Author: openjargon

With most brokers taking a well-earned break over the holiday period, there haven’t been many notes hitting the wires.

But don’t worry! Summarised below are three recent recommendations that remain very relevant today. Here’s what brokers are saying about these ASX shares:

Flight Centre Travel Group Ltd (ASX: FLT)

According to a note out of Macquarie, its analysts retained their outperform rating on this travel agent’s shares with an improved price target of $17.85. It noted that Flight Centre has signed an agreement to acquire the UK’s leading online cruise agency, Iglu, for 100 million British pounds. Macquarie was pleased with the move, highlighting that Iglu has a 15% share of the UK market and upwards of 75% of online bookings. It also sees the cruise industry as attractive with further acquisition opportunities. Macquarie points out that Flight Centre is leveraging its scale and balance sheet to accelerate its growth with strategic acquisitions. Outside this, Macquarie likes Flight Centre due to its belief that the company will achieve its guidance in FY 2026, which is being supported by improving consumer trends. The Flight Centre share price is trading at $14.80 this afternoon.

NextDC Ltd (ASX: NXT)

A note out of Ord Minnett reveals that its analysts retained their buy rating on this data centre operator’s shares with an improved price target of $20.50. The broker was pleased to see that NextDC has signed an agreement with ChatGPT’s owner OpenAI for its proposed S7 data centre in Eastern Creek, Sydney. It notes that this centre will be a hyperscale AI campus and the largest in the southern hemisphere with a capacity of 650MW. It thinks there is a lot to like from the plan and believes it could be a big boost to its valuation if it goes ahead as planned. The NextDC share price is fetching $12.30 at the time of writing.

Santos Ltd (ASX: STO)

Analysts at Citi retained their buy rating and $7.25 price target on this energy giant’s shares. According to the note, the broker believes that Santos is well-positioned for a re-rating when the oil price bottoms out. It highlights that the company is emerging from its capital expenditure cycle with stronger cash margins, rising free cash flow, and higher quality earnings. In addition, the broker expects improving returns on invested capital (ROIC) through the next decade and Santos’ gearing to normalise as the Barossa and Pikka operations ramp up. In light of this, the broker thinks now could be a good time for investors to pick up the company’s shares. The Santos share price is trading at $6.10 on Monday afternoon.

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

More reading

• These are the 10 most shorted ASX shares
• I would invest $5,000 in these ASX 300 shares in January
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Monday
• Can Santos shares reignite after a 20% slide?
• Brokers name 3 ASX shares to buy today

Citigroup is an advertising partner of Motley Fool Money. Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in Nextdc. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Macquarie Group. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Macquarie Group. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Flight Centre Travel Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

When you’re starting out as an investor, the aim isn’t to be clever or to chase whatever’s moving fastest. It’s about owning good businesses with clear value propositions, learning how markets behave, and building the confidence to stay invested through volatility.

With $1,000 to invest in 2026, I’d focus on ASX shares that combine easy-to-understand business models with long-term growth tailwinds, without venturing into speculative territory. Here are three ASX shares I think fit that brief particularly well for beginners.

CAR Group Ltd (ASX: CAR)

CAR Group operates online automotive marketplaces across Australia and internationally, including the dominant Carsales platform.

This is a business that’s easy to understand. Dealers and consumers need an efficient way to connect, and CAR provides the leading digital marketplace to do exactly that. Its scale creates strong network effects, making it difficult for competitors to replicate.

For beginners, what stands out is the quality of earnings. Revenue is largely subscription-based and high margin, which provides resilience even when vehicle sales slow. CAR Group offers exposure to a proven digital business model without relying on untested technology or hype-driven growth.

IPD Group Ltd (ASX: IPG)

IPD Group is a provider of electrical solutions focused on energy management, automation, and secure connectivity. These are areas that sit at the heart of Australia’s electrification and decarbonisation journey.

While the business is less well known than some large-cap names, its role is straightforward. It supplies the infrastructure and components required to make modern energy systems work safely and efficiently. Demand for these solutions is being driven by long-term trends, not short-term cycles.

A recent acquisition of Platinum Cables strengthens IPD’s exposure to the mining and resources sector and expands its product offering in a highly specialised niche. Importantly for beginners, this growth has been achieved with limited shareholder dilution and is expected to be earnings accretive.

IPD offers newer investors exposure to industrial growth linked to electrification, without the volatility often associated with early-stage companies.

Pro Medicus Ltd (ASX: PME)

Pro Medicus provides enterprise medical imaging software to hospitals and healthcare systems globally through its Visage platform.

