Category: Stock Market

Australian borrowers have been given a glimmer of hope that interest rates could begin falling sooner than previously thought.

This follows news that Westpac Banking Corp (ASX: WBC) has brought forward its forecast for the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA)’s first rate cut to August 2027.

However, interest rates could still rise again before any relief arrives next year.

Here’s what the bank is expecting.

Why Westpac changed its forecast

According to The Australian, Westpac Chief Economist Luci Ellis expects inflation to ease more quickly during 2027.

The bank believes inflation could fall enough for the RBA to start cutting rates in August next year, rather than waiting until early 2028.

Westpac sees those cuts coming gradually, at 0.25 percentage points each quarter.

However, the outlook for the next few months remains less positive for borrowers.

Rates could rise before they fall

At its meeting last month, the RBA left the cash rate unchanged at 4.35%.

The RBA’s May forecasts showed trimmed mean inflation staying above 3% until the middle of 2027, before easing to 2.5% by early 2028.

Westpac still sees an August rate rise as likely, although what happens after that is less certain.

A second increase in September also remains possible, but Ellis said it could be pushed back or dropped if inflation begins to ease.

The June quarter inflation figures, which are due on 29 July, will be crucial in deciding whether either increase goes ahead.

Any further increase would place more pressure on variable mortgage rates and borrowing costs, especially for those households already dealing with larger repayments.

But keep in mind, higher rates would not affect every borrower straight away.

Households on fixed-rate loans may be protected until their current term ends, while those on variable rates would usually feel the impact almost immediately.

The effect would also depend on whether banks pass on any RBA increase in full.

Why the RBA may take its time

Even if inflation starts to improve next year, Westpac doesn’t expect the RBA to rush into cutting rates.

The central bank lowered rates in 2025, only for inflation to pick up again. Because of that, Westpac thinks the RBA will want clearer signs that inflation is under control before lowering rates again.

The bank is still expecting rates to come down slowly, with much lower borrowing costs unlikely to return quickly.

For mortgage holders, the change gives some hope that relief could arrive sooner than previously thought.

However, the next move may still be higher, with Westpac tipping another rate rise in August.

The post Could the RBA start cutting interest rates sooner than expected? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Expert warns: These ASX bank shares could disappoint in FY27
• Dump ’em! Morgan Stanley slaps sell ratings on 5 ASX 200 shares
• How many Westpac shares do I need to buy for $10,000 of passive income?
• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• 2 ASX dividend shares with yields over 4% right now

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.

Aussies born on or after 1 January 1957 can apply for the age pension when they turn 67, whether retired or not.

To be eligible for the full pension, or a part-payment, you have to pass an assets test and income test.

The thresholds for those tests changed earlier this month.

So, let’s take a look at the new thresholds, and also assess whether the pension is enough to see you through retirement.

Is the age pension enough?

On the face of it, the age pension is not enough on its own to cover life’s expenses in retirement.

The full age pension is $1,200.90 per fortnight for singles, and $905.20 per person, per fortnight, for couples.

That translates to $31,223 per year for singles and $47,070 per year for couples.

Australia’s benchmark retirement budgeting tool, the ASFA Retirement Standard, says retirement costs more than this.

A ‘modest’ retirement costs $36,434 per year for singles and $52,473 per year for couples — if you own your own home.

If you’re renting, a modest lifestyle costs $51,164 per year for singles and $69,002 per year for couples.

A ‘comfortable’ retirement costs even more: $55,923 per year for single homeowners and $78,566 per year for couple homeowners.

You can find out exactly how ASFA defines modest and comfortable retirement lifestyles here.

ASFA does not provide an estimate for comfortable retirement costs for renters.

So, how do you fill the gap given the age pension doesn’t cover all living expenses?

Ideally, you’ll have some superannuation, other investment income, or wages income to do exactly that.

But Centrelink has limits on how much you can own and earn while still qualifying for the age pension.

So, let’s go over the newly-revised thresholds for the pension asset and income tests.

Asset test

Your assessable assets include ASX shares, super, bonds, managed funds, rental properties, and cash. Your home is excluded.

Single homeowners can own up to $333,000 in assets and still qualify for a full pension.

If you own assets worth between $333,001 and $733,500, you will qualify for a part-payment.

Single renters can own up to $600,000 in assets and still qualify for the full pension.

