Category: Stock Market

S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) shares are rising strongly on Tuesday as investors look beyond the ongoing war in Iran.

Nine of the 11 ASX 200 market sectors are higher, with tech shares in the lead, up 4%, followed by materials, up 2.1%.

It appears investors are looking for value after a prolonged tech sector downturn and a sell-off in mining shares last month.

Here are three ASX 200 shares with buy recommendations from the experts.

All three are the leading stocks of their respective sectors by market capitalisation.

CSL Ltd (ASX: CSL)

CSL is the largest ASX 200 healthcare share with a market cap of $67.4 billion.

Healthcare shares have been in a sector rout due to currency changes, US tariffs, and higher labour and cost pressures.

The S&P/ASX 200 Health Care Index (ASX: XHJ) has fallen 27% over six months.

On Tuesday, the CSL share price is $140.82, up 1.4%.

CSL shares have halved in value over the past two years, and recently hit an eight-year low of $133.35.

Disappointing results, a company restructure, and lower global vaccination rates have weighed on the stock.

However, UBS sees value here, maintaining a buy recommendation on CSL shares with a 12-month target of $235.

BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP)

BHP is the largest stock in the ASX 200 materials sector with a market cap of $260 billion.

ASX mining shares were the worst hit by the war in Iran.

Over the first three weeks of March, the S&P/ASX 200 Materials Index (ASX: XMJ) tumbled 21%.

The BHP share price dropped from a record high of $59.39 on 3 March to a low of $46.06 on 23 March.

Today, the BHP share price is $52.62, up 2.7%.

Morgan Stanley has a buy rating on the ASX 200 mining giant with a share price target of $56.

WiseTech Global Ltd (ASX: WTC)

Wisetech is the largest ASX 200 tech share with a market cap of $13 billion.

Portfolio managers Tim Riordan and Michael Teran from Blackwattle describe Wisetech as one of the market’s highest quality companies.

That’s despite the Wisetech share price more than halving over the past six months.

Wisetech has faced several issues and has also fallen amid a broader tech sector rout driven by artificial intelligence (AI) fears.

The S&P/ASX 200 Information Technology Index (ASX: XIJ) has deteriorated 45% over six months.

However, Riordan and Teran recommend that investors buy the dip on Wisetech shares.

They comment:

We are excited about the FY27 and beyond outlook and see WTC as one of the few technology companies pivoting in the face of AI disruption risk.

We believe this makes a significant long-term, compounding growth profile and highly attractive Risk/Reward makes the current share price selloff a significant investment opportunity.

The post ASX 200 sector leaders to buy amid today’s market rally appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 2 ASX 200 tech shares this fund manager backs to survive the AI threat
• What’s the impact of US tariffs on Aussie drugmakers CSL and Mayne Pharma?
• Up 59% in a year, should you still buy BHP shares today?
• Buy, hold, sell: CSL, QBE, and Pro Medicus shares
• Is now the time to load up on CSL shares?

Motley Fool contributor Bronwyn Allen has positions in BHP Group. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended CSL and WiseTech Global. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended WiseTech Global. 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.

APA Group Ltd (ASX: APA) shares climbed to a fresh multi-year high on Tuesday as buying momentum in the utility giant continues.

In afternoon trade, the APA share price was up 1.12% to $9.97, after touching $10 in morning trade, its highest level since July 2023.

That leaves the stock up roughly 30% over the past 12 months, comfortably outperforming the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) over the same period.

The latest gain comes as investors respond to APA’s steady cash flow growth, rising distributions, and expanding project pipeline.

Strong half-year result keeps momentum building

One of the main drivers behind APA’s strength in recent months has been its latest first-half result for FY26.

The utility giant reported a 7.6% increase in underlying EBITDA to $1.092 billion, alongside growth in both revenue and distributions. Management also increased its organic growth pipeline to about $3 billion, up from $2.1 billion previously.

APA also reaffirmed its FY26 distribution guidance of 58 cents per security. This puts the stock on a forward yield of roughly 6% at the current share price, partially franked.

