Author: openjargon

My portfolio is heavily weighted towards ASX dividend shares that can provide a mixture of dividends and capital growth. I like both types of returns because I can become wealthier over time through a rising portfolio value, while experiencing larger dividend payouts and benefiting my bank account. That cash can be put towards more shares or life expenses.

The three ASX dividend shares I’m going to highlight are ones that have a track record of growing their payouts and I expect further growth in the coming years.

MFF Capital Investments Ltd (ASX: MFF)

MFF Capital is best known as a listed investment company (LIC), though it recently acquired a funds management business, giving it an operational element.

The ASX dividend share has a portfolio focused on strong, global businesses with great competitive advantages and have the potential to grow profit in the long-term. Its biggest positions are currently Alphabet, Amazon, Mastercard and Visa.

Its high-quality portfolio picks have led to the MFF portfolio delivering strong investment returns over the last five, 10 and 15 years. This has allowed the business to build an impressive profit reserve, allowing it to pay large and growing dividends.

The company’s regular annual dividend has increased each year since FY18 and it expects to grow its annual dividend in FY26 by 23.5% to 21 cents per share. That’s a current grossed-up dividend yield of 5.9%, including franking credits.

Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Co. Ltd (ASX: SOL)

Soul Patts is another impressive investment business that has been listed for more than 120 years.

The investment house has a portfolio spread across a variety of assets that are largely uncorrelated and can provide Soul Patts with defensive and diversified cash flow, which is what funds Soul Patts’ impressive and growing dividends.

The ASX dividend share’s portfolio includes investments across energy, resources, property, swimming schools, agriculture, water entitlements, electrification, credit, financial services, building products and plenty more.

How good are the dividends? It’s the reliability and consistent growth that attracted to me. Its regular annul payout has been hiked every year since 1998. That’s the longest record of consecutive dividend growth on the ASX.

It currently has a grossed-up dividend yield of 3.4%, including franking credits.

L1 Long Short Fund Ltd (ASX: LSF)

This business is another LIC in my portfolio. The ASX dividend share invests quite differently compared to a typical fund manager. It invests in both ASX shares and international shares, through both long-term investing and short-selling.

The ASX dividend share likes to invest in businesses with low price/earnings (P/E) ratios and still deliver good earnings growth. I think the investment team have shown a particular skill at investing at the right times in cyclical and commodity-based businesses.

Past performance is not a guarantee of future returns of course, but the L1 Long Short Fund portfolio return has helped it regularly increase its dividend over the last few years. The portfolio has returned an average of 17% per year over the last five years, though that’s not guaranteed to continue for the next five years.

It’s now paying a quarterly dividend and increasing that payment every quarter. I expect the next four quarterly dividends will come to a grossed-up dividend yield of 4.9%, including franking credits.

I highly rate these three ASX dividend shares and I expect to continue buying more shares over them in the coming years.

The post 3 of the best ASX dividend shares I own for passive income appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Tristan Harrison has positions in L1 Long Short Fund, Mff Capital Investments, and Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Company Limited. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Alphabet, Amazon, Mastercard, Visa, and Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Company Limited. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Mff Capital Investments and Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Company Limited. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Alphabet, Amazon, Mastercard, and Visa. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

Karoon Energy Ltd (ASX: KAR) shares are getting some relief on Monday after a painful stretch for the ASX energy stock.

The Karoon share price is up 8.33% to $1.365 after the company updated investors on its Bauna operations in Brazil.

The bounce comes after a rough two weeks. Karoon shares have fallen more than 30% since the company lowered its CY26 production guidance earlier this month, which put pressure on investor confidence.

With Karoon’s market capitalisation sitting just under $1 billion, today’s update appears to have given investors something more positive to focus on.

Karoon restarts key Bauna well

According to the release, production has been restored from the SPS-92 well at Bauna after Karoon replaced its electrical submersible pump.

Karoon said SPS-92 is currently producing around 8,600 barrels of oil per day.

This means that Bauna production has now lifted to roughly 20,500 barrels per day before natural decline.