If you own assets worth between $600,001 and $1,000,500, you will be eligible for a part-pension.

Couple homeowners can own up to $499,000 in assets while still being eligible for the full age pension.

If you have assets worth between $499,001 and $1,102,50, you will qualify for a part-payment.

Couple renters can own up to $766,000 in assets and still be eligible for the full age pension.

If you own assets worth between $766,001 and $1,369,500, you can apply for a part-payment.

Income test

Singles can earn up to $226 per fortnight and still qualify for the full age pension.

If you earn between $227 and $2,627.80 per fortnight, you can apply for a part-pension.

Couples can earn up to $396 per fortnight and still qualify for the full age pension.

If you earn between $397 and $4,016.80 per fortnight, you will be eligible for a part-pension.

Assessable income includes wages and investment income.

Rental income must be reported each year. For everything else, Centrelink uses generous deeming rates to estimate your annual investment income.

The lower deeming rate is 1.25% and the upper deeming rate is 3.25%.

The asset value threshold is $66,800 for singles and $110,600 for couples.

This means the first $66,800 of your assets, or $110,600 for couples, has a 1.25% deemed rate of interest.

Everything above that is deemed to have earned 3.25% interest.

 

The post How much can you own and earn while still qualifying for the age pension? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Could the RBA start cutting interest rates sooner than expected?
• How much must I invest in BHP shares to earn a $1,000 passive income in 2027?
• 10 fantastic ASX shares to buy for FY27
• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• 2 ASX mining shares that could more than double in value in FY27: experts

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.

Owning BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP) shares has been a solid choice for passive income over the last decade. It could still be a good choice for FY27.

There are a couple of reasons why ASX mining shares can deliver an appealing dividend yield. Firstly, they usually have a relatively low price/earnings (P/E) ratio compared to other sectors. Secondly, the big miners are usually generous with their dividend payout ratios.

Iron ore miners like BHP can have particularly low P/E ratios because their earnings can be more volatile than other commodities – the iron ore price can shift significantly, depending on what’s happening with Chinese demand.

But, with the iron ore price sitting at around US$100 per tonne (according to Trading Economics), BHP can still generate compelling iron ore profit. Plus, its growing copper exposure can help provide more stability and diversification to its earnings.

With all of the above in mind, let’s see what passive income payments owners of BHP shares could expect in FY27.

Projected passive income

According to Commsec’s estimate, the ASX mining share giant is forecast to pay an annual dividend per share of A$2.06.

Of course, the potential payout may not be exactly that figure. It could be smaller or larger, depending on commodity prices.

An increasing volume of iron ore coming out of Africa could, for example, negatively impact the iron ore price. But it’s also possible that Chinese demand could be stronger than expected. Time will tell how the next 12 months play out.

If BHP pays that level of income to shareholders, it would translate into a grossed-up dividend yield of 5.2% at the time of writing, including franking credits. The yield isn’t as high as it was a year ago following a rise of close to 50% for the BHP share price – this hurts the prospective yield, though it’s great for long-term shareholders.

How much to invest in BHP shares for $1,000 of annual dividends?

The BHP share price certainly isn’t cheap these days, but investors can still buy a slice of the mining giant.

If investors do receive A$2.06 per share in the 2027 financial year, then to receive $1,000 of annual dividends, an investor would need to own 486 BHP shares.

To buy 486 BHP shares, it would cost an Australian $27,415 at the time of writing.

BHP is a solid business, but I think there are even better options out there for returns.

The post How much must I invest in BHP shares to earn a $1,000 passive income in 2027? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 3 ASX mining shares to buy now: experts
• 9 ASX 200 shares with reiterated buy calls this week
• Here’s what brokers tip for BHP shares over the next 12 months
• The bull and bear case for CBA and BHP shares
• Which ASX 200 sectors paid the highest dividend yields in FY26?

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 recommended BHP Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

The new financial year could be a good time to consider some new additions to your portfolio.

With that in mind, listed below are ten fantastic ASX shares that could be worth buying for FY27.

Breville Group Ltd (ASX: BRG)

Breville has built a global business around premium kitchen appliances.

Its strength is brand, product design, and the ability to make everyday categories such as coffee machines, cooking, and food preparation feel more premium. International expansion remains a major long-term opportunity.

Cochlear Ltd (ASX: COH)

Cochlear could be a healthcare share to watch closely.