That remains an attractive yield for a business built on long-term contracted infrastructure assets.

Today’s move above the previous $9.95 52-week high also supports the recent upward move in the share price.

The chart is now confirming the trend

From a technical standpoint, APA’s share price has been building steadily since its February low of $8.63.

The stock is now trading comfortably above its rising short-term moving averages, with the $9.80 to $9.85 range emerging as the first support zone after today’s push higher.

Holding above that level would keep the recent upward move in place.

The relative strength index (RSI) now looks to be sitting in the upper-60s, which points to strong momentum without yet suggesting the shares are overbought.

The shares are also now trading comfortably above their 50-day moving average, reinforcing the strength of the move since late February.

The next level on the chart sits around $10.20, followed by the broader resistance zone set back in July 2023.

Foolish Takeaway

APA’s move to a multi-year high is being supported by both stronger fundamentals and an improving chart.

The company is delivering higher earnings, expanding its growth pipeline, and maintaining attractive distribution guidance. The share price has also continued to trend higher in recent months.

That mix has helped push APA shares to their highest level in nearly 3 years.

The post Why this reliable ASX dividend stock just climbed to a fresh multi-year high appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• Why I’d buy these 3 ASX income shares 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 positions in and has recommended Apa Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

ASX 200 tech shares are leading the market on Tuesday, up 6.5%, while the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) lifts 2.6%.

It appears investors are buying the dip after a substantial 7.8% fall for the ASX 200 in March.

Despite the war in Iran being far from over, investors appear confident today and are looking to the tech sector for value buys.

ASX 200 tech shares have been in a downward spiral since September 2025.

The S&P/ASX 200 Information Technology Index (ASX: XIJ) has fallen 44% since then.

The primary driver is fear over how the artificial intelligence (AI) revolution will play out.

Investors have been worried about expensive stock valuations in the US and Australia, as well as sky-high capex spending on AI.

This year, a new fear emerged: whether AI will seriously damage software-as-a-service (SaaS) providers.

This is a potent threat for ASX 200 tech shares given four of the six biggest companies by market capitalisation are SaaS providers.

Blackwattle Mid Cap Quality portfolio managers Tim Riordan and Michael Teran explain the SaaS fear:

Leading AI companies, Anthropic and OpenAI released several exciting updates in February, demonstrating exponential improvement.

These updates were also focused on industries beyond traditional software, such as Insurance and Logistics, with the focus of the AI modules to reduce friction (costs) for enterprises and consumers.

Stocks related to these “targeted” industries experienced sharp declines on this new potential AI disruption risk.

Global markets continued their rotation into value, coined the “HALO” trade (Heavy Assets, Low Obsolescence) as the market gravitates to low AI disruption risk businesses.

Riordan and Teran completed a portfolio re-jig in February following “our change in view of AI disruption in late January”.

We have concentrated capital into technology businesses which have stronger barriers (namely network effects), at highly discounted valuations, while also allowing our “HALO” winners to run.

Changes to the portfolio continue to be driven by our continuous tandem goals of improving the overall Quality Score of the portfolio whilst maintaining a highly attractive portfolio level risk/reward skew.

The managers said AI fears were “understandable” but certain ASX 200 tech businesses were “better positioned to thrive in a post AI world”.

They added: “… and going forward the market will likely focus more on individual businesses after this initial indiscriminate sell-off”.

ASX 200 tech shares this fundie is backing

Blackwattle holds the largest ASX 200 tech share, Wisetech Global Ltd (ASX: WTC), in its Mid Cap Quality Fund.

Wisetech shares have more than halved over the past six months.

The Wisetech share price is $38.66, up 2.1% on Tuesday.

Riordan and Teran said:

We view WTC as an ‘Enduring Quality’ business, as one of the highest quality companies on the ASX, continuing their multidecade customer and product growth journey.

We are excited about the FY27 and beyond outlook and see WTC as one of the few technology companies pivoting in the face of AI disruption risk.

We believe this makes a significant long-term, compounding growth profile and highly attractive Risk/Reward makes the current share price selloff a significant investment opportunity.