Karoon could get another lift from PRA-2 as well. Management expects that well to add around 1,000 to 2,000 barrels per day once it is brought back online, with umbilical work already underway.

SPS-92 has been causing problems since August last year, when a partial pump failure cut production by around 4,500 barrels per day.

While getting it back online doesn’t fix everything, it does ease some of the pressure on Karoon’s recent production outlook.

Higher production, higher costs

Karoon said the final cost of the SPS-92 intervention came in higher than first expected.

This was due to extra rig time, wellbore debris, and equipment-related downtime during the work.

As a result, the company has reviewed its 2026 investment expenditure guidance.

Bauna capex is now expected to be between US$89 million and US$97 million. This is up from the previous guidance range of US$61 million to US$74 million.

Total 2026 capex guidance has also increased to between US$178 million and US$202 million. Previously, Karoon was expecting US$150 million to US$183 million.

Management said the spending is expected to support the long-term value of Bauna and stronger operating cash flow in the second-half of 2026.

Can the rebound continue?

Karoon also gave investors another reason to take a second look.

The company announced that it plans to begin a further on-market share buyback from 1 July 2026.

This follows the recent completion of the second phase of its US$75 million buyback program, which was announced last year.

Management said the next phase will be carried out at a measured pace, with the company taking into account market conditions, capital requirements, and future growth projects.

The buyback should provide support after the recent sell-off, with Karoon saying its shares remain significantly undervalued at current levels.

The post Why this ASX energy stock is jumping 8% after a brutal sell-off appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

Life360 Inc (ASX: 360) shares are making a strong start to the week.

The ASX technology stock jumped 11% to $26.22 during Monday’s lunch-hour trade, extending an impressive recent rebound.

Life360 shares have now climbed around 35% over the past month. Even so, the stock remains well below its October peak and is still down roughly 16% over the past 12 months. By comparison, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) has gained about 3% over the same period.

So, what sparked today’s rally?

No major announcement, just improving sentiment

Interestingly, there has been no market-sensitive announcement from the company today. Instead, the buying appears to reflect growing confidence among investors and analysts that Life360’s underlying business is continuing to strengthen.

Life360 operates one of the world’s largest family safety platforms, offering location sharing, crash detection, emergency assistance, digital safety features, and device protection through a subscription-based model.

Its business continues to expand as more families join the platform and existing users upgrade to paid memberships.

Brokers are becoming more optimistic

Analyst sentiment around Life360 shares has steadily improved in recent months. TradingView data shows that 12 out of 13 analysts covering Life360 shares in the past three months rate it a buy or strong buy.

The average price target is $31.88, representing a potential 22% gain at current levels. The most bullish forecast sees a 53% upside, while the most pessimistic prediction sits around the current share price.

One reason for the improved sentiment is Life360’s continued growth in annualised recurring revenue (ARR), which gives investors greater visibility over future earnings.

Sustainable profitability, focus on AI

The company has also made significant progress towards sustainable profitability, easing concerns that high-growth technology companies must continually sacrifice earnings to expand.

Another positive is management’s growing focus on artificial intelligence, with AI expected to improve customer engagement, personalise features, and create additional monetisation opportunities over time.

Valuation is another factor. Following the heavy sell-off earlier this year, Life360 shares now trade on a price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of roughly 27 times.

For a technology company still delivering strong subscriber growth, many investors see that multiple as increasingly attractive.

In other words, while the share price weakened sharply during the first half of 2026, the business itself continued moving in the opposite direction.

A rotation back into growth stocks?

There’s another possible explanation behind today’s move. Life360 shares were one of the hardest-hit ASX technology stocks during the first half of 2026 as investors rotated away from growth companies.

Now, that trend may be reversing. Stocks that have been heavily sold often rebound sharply when sentiment improves, particularly if the underlying business continues delivering strong operational results.

Whether today’s rally marks the beginning of a sustained recovery remains to be seen.