The company is a global leader in hearing implants and related support services. Recent share price weakness has been painful, but the long-term need for better hearing treatment remains significant as populations age and access to care improves.

Goodman Group (ASX: GMG)

Goodman remains one of the ASX’s highest-quality property shares.

Its industrial properties support logistics, warehousing, ecommerce, and data infrastructure. The company has a major development pipeline, particularly with data centres, leaving it well-positioned for growth over the next decade.

Megaport Ltd (ASX: MP1)

Megaport is an ASX tech share with a broader story than it had a year ago.

The company is known for cloud connectivity, but its move into compute through Latitude.sh has added another growth angle. Recent contract wins suggest this newer opportunity is gaining significant traction.

REA Group Ltd (ASX: REA)

REA Group owns Australia’s dominant online property platform, realestate.com.au.

Property markets can move in cycles, but REA benefits from a powerful audience position, deep agent relationships, and the importance of digital advertising in real estate. That gives it a strong base for long-term growth.

ResMed Inc (ASX: RMD)

ResMed is another ASX healthcare share with global scale.

Its devices, masks, software, and connected care tools help treat sleep apnoea and other respiratory conditions. Investor sentiment has weakened recently, but the company continues to serve a large market with ongoing treatment needs.

TechnologyOne Ltd (ASX: TNE)

TechnologyOne provides enterprise software to governments, universities, and large organisations.

Its products help customers manage finance, payroll, planning, property, and administration. The shift to software-as-a-service has strengthened its recurring revenue base and supported consistently strong growth in recent years.

Woolworths Group Ltd (ASX: WOW)

Woolworths gives investors exposure to everyday spending.

The supermarket giant has scale, supply chain strength, loyalty data, and a major role in Australian grocery shopping. It is not a cheap growth stock, but it can provide defensive qualities when economic conditions become uncertain.

WiseTech Global Ltd (ASX: WTC)

WiseTech Global provides software for the logistics industry.

Its CargoWise platform helps freight forwarders and logistics providers manage complex global supply chains. Governance concerns have weighed on WiseTech shares, but its strong long-term growth outlook remains hard to ignore.

Xero Ltd (ASX: XRO)

Xero is one of the ASX’s leading software shares.

Its cloud-based platform helps small businesses and advisers manage accounting, payroll, invoicing, reporting, and compliance. If Xero keeps expanding internationally and adding more services, it could remain a strong long-term growth share.

The post 10 fantastic ASX shares to buy for FY27 appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Has the WiseTech share price finally hit the bottom after crashing 50%?
• 9 ASX 200 shares with reiterated buy calls this week
• Two ASX tech shares hinge on rebuilding trust and growth. Here’s how they can turn around
• 3 ASX shares which could deliver 53% to 90% gains
• Why I’d buy and hold ResMed and TechnologyOne shares with $5,000

Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in Cochlear, Goodman Group, Megaport, REA Group, ResMed, Technology One, WiseTech Global, Woolworths Group, and Xero. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Cochlear, Goodman Group, Megaport, ResMed, Technology One, WiseTech Global, and Xero. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended ResMed, WiseTech Global, and Xero. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Cochlear, Goodman Group, and Technology One. 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) finally recorded a positive day, reversing the four-for-four run of red days this week and closing the week’s trading on a high note.

After some initial wobbles, the ASX 200 spent most of the day in green territory and ended up closing a happy 0.5% higher. That leaves the index at a flat 8,806 points as we head into the weekend.

This optimistic Friday session for Australian investors follows a similarly bullish night on Wall Street.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average Index (DJX: .DJI) was cautiously optimistic, rising by 0.27%.

The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC) was much more decisive, though, gaining a healthy 1.3%.

But let’s return to the local markets now for a discussion of how the different ASX sectors handled today’s warm trading conditions.

Winners and losers

Despite the market’s sunny disposition today, there were still more than a few sectors that lost ground. 

Chief amongst those were healthcare stocks. The S&P/ASX 200 Healthcare Index (ASX: XHJ) was hit hard today, slumping 1.96%.

Consumer discretionary shares were on the nose as well, with the S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Discretionary Index (ASX: XDJ) sinking 1.13%.

We could say something similar for communications stocks. The S&P/ASX 200 Communication Services Index (ASX: XTJ) drifted 0.83% lower this session.

Tech shares weren’t in the good books either, evidenced by the S&P/ASX 200 Information Technology Index (ASX: XIJ)’s 0.6% tumble.

