Category: Stock Market

The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) endured another nasty sell-off this Friday, capping off what has been one of the index’s worst weeks in years. After dropping heavily on both Tuesday and Wednesday’s sessions, the ASX 200 gave up the modest recovery we saw yesterday to once again plunge this session.

By the time the market’s closed, the index had lost another 1%, leaving it at a flat 8,851 points as we head into the weekend.

This rather horrid end to the trading week for Australian investors follows a similarly rough morning on the American markets.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average Index (DJX: .DJI) suffered a horrendous day, dropping 1.61%.

However, the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC) fared much better, ‘only’ falling 0.26%.

But let’s get back to the local markets and take a closer look at how today’s sell-off affected the different ASX sectors this session.

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

More reading

• Brokers name 3 ASX shares to buy today
• 7 ASX 200 stocks racing higher in this week’s sinking market
• Centuria Industrial REIT declares quarterly distribution for March 2026
• Why Catapult, DroneShield, Karoon Energy, and WiseTech shares are charging higher
• Is the ASX 200 ok?

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 positions in and has recommended Catapult Sports, Domino’s Pizza Enterprises, DroneShield, SiteMinder, Telix Pharmaceuticals, and WiseTech Global and is short shares of DroneShield. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has recommended Pro Medicus. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Catapult Sports, SiteMinder, and WiseTech Global. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Domino’s Pizza Enterprises, Pro Medicus, and Telix Pharmaceuticals. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

There are plenty of ASX shares to choose from on the Australian market.

To narrow things down, let’s take a look at a few that Morgans has been running the rule over recently.

Does it rate them buys, holds, or sells? Let’s find out:

Guzman Y Gomez Ltd (ASX: GYG)

Morgans remains positive on this quick service restaurant operator despite its poor performance in the US market.

It continues to believe that the burrito seller can make a success of its global expansion. As a result, it has a buy rating and $24.00 price target on its shares. It said:

GYG came to market with a strategy for global expansion that was breathtakingly ambitious. The first big opportunity was the US. Unfortunately, the pace of network expansion in the US so far has been pedestrian and the restaurants it has opened have lost more money than expected. It was a further step-up in US losses that disappointed investors most today and caused group EBITDA to fall 7% short of our forecast.

We do believe global growth will click into gear at some point to complement a very healthy Australian business. We maintain a BUY rating, though our revised 12-month target sees the share price recovering to $24.00 rather than the $32.30 we had before. GYG has a bit to prove, but we can be certain it is going to give it all it’s got to ultimately realise its growth ambitions.

Lovisa Holdings Ltd (ASX: LOV)

Another expanding ASX share that Morgans has been looking at is fashion jewellery retailer Lovisa.

It was pleased with its performance in the first half of FY 2026. As a result, it has retained its buy rating on its shares with a $36.80 price target. It commented:

LOV reported a strong underlying 1H26 result with EBIT up 20.4%, ~6% ahead of our expectations, driven by store network growth and strong gross margins. During the period, the pace of store rollout continued with a net of 64 new stores in the period, bringing the total count to 1,095. We have increased our EBIT by 3%/1% respectively in FY26/27, driven by higher sales and gross margin offset by higher costs and D&A. We see the pull back in share price as a buying opportunity at ~23x FY27 PE. Our valuation lowers to $36.80 (from $40) and we retain our BUY recommendation.

Newmont Corporation (ASX: NEM)

This gold miner has caught the eye of Morgans. However, due to its current valuation, it has only put an accumulate rating and $187.00 price target on Newmont’s shares. It explains:

4Q25 earnings result was a material beat. Key positives: earnings well ahead of expectations and 2026 guidance in-line with expectations. Key negatives: no increase in per share dividend, elevated spend over next few years, limited clarity on when NEM intends to reach its 6Mozpa target. Move to an ACCUMULATE rating with a A$187ps Target Price.

The post Buy, hold, sell: Guzman Y Gomez, Lovisa, and Newmont shares appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• If gold is a safe haven, why are ASX 200 gold stocks like Northern Star and Evolution Mining getting smashed this week?
• How I’d invest $20,000 in the ASX share market right now
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Friday
• 32 ASX shares about to go ex-dividend
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Thursday

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

Income investors looking at Telstra Group Ltd (ASX: TLS) shares today might be a little surprised to see this S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) telco’s dividend. Telstra has long been an ASX income stock famous for its fat dividend yield. However, the Telstra dividend that’s on offer today looks a little different to what investors might have become used to over recent years.

