Author: openjargon

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.

More reading

• This ASX gold company’s aggressive M&A program continues with $300 million deal
• 5 ASX 200 gold stocks to buy and hold amid the crashing gold price
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Friday
• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• 6 ASX shares upgraded by analysts this week

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.

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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.

There was a time when CSL Ltd (ASX: CSL) could almost do no wrong in the eyes of investors.

But that now feels like a very long time ago.

At the time of writing, the CSL share price is down 1.77% to $112.85.

This comes after the biotech giant released another disappointing update tied to its Vifor business.

It is the latest blow in what has become an absolute brutal period for one of the ASX’s former market darlings.

CSL shares are now down around 34% since the start of 2026 and have fallen more than 50% over the past year.

So, what’s the latest to go wrong?

CSL’s Vifor troubles deepen in Europe

According to the release, CSL said a European Medicines Agency committee has recommended that marketing authorisation for TAVNEOS be revoked in the European Union (EU).

TAVNEOS, also known as avacopan, is sold by CSL Vifor affiliates in the EU and European Economic Area (EEA) under a licence agreement.

The treatment is used for adults with severe, active ANCA-associated vasculitis, a rare disease that causes inflammation in small and medium blood vessels.

The recommendation follows a review into the handling of data in the pivotal Phase 3 ADVOCATE clinical trial, which supported the product’s approval.

CSL said the European Commission will now review the committee’s opinion and make a final decision in due course.

In the meantime, the company expects to stop new patient starts in EU and EEA markets, in line with regulatory guidance.

Management commentary

CSL said it was disappointed with the outcome, but will respect the regulatory process.

Bill Mezzanotte, CSL’s head of research and development, noted that the company recognises this is a difficult moment for the community.

He said:

Patient care remains our highest priority, and we are working closely with regulatory authorities, healthcare professionals and patient organisations.

CSL advised that sales revenue from TAVNEOS is expected to be approximately US$45 million in FY26.

The company will provide more detail on the intellectual property impairment linked to TAVNEOS when it reports its FY26 full-year results on 18 August.

CSL also pointed out that today’s announcement doesn’t change the estimated impairment it provided to investors in May.

Why this still hurts

Despite the setback , keep in mind that TAVNEOS is tiny next to CSL’s broader global operations.

However, Vifor has already been a major frustration for investors after CSL flagged large write-downs earlier this year.

So, another issue from the same part of the business was never going to land well.

CSL is still a global biotech heavyweight, with major plasma, vaccine, and iron deficiency businesses. Its market capitalisation also remains above $54.5 billion, so this isn’t a business suddenly running out of options.

Nonetheless, investor trust has already been severely damaged.

The post Another CSL blow: Why this beaten-up ASX giant is sliding again appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Forrestania Resources Ltd (ASX: FRS) has agreed to buy the Edna May Gold Hub from Ramelius Resources Ltd (ASX: RMS) in a deal worth $300 million in cash and scrip.

Transformational gold opportunity

Under the deal, Forrestania will pay Ramelius $200 million in cash and $100 million in its own shares for the hub, which includes the 2.9 million tonne per annum Edna May mill, associated infrastructure and the existing 945,000 ounce gold resource.

The company said the deal complements its Lake Johnston processing hub which is currently undergoing refurbishment.

Forrestania Chair David Geraghty said regarding the deal:

This transaction upholds Forrestania’s strategy to consolidate the proven and prospective gold assets in the Forrestania region. Approximately 12 months ago, Forrestania embarked on an aggressive M&A strategy to consolidate stranded high-quality gold assets and underexplored tenure surrounding Edna May. This strategy has been incredibly successful and set Forrestania up for today’s acquisition. Forrestania believes it has the proven development and delivery team that is ready to refurbish, upgrade and commission the 2.9Mtpa Edna May Mill going forward. This work will be completed in conjunction with Forrestania’s commissioning of Lake Johnston which is on-track for late 2026.

Forrestania said it was targeting a restart of the Edna May mill in the first half of 2027.

Forrestania shares were in a trading halt on Monday while the company completed a $300 million capital raise to fund the deal.

The company said it was targeting more than 6 million tonnes of ore processing capacity by the first half of 2027, with the Lake Johnston facility on track for commissioning in the fourth quarter of 2026.

Building a bigger WA footprint

The company added:

With Forrestania already holding significant tenure and JORC Resources surrounding Edna May, the acquisition builds-out its dual processing hub-and-spoke network, increasing Forrestania’s operational flexibility and ensuring the right ore goes to the right mill. With a permitted and existing processing plant and associated infrastructure, Edna May presents a compelling near-term restart opportunity and allows Forrestania to avoid the approvals burden, development timeline and increased capital intensity associated with greenfield developments.

Forrestania shares, which last changed hands for 42.5 cents, are expected to remain in a trading halt until Wednesday, July 1.

The company is currently valued at $569.2 million.

Ramelius shares were up 3% on the news.

Ramelius said in a statement to the ASX, “the transaction provides Ramelius with an opportunity to crystallise value from a non-core asset and further focus resources on its core business”, while also retaining exposure to Edna May through its equity in Forrestania.