For beginners, I think this is a high-quality example of a technology business with real-world applications. Hospitals rely on imaging software every day, and once installed, Pro Medicus’ systems become deeply embedded in clinical workflows. That creates long-term contracts, high switching costs, and recurring revenue.

While Pro Medicus trades on a premium valuation, it also operates with very high margins, strong cash generation, and minimal capital requirements. In my opinion, owning a position in a business like this could be a smart move for a new investor.

The post 3 ASX shares for beginners to buy with $1,000 in 2026 appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• What I look for in ASX shares when uncertainty is everywhere
• Best and worst performing ASX 200 sectors of 2025
• Why I plan to buy this incredible ASX 200 stock in 2026
• 2 stocks to help turn $100,000 into $1 million
• Bell Potter rates these ASX shares as strong buys for 2026

Motley Fool contributor Grace Alvino has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Ipd Group. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has recommended Pro Medicus. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Ipd Group. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended CAR Group Ltd and Pro Medicus. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

The Metallium Ltd (ASX: MTM) share price is lower today after the company released a major update to the market.

At the time of writing, Metallium shares are swapping hands for 99 cents, down 7.04%. The sell-off comes after the metals recovery company lifted its trading halt and released details of a binding supply agreement.

So, what did Metallium exactly announce, and why are shares under pressure?

What the supply agreement includes

According to the release, Metallium confirmed it has executed a binding electronic scrap supply agreement with Glencore through its US subsidiary.

Under the deal, Glencore will supply up to 2,400 tonnes per year of shredded e-scrap to support Metallium’s US operations. The material will be used during commissioning and early commercial-scale processing using the company’s Flash Joule Heating (FJH) technology.

The agreement will run through 2026, with the potential for future extensions by mutual agreement. While pricing and some commercial terms remain confidential, the contract provides Metallium with a secured and reliable source of feedstock.

Management described the agreement as a key step in the company’s transition from commissioning to commercial operations in the United States.

Metallium Managing Director & CEO Mr Walshe said:

This is a defining moment for Metallium. Our first binding supply agreement gives us exactly what every processing technology company needs most: consistent, secure, high-quality feedstock.

Why this agreement matters

Metallium’s technology depends on having a consistent supply of suitable material. Without that, it is hard for the company to move beyond testing and into ongoing commercial processing.

This agreement helps reduce that risk. It gives the company greater confidence that its US facilities can be supplied during commissioning and early scale-up. This allows management to focus on running the operation rather than securing feedstock.

Why the share price fell

Despite the positive milestone, the market reaction has been subdued.

That is likely because the agreement does not immediately change revenue or earnings expectations. The supplied material supports commissioning and early operations, rather than full-scale production or near-term profitability.

Some investors may also have been expecting larger volumes or clearer financial guidance, which could help explain the share price reaction.

Foolish bottom line

This deal represents a solid step forward, even though it does not materially change the company’s near-term financial outlook.

I will be watching how commissioning progresses in the US and whether Metallium can convert secured feedstock into consistent commercial output. Execution, cost control, and progress toward repeatable processing will be key factors to watch in 2026.

The post This ASX stock landed a major deal. Here’s why its shares are down appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• Why 4DMedical, Coronado Global, Metallium, and WiseTech Global shares are falling today
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• Up 344% in a year, guess which ASX All Ords share is rocketing again today 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.

In afternoon trade, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is on course to start the week with a small gain. At the time of writing, the benchmark index is up 0.1% to 8,734.4 points.

Four ASX shares that have failed to follow the market higher today are listed below. Here’s why they are falling:

4DMedical Ltd (ASX: 4DX)

The 4DMedical share price is down 12% to $4.01. This may have been driven by profit-taking from investors after some very strong gains in 2025. For example, the respiratory imaging technology company’s shares are up over 700% since this time last year despite today’s pullback. The catalyst for this has been the US FDA’s approval of its CT:VQ platform. It is a CAT scan-based ventilation-perfusion software. In addition, the platform has been picked up by three of America’s leading academic medical centres since approval. This includes Stanford, University of Miami, and Cleveland Clinic. Management believes the “rapid adoption by elite institutions demonstrates the compelling clinical and operational advantages of CT:VQ over traditional nuclear VQ imaging.”

Coronado Global Resources Inc (ASX: CRN)

The Coronado Global share price is down 12.5% to 31.5 cents. This has been driven by the tragic news that the coal miner has experienced its second fatality on-site in less than a month. In the middle of the month, one occurred at its Logan mining complex in West Virginia, United States. On Friday, a second incident occurred at the Mammoth Underground Mine, which is located within Coronado Global’s Curragh Mine complex, resulting in a fatal injury to an employee.