Ever since its ASX listing back in the 1990s, Telstra shares have been a favourite of ASX income investors. The telco has funded massive, and fully franked, dividends for decades. Thanks to a seemingly impenetrable dominance of the Australian telecommunications industry – both in mobile and fixed-line services – this company has long enjoyed wide profit margins, enabled by a wide economic moat. This, in turn, has enabled a stream of relatively dependable dividends.

But looking at Telstra shares today, two things might stand out to long-time watchers of this income stock when it comes to the Telstra dividend.

Where’s the rest of it?

Firstly, it’s not very high, at least by Telstra’s standards. At the time of writing, Telstra is trading at $5.22 a share. At this price, the company sports a trailing dividend yield of 3.84%. That might seem decent, but keep in mind that, as recently as 15 months ago, Telstra shares were trading with a dividend yield over 4.5%.

That’s not exactly Telstra’s fault. The telco increased its annual dividends in 2025, and again with its interim dividend just last month. In fact, Tesltra has delivered an annual dividend rise every year since 2021.

We can blame this reduction in dividend yield on Telstra’s galloping share price.

Telstra shares have been on fire over the past couple of years. It was only in mid 2024 that the company was trading at under $3.50 a share. Last month, the company hit a multi-year high of $5.26 a share. Between May 2024 and today, Telstra stock has jumped an impressive 51% or so.

That has been great for existing investors, but it has also had the deleterious effect of lowering the company’s dividend yield.

Telstra dividend: Fully franked no more?

The other thing that might stand out with the Telstra dividend today is its franking, or lack thereof.

Before 2026, Telstra was well-known for its habit of always attaching full franking credits to its dividends, much to the delight of income investors. However, that trend came to an end last month when the telco revealed its latest interim dividend. While there was much to like in Telstra’s 10.5% dividend increase to 10.5 cents per share, Telstra surprised the market by announcing that this payout would only come partially franked at 90.5%. It was the company’s first non-fully franked dividend in almost three decades.

As we dove into at the time, Telstra didn’t really tell us why it had changed the franking status of this latest payout. It will be interesting to see if the company’s final dividend later this year comes partially franked too.

The post What’s happening with Telstra’s dividend? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• The easiest way to earn $1,000 a month in ASX dividends
• Passive income: How much would I need to invest in ASX shares to earn $1,000 every month?
• Are Telstra shares a buy for their ‘dependable dividends’
• Aussie Broadband vs Telstra: Which telco stock deserves your dollar?
• Here’s the latest earnings forecast out to 2030 for Telstra shares

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 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.

The Santos Ltd (ASX: STO) share price is moving higher on Friday. This comes despite news that the company’s chief executive has sold a sizeable parcel of shares.

At the time of writing, Santos shares are up 1.71% to $7.445. The energy giant’s stock has now climbed more than 20% in 2026, reflecting strong momentum across the oil and gas sector.

So why are investors looking past the insider sale?

Santos CEO offloads shares

According to a recent director’s interest notice, Santos CEO Kevin Gallagher sold 830,132 shares on market on 27 February.

The shares were sold at an average price of $6.75 each, generating proceeds of roughly $5.6 million.

The filing states the sale was mainly to fund personal tax obligations, with the remaining proceeds to be used as part of a reorganisation of his personal financial affairs.

Despite the transaction, Gallagher still maintains a sizeable exposure to Santos.

Following the sale, his direct and indirect holdings total about 2.7 million shares through family entities and employee share plans. He also holds more than 1.5 million performance rights under the company’s executive incentive scheme.

Strategic review speculation grows

Santos has also been in the spotlight after reports the company is reviewing parts of its asset portfolio.

Media reports suggest the energy producer is considering whether to separate or sell some underperforming assets as part of a broader strategic review.

Assets in Western Australia, the Cooper Basin, and the Narrabri gas project in New South Wales have been mentioned as potential candidates.

The goal would be to streamline the business and focus more heavily on its core LNG operations, which include major projects in Australia and Alaska.

Any portfolio changes could also revive takeover interest in Santos. The company has previously attracted approaches from global energy players, including a failed $30 billion bid from a consortium led by Abu Dhabi National Oil Company.

Strong oil and gas markets support the share price

Another factor helping Santos shares has been the strength in global energy markets.

Oil prices have climbed in recent weeks as rising tensions in the Middle East raise concerns about possible supply disruptions.