Consumer staples stocks were in a similar ballpark. The S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Staples Index (ASX: XSJ) shrank by 0.5% this Friday.

We could say the same for industrial stocks, with the S&P/ASX 200 Industrials Index (ASX: XNJ) dipping 0.39%.

Utilities shares got no reprieve. The S&P/ASX 200 Utilities Index (ASX: XUJ) slid down 0.33% this session.

Our final losers were energy shares, illustrated by the S&P/ASX 200 Energy Index (ASX: XEJ)’s 0.21% slip.

Turning to the winners now, the hottest corner of the market was gold stocks. The All Ordinaries Gold Index (ASX: XGD) ended up soaring 2.65% higher.

Broader mining shares were also in demand, with the S&P/ASX 200 Materials Index (ASX: XMJ) surging 2.32%.

Real estate investment trusts (REITs) were a little tamer. The S&P/ASX 200 A-REIT Index (ASX: XPJ) still managed a 0.59% addition, though.

Finally, financial stocks got home safe, as you can see from the S&P/ASX 200 Financials Index (ASX: XFJ)’s 0.55% bounce.

Top 10 ASX 200 shares countdown

Uranium company Silex Systems Ltd (ASX: SLX) was today’s index topper. Silex shares rocketed 9.4% higher to close at $5.70 each this Friday.

This decisive move came despite no obvious catalysts out from the company itself.

Here’s the rest of today’s best: 

ASX-listed company	Share price	Price change
Silex Systems Ltd (ASX: SLX)	$5.70	9.40%
Deep Yellow Ltd (ASX: DYL)	$1.45	7.43%
Mesoblast Ltd (ASX: MSB)	$2.24	6.67%
Capstone Copper Corp (ASX: CSC)	$13.04	6.45%
Resolute Mining Ltd (ASX: RSG)	$0.95	5.56%
South32 Ltd (ASX: S32)	$4.02	5.24%
Ora Banda Mining Ltd (ASX: OBM)	$1.12	5.16%
Develop Group Ltd (ASX: DVP)	$6.03	4.69%
West African Resources Ltd (ASX: WAF)	$2.85	4.40%
Paladin Energy Ltd (ASX: PDN)	$10.06	4.14%

Enjoy the weekend!

Our top 10 shares countdown is a recurring end-of-day summary that shows which companies made big moves on the day. Check in at Fool.com.au after the weekday market closes to see which stocks make the countdown.

The post Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• ASX 200 snaps its losing streak as miners and banks rally
• 9 ASX 200 shares with reiterated buy calls this week
• Mesoblast shares: Q4 earnings top projections
• Ingenia Communities Group shares paused pending announcement
• Why brokers think Zip shares could soar 50% or more in FY27

Motley Fool contributor Sebastian Bowen 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 5 best ASX 200 mining shares for growth in FY26 all more than doubled in value as Australia’s new mining boom continued.

The S&P/ASX 200 Materials Index (ASX: XMJ), dominated by miners, rose 47% and delivered a total return, including dividends, of 52%.

The S&P/ASX 300 Metals & Mining Index (ASX: XMM) rose 53% and produced a total return of 59%.

Experts say there is more growth ahead for ASX mining shares, with 5 key elements underpinning the current commodities supercycle.

Here are two ASX mining shares with buy recommendations from Bell Potter.

The broker believes these two stocks have the potential to more than double in value in the new financial year.

Minerals 260 Ltd (ASX: MI6)

The Minerals 260 share price is 63 cents, up 4.5% today and up 423% over 12 months.

The gold share was the second-fastest riser of the entire ASX 200 in FY26. (See the top five here.)

Minerals 260 is a mineral explorer that is building the Bullabulling Gold Project in Western Australia.  

Bullabulling is one of Australia’s largest near-term gold mines.

This week, Minerals 260 released an updated Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE) and the Pre-Feasibility Study (PFS) for Bullabulling.

The MRE increased 38% to 190Mt at 1.0g/t Au for 6.2Moz.

Bell Potter retained its speculative buy recommendation and lifted its 12-month target to $1.40.

This suggests Mineral 260 shares could more than double in FY27.

The broker said:

MI6 offers gold exposure via the 6.2Moz Bullabulling MRE, valuation uplift through discovery success, project advancement and de-risking as the BGP progresses towards production.