Metallium Ltd (ASX: MTM)

The Metallium share price is down 7% to 98.7 cents. This is despite the company announcing a binding electronic-scrap supply agreement with Glencore (LSE: GLEN). It is a major recycler of end-of-life electronics, lithium-ion batteries, and other critical metal-containing products. Management notes that the agreement marks a significant commercial milestone for Metallium, providing secure long-term access to e-scrap feedstock to support the ongoing commissioning and scale-up of its Flash Joule Heating (FJH) technology platform in the United States.

WiseTech Global Ltd (ASX: WTC)

The WiseTech Global share price is down 3.5% to $66.10. Investors have been selling WiseTech Global shares despite there being no news out of the logistics solutions technology company. However, it is worth noting that a number of ASX tech stocks have taken a tumble on Monday. This has led to the S&P/ASX All Technology Index falling 2.2% this afternoon.

The post Why 4DMedical, Coronado Global, Metallium, and WiseTech Global shares are falling today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• This ASX stock landed a major deal. Here’s why its shares are down
• Coronado shares plummet after mine fatality in Queensland
• Why these ASX 200 stocks could be strong buys in 2026
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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.

ASX uranium shares like Paladin Energy Ltd (ASX: PDN) are off to the races in these first two trading days of 2026.

During the Monday lunch hour, the All Ordinaries Index (ASX: XAO) is just about flat.

Paladin Energy shares, meanwhile, are surging 8.2%, trading for $10.96 apiece.

If we add in Friday’s 5.6% gains, then the Paladin Energy share price has already gained 14.3% in this brand-new year. And this is a $5 billion company we’re talking about.

Here’s how some of the other top ASX uranium shares are performing:

• Boss Energy Ltd (ASX: BOE) shares are up 3.6% today and up 10.7% since 31 December
• Deep Yellow Ltd (ASX: DYL) shares are up 5.4% today and up 11.4% in 2026
• Lotus Resources Ltd (ASX: LOT) shares are up 9.2% today and up 15.5% this year
• Bannerman Energy Ltd (ASX: BMN) shares are up 6.7% today and up 10.2% since 31 December

Here’s what’s sending the Aussie uranium miners soaring.

ASX uranium shares enjoying growing global demand

While Australia continues to drag its heels on developing nuclear energy stations for reliable baseload power, much of the rest of the world is ploughing ahead.

In November, for example, the United States reported its intentions to buy up to 10 new large scale nuclear reactors.

This latest surge in ASX uranium shares like Paladin Energy and Deep Yellow comes after investors learned that Duke Energy Corp (NYSE: DUK) had filed an early site permit application to build a new nuclear reactor in the US state of North Carolina.

Duke Energy this reflects its “strategic, ongoing commitment to thoroughly evaluate new nuclear generation options” to meet its customers increasing energy demand while reducing costs and risks.

Commenting on the application, Duke Energy North Carolina president Kendal Bowman said:

Nuclear energy has and will continue to play an essential role in powering communities in the Carolinas. Submitting an early site permit application is an important next step in assessing the potential for small modular reactors at the Belews Creek site.

Duke Energy said it has not yet made a final decision to build new nuclear units.

But Paladin Energy, Boss Energy and their rival ASX uranium shares look to be catching tailwinds with the US-based company reporting that it plans to add 600 megawatts of advanced nuclear to the system by 2037.

Management expects the first small modular reactor to come online in 2036.

The post Buying ASX uranium shares like Paladin Energy? Here’s why they’re starting 2026 with a bang! appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• Why Civmec, Fenix, Paladin Energy, and Vulcan Steel shares are pushing higher today
• These are the 10 most shorted ASX shares
• ASX 200 energy sector leads the market ahead of OPEC+ meeting
• Fastest rising ASX 200 share of each market sector in 2025
• The ASX energy shares that surged ahead of the rest this year

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 recommended Duke Energy. 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.

As we kick off the first full week of 2026, investors buying ASX shares will be tuning into the outlook for interest rates in the year ahead.

That’s because interest rate moves, whether higher or lower, tend to have a greater impact on some ASX shares than others.

We’ll return to that important investing trend below.

But first…

Is the RBA poised to tighten in 2026?

This time last year, analysts and ASX investors alike were optimistic that inflation was coming down, and that Australia would see the Reserve Bank of Australia enter a lengthy easing period.