The Strait of Hormuz remains one of the most important shipping routes for global energy supplies, with a large portion of the world’s oil passing through the narrow waterway.

Stronger oil and gas prices translate into improved revenue and cash flow for Santos.

Foolish bottom line

Insider selling can sometimes make investors nervous, but the market appears to be largely brushing off the news.

Gallagher’s share sale was linked to personal tax obligations rather than any shift in confidence about the company.

With energy prices strengthening, takeover speculation still lingering, and the share price already up more than 20% in 2026, Santos continues to attract investor interest.

The post Santos shares rise despite CEO selling $5.6 million worth of stock appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 7 ASX 200 stocks racing higher in this week’s sinking market
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Friday
• Why Woodside and Santos shares are in focus as oil prices surge
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Thursday
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Wednesday

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.

It has been another busy week for many of Australia’s top brokers. This has led to the release of a number of broker notes.

Three broker buy ratings that you might want to know more about are summarised below. Here’s why brokers think these ASX shares are in the buy zone right now:

Catapult Sports Ltd (ASX: CAT)

According to a note out of Bell Potter, its analysts have retained their buy rating on this sports technology company’s shares with a trimmed price target of $4.85. The broker has named Catapult as one of its preferred tech stocks amongst the mid caps. It highlights that the company is exposed to the pro sports technology market which was valued at US$36 billion in 2025 and is forecast to double to US$72 billion by 2030. In addition, the broker doesn’t believe that AI is going to disrupt its business. Overall, if tech stocks rally, Bell Potter would expect Catapult to follow suit and be one of the better performers. This is because it believes there is a lack of other good quality tech stocks in the mid cap space. One slight negative is the potential for its shares to be kicked out of the ASX 200 index at the next rebalance. However, it believes this is largely priced in now. The Catapult share price is trading at $3.95 on Friday afternoon.

Life360 Inc (ASX: 360)

A note out of Morgan Stanley reveals that its analysts have retained their overweight rating and $50.00 price target on this family safety technology company’s shares. The broker believes that Life360 is well-placed for strong long-term growth. It also highlights that the Life360 platform has defensive qualities and generates proprietary data from its user base of almost 100 million people. In light of this, it feels it would be difficult for AI to disrupt or replace the company’s business model. The Life360 share price is fetching $22.01 at the time of writing.

Nufarm Ltd (ASX: NUF)

Another note out of Bell Potter reveals that its analysts have retained their buy rating and $3.60 price target on this agricultural chemicals company’s shares. The broker has been looking at industry data and believes it is favourable. As a result, it expects Nufarm’s upcoming half-year results to demonstrate a continuation of the margin recovery story that became evident last year in the crop protection business. It is also anticipating a material turnaround in omega-3 earnings based on improved pricing indicators. So, with its shares trading at 6x forward EBITDA, compared to 8x for peers, Bell Potter sees a lot of value on offer here. The Nufarm share price is trading at $2.11 this afternoon.

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

More reading

• Why Catapult, DroneShield, Karoon Energy, and WiseTech shares are charging higher
• Looking for big returns? This ASX 200 share could rise 70%
• Bell Potter says this ASX 200 tech stock is a top buy
• 3 buy-rated ASX growth shares tipped to rise 30% to 125%
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Friday

Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in Life360. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Catapult Sports and Life360. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Catapult Sports and Life360. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

One of the most popular goals for investors in the share market is building a steady stream of passive income.

Imagine receiving $1,000 every month without needing to sell any shares. That kind of income can help cover everyday expenses, supplement a salary, or support a more comfortable retirement.

The good news is that the Australian share market has a long history of producing reliable dividend income. In fact, the ASX is one of the most income-friendly markets in the world thanks to the strong dividend culture among Australian companies.

So how could you aim to earn $1,000 per month from ASX dividends?

Where to begin

The first step is converting the monthly goal into an annual income target.

If you want to earn $1,000 per month in dividends, that works out to $12,000 per year.

From there, the next step is estimating the dividend yield your portfolio could reasonably produce. Many diversified ASX income portfolios aim for a yield somewhere around 4%.

Using that figure, you can estimate how much capital might be required.

At a 4% dividend yield, generating $12,000 per year would require an investment of roughly $300,000.

Of course, dividend yields vary across companies and the share market changes over time, so this figure should be viewed as a rough guide rather than a guarantee.

Building the ASX dividend portfolio

Once the income target is clear, the focus shifts to building a portfolio capable of generating that yield while remaining diversified.