MI6 holds ~$250m cash, sufficient to fund to Final Investment Decision (FID) in early CY27, long-lead items and early site works.

WA1 Resources Ltd (ASX: WA1)

The WA1 Resources share price is $12.31, up 2.5% today and down 24% over 12 months.

Bell Potter has speculative buy rating on this ASX 300 copper share with a $27.20 target.

This suggests WA1 Resources shares could also more than double in the new financial year.

The broker said:

WA1 Resources Ltd (ASX: WA1) has announced scaled-up beneficiation testwork results across four composites representing key Indicated Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE) zones at its 100%-owned Luni Niobium Project (Luni) in Western Australia.

The testwork confirms a two-stage flotation regime can produce high-quality niobium concentrates with commercially relevant recoveries across the deposit, using raw site water.

The testwork is a significant metallurgical data point and materially de-risks the beneficiation stage of the processing flowsheet.

The post 2 ASX mining shares that could more than double in value in FY27: experts appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• This oversold ASX gold developer could more than double: Broker
• Which ASX 200 sectors paid the highest dividend yields in FY26?
• BHP shares may not double in 12 months but this ASX mining share could
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Thursday
• 13 ASX 200 shares that doubled in value in FY26

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.

The Aussie share market is on track to finish the week with a much-needed gain.

At the time of writing, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is 0.64% higher at 8,818 points, after briefly reaching 8,821.6 points earlier in the session.

The ASX 200 is now trying to break a run of 4 straight losses, after falling from 8,844 points last Friday to 8,762 points by Thursday’s close.

A stronger night on Wall Street has definitely helped, but the miners and major banks are doing most of the work today.

Here’s how the session is shaping up.

Miners lead the recovery

The S&P/ASX 200 Resources Index (ASX: XJR) is leading the market higher, climbing 2.13% as strength returns to copper, gold and lithium stocks.

BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP) shares are 2.74% higher at $58.43, while Rio Tinto Ltd (ASX: RIO) has gained 3.43% to $163.95.

South32 Ltd (ASX: S32) is one of the stronger performers, rising 5.37% to $4.025.

Gold miners are joining the move, with Evolution Mining Ltd (ASX: EVN) shares up 4.31% to $11.735 and Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST) adding 2.43% to $20.62.

Banks provide more support

The major banks are adding to the gains, with all of them trading higher.

Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA) shares have gained 0.74% to $169.35, while Westpac Banking Corp (ASX: WBC) is 1.05% higher at $36.58.

National Australia Bank Ltd (ASX: NAB) has added 0.79% to $39.59, and ANZ Group Holdings Ltd (ASX: ANZ) is up 1.15% to $36.17.

Macquarie Group Ltd (ASX: MQG) is also in positive territory, rising 0.78% to $254.16.

The miners and banks are doing most of the work for the index, but the rest of the market is still holding up reasonably well.

Around 109 of the ASX 200 shares are higher, compared with 75 trading lower and 16 unchanged.

Not every sector is joining in

The gains aren’t being shared evenly, with consumer discretionary, healthcare and energy stocks trading lower.

Wesfarmers Ltd (ASX: WES) shares are down 1.18% to $89.80, while Aristocrat Leisure Ltd (ASX: ALL) has slipped 0.97% to $61.795.

Healthcare is also weighing on the market. CSL Ltd (ASX: CSL) is 1.49% lower at $123.66, while Pro Medicus Ltd (ASX: PME) has fallen 3.74% to $202.56.

Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS) shares are down 0.92% to $29.03 as oil prices remain volatile.

Nonetheless, Wall Street’s overnight rebound helped sentiment. The S&P 500 Index (SP: .INX) rose 0.81%, the Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC) gained 1.3%, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJX: .DJI) added 0.27% as tech shares recovered and oil prices eased from their earlier spike.

After 4 days in the red, the ASX 200 is at least on track to finish the week with a gain.

The post ASX 200 snaps its losing streak as miners and banks rally appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 3 ASX mining shares to buy now: experts
• 9 ASX 200 shares with reiterated buy calls this week
• Here’s what brokers tip for BHP shares over the next 12 months
• Mesoblast shares: Q4 earnings top projections
• Ingenia Communities Group shares paused pending announcement

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 positions in and has recommended CSL, Macquarie Group, and Wesfarmers. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has recommended Pro Medicus. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended BHP Group, CSL, Macquarie Group, Pro Medicus, and Wesfarmers. 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) mining shares experienced an outstanding year in FY26.