Today, however, that view appears to have been overly rosy.

The latter months of 2025 saw inflation move higher, rather than lower, with core inflation, the RBA’s preferred measure, notching up to 3.3%, well above its target range of 2% to 3%.

This saw the RBA keep the official interest rate on hold at 3.60% at its last meeting on 9 December.

“The recent data suggest the risks to inflation have tilted to the upside,” the board stated. “The data do suggest some signs of a more broadly based pick-up in inflation, part of which may be persistent and will bear close monitoring.”

With sticky inflation in mind, a growing number of economists are forecasting that Australia’s central bank will have no choice but to swing from easing to tightening monetary policy in 2026.

In a poll conducted by The Australian Financial Review, 17 of the 38 surveyed economists said they expect the RBA to hike rates at least twice in the next 18 months.

And seven of the 38 economists, including those at the Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA) and National Australia Bank Ltd (ASX: NAB), said they expect to see the central bank boost interest rates at its upcoming meeting on 3 February.

Jonathan Kearns, chief economist at Challenger, is among those expecting the central bank to raise rates at its next policy meeting.

According to Kearns (quoted by the AFR):

Inflation pressures will make the board uncomfortable, and it is increasingly apparent that financial conditions are not that tight, given low credit spreads and easy borrowing conditions.

Coming in on the hawkish side, Judo Capital Holdings Ltd (ASX: JDO)’s Warren Hogan added, “We expect the RBA to increase the cash rate by 40 basis points in February, followed by a 25 basis points increase at each of their next two meetings.”

Though if you’re buying ASX shares, take note that opinions remain divided on the prospect of higher interest rates in 2026.

Tim Toohey, the head of strategy at Yarra Capital, said “statistical quirks” and temporary government subsidies are muddying the waters and making it appear inflation is more resilient than it really is.

“We believe the next move for the RBA will be a cut,” Toohey said.

Buying ASX shares amid shifting interest rates

With the odds of higher interest rates in 2026 increasing, though far from certain, investors buying ASX shares should keep in mind that companies with high debt levels tend to suffer if the RBA hikes rates, while these stocks could outperform if rates end up below market expectations.

Higher rates also tend to hamper consumer discretionary stocks as well as growth stocks. A lot of ASX tech stocks, for example, are priced with future earnings in mind.

Real estate stocks also tend to be sensitive to cash rate moves, with higher rates likely to throw up headwinds for ASX REITs.

If the RBA does boost interest rates in 2026, as the economists at CBA, NAB, and Judo forecast, then consumer staples stocks should perform well. ASX bank shares could also benefit from higher rates, as this should help boost their net interest margin (NIM).

The post Experts forecast rising interest rates in 2026. Here’s what that means if you’re buying ASX shares appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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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 S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is fighting hard to stay in positive territory. In afternoon trade, the benchmark index is up 0.1% to 8,736.8 points.

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

Civmec Ltd (ASX: CVL)

The Civmec share price is up 7% to $1.57. Investors have been buying this construction and engineering services provider’s shares after it announced a series of new contracts and extensions. Management advised that they have a combined value exceeding $400 million and reflect its success in converting a strong pipeline of opportunities. It also believes that it reinforces Civmec’s strategic focus on continued early-contractor involvement, sustainable growth, and order book diversification. Among the new contracts is one from BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP) for the Port Debottlenecking Project 2 (PDP2) at Nelson Point, Port Hedland. Civmec’s CEO, Patrick Tallon, said: “We are absolutely delighted to be entrusted with this significant package of work. We are honoured to be trusted to deliver, particularly given the location and complexity of the scope, which plays to Civmec’s strengths.”

Fenix Resources Ltd (ASX: FEX)

The Fenix Resources share price is up 4% to 50 cents. This follows the release of a quarterly update from the iron ore miner. Fenix reported record quarterly iron ore shipments and a strong cash build. Management believes this demonstrates the company’s successful ramp up in production, consistent operational execution, and the strength of a fully integrated and scalable pit to port model. Fenix shipped 1,241,000 wet metric tonnes (wmt) during the three months. Its cash at 31 December was $78.9 million, representing an increase of $21.2 million from the end of September.

Paladin Energy Ltd (ASX: PDN)

The Paladin Energy share price is up 8% to $10.92. Investors have been buying Paladin Energy and other ASX uranium stocks on Monday after their US counterparts raced higher on Friday. Given how short sellers have built large positions in uranium stocks, there could be some short covering going on today, boosting their shares further.