A common approach is combining reliable ASX dividend-paying shares with diversified income exchange-traded funds (ETFs).

For example, large Australian banks such as Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA) and Westpac Banking Corp (ASX: WBC) have historically been strong dividend payers.

Infrastructure businesses like Transurban Group (ASX: TCL) and APA Group (ASX: APA) can also contribute steady income thanks to the predictable cash flow generated by long-life assets such as toll roads and energy infrastructure.

Defensive companies like supermarket operator Woolworths Group Ltd (ASX: WOW) and telecommunications provider Telstra Group Ltd (ASX: TLS) can add further stability to an income-focused portfolio.

Some investors may also include a dividend-focused ETF such as the Vanguard Australian Shares High Yield ETF (ASX: VHY). This type of ETF provides exposure to a broad portfolio of high-yielding Australian shares in a single investment.

The benefit of combining individual dividend stocks with ETFs is that it spreads risk across multiple sectors while still providing exposure to the ASX’s income potential.

Let dividends compound

One important thing to remember is that most investors don’t start with $300,000 ready to invest.

Instead, many people gradually build their dividend portfolio over time.

In the early years, reinvesting dividends and continuing to add new capital can help the portfolio grow much faster. Over time, the compounding effect of reinvested dividends can make a significant difference to both the size of the portfolio and the income it generates.

Eventually, that growing stream of dividends can begin to cover meaningful expenses.

Foolish takeaway

Earning $1,000 per month in ASX dividends may sound ambitious, but it becomes much more achievable when you break the goal down.

By building a diversified portfolio of dividend-paying companies and income-focused ETFs and giving the portfolio time to grow, investors can steadily work toward creating a reliable passive income stream from the share market.

The post The easiest way to earn $1,000 a month in ASX dividends appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 5 ASX dividend shares to hold for the next decade
• Are Coles or Woolworths shares a better buy right now?
• Passive income: How much would I need to invest in ASX shares to earn $1,000 every month?
• 2 ASX dividend shares raising dividends like clockwork
• What next for CBA shares after expectations-busting results?

Motley Fool contributor Grace Alvino has positions in Commonwealth Bank Of Australia and Transurban Group. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Transurban Group. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Apa Group, Telstra Group, Transurban Group, and Woolworths Group. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Vanguard Australian Shares High Yield ETF. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

The Dicker Data Ltd (ASX: DDR) share price is edging higher in Friday trade.

At the time of writing, shares in the technology distributor are up 0.93% to $8.69.

Despite the modest rise today, Dicker Data shares have pulled back significantly in recent months. The stock is down about 16% over the past week and roughly 15% year-to-date, leaving it trading well below recent highs.

For long term investors seeking reliable income and growth, that weakness could be creating an opportunity.

Let’s take a closer look at why this ASX dividend stock may be worth considering.

A proven dividend payer

One of the biggest attractions of Dicker Data is its long track record of returning cash to shareholders.

The company pays quarterly fully franked dividends, which is relatively uncommon on the ASX. Over the past several years, it has consistently distributed a large portion of its earnings.

For example, the company recently declared a final dividend of 11.5 cents per share, continuing its steady stream of payments. Across FY25, fully franked dividends totalled 44 cents per share.

Dicker Data recently reviewed its dividend policy and confirmed it plans to distribute between 80% and 100% of net profit after tax (NPAT) to shareholders, subject to cash and capital requirements.

At current prices, the stock offers a dividend yield of around 5.1%, supported by those regular quarterly payments.

Positioned to benefit from rising IT spending

Beyond dividends, Dicker Data also benefits from long-term growth in technology spending.

The company distributes hardware, software, cloud infrastructure and cybersecurity products to resellers across Australia and New Zealand. This places it in the middle of a major and expanding industry.

According to Gartner forecasts, IT spending in Australia is expected to reach about $172.3 billion in 2026, representing 8.9% growth year-on-year.

Demand is being driven by several structural trends including cloud computing, artificial intelligence (AI), cybersecurity and data centre expansion.

Dicker Data is also positioning itself for the next phase of growth in AI. The company has been working with partners such as Dell Technologies and Cisco to develop AI infrastructure solutions, including new AI platforms expected to roll out in the first-half of 2026.

If businesses continue upgrading their technology systems, Dicker Data should remain well placed to benefit.

Foolish bottom line

Dicker Data may not always attract the same attention as some high profile technology companies. But its business model is simple, profitable and cash generative.