Blackwattle also holds telecommunications provider Megaport Ltd (ASX: MP1) in its Small Cap Quality Fund.

This ASX 200 tech share has also more than halved over the past six months.

The Megaport share price is currently $7.08, up 2.6% today.

Small-cap fund managers, Robert Hawkesford and Daniel Broeren, said Megaport was a ‘picks and shovels’ play amid the AI revolution.

The company’s competitive advantage is generated by the large number of data centers globally that it connects together with physical assets in ~1,000 data centers and a proprietary software layer, offering customers one-touch access from a central location.

The share price has been volatile in recent years and again more recently in a broader sell-off in ‘growth stocks’ and a more indiscriminate sell-off in technology stocks given fear over AI disruption…

MP1’s networking capability, however, makes it part of the ‘pick and shovels’ needed to deliver AI to corporates globally.

It is a beneficiary of AI adoption, so we see current weakness as a buying opportunity.

The post 2 ASX 200 tech shares this fund manager backs to survive the AI threat appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• How to build a million-dollar ASX share portfolio from zero
• The biggest mistake I see ASX investors making in 2026
• 3 ASX shares to buy before the next market rally

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 Megaport and 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.

Telstra Group Ltd (ASX: TLS) shares have slumped in Tuesday’s trade. At the time of writing, the telco’s shares are down 1% to $5.36 a piece.

Despite today’s slump, the shares are still up 10.3% year to date and 24.5% over the year.

If I bought $8,000 worth of Telstra shares one month ago, what are they worth now?

Telstra shares dropped to an eight-month low of $4.72 on the 23rd of January, before beginning an upwards trajectory. The telco’s stock has leapt higher since it posted its impressive half-year FY26 result in mid-February.

Over the past month, Telstra shares have climbed 3.77%. That means that $8,000 invested in Telstra shares just one month ago is now worth $8,301.60.

Meanwhile, investors who bought $8,000 worth of Telstra shares 12 months ago would now have $9,960.

That’s a decent return!

Can Telstra shares keep climbing higher?

These days, internet access and mobile phone connectivity are a daily necessity rather than a perk. That means that, regardless of how severe inflation or the cost of living gets, connectivity and telecommunications will remain a high priority for most Australians. 

In other words, Telstra is a classic defensive stock that is likely to perform steadily, regardless of what stage of the economic cycle we’re in. This is great news for investors who want to hedge against potential volatility elsewhere in the index, but I don’t think we’ll see a strong upside out of the telco over the next 12 months.

Analysts seem to be mostly neutral on the outlook for Telstra shares this year. TradingView data shows that 11 out of 14 analysts have a hold rating on the stock, and the other four have a strong buy rating. The average target price is $5.26, which implies a 2% downside at the time of writing.

What about Telstra’s passive income?

While it doesn’t look like Telstra shares will keep rocketing higher this year, it could still be worth buying the stock for passive income.

Telstra’s defensive nature means it can offer shareholders a consistent, reliable passive income. In fact, its dividend payout ratio is close to 100% of its earnings. 

The telco pays out two dividends per year, in March and September. Last month, investors were paid an interim dividend of 10.5 cents, 90.48% franked. 

For FY25, the company paid investors an annual dividend of 19 cents per share. At the time of writing, that translates to a dividend yield of around 3.9%.

The post $8,000 invested in Telstra shares 1 month ago is now worth… appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• The reliable ASX dividend shares I’d buy with $10,000
• How to build a million-dollar ASX share portfolio from zero
• How did these ASX defensive shares hold up in March?
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• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today

Motley Fool contributor Samantha Menzies 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 positions in and has recommended Telstra Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

Shares in Amplia Therapeutics Ltd (ASX: ATX) are having a day to forget after the company announced it had halted patient recruitment for its AMPLICITY clinical trial.

Shares in the drug developer, which is backed by big hitters such as former Macquarie Group Ltd (ASX: MQG) Managing Director Alan Moss, fell 31.2% in early trade and on high volume, to change hands at 16.5 cents.