The post Life360 shares just jumped 11%. Here’s what’s driving the rally appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Marc Van Dinther has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Life360. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Life360. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

Shares in Clarity Pharmaceuticals Ltd (ASX: CU6) were trading more than 10% higher in early trade on Monday after the company said it was going to present data from studies of its prostate cancer detection compound at an esteemed European medical conference.

But what was perhaps more compelling in the company’s announcement was a first person account from a patient who had used the company’s compound and had benefited greatly from it.

New detection methods being developed

Clarity has developed two radiopharmaceutical compounds called 64Cu-SAR-bisPSMA and 67Cu-SAR-bisPSMA which its studies to date show perform well compared with existing detection methods.

The company said it will present various data relating to the compounds at the European Association of Nuclear Medicine (EANM) Annual Congress 2026, which is being held in October in Vienna.

The biotechnology company said regarding the conference:

EANM 2026 Annual Congress is one of the world’s leading nuclear medicine conferences and the acceptance of these abstracts is testament to the strength of the data generated by Clarity’s products and the promising prospects for SAR-bisPSMA to change the paradigm in the diagnosis and treatment of prostate cancer.

The company said one of its trials which will be presented, “demonstrated improved diagnostic performance of 64Cu-SAR-bisPSMA next-day imaging vs. 68Ga-PSMA-11 across all key parameters assessed, including mean number of lesions per participant, total number of lesions, true positive rate and proportion of participants with a positive scan”.

The company will also present data from three client case studies, and said the use of its compound, “changed planned clinical management in all three patients”.

One of the patients, Steve Hunter, also supplied a testimonial.

Compelling first person account

Mr Hunter said he was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2016, and while his initial treatment was quite successful, blood tests revealed in 2023 that his cancer had returned.

He said:

With SOC PSMA imaging currently available, no lesions were detectable. I was informed by more than one doctor that what I had was a micro-metastatic version of prostate cancer; that is, I had a large number of cancers too small to be detected.

Mr Hunter, himself a medical professional with a history including oncology research, approached Clarity with a view to trying its technology.

He said:

The results were beyond my expectations. Three tumours were found and I underwent targeted external beam radiation. Since then, I have repeated this process with Clarity and (Dr Alan Taylor’s) support a few times to scan, find and subsequently treat the ensuant small number of tumours that arise, with stereotactic radiation therapy. I am so grateful to Clarity in making these scans available. This approach has proven to be highly successful by allowing me to obtain clear information about my disease and defer requiring ADT therapy and all the associated side effects with this treatment.

Clarity shares were trading 14.1% higher at $2.07.  

The post Why is this ASX biotech charging more than 10% higher? 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.

Monday has finally brought some relief for Ramelius Resources Ltd (ASX: RMS) shareholders.

After a rough start to 2026, the ASX gold stock is climbing after announcing a $300 million deal to sell its Edna May Gold Hub in Western Australia.

At the time of writing, the Ramelius share price is up 3.81% to $3.00 apiece. By comparison, the S&P/ASX 200 Index(ASX: XJO) is up 0.1% to 8,775 points.

That still leaves the stock down around 28% since the start of the year, although it remains 20% higher over the past 12 months.

Let’s take a closer look at the deal.

Ramelius sells Edna May

According to the release, Ramelius has entered into a binding agreement to sell the Edna May Gold Hub to Forrestania Resources Ltd (ASX: FRS).

Forrestania shares last traded at 42.5 cents before the company was placed in a trading halt.

The deal is worth $300 million upfront, made up of $200 million in cash and $100 million in Forrestania shares.

Ramelius has already received a $20 million deposit, with the rest of the cash and shares payable once the transaction is completed.

Edna May has been part of Ramelius since 2017, when it was acquired from Evolution Mining Ltd (ASX: EVN). Since then, the operation has produced around 760,000 ounces of gold.

However, the mine is not currently producing. It has been on care and maintenance duties from April 2025.

Ramelius managing director Mark Zeptner described the sale as “a logical transaction” for both companies.

