tax margin at 73 per cent and cash of $222 million, PME remains financially robust.

Growing US market share supports a positive long term growth outlook, making PME an attractive portfolio addition.

Telix Pharmaceuticals Ltd (ASX: TLX)

The Telix Pharmaceuticals share price is $13.29, up 0.7% today.

This ASX 200 healthcare share has fallen by 14% over six months and by 48% over the past year.

The stock hit a two-year low of $8.26 in February.

Mark Gardner from MPC Markets says Telix Pharmaceuticals shares are a buy, commenting:

The company recently re-submitted its drug application to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for Pixclara, an imaging agent for a particularly aggressive form of brain cancer.

The FDA has given it priority status, and Telix has gone through a formal meeting to address every question raised in its previous application. In our view, a re-submission isn’t a setback, but the last step before approval.

We believe the market isn’t pricing in the benefits of a potentially successful FDA outcome.

Ramsay Health Care Ltd (ASX: RHC)

The Ramsay Health Care share price is $39.47, up 1.1% today.

This ASX 200 healthcare share has bucked the trend, rising 25% over six months.

The stock hit an 18-month high of $44.73 in early March.

Remo Greco from Sanlam Private Wealth gives Ramsay Health Care shares a buy rating.

Greco said:

The private hospital operator posted a better than expected first half year result for fiscal year 2026.

RHC is spinning off its European business, which we believe paints a brighter outlook.

The fully franked interim dividend of 42.5 cents was up 6.3 per cent and potentially points to a stronger final dividend for the full year. 

The post 3 ASX 200 healthcare shares to buy amid sector rout appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 3 reasons to buy Ramsay Health Care shares today
• 3 reasons to buy this red-hot ASX healthcare stock today
• The best time to buy shares? It might be right now
• 2 ASX stocks that could help turn $10,000 into $1 million
• Why Arafura Rare Earths, Eagers Automotive, Life360, and Pro Medicus shares are racing higher today

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 Telix Pharmaceuticals. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has recommended Pro Medicus. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Pro Medicus and Telix Pharmaceuticals. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

Uncertainty has a way of shifting investor priorities.

When markets become volatile and the outlook is less clear, many investors start looking for businesses that can deliver more consistent earnings. These are often referred to as defensive shares, and they tend to hold up better when conditions are challenging.

The key is finding companies with resilient demand, strong market positions, and reliable cash flow.

Here are three ASX defensive shares that could be worth considering.

APA Group (ASX: APA)

The first ASX share that could be a defensive option is APA Group.

APA operates energy infrastructure assets, including gas pipelines and storage facilities, which are critical to Australia’s energy network. These assets are not easily replaced and are essential for transporting energy across the country.

What makes APA particularly defensive is its revenue model. Much of its income is derived from long-term contracts, which provides a high level of visibility over future cash flow.

In uncertain markets, that kind of predictability can be valuable. It allows the company to generate steady earnings and support its dividend payments, even when broader economic conditions are uneven.

Wesfarmers Ltd (ASX: WES)

Another ASX share that could be a defensive pick is Wesfarmers.

Wesfarmers owns a portfolio of well-known retail businesses, including Bunnings, Kmart, and Officeworks. These brands have strong positions in their respective markets and benefit from consistent customer demand.

Bunnings, in particular, is a standout. Its focus on home improvement and trade customers provides a relatively stable earnings base, supported by both DIY activity and ongoing housing-related demand.

Wesfarmers also has a strong balance sheet and a track record of disciplined capital allocation. This gives it flexibility to invest, manage costs, and return capital to shareholders over time.

Woolworths Group Ltd (ASX: WOW)

A third ASX share that could be a defensive option is Woolworths.

As Australia’s largest supermarket operator, Woolworths benefits from the non-discretionary nature of grocery spending. Regardless of economic conditions, consumers still need to buy food and everyday essentials.

Another positive is that after a tough period, recent results have shown that the company is making progress on its strategy, with improving customer metrics and stabilising market share. This suggests it is strengthening its position in a highly competitive environment.

With its scale, strong cash flow, and focus on value for customers, Woolworths remains well placed to deliver relatively stable earnings even when markets are uncertain.

The post 3 ASX defensive shares to buy in uncertain markets appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 3 reasons to buy Wesfarmers shares today
• How are these 5 ASX share giants really tracking in 2026?
• 3 must-own ASX dividend shares which belong in every portfolio
• 2 ASX dividend shares to hold for the next 7 years
• Is it too late to start investing in ASX shares in your 40s?

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

Shares in KGL Resources Ltd (ASX: KGL) have soared more than 45% after the copper and gold project developer said it had secured a US$300 million funding package towards the construction of its Jervois project in the Northern Territory.

Major partner brought on

The company said in a statement to the ASX on Thursday that it had entered into a precious metals purchase agreement with Wheaton Precious Metals Corp, which will, in part, fund the construction and development of KGL’s mining project.

The funding agreement provides US$275 million as an upfront consideration and US$25 million as a contingent cost overrun.