The ASX 200 materials sector, dominated by miners, was the best of the 11 market sectors, rising 47% and returning 52% in total.

The S&P/ASX 300 Metals & Mining Index (ASX: XMM), which captures more of the explorers than the ASX 200, did even better.  

ASX 300 mining shares rose 53%, and delivered a total return of 59%.

Australia is in the midst of a new mining boom driven by five key elements.

Many commodities rose in value in FY26, which boosted the earnings of the 5 best ASX 200 mining shares of the year.

Here, we look at three ASX mining shares that brokers recommend buying now for FY27.

BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP)

The BHP share price is up 2.6% to $58.35 today, and up 52% over 12 months.

BHP was one of the best performers for capital growth amongst the ASX 200 large-cap shares last year.

Blake Halligan from Catapult Wealth explains his buy rating on BHP shares:  

The global miner holds dominant positions in iron ore and copper and is leveraged to increasing demand during the energy transition.

Despite the Jansen impairment and the risk of industrial action at iron ore operations in the Pilbara region of Western Australia, near term earnings momentum remains strong.

The balance sheet remains robust with low net debt, while a recent dividend yield above 3 per cent adds income appeal.

Read more about what the experts anticipate for BHP shares over the next 12 months.

Nickel Industries Ltd (ASX: NIC)

The Nickel Industries share price is 89 cents, up 2.3% today and up 21% over 12 months.

Bell Potter has a buy rating with a 12-month price target of $1.55 on this ASX 300 nickel share.

This implies potential capital growth of almost 75% over the next 12 months.

The broker said:

NIC offers nickel price leverage and diversified margin exposure across an integrated value chain.

The HPAL expansion transactions will further balance NIC’s earnings into downstream higher-margin operations and preserve earnings through the nickel price cycle.

Maronan Metals Ltd (ASX: MMA)

The Maronan Metals share price is 43 cents, down 1.2% today and up 93% over 12 months.

Maronan is developing a silver-lead and copper-gold deposit in Queensland’s Cloncurry region.

The mine is one of Australia’s largest undeveloped silver-lead and copper-gold deposits.

Morgans initiated coverage on this ASX silver share with a speculative buy call and a 66-cent target this month.

This implies a potential 53% upside over the next 12 months.

The broker said:

The wholly-owned Maronan Mineral Development Lease (MDL 2028) was approved in September 2025, after the Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) evaluated a 10-year underground mine life based on 22% of the total resource.

The resource to JORC Code (2012) standards contains 122Moz silver, 2Mt lead, 271kt copper and 0.76Moz gold, with yearly production 5.4Moz silver equivalent (AgEq) at an all-in sustaining cost (AISC) of A$30.18/oz (~US$20/oz) AgEq.

While the PEA is robust, MMA is yet to deliver a feasibility study, secure development finance, receive grant of a Mining Lease, and commence the path from construction to production.

With 40-45% exposure to silver and 20-25% to lead, commodity prices are also the key to the level of profitability.

The post 3 ASX mining shares to buy now: experts appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• ASX 200 snaps its losing streak as miners and banks rally
• 9 ASX 200 shares with reiterated buy calls this week
• Here’s what brokers tip for BHP shares over the next 12 months
• The bull and bear case for CBA and BHP shares
• Which ASX 200 sectors paid the highest dividend yields in FY26?

Motley Fool contributor Bronwyn Allen has positions in BHP Group. 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.

Few ASX stocks have given investors a more brutal ride than WiseTech Global Ltd (ASX: WTC) this year.

The WiseTech share price has fallen 50% since the start of 2026 and is now trading a long way below its 52-week high of $121.31.

At the time of writing, the stock is down another 1.21% on Friday to $34.21, taking its monthly decline to around 10%.

However, WiseTech has recovered from its low of $28.76 on 23 June. The stock has posted several large daily gains over the past few weeks, although those rallies have often been followed by more selling.

Investors are now weighing comments from management about one of the company’s largest customers, while trying to work out whether the recent low has finally marked the bottom.

Here’s the latest.

WiseTech tries to ease customer concerns

According to The Australian, WiseTech Chief Executive Zubin Appoo is trying to settle concerns about Danish logistics group DSV.