The post This ASX gold company’s aggressive M&A program continues with $300 million deal 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.

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

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

ANZ Group Holdings Ltd (ASX: ANZ)

According to a note out of Citi, its analysts have retained their buy rating and $39.25 price target on this banking giant’s shares. Citi highlights that Judo Capital Holdings Ltd (ASX: JDO) recently downgraded its earnings guidance due to three specific exposures. The broker believes these exposures are a credit risk problem and not signs of a systemic issue. As a result, it isn’t worried about ANZ at this stage. However, it concedes that the economy is in a challenging place and there are macro headwinds that the big banks could face. Nevertheless, the broker likes ANZ due to its exposure to business banking, which it prefers to retail banking at present. The ANZ share price is trading at $35.11 on Monday.

Neuren Pharmaceuticals Ltd (ASX: NEU)

A note out of Bell Potter reveals that its analysts have retained their buy rating on this biotechnology company’s shares with an improved price target of $23.50. This follows news that European regulators have reversed a negative recommendation on its Daybue product, which makes its approval quite likely now. Outside this, the broker estimates that the market is giving no value to Neuren’s NNZ-2591 product, which is under development. This could be a big mistake given how it estimates the product could be a multi-billion-dollar value asset if it succeeds in its Phase 3 trial. Trial results for NNZ-2591 are expected towards the end of 2027. The Neuren Pharmaceuticals share price is fetching $15.63 at the time of writing.

Qualitas Ltd (ASX: QAL)

Analysts at Macquarie have retained their outperform rating on this alternative asset manager’s shares with a trimmed price target of $3.95. According to the note, the broker was pleased to see Qualitas upgrade its margin guidance for long-term funds management EBITDA. It notes that this is being driven by benefits from an AI-enabled platform that should streamline the investment process. In addition, it has been pleased to see the company continues its long run of growing funds under management quicker than peers. It expects this to underpin strong earnings per share growth through to at least FY 2028. The Qualitas share price is trading at $3.01 this morning.

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

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Citigroup is an advertising partner of Motley Fool Money. Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Macquarie Group. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Macquarie Group and Qualitas. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

Some investors enjoy picking individual shares.

I do too. But I also think there is a lot to be said for owning an exchange-traded fund (ETF) that can quietly keep working in the background for years.

That is why I would consider buying Vanguard MSCI Index International Shares ETF (ASX: VGS).

It is not the most exciting ETF on the ASX. It does not try to pick the next hot sector, chase the latest theme, or concentrate money in a handful of fast-moving stocks.

But that is why I think it can be so useful.

A simple way to invest globally

The first thing I like about the VGS ETF is the access it provides.

The ETF gives investors exposure to a large portfolio of international shares across developed markets. That means an investor can gain exposure to many of the world’s largest companies without needing to pick individual winners overseas.

For Australian investors, I think that is valuable.

The ASX has plenty of good companies, but it does not offer the same depth in areas such as global technology, healthcare, consumer brands, industrials, payments, and software.

A global ETF can help fill that gap.

Rather than relying only on Australian banks, miners, retailers, and infrastructure names, investors can own a broader mix of businesses that earn money across many countries and industries.

That can make a portfolio feel more balanced over the long term.

Why simplicity can be powerful

One of the underrated strengths of ETFs is that they reduce the number of decisions an investor has to make.

Investing can become harder than it needs to be when every dollar has to be allocated to one specific company. Investors need to think about valuation, earnings, management, competition, risk, and whether something better is available.

With a broad ETF, the decision is simpler. Investors are buying a slice of a large market and letting time do more of the work.

That does not mean returns are guaranteed. Share markets can fall, currencies can move, and global investors can go through long periods of poor sentiment.

But I think the Vanguard MSCI Index International Shares ETF suits investors who want to keep adding money over time without constantly needing to make big calls.

It can be a useful default option for spare cash, regular investing plans, or long-term wealth building.

A long-term compounding machine

The reason I like VGS ETF is not because it will shoot the lights out every year.

It is because it offers exposure to thousands of businesses competing, adapting, reinvesting, and trying to become more profitable over time.

Some companies in the ETF will disappoint. Others may become much larger. The beauty of a broad ETF is that investors do not need to know in advance which names will do all the best work.

The fund can evolve as markets evolve.

That is important because the global economy changes. New leaders emerge, old leaders fade, and industries shift. A broad international ETF can move with those changes in a way that a static list of hand-picked shares may not.

Foolish Takeaway

If I wanted to keep investing simple, the Vanguard MSCI Index International Shares ETF would be one of the first ASX ETFs I would consider buying.

It offers global diversification, access to industries that are harder to find on the ASX, and a straightforward way to keep putting money to work over the long term.

It will still have weak years, and investors need patience. But for those trying to build wealth without overcomplicating the process, I think it could be a smart ETF to buy and hold for decades.

The post The amazing ASX ETF I’d buy for easy investing appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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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 no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Vanguard Msci Index International Shares ETF. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.