The main lump sum will be provided as US$32 million available prior to any construction expenditure, and US$243 million available in four tranches following the achievement of certain construction milestones.

The company said regarding the agreement:

With the necessary development and mining permits in place, the precious metals purchasing agreement represents a major step forward towards development of the Project, positioning KGL to become the next meaningful Australian copper producer. This is Wheaton’s first streaming transaction in Australia and follows Wheaton’s entry into a streaming agreement in respect of BHP’s portion of the Antamina mine, announced in February 2026.

The company added that work on progressing towards mining was ongoing.

KGL is in the process of finalising the scope and cost of the process plant construction contract, updating the production schedule, providing for price escalation (where applicable) and incorporating changes resulting from movements in commodity prices. KGL expects its review of these items (which remains ongoing) to result in changes to the technical and economic framework for Project delivery, as set out in the 2025 Feasibility Study Update (announced 10 February 2025). Specifically, KGL expects both overall Project capital costs and revenue forecasts to increase. KGL’s expects to be able to provide an update by May 2026.

KGL said it remained in active dialogue with global metals traders and potential offtake partners, “as well as other capital providers and arrangers to finalise the full funding of the Project”.

Further equity raise potential

The company said that, in addition to the US$300 million funding package, Wheaton had also agreed to participate in any future equity raise to fund the Jervois mine.

KGL Chief Executive Officer Sam Strohmayr said regarding the new deal:

This is an exciting and significant milestone for KGL which supports the next phases of advancing the Jervois project towards production. The near-term availability of the early deposit ensures we can maintain our development schedule, and we are now on the cusp of breaking ground on Australia’s next major copper mine.

KGL shares were 45.2% higher at 30.5 cents in early trade.

The company was valued at $162 million at Wednesday’s close.

The post Why are shares in this ASX copper developer surging more than 45%? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 3 ASX 200 healthcare shares to buy amid sector rout
• 3 ASX defensive shares to buy in uncertain markets
• Why is this ASX stock crashing 60% today?
• What happened with ASX 200 bank stocks like CBA and Westpac in March?
• Up 33% in 2 weeks, Northern Star share price surging again today on $500 million news

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.

KMD Brands Ltd (ASX: KMD) shares are having a day to forget after returning from their suspension.

At the time of writing, the ASX stock is down over 60% to 6 cents.

Why is this ASX stock crashing?

Today’s decline has been driven by the Rip Curl and Kathmandu owner raising funds to help recapitalise.

According to the release, the ASX stock has successfully completed its $6.8 million underwritten placement and the institutional component of its fully underwritten entitlement offer.

The struggling retailer revealed that the placement and institutional entitlement offer raised combined gross proceeds of approximately $44.2 million. It notes that the placement was well supported by a number of existing and new institutional investors, raising the $6.8 million at the offer price of NZ$0.06 per new share.

KMD’s eligible institutional shareholders elected to take up approximately 79% of the entitlements available under the institutional entitlement offer.

Furthermore, all of the entitlements not taken up by eligible institutional shareholders and entitlements of ineligible institutional shareholders were sold in the institutional shortfall bookbuild at the same price as the offer price.

The retail component of the entitlement offer will open next week and is expected to raise gross proceeds of $21.1 million.

KMD’s CEO and managing director, Brent Scrimshaw, said:

We are pleased with the support for the institutional component of the equity raising. The raise will strengthen KMD’s balance sheet and position us to continue executing our Next Level transformation. We now look forward to inviting our retail shareholders to participate in the equity raising.

Results update

The ASX stock also released its half-year results along with its equity raising.

It posted a 7.3% increase in sales to $505.4 million but a statutory net loss of $13.1 million and an underlying loss of $11.5 million.

Unsurprisingly, there was no dividend declared for the first half.

Nevertheless, Scrimshaw was pleased with the performance of the company. He said:

Since launching our Next Level strategy, we have accelerated the pace and quality of execution and returned each of our brands to growth in a short timeframe. Strong early progress has been made against our key initiatives, giving us further conviction in our potential.

We’re particularly encouraged by the improved performance of Kathmandu, which has delivered double-digit same store sales growth for the first time in over two years. It’s also pleasing to see consumers responding positively to our accelerated product freshness, flow and assortment, along with a renewed focus on innovation. While Rip Curl has navigated more volatile global trading conditions, we remain confident that the brand’s repositioning will drive long-term growth and youthful energy, connected to the next generation of core surf and beach consumers.

The post Why is this ASX stock crashing 60% today? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• KMD Brands shareholders to be stung with a hugely discounted capital raise
• What’s going on with KMD Brands shares?
• Trading halt, delayed results, and a capital raise: Why this ASX retail stock is under pressure
• Which ASX retail company just rejected a deal to buy its Rip Curl stores?

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 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 S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) slumped 7.8% in March, with two of the big four ASX 200 bank stocks outperforming those losses and two falling even harder.

March was a difficult month for most stocks following the onset of the Iran war at the end of February.