DSV completed its 14.3-billion-euro takeover of DB Schenker in April 2025, creating one of the world’s largest transport and logistics companies.

The issue that’s taking centre stage is that DSV could eventually replace WiseTech’s CargoWise software with Tango, the system acquired through DB Schenker.

However, Appoo said DSV remains an active WiseTech customer and continues to increase its use of CargoWise.

He said:

DSV remains an active WiseTech customer. CargoWise transaction volumes with DSV have grown by around 20 per cent in the last six months.

Take note, the number of DSV users on CargoWise has reportedly increased by around 3% over the same period.

Appoo recently met with DSV Chief Executive Jens Lund and said both companies remain committed to their long-term relationship. DSV’s current contract runs until September 2028.

WiseTech pointed out that large CargoWise installations can take between 5 and 7 years to complete. And that customer attrition has remained below 1% a year over the past 14 years.

Investors are not convinced yet

Despite the reassurance, analysts at Citi still see the potential DSV migration as a risk.

The broker has warned about the issue since February and again highlighted “DSV migration headwinds” this week.

Citi has reportedly reduced its FY28 CargoWise revenue growth forecast to 7%, removing around $80 million from its previous estimate.

This means that the downgrade shows Citi is allowing for some impact, even though DSV hasn’t confirmed it will leave CargoWise.

Has the WiseTech share price bottomed?

There are signs that buyers are stepping in around the low-$30 mark, but the stock is still moving around a lot.

WiseTech shares jumped 14.26% on 24 June, then rose another 7.31% and 5.65% earlier this week. The stock gave back 7.28% on Wednesday.

Keep in mind, the business is still profitable, and CargoWise is widely used across the logistics industry.

And DSV hasn’t confirmed any plans to leave the platform either.

The share price could remain under pressure in the short term, but a stronger-than-expected August result could help shift the mood.

The post Has the WiseTech share price finally hit the bottom after crashing 50%? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Citigroup is an advertising partner of Motley Fool Money. 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 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.

4DMedical Ltd (ASX: 4DX) shares took a breather during Friday’s session, edging 1% higher to $4.10.

The healthcare technology company has pulled back around 12% over the past six months and now trades roughly 46% below the record high it reached in April.

However, the longer-term picture looks very different. This ASX healthcare share is still up an astonishing 1,636% over the past 12 months. Yes, that’s more than sixteen-fold in just one year.

So, after such an extraordinary run, could 4DMedical shares eventually reclaim their all-time high?

Why investors have become so bullish

The biggest catalyst behind the remarkable rise of 4DMedical shares has been growing confidence in its commercial prospects.

The company has developed proprietary respiratory imaging technology that produces four-dimensional lung scans, giving doctors significantly more information than traditional imaging methods. The technology has applications across chronic respiratory diseases, lung cancer, and surgical planning.

Importantly, management has shifted its focus from proving the technology to commercialising it.

US growth and AI investments

Over the past year, 4DMedical has secured several significant contracts and partnerships across the US. Recently, the business signed a major agreement with SimonMed, helping expand its CT:VQ lung imaging technology across the US.

Management believes the deal could lift its addressable market to around US$3 billion with major healthcare providers and government agencies. These agreements have strengthened investor confidence that revenue growth can accelerate as adoption increases.

The company has also continued investing in artificial intelligence capabilities to expand the usefulness of its imaging platform and create additional opportunities within respiratory care.

The path back to record highs

For 4DMedical shares to revisit their April peak, investors will likely need further evidence that commercial momentum is translating into sustainable financial results.

Like many emerging healthcare technology companies, 4DMedical remains focused on scaling its business rather than generating large profits today. That means investors are placing significant value on its future growth potential.

Continued contract wins, increasing scan volumes, expanding recurring revenue, and progress in the US healthcare market could all help support a higher valuation over time.

Heavy investments in research

Despite its enormous gains, 4DMedical remains a higher-risk investment.

Commercialising new medical technology can take longer than expected. Particularly, when healthcare providers require clinical validation and budget approvals before adopting new products.

The company also faces competition from established medical imaging businesses and must continue investing heavily in research, product development, and sales to maintain its competitive advantage.

As a high-growth healthcare stock, 4DMedical shares are also likely to remain volatile. Even positive companies can experience large share price swings as investor sentiment shifts.

The post Up 1,636%, but can 4DMedical shares reclaim their record high? 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.