Vulcan Steel Ltd (ASX: VSL)

The Vulcan Steel share price is up 1% to $6.95. This morning, this New Zealand based steel products company announced that Gavin Street has been appointed as its new chief executive officer, replacing Rhys Jones. Vulcan Steel advised that Rhys Jones will remain as a director on Vulcan’s board and has been appointed as non-executive chair of the board.

The post Why Civmec, Fenix, Paladin Energy, and Vulcan Steel shares are pushing higher today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• This ASX iron ore producer, trading near record highs, just announced a record result
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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.

This article was originally published on Fool.com. All figures quoted in US dollars unless otherwise stated.

Like the internet was 30 years ago, artificial intelligence (AI) is the next major technological shift that will reshape the economy. That also makes it a generational opportunity for investors to accrue wealth by buying and patiently holding the right growth stocks. Research from Morgan Stanley projects that AI could deliver operating efficiencies worth as much as $40 trillion to the global economy over the long term. 

Investors don’t need to gamble on unproven companies and excessively risky stocks for the chance to profit from this trend. Simply sticking with leading tech stocks could help you achieve market-beating returns. After all, it’s the world’s largest and most profitable companies that are doing much of the work involved in enabling the wider adoption of AI. To position your portfolio to profit from this opportunity, I suggest adding shares of these two tech titans that will likely still be leading their respective industries 20 years from now. 

Nvidia

For those seeking to profit from the AI trend over the past few years, Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA) has been one of the best stocks to own, and the company’s innovation and financial fortitude should keep it in the driver’s seat. Its high-end graphics processing units (GPUs) are used by all the leading cloud infrastructure providers, and those data center GPUs are sold out for the foreseeable future.

Nvidia’s data center revenue surged by 66% year over year last quarter to $51 billion. This high-growth trajectory reflects a long-term transition from traditional computing that relies more on central processing units (CPUs) to accelerated computing that demands massive quantities of parallel processors such as GPUs.

The good news for investors buying Nvidia stock today is that this transition will unfold over many years. Capital spending on AI infrastructure is expected to grow from $600 billion in 2026 to at least $3 trillion by 2030. This massive buildout portends significant growth for Nvidia.

Nvidia will have to continue innovating to maintain its lead over other semiconductor companies that are designing chips to handle AI workloads. However, in recent years, it has accelerated its pace of innovation, moving to a cadence of introducing new and better GPU architectures annually. That continually pushes its chips’ performance to new levels, and will make it difficult for competitors to keep up. It is already preparing to launch its Vera Rubin chips in 2026 — those will deliver significant performance improvements over its current Blackwell generation.

Facilitating Nvidia’s steady innovation is its financial fortitude. It’s one of the most profitable companies in the world, with net profits of $99 billion over the last four reported quarters on $187 billion in revenue.

In a world where AI is increasingly driving everything, Nvidia looks likely to remain a solid investment for the next 20 years. It is investing in solutions that will underpin the future economy, such as robots, autonomous vehicles, and AI agents. Analysts expect the company to experience 37% annualized earnings growth over the next few years, pointing to substantial returns ahead for shareholders.

Alphabet

Alphabet (NASDAQ: GOOG) (NASDAQ: GOOGL) delivered market-beating returns for investors over the last decade, driven by strong growth in advertising through Google Search and YouTube. The stock climbed 700%, but the next decade could see more returns as demand for AI and cloud computing takes off.

The stock rocketed to new highs in 2025 as investors started to recognize Google as a leader in AI, but that was likely just the beginning. Google Gemini is one of the most capable AI models, and it’s being layered into all of Alphabet’s services, including enterprise tools in Google Cloud. Revenue from its cloud segment increased 34% year over year in the third quarter.

Alphabet just surpassed $100 billion in quarterly revenue for the first time, as AI features are driving Google Search usage higher. The Gemini app has over 650 million monthly active users, making it the second-most-used AI model behind ChatGPT.

The company is benefiting from profitable revenue streams across its diverse business lines, including online advertising, subscription services (e.g., YouTube TV and Google One), and cloud services. This will support the hiring of top AI engineers and an expanding base of data centers that will help it maintain its leadership in AI.

The company was on course to spend more than $91 billion on capital expenditures in 2025, and plans a significant increase from that in 2026. It can cover those outlays through its operating cash flow, which totaled $151 billion over the last four reported quarters. These investments are strengthening its competitive position, paving the way for compounding returns for investors over the long term.

This article was originally published on Fool.com. All figures quoted in US dollars unless otherwise stated.