The resulting conflict in the Middle East saw the Brent crude oil price spike 48% over the month just past, soaring from US$72.50 on 27 February to US$107.50 on 31 March, according to data from Bloomberg.

That’s likely to push inflation significantly higher over the coming months, which in turn could pressure global central banks, including the Reserve Bank of Australia, into raising interest rates.

As you’re likely aware, the RBA already has hiked the official cash rate twice this year. The second interest rate rise was delivered on 17 March, with the 0.25% lift taking the benchmark rate to 4.10%.

Higher interest rates have the potential to support ASX 200 bank stocks by enabling a larger net interest margin (NIM). But if higher rates and rising inflation lead to a broader economic downturn in Australia, the banks – among other headwinds – could get hit with a material increase in non-performing loans.

With that picture in mind…

ASX 200 bank stocks retreat in March

Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA) was the best performing big bank stock last month.

CBA shares closed out February trading for $174.62 and finished March at $167.70 each. That put the CBA share price down 4.0% in March, significantly outperforming the 7.8% loss posted by the benchmark index.

Westpac Banking Corp (ASX: WBC) shares also outperformed the benchmark.

Barely.

Shares in the ASX 200 bank stock closed on 27 February trading for $42.54. When the closing bell sounded on 31 March, shares were changing hands for $39.47 apiece. This saw Westpac shares down 7.2% over the month.

That was a better performance than we saw from ANZ Group Holdings Ltd (ASX: ANZ).

ANZ shares ended February at $40.04 and closed out March trading for $35.97. The 10.2% decline in ANZ shares over the month underperformed the benchmark.

Which brings us to March’s laggard, National Australia Bank Ltd (ASX: NAB).

NAB shares closed out February trading for $49.02. On 31 March, shares ended the day changing hands for $41.44. That saw the NAB share price down 15.5% over the month, or almost twice the losses posted by the benchmark index.

Taking a step back

While March saw the big four ASX 200 bank stocks take a tumble, investors who bought any of the banks a year ago will still be sitting on some benchmark beating gains.

Here’s how they’ve performed (as at time of writing today) over the past 12 months, not including dividends:

• NAB shares are up 21.6%
• CBA shares are up 11.0%
• Westpac shares are up 25.6%
• ANZ shares are up 22.6%

The post What happened with ASX 200 bank stocks like CBA and Westpac in March? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Why sitting out this ASX share market chaos could cost you big
• How are these 5 ASX share giants really tracking in 2026?
• Buy, hold, sell: BHP, CBA, and Pro Medicus shares
• Westpac warns the RBA may need to hike rates again
• ASX share market sell off: Buy in the dip or stay on the sidelines?

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 Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST) share price is charging higher today.

Shares in the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) gold stock closed yesterday trading for $22.10. In early morning trade on Thursday, shares are swapping hands for $22.86 apiece, up 3.4%.

For some context, the ASX 200 is up 0.4% at this same time.

While shares in the Aussie gold mining giant remain down 6.5% in 2026, the Northern Star share price has now surged 32.8% since the recent closing lows on 23 February.

Here’s what’s grabbing investor interest today.

Northern Star share price jumps on buyback news

The ASX 200 gold stock released two price-sensitive updates before market open this morning.

Turning to the one that’s likely giving the Northern Star share price the biggest boost today first, the miner announced plans to undertake an on-market share buyback of up to $500 million.

When a company repurchases its own shares, it leaves fewer for sale on the market, which tends to increase the value of its remaining shares.

Management expects the buyback to start around 23 April, with an aim to complete it within 12 months.

Commenting on the buyback, Northern Star managing director Stuart Tonkin said:

Today’s announcement reflects our confidence in the strength of our business, the structural uplift in cash generation expected from the commissioning of the KCGM Mill Expansion and the compelling value we see in our share price.

The on-market buy-back, representing up to 1.6% of issued share capital, is an efficient way to return capital to shareholders while also being immediately earnings and value accretive. We believe current share prices do not fully reflect the quality and future potential of our assets.

Northern Star noted that the buyback is subject to prevailing share price and market conditions, with no guarantee that any shares will be repurchased. The buyback does not require shareholder approval.

What else did the ASX 200 gold stock report?

In a separate update this morning that could also be offering support to the Northern Star share price, the miner reported that it’s on track to meet its revised full-year FY 2026 guidance of at least 1.5 million ounces of gold.

Over the March quarter, the company sold 381,000 ounces of gold. That brought its year-to-date gold sold for the nine months to 1.11 million ounces.

With the Iran war crimping global fuel supplies, the miner noted that while it is not currently experiencing any diesel supply issues, this remains a key risk for the broader mining industry in Australia.

Despite the sharp sell-down in the first three weeks following the outbreak of the war, Northern Star stock is up 26.5% over 12 months, not including dividends.

The post Up 33% in 2 weeks, Northern Star share price surging again today on $500 million news appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Northern Star Resources posts Q3 gold sales, on track for FY26
• Should you buy the dip on gold shares? Expert
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Thursday
• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• These were the worst-performing ASX 200 shares in March

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.