Why buyers are returning today

The positive share price reaction suggests investors are happy to see Ramelius unlock value from Edna May.

The company is receiving a sizeable cash payment from an asset that is no longer producing. It also keeps some exposure to Edna May through its Forrestania shareholding.

That could be very useful if Forrestania can get the processing plant running again and build a larger regional gold business around the asset.

Ramelius said it is now focused on the transformation of its Mt Magnet operations and the development of Rebecca-Roe.

What happens next

Although the sale appears to be moving forward, keep in mind that the deal isn’t done just yet.

Forrestania still needs to secure at least $200 million in binding commitments under its proposed equity raising.

And on top of that, its shareholders also need to approve the issue of shares under the agreement.

If those conditions are met, Ramelius expects the transaction to complete in the September quarter of 2026.

The post This beaten-down ASX gold stock is jumping on a $300 million deal appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

Term deposits look much more appealing these days following the RBA interest rate rises. Getting a return of more than 5% with no risk sounds pretty good! But, I’d still prefer to invest in S&P/ASX 300 Index (ASX: XKO) shares for passive income.

In fact, this looks like a fantastic time to invest in names that have been impacted by elevated interest rates, but could benefit when rates are reduced again. 

I’m particularly thinking about real estate investment trusts (REITs), because they offer exposure to fairly high-yielding commercial properties, but higher rates increase debt costs and are a headwind for property values.

There are two names I really want to highlight: Centuria Industrial REIT (ASX: CIP) and Dexus Industria REIT (ASX: DXI). Both of these businesses are focused on owning industrial properties. There are three compelling reasons to look at them today.

Good dividend yield

The yields on offer from these two businesses are more appealing to me than those from term deposits.

Centuria Industrial REIT’s FY26 payout is 16.8 cents per unit, which translates into a current distribution yield of 5.45%.

Dexus Industria REIT’s FY26 payout is 16.6 cents per unit, which equates to a distribution yield of 6.8%.

Perhaps even more importantly than those impressive yields, the payouts from these two businesses can grow in the long-term thanks to rental income growth.

Rental income tailwinds

There are many different property sectors we could invest in, such as shopping centres, office buildings, storage units, childcare centres, and so on.

I think it makes the most sense to invest in businesses with sustainable income growth because that’s a key driver of profit growth, which funds passive income and supports a higher share price.

Industrial properties have a number of tailwinds, including e-commerce growth, the onshoring of supply chains, data centre growth, refrigerated space growth (for food and medicine), and Australia’s growing population.

All of the above is leading to a very low vacancy rate and solid organic revenue growth for the two ASX 300 shares.

In the third quarter of FY26, Centuria Industrial REIT reported FY26 re-leasing spreads averaged 36%, reflecting the “significant under-renting” within the portfolio and the “ongoing comparatively strong market conditions that are prevalent across Australian industrial markets, particularly within infill locations.”

In other words, the new rental contracts generated 36% more rental income than the older rental contracts.

Dexus Industria REIT’s FY26 half-year result included like-for-like income growth of 7.4%, supported by rental escalations, strong re-leasing spreads and higher average occupancy throughout the period.

That strong level of rental growth can help offset the short-term headwind of higher interest rates.  

Appealing valuation

Both of these ASX 300 shares are trading at a large discount to their underlying value – the net tangible assets (NTA) per unit includes the loans, the property values, cash in the bank and so on.

At 31 December 2025, Dexus Industria REIT reported NTA per security of $3.39 – it’s trading at a 28% discount to this. The Centuria Industrial REIT is trading at a 22% discount to its December 2025 NTA of $3.95.

I don’t know when the next interest rate cut will be, but when we enter that period, it could be a strong tailwind for property valuations and the unit prices of the ASX 300 shares. Of course, there are more ASX shares that could also be compelling buys today for passive income.

The post Forget term deposits! I’d buy these two ASX 300 shares instead appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) shares are up 0.3% to 8,786.6 points on Monday. 