Concerning side effects

The company said it had halted recruitment for the clinical trial after three “dose limiting toxicities” related to the chemotherapy regimen, mFOLFIRINOX, emerged.

The trial was seeking to investigate the use of the company’s lead drug narmafotinib in combination with the chemotherapy regimen modified FOLFIRINOX in treating advanced pancreatic cancer.

The company pointed out that its own compound was not the result of the toxicity.

As the company said:

Eight patients have been dosed with daily narmafotinib in combination with the mFOLFIRINOX regimen administered on its routine cycle and doses. Three events of protocol-defined dose-limiting toxicity (DLT) have been observed at this time, though importantly none have been attributed to narmafotinib and instead relate to the chemotherapy regimen. Five of the 8 patients remain on study and will continue to receive the narmafotinib – mFOLFIRINOX combination with continuing safety monitoring as before.

Amplia said it would “halt recruitment in AMPLICITY and focus its resources on exploring combinations other than with FOLFIRINOX”.

Amplia Managing Director Dr Chris Burns said regarding the results:

The dose limiting toxicities observed are very disappointing for the patients and their families; however, toxicity with FOLFIRINOX chemotherapy is well documented. Given these effects, and the evolving landscape for pancreatic cancer treatment, we will continue to build on our promising ACCENT trial data, as well as plan for additional studies with new, targeted agents being developed for pancreatic cancer. While efficacy data from AMPLICITY is early, four of the eight patients in the trial have recorded stable disease at their first (2-month) scan, with one of these patients subsequently recording a partial response at their 4 -month scan. No other efficacy data is available at this time though updates will be reported in due course.

ACCENT potential is large

While it was bad news for the company today, Bell Potter recently said there had been good recent news out of the ACCENT trial, where in a Phase 1b/2 trial in 64 pancreatic cancer patients, there had been four “complete responders”.

Bell Potter said the trial outcomes to date were “remarkable” and there was “compelling evidence that narmafotinib’s anti-fibrotic mechanism is allowing chemo to exert greater effect and penetrate tumour tissue more effectively”.

Bell Potter has a speculative buy rating on the stock and a 42-cent price target, albeit this was before today’s announcement about the AMPLICITY trial.

Amplia was valued at $135.9 million at the close of trade on Thursday.

The post Down 30% today, is it time to buy into this beaten-down biotech share? 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 positions in and has recommended Macquarie Group. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Macquarie Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

Metallium Ltd (ASX: MTM) shares are under pressure on Tuesday, even as the company chalks up another milestone in its US expansion strategy.

In midday trade, the Metallium share price is down 2.42% to 60.5 cents.

That leaves the stock down roughly 42% since the start of 2026, despite still sitting well above where it traded a year ago after a huge 12-month run.

The weaker move suggests investors may be weighing valuation and execution after a string of strong US announcements over recent months.

Let’s take a closer look.

US defence work moves into the next phase

Today’s update confirmed Metallium has successfully completed Phase I of its Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) contract. The project was run in partnership with the US Department of War’s Defence Logistics Agency (DLA).

The program focused on recovering gallium from semiconductor and electronic waste streams using the company’s Flash Joule Heating technology.

Management said all technical milestones were achieved or exceeded, with the work completed in 6 months, around half the usual SBIR Phase I timeline.

Gallium is used in radar systems, semiconductors, satellite electronics, and advanced communications. The United States currently relies almost entirely on imports for this supply.

Metallium said its process could help recover gallium from alternative waste feedstocks, supporting domestic supply chain security and reducing dependence on overseas production.

The company also noted the successful completion may support a potential Phase II SBIR funding round worth up to US$1 million. This is expected to help fund further development and pilot-scale deployment.

Why the shares may still be under pressure

Despite the positive milestone, today’s weakness may reflect a market that was already expecting further progress in the company’s US strategy.

Metallium has been highly active in Texas, where it is scaling its Gator Point Technology Campus and targeting 8,000 tonnes per annum of PCB feedstock throughput by the end of 2026.