The company has a strong reputation with major technology vendors and has built a network that supports thousands of resellers across Australia and New Zealand.

Combined with reliable earnings and quarterly dividends, Dicker Data offers investors attractive income potential. It also provides exposure to long term growth in technology spending.

With the Dicker Data share price well below recent highs, long-term investors may see today’s weakness as a chance to buy.

The post 1 incredibly cheap ASX dividend growth stock to buy now and hold for decades appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 5 ASX dividend shares to buy for income in 2026
• Dicker Data shares fall to a 7-month low. Is this a bargain buy?
• ASX 200 tech shares lead market sectors with a 7% bounce back
• Invest $20,000 in these 4 ASX shares and get $1,000 passive income

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

With only a few hours of trade left before Friday’s closing bell, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is down 4.1% for the week, despite the best lifting efforts of these seven ASX 200 stocks.

Following the United States and Israeli strikes on Iran over the weekend, you’ll notice a number of this week’s outperformers are ASX energy shares, benefiting from rising global energy prices.

An ASX defence stock also makes the list. But you may be surprised by the top-performing ASX 200 stock this week, which earns its keep in the funds management business.

So, without further ado…

ASX 200 stocks racing higher despite the falling market

The first company rewarding investors in this week’s falling market is Viva Energy Group Ltd (ASX: VEA).

Shares in the Aussie fuel supplier closed last Friday trading for $1.77. In afternoon trade today, shares are changing hands for $2.12, up 19.8% for the week.

Viva Energy looks to be benefiting from fast-rising oil and gas prices. Currently trading at US$84.17 per barrel, Brent crude oil is up 16.1% since last Friday.

That’s also likely seeing investors pile into Ampol Ltd (ASX: ALD) shares, another Aussie fuel supplier.

Shares in the ASX 200 stock closed last week at $28.17 and are currently trading for $31.48. This sees the Ampol share price up 11.7% for the week.

Which brings us to Santos Ltd (ASX: STO).

Shares in the oil and gas producer closed last Friday at $6.76 and are currently trading for $7.42. This sees the Santos share price up 9.7% despite the wider market sell-down.

Not surprisingly, then, Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS) shares are also strongly outperforming this week. Shares in the oil and gas giant closed last week at $28.31 and are currently changing hands for $30.61 each, up 8.1%.

And the rally has extended to ASX 200 coal stocks, like Whitehaven Coal Ltd (ASX: WHC), spurred by a 14% spike in thermal coal prices this week to US$135 per tonne.

Shares in the coal producer closed last week at $7.81 and are currently swapping hands for $8.50 apiece. That sees the Whitehaven share price up 8.8% this week.

And with drone attacks in the Middle East now making regular news, DroneShield Ltd (ASX: DRO) shares are also attracting heightened investor interest.

Shares in the drone defence company closed last week at $3.62 and are currently trading at $3.96. That sees the DroneShield share price up 9.3% for the week.

Leading the pack higher

Leading the ASX 200 stock charge this week is Magellan Financial Group Ltd (ASX: MFG).

Shares in the fund manager closed last Friday at $8.46 and are trading for $11.18 at the time of writing. This puts the Magellan share price up 32.2% for the week.

Magellan shares closed up a whopping 21.9% on Tuesday after exiting a trading halt and following news that the company plans to merge with Barrenjoey Capital Partners.

Commenting on the merger, Magellan chairman Andrew Formica said:

The merger with Barrenjoey marks a transformative step in MFG’s evolution, bringing together two highly complementary businesses to create an Australian financial services group with meaningful scale and breadth.

The post 7 ASX 200 stocks racing higher in this week’s sinking market appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Why Catapult, DroneShield, Karoon Energy, and WiseTech shares are charging higher
• Oil prices rocket 8%. Here’s where I’d put my money
• Can this ASX energy stock keep the rally going?
• $10,000 invested in Woodside shares at the start of 2026 is now worth…
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Friday

Motley Fool contributor Bernd Struben has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended DroneShield and is short shares of DroneShield. 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.

You may have missed it with all that has been going on this week, but we had a big development in the world of ASX exchange-traded funds (ETFs). Popular ETF provider Vanguard debuted a new index fund, and it’s certainly worth paying attention to. Yep, the Vanguard S&P 500 US Shares Index ETF (ASX: V500) officially launched on the Australian stock market on Tuesday.

This is big news for Australian lovers of index funds and ASX ETFs. That’s because, up until Tuesday, there was only one fund on the ASX available for investors who wanted to invest in the most popular and widely tracked index in the world – the S&P 500 Index.