The fastest rising ASX 200 shares today are Neuren Pharmaceuticals Ltd (ASX: NEU), up 31%, and Life360 Inc (ASX: 360), up 11%.

The biggest faller today is Navy shipbuilder Austal Ltd (ASX: ASB), down 8%.

Let’s check out three ASX shares with new ratings from the experts (courtesy The Bull) this week. 

Wildcat Resources Ltd (ASX: WC8)

The Wildcat Resources share price is steady at 51 cents, up about 215% over FY26.

Arthur Garipoli from Dolphin Partners Financial Services has a buy rating on this ASX lithium share. 

Garipoli said: 

Wildcat is a mineral exploration company. WC8 is advancing the Tabba Tabba Lithium-Tantalum project and the Bolt Cutter project in the Pilbara region of Western Australia.

The Tabba Tabba project is a large scale, hard rock development in an established mining jurisdiction with low sovereign risk and close to Port Hedland infrastructure. WC8 has completed a pre-feasibility study and is advancing towards a definitive feasibility study (DFS).

Catalysts for de-risking the company include a large resource base, a DFS, funding and resource growth.

The shares have performed strongly in the past 12 months and we like the company’s outlook.

WiseTech Global Ltd (ASX: WTC)

The Wisetech share price is $32.76, up 4% today and down 70% over FY26.

Stuart Bromley from Medallion Financial Group has a hold rating on this ASX 200 tech share. 

Bromley said: 

Despite ongoing management and governance scrutiny, WiseTech remains one of Australia’s highest quality technology businesses with a dominant position in global logistics software.

The company’s CargoWise platform continues to gain market share globally.

In our view, WTC offers a substantial long term growth opportunity.

While near term sentiment may remain volatile, we believe the quality of the underlying business warrants a hold rating amid management executing its long term strategy.

National Australia Bank Ltd (ASX: NAB)

The NAB share price is $37.71, up 0.5% today and down 4% over FY26.

Michael Gable from Fairmont Equities has a sell rating on this ASX 200 bank share.

Gable said: 

Trading conditions are getting tougher for retail banks as rising interest rates, sticky inflation and weakness in the property sector are likely to negatively impact lending activity and credit quality.

In a weaker economy, NAB is particularly vulnerable to softer earnings growth due to its higher focus on business banking.

Despite a significant share price fall, NAB valuations aren’t cheap, leaving the stock exposed to downside risk.

The post Buy, hold, sell: Wildcat Resources, NAB, Wisetech shares appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Bronwyn Allen has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Life360 and WiseTech Global. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Life360 and WiseTech Global. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

It’s dividend season for ASX exchange-traded funds (ETFs), and several providers have announced their next payments.

Among them is VanEck, which has announced an estimated $17.99 per unit distribution for VanEck Gold Miners AUD ETF (ASX: GDX).

GDX ETF is trading at $114.80 per unit, up 2.3%, on Monday.

This means this next estimated distribution represents a whopping 15% dividend yield in a single payout.

VanEck will confirm the final amount tomorrow.

But whatever it is, it will be the biggest distribution this ASX ETF has ever paid since its inception in 2015.

For comparison, the FY25 distribution was 63 cents per unit.

Investors who own or buy GDX ETF before it goes ex-dividend on Wednesday will be entitled to the payment.

Why is this dividend so enormous?

ASX ETF providers call their payments ‘distributions’ rather than ‘dividends’ because they comprise several components.

The components include dividend income from the companies the ETF is invested in, and capital gains from the sale of stocks.

So why is this next one from GDX ETF so big?

For starters, ASX GDX pays distributions once per year, so this next payment represents earnings over a 12-month period.

But that’s only a minor reason. The primary driver is the runaway gold price, which has enabled miners to earn a motza.

Gold price bull run

The gold price has soared over several years now. In CY25, the gold price leapt a staggering 65% — its best year since 1979.

Even more amazing is that it followed an already impressive growth rate of 27% in CY24.

The bulk of this growth is down to central banks around the world buying gold to diversify their reserves away from the US dollar.