With a market capitalisation of about $449 million, the stock has already delivered a one-year return of about 388%, even after the 2026 pullback.

At this stage, investors may be waiting for the next major update to come from commercial revenues, additional US government funding, or further progress at the Texas facility.

What to watch next

The next key item to watch is whether Metallium can convert this successful defence contract into Phase II funding.

Longer term, investors will also be watching for commercial gallium recovery lines to emerge at its Texas campus.

If that happens, today’s pullback could look more like a pause after such a strong run.

The post Another US milestone, another share price drop: What’s going on with this ASX stock? 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.

New 100% tariffs on Australian pharmaceuticals will not significantly affect the nation’s largest drug company, CSL Ltd (ASX: CSL), the company said on Tuesday.

New trade war front

US President Donald Trump last week announced that the US would impose tariffs of up to 100% on imported drugs, however, there were carve-outs for companies that had plans to move manufacturing to the US.

There were also tariff caps on certain countries with trade deals with the US, including Japan, South Korea, Switzerland, and the European Union.

CSL said in a statement to the ASX on Tuesday that it had taken note of the new tariff announcement, but said that it was not anticipating a large impact.

The company said:

CSL is working through the details of the Proclamation, but the initial view is that most of CSL’s U.S. product sales will not be subject to tariffs. CSL is pleased the U.S. Administration has recognised the unique nature of plasma-derived therapies under the Proclamation. This is consistent with the longstanding approach of special policy accommodations to ensure patient access to these life-saving therapies. CSL’s U.S. plasma therapies are derived entirely from U.S. sourced plasma. CSL continues to invest in manufacturing and job creation in the U.S., recently announcing plans to spend $1.5 billion to expand its plasma therapy manufacturing capabilities in Illinois.

CSL said the primary product sold by its Seqirus division in the US was Fluad, which was made in the United Kingdom, where the tariff is currently 10%, with expectations that it would be reduced to zero.

Mayne also in the clear

Relative minnow Mayne Pharma Ltd (ASX: MYX) also said the new tariffs were expected to have “no material impact” on the company’s FY27 earnings profile.

Mayne Pharma said there was no tariff to be applied to generic medicines, and there would only be a minimal tariff applied to its women’s health portfolio.

It also manufactures branded dermatology products in the US, and hence no tariff would apply.

The company said:

For the Company’s Women’s Health segment, Mayne Pharma believes the tariffs would not apply to the contraceptives in the branded portfolio and would not have a material effect on the menopause products as only one active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) is sourced internationally, and that API is sourced from a territory under an existing trade deal with the US and subject to a lower tariff.

CSL shares were 2.1% higher in early trade at $141.94, while Mayne shares were 2.6% higher at $2.39.

The post What’s the impact of US tariffs on Aussie drugmakers CSL and Mayne Pharma? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Buy, hold, sell: CSL, QBE, and Pro Medicus shares
• Is now the time to load up on CSL shares?
• The biggest mistake I see ASX investors making in 2026
• Are these ASX blue chips now too cheap to ignore?
• Are ‘50% off’ CSL shares a once-in-a-decade opportunity?

Motley Fool contributor Cameron England 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 CSL. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

If I were putting fresh money into ASX dividend shares today, I would be thinking about reliability first.

Not just the size of the yield, but how sustainable it is.

In my experience, the best income stocks are those backed by strong cash flow, essential services, and business models that can withstand different economic environments.

With that in mind, here are three ASX dividend shares I would be comfortable buying with $10,000.

Telstra Group Ltd (ASX: TLS)

Telstra is one of the more straightforward income ideas on the ASX.

It operates critical telecommunications infrastructure that Australians rely on every day. That gives it a level of earnings visibility that many companies could only dream about.

What I like is that the business continues to generate solid cash flow while improving efficiency.

In its recent half-year update, Telstra highlighted ongoing earnings growth supported by cost control and operational discipline, alongside continued strength in its mobile division.

The company is also targeting sustainable growth in cash earnings over time, which supports its ability to maintain and gradually grow its dividend. And given recent mobile pricing increases, I believe it is placed to deliver on this.