The post 2 AI stocks to buy in January and hold for 20 years appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

This article was originally published on Fool.com. All figures quoted in US dollars unless otherwise stated.

This article was originally published on Fool.com. All figures quoted in US dollars unless otherwise stated.

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• 5 fantastic ASX ETFs for beginners in 2026

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

Shares in Coronado Global Resources Ltd (ASX: CRN) have fallen sharply after a fatality at the company’s Mammoth underground mine in Queensland.

The coal company issued a statement to the ASX on Monday, stating that an incident occurred at the mine, located approximately 10km north of the town of Blackwater, at about 3 pm on Friday, January 2.

On Saturday, there was confirmation that a worker had been fatally injured, the company said.

It went on to say:

Coronado is deeply saddened by this tragic event and extends its deepest sympathies and sincere condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of the worker. The company is providing all support to the contracted coal mine operator, Mammoth Underground Mine Management Pty Ltd, which is currently working with the relevant authorities at site to understand the cause of the incident. The operations at Mammoth Underground Mine remain suspended.

The company said it had idled operations at its open-cut operations for 24 hours, but had now recommenced operations at these mines.

Media reports indicate that emergency services rushed to the Mammoth mine on Friday, safely recovering two workers, while one initially remained missing.

Inquiry to be launched

Queensland Minister for Natural Resources and Mines, Tony Perett, said there would be an investigation into the incident.

Coronado in October announced a strong set of results, stating at the time that its saleable production for the first quarter had increased 21% over the previous quarter to 4.5 million tonnes, marking the best result since 2021.

Managing Director Douglas Thompson said at the time that the company had “another strong quarter” and was experiencing good momentum.

He added:

Our performance is expected to continue to improve into the fourth quarter, with our expansion projects scheduled to hit planned run rates by the end of year and the continuation of benefits from our cost reduction programs. The Buchanan expansion project and Mammoth are forecasted to generate an additional circa three million tonnes (annualised) of saleable production. These projects are also expected to result in lower unit cost and drive significantly improved earnings and cash generation.

The company said it was the second quarter in a row where the company’s unit production costs had come in below guidance, with the month of September “well below guidance at $80 per tonne”.

Coronado shares fell 13.2% on Monday morning to be changing hands for 31.2 cents.

The company was valued at $603.5 million at the close of trade on Friday.

The post Coronado shares plummet after mine fatality in Queensland appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 5 worst ASX All Ords shares of 2025, and why brokers rate 4 of them a buy

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.

The odds of an increase in official interest rates next month appear to be shortening, with a recent survey of economists showing seven of the 38 experts polled predicting a rate rise at the Reserve Bank of Australia’s meeting in February.

The Australian Financial Review, in its regular quarterly survey, polled the 38 economists, and said experts including those at the Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA) and National Australia Bank Ltd (ASX: NAB) expected rates to rise next month.

The AFR also quoted former RBA official Jonathan Kearns as saying that inflation pressures would make the RBA board “uncomfortable”, with Mr Kearns, now Chief Economist at Challenger, also expecting a rate increase next month.

Price pressures persisting

CBA economists issued a statement in December saying they expected a 25 basis point rise in official interest rates in February, but they expected rates to then stay on hold for the rest of the year.

CBA head of Australian Economics, Belinda Allen, said:

The economy has picked up more momentum than expected, and that strength is keeping inflation from easing. A small rate increase in February would guide inflation back toward the RBA’s target range of 2-3 per cent.

The CBA team said inflation had been falling slower than expected, and its persistence lent weight to the argument that price pressures were widespread, and not being driven by only a few items.

House prices to feel the pressure

AMP chief economist Shane Oliver is not expecting a rate rise next month, but agrees the risk is to the upside.

He said in a statement late last week:

Our view is that interest rates will be on hold this year as the recent pickup in inflation reverses somewhat and unemployment rises a bit heading off the need for rates hikes but inflation fears and improving growth prevent rate cuts. However, given the recent run of data showing rising inflation, still low unemployment and strengthening private sector economic growth, we are not particularly confident, and the risks are skewed to the upside on rates.

Dr Oliver said commentary around possible rate increases would “continue to act as a dampener on buyer demand” in the housing market, which would limit the upside in property prices.

The official interest rate is currently 3.6% after three 25-basis-point cuts in February, May, and August.

The AFR survey also found that 17 of the 38 economists surveyed expected rates to rise twice over the next 18 months.

The post When could interest rates rise next? It may be sooner than you think appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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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.