The catalyst was the freezing of Russia’s foreign-currency reserves after the Ukraine invasion in 2022.

On top of that was concern over new US policies under President Donald Trump since his inauguration in early 2025.

New tariffs and geopolitical uncertainty weighed on the US currency, and nations increasingly perceived the US as a less reliable defence partner.

All of this drove central banks to move increasingly away from US bonds. Gold — long considered a safe haven — was the best alternative.

Additionally, post-COVID inflation began to settle, interest rates fell globally, and the appeal of risk-free investments like cash fell.

Institutional investors and professional traders caught on over time, then we retail investors followed.

Large inflows into gold ETFs, especially in 1H FY26, sent the gold price to a record US$5,608 per ounce before a 21% crash in January.

Despite the correction in price to about US$4,405 per tonne, experts said gold miners were still going to make a tonne of money.

Warwick Grigor, an analyst at mining investment specialists Far East Capital, said implied profitability for gold producers was between US$3,000 and US$4,000 per ounce with the gold price at that level.

The gold price weakened further over 2H FY26 to trade at US$4,059.69 per tonne today.

On Grigor’s calculations, that still meant plenty of margin for miners, and it’s likely a big reason for GDX ETF’s mega distribution.

Mega capital gains as ASX ETFs and gold mining shares soar

While the gold price was ascending rapidly in CY24 and CY25, international and ASX 200 gold mining shares skyrocketed.

In Australia, the ASX 200’s largest gold mining share, Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST), ripped 73% higher in CY25 alone.

Evolution Mining Ltd (ASX: EVN) shares soared 164% while Newmont Corporation CDI (ASX: NEM) shares rocketed 152%.

The Regis Resources Ltd (ASX: RRL) share price ascended 196% and Genesis Minerals Ltd (ASX: GMD) shares ripped 194%.

Resolute Mining Ltd (ASX: RSG) shares tripled in value, while Perseus Mining Ltd (ASX: PRU) more than doubled.

International gold shares may have done even better, and GDX ETF holds mining shares from all over the world.

This is likely another reason why GDX is paying out big-time this season: realised capital gains accumulated over several years.

More about GDX ETF

The GDX ETF seeks to track the performance of the NYSE Arca Gold Miners Index (AUD) Index.

ASX GDX invests in 105 gold mining shares, with 44% in Canada, 24% in the US, 9% in Australia, and 6% in Brazil.

The index only invests in miners with a market cap above US$750 million and an average daily traded value of at least US$1 million.

The free float market cap-weighted index applies a capping scheme to individual shares to ensure diversification.

GDX’s ETF has total net assets of $1.3 billion.

VanEck charges investors a 0.53% management fee.

View a list of other VanEck ETF distributions this season, as well as a list of Vanguard ETF dividends here.

The post Which ASX ETF will pay an eye-popping $18 per share dividend this season? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

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

If you read the morning 5 things to watch each day, you may often see a reference to ASX 200 futures.

They are usually mentioned in articles about what to watch before the Australian share market opens.

But what are they actually telling investors?

ASX 200 futures explained

ASX 200 futures are contracts linked to the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO).

The ASX 200 tracks 200 of the largest companies listed on the Australian share market, including banks, like Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA), miners like BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP), healthcare shares like CSL Ltd (ASX: CSL), retailers, property groups, infrastructure businesses, and industrial companies.

A futures contract allows traders to take a view on where that index may be heading.

If ASX 200 futures are pointing higher before the market opens, it suggests traders expect the Australian share market to start the day stronger. If they are pointing lower, it suggests the market may open weaker.

This is why they are often used as a quick guide to early market sentiment.

Why are they watched each morning?

The Australian share market does not trade overnight, but global markets keep moving.

Wall Street may rise or fall while Australian investors are sleeping. Commodity prices can shift. Bond yields, currencies, company earnings, and geopolitical news can all change before the local market opens.

ASX 200 futures respond to some of that information.

They give investors an early clue about how the market may react when trading begins.