For me, Telstra offers a combination of stability and income that is hard to ignore.

APA Group (ASX: APA)

APA Group is another name that stands out to me for income investors.

It owns and operates energy infrastructure assets, including gas pipelines and electricity transmission networks. These are long-life assets that generate relatively predictable cash flows.

In its latest half-year result, APA delivered growth in earnings, with underlying EBITDA increasing 7.6% and distributions rising 1.9%. That sort of consistency is what I look for.

It may not be a fast-growing company, but that is not the goal here.

For income-focused investors, I think APA offers dependable returns backed by essential infrastructure.

Coles Group Ltd (ASX: COL)

Coles brings a different type of defensive income.

As one of Australia’s major supermarket operators, it generates earnings from everyday spending. People continue to buy groceries regardless of what is happening in the economy, which helps support stable revenue.

The company’s latest half-year result showed continued sales growth and strong earnings momentum, supported by execution and operational improvements. It also declared a fully-franked interim dividend of 41 cents per share, reinforcing its role as an income stock.

What I like about Coles right now is its balance. It provides income, but it also has opportunities to improve margins and grow earnings over time through automation and digital investment.

That combination could be attractive for long-term investors.

Foolish Takeaway

I don’t think dividend investing should be about chasing the highest yield available. For me, it is about finding businesses that can keep paying and, ideally, keep growing those payments over time.

Together, I think Telstra, APA Group, and Coles are the types of ASX dividend shares that can form a solid foundation for a long-term income portfolio.

The post The reliable ASX dividend shares I’d buy with $10,000 appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• How to build a million-dollar ASX share portfolio from zero
• How did these ASX defensive shares hold up in March?
• 2 defensive ASX dividend stocks for reliable income
• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• 3 ASX defensive shares to buy in uncertain markets

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

Mesoblast Ltd (ASX: MSB) shares are edging lower despite the biotech company delivering another upbeat commercial update today.

In early afternoon trade, the Mesoblast share price is down 0.47% to $2.12. By comparison, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is hovering 1.5% higher to 8,696 points.

The weaker move for Mesoblast suggests the market may now be waiting for the next bigger catalyst after the stock’s strong recovery over the past year.

Here’s what the market is weighing up.

Ryoncil keeps building momentum

According to today’s update, Mesoblast’s flagship cell therapy Ryoncil generated net sales of US$30.3 million during the March quarter.

Management said this completed the product’s first full year launch cycle. Growth in February and March more than offset the usual seasonal weakness seen in January.

That puts cumulative net revenue since launch close to US$100 million, a major commercial milestone for a company that spent years working toward US commercialisation.

Ryoncil remains Mesoblast’s first FDA-approved product and is currently approved in the United States for steroid-refractory acute graft-versus-host disease in children.

The company said the product’s profitability is helping fund its broader late-stage pipeline. This includes label expansion studies and other inflammatory disease programs.

Why the market may still be cautious

Even with the positive sales result, the share price reaction has remained lowkey.

Part of that likely reflects how much optimism had already been priced in earlier this year when Mesoblast shares hit a 52-week high above $3.30 in January.

At $2.12, the stock is now trading well below that level, even as operating progress continues.

The company’s market capitalisation still sits near $2.75 billion, showing investors still see considerable value in the rest of its pipeline.

The softer move today may also reflect the fact that this release focused on quarterly sales progress rather than upgraded guidance, regulatory milestones, or new clinical data.

After such a strong run in recent quarters, the market may now be waiting for the next major clinical or commercial update before bidding the shares higher again.

What to watch next

The next major watchpoint is whether Mesoblast can keep quarterly sales growth building toward its previously guided FY2026 Ryoncil net revenue range of US$110 million to US$120 million.

If sales momentum continues, attention is likely to shift toward margin improvement, cash generation, and progress across its late-stage pipeline.

Despite today’s positive update, Mesoblast shares are down roughly 21% since the start of the year.

The post Mesoblast shares are back in the red on Tuesday. Here’s why 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.