This essentially helps set the scene before the opening bell.

Do futures always predict the market correctly?

ASX 200 futures can be useful, but they are only a guide.

The market can open differently from what futures suggest. It can also change direction quickly once trading begins.

That can happen because company-specific news, economic data, broker notes, dividend updates, and investor flows can all affect the market after the open.

For example, futures might suggest a weak start because Wall Street fell overnight. But if major mining shares rise on stronger commodity prices, or a large bank rallies on a positive update, the ASX 200 could perform better than expected.

The reverse can also happen.

Futures help investors understand the mood before the market opens, but they do not guarantee the outcome.

Who uses ASX 200 futures?

Futures are mainly used by professional traders, fund managers, and institutions.

They can be used to hedge portfolios, manage risk, or take short-term views on the direction of the market.

For everyday investors, the main value is informational.

What should investors take from them?

ASX 200 futures are best viewed as a morning temperature check.

They show where traders think the market may be heading before the ASX opens, based on overnight developments and early positioning.

A positive futures move can point to a stronger start. A negative move can signal a softer opening. But the actual trading day will still be shaped by company news, sector moves, economic data, and investor behaviour.

The post What are ASX 200 futures? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

ASX biotech stock Neuren Pharmaceuticals Ltd (ASX: NEU) is flying on Monday.

The ASX biotech stock jumped around 30% to $15.92 in morning trade after announcing a major regulatory breakthrough in Europe for its lead drug, DAYBUE.

Despite today’s rally, Neuren shares remain down approximately 15% in 2026. Over the past 12 months, however, the ASX biotech stock has gained around 17%, comfortably outperforming the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO), which has risen about 3% over the same period.

So, what has investors so excited?

A major step towards European approval

Neuren revealed that the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) has adopted a positive opinion recommending marketing authorisation for DAYBUE following a re-examination process.

The recommendation now moves to the European Commission, which is expected to make a final decision over the coming months.

If approved, DAYBUE would become the first authorised treatment for the neurobehavioral symptoms of Rett syndrome across all 27 European Union member states, as well as Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway.

For the ASX biotech stock, the financial implications could be significant.

Why the decision matters

Neuren is a biotechnology company developing treatments for rare neurological disorders.

Its most advanced medicine is DAYBUE (trofinetide), which has been licensed to Acadia Pharmaceuticals Inc (NASDAQ: ACAD) for commercialisation.

If the European Commission grants marketing approval and DAYBUE launches in Europe, Neuren will receive a US$35 million milestone payment following the first commercial sale.

The company would also become eligible for ongoing royalties on net sales and additional milestone payments if future sales targets are achieved.

That prospect helps explain today’s enthusiastic share price reaction.

European approval would open another major market for DAYBUE. Earlier, it launched in the US, creating a fresh revenue stream without Neuren needing to fund sales and marketing itself.

At its FY25 results, the ASX biotech stock reported $65 million in royalty income. It expects further growth in 2026 as DAYBUE sales expand. Acadia has guided for DAYBUE net sales of US$460 to US$490 million this year, implying another strong year of royalty growth for Neuren.

What management said

Neuren CEO Jon Pilcher welcomed the recommendation, saying:

I am so delighted for all stakeholders to see this positive outcome from the CHMP re-examination process recommending marketing authorisation for DAYBU® in the EU. With no approved treatment currently available in the EU, approval of DAYBU® would represent an important step forward for patients, caregivers and the wider Rett syndrome community profoundly impacted by this devastating condition.

What’s next for the ASX biotech stock?

While the CHMP recommendation is an important milestone, it is not the final step.

The European Commission must still formally approve the application, with a decision expected in the coming months.

If that happens, the ASX healthcare share would gain access to one of the world’s largest pharmaceutical markets. It would also unlock valuable milestone payments and recurring royalty income.

For investors, today’s rally reflects growing confidence that DAYBUE is edging closer to another major commercial opportunity.

The post Why this ASX biotech stock is soaring 30% today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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