S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) shares are surging on Tuesday, rising by 2.6% or 224.5 points to an intraday peak of 8,804 points.

All 11 ASX 200 market sectors are higher today, with tech shares in the lead, up 6.2%, followed by materials and financials, both up 2.8%.

As we’ve previously reported, ASX investors appear keen to buy the dip after a 7.8% fall for ASX 200 shares in March.

Trading in April has been volatile, but overall, ASX 200 shares are already 3.5% higher this month.

However, investors are buying ASX 200 shares amid continuing uncertainty as to how the Iran war will play out.

Regardless of when the war ends, the global energy shock will reverberate for months, potentially pushing up inflation and interest rates.

But today, investors appear to be looking through those near-term risks.

Initial panic over the conflict and oil shock appears to be subsiding, with investors reverting to their traditional forward-looking nature.

When investors aren’t panicking about daily news, they tend to trade on what they expect will happen over the next six to 12 months.

Last week, James Gerrish from Shaw and Partners said the “war fear” in the market was fading, although “we’re not out of the woods yet”.

Gerrish noted that the ASX 200’s steep fall in March was “potentially affording an opportunity to buy high-performing stocks at a cheaper entry”.

Are investors buying the dip?

In the surging tech sector today, WiseTech Global Ltd (ASX: WTC) shares are up 5.8% to $40.06.

The Xero Ltd (ASX: XRO) share price is up 4.4% to $77.31.

TechnologyOne Ltd (ASX: TNE) shares are up 4.7% to $28.17 and Life360 Inc (ASX: 360) is up 5% to $19.64.

Nextdc Ltd (ASX: NXT) shares are 13.3% higher at $12.76 after the company announced a $1 billion hybrid securities offer.

Among the miners, the BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP) share price is up 3.3% to $52.97.

Rio Tinto Ltd (ASX: RIO) shares are up 2.6% to $165.88 and Fortescue Ltd (ASX: FMG) is 2.3% higher at $20.72.

The largest ASX 200 lithium mining share, PLS Group Ltd (ASX: PLS), is up 2.9% to $5.24.

The market’s largest ASX 200 gold share, Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST) is 3.4% higher at $22.65.

Among the financials, the Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA) share price is $178.08, up 3.1%.

National Australia Bank Ltd (ASX: NAB) shares are up 3% to $43.04.

Westpac Banking Corp (ASX: WBC) shares are $40.88, up 2.6%, and ANZ Group Holdings Ltd (ASX: ANZ) shares are $37.60, up 2.7%.

Zip Co Ltd (ASX: ZIP) shares are flying on Tuesday, up 8.6% to $1.71.

In energy, Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS) shares are $35.24, up 0.9%, while Santos Ltd (ASX: STO) is $8.07, down 0.2%.

Oil prices continue to trade close to four-year highs.

Brent crude is US$110.40 a barrel, up 0.5%, and WTI crude is US$113.50 per barrel, up 0.9% on Tuesday.

What’s the latest in the Middle East?

The US says it is continuing to negotiate with Iran amid a renewed threat from the President that the US will bomb Iran’s power plants.

Over the weekend, US President Donald Trump said he would target power plants and bridges if Iran did not re-open the Strait of Hormuz.

In an expletive-laden post on Truth Social, President Trump said:

Tuesday will be Power Plant Day, and Bridge Day, all wrapped up in one, in Iran.

There will be nothing like it!!!

Open the Fuckin’ Strait, you crazy bastards, or you’ll be living in Hell – JUST WATCH! Praise be to Allah.

Technically, the strait is not closed. However, no shipping company is willing to sail through it given the risk of Iran attacks.

Iran reportedly rejected a ceasefire proposal over the weekend.

Iran also vowed to respond to any US strikes on civilian infrastructure by attacking the energy assets of Gulf neighbours.

The post ASX 200 surging as investors look beyond Iran war appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Bronwyn Allen has positions in BHP Group and Zip Co. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Life360, Technology One, WiseTech Global, and Xero. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Life360, WiseTech Global, and Xero. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended BHP 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.