The S&P 500 is the flagship index of the American stock markets. It covers the 500 largest companies that are listed on either the New York Stock Exchange or the NASDAQ. That’s everything from tech giants Apple, Amazon, NVIDIA and Microsoft to American staples like Coca-Cola Co, Ford Motor Co, Berkshire Hathaway Inc and McDonald’s Corp.

It’s for this reason that legendary investor Warren Buffett calls the S&P 500 a “slice of America”.

As we touched on above, until Tuesday, it was the iShares S&P 500  ETF (ASX: IVV) that was ASX investors’ only port of call if they wished to invest in a simple S&P 500 index fund.

This has been great for iShares. IVV is currently the third-most popular ETF on the ASX by funds under management (about $13 billion).

Can Vanguard’s new S&P 500 fund compete with the IVV ETF?

However, the iShares S&P 500 ETF now has some stiff competition from Vanguard. Vanguard is a beloved brand amongst ETF and index fund investors. This is largely thanks to the group’s not-for-profit model, which allows it to offer some of the most competitive management fees on the market. The beloved status of its founder amongst the investing community, the late Jack Bogle, a pioneer of the first index funds, also helps.

The Vanguard S&P 500 US Shares Index ETF was also accompanied by a currency-hedged iteration, the Vanguard S&P 500 US Shares Index (Hedged) ETF (ASX: V5AH), as well as an unlisted managed fund.

But how does it stack up against the iShares S&P 500 ETF, which has been around since 2007?

Well, both products essentially offer investors the same thing: exposure to the 500 stocks in the S&P 500 index. The only real difference investors have to contemplate is the fees.

In this arena, iShares is still out in front. It charges a miniscule 0.04% per annum (or $4 a year for every $10,000 invested). Vanguard’s V500 is still competitive, but is askign 0.07% per annum ($7 for every $10,00 invested). Now, Vanguard’s fund is still fresh, so it’s possible that the provider will be able to reassess its fee as its asset base grows larger. But as it stands today, IVV is the cheaper option. This will be an interesting space to watch.

The post Can Vanguard’s new S&P 500 fund topple the IVV ETF? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 3 world-class ASX ETFs to buy and hold
• 3 ASX shares perfect for beginners
• The $10-a-day ASX share investing habit that could change your financial future
• 5 simple ASX ETFs to build a long-term portfolio around
• New to the share market? Here are 3 ASX ETFs to buy for easy investing

Motley Fool contributor Sebastian Bowen has positions in Amazon, Apple, Berkshire Hathaway, Coca-Cola, McDonald’s, and Microsoft. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Amazon, Apple, Berkshire Hathaway, Microsoft, Nvidia, and iShares S&P 500 ETF and is short shares of Apple. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Amazon, Apple, Berkshire Hathaway, Microsoft, Nvidia, and iShares S&P 500 ETF. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

The Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST) share price is under heavy pressure in mid-afternoon trade on Friday.

At the time of writing, shares in the ASX gold miner are down 7.39% to $27.19.

The decline comes despite a very strong run over the past year. Northern Star shares are still up more than 50% over the last 12 months, reflecting a powerful rally in the gold sector.

So, what is pushing the stock lower today?

Gold price pullback weighs on ASX miners

The main driver behind today’s fall appears to be a pullback in gold prices.

Gold is currently trading at around US$5,090 per ounce, after easing in recent sessions following a strong rally earlier this year.

The precious metal has surged sharply over the past 12 months and remains more than 70% higher year-on-year, supported by strong investor demand and geopolitical tensions.

However, gold prices can be volatile in the short-term.

Recent media reports suggest the metal has come under pressure from a stronger US dollar and rising bond yields.

There have also been signs that some investors are taking profits after the metal recently traded near record levels.

This appears to be weighing on Northern Star and other ASX-listed gold stocks today.

Northern Star remains a major gold producer

Northern Star is one of Australia’s largest gold miners.

The company operates a portfolio of major mining operations across Western Australia and Alaska, including the well-known Kalgoorlie Super Pit.

Northern Star reported strong production and earnings growth in its most recent results. This was supported by higher gold prices and steady output from its operations.

The company delivered first-half revenue of $4.31 billion, up 19% year-on-year, while underlying EBITDAincreased 34% to $1.88 billion.

Net profit after tax (NPAT) also rose strongly, reaching $1.11 billion for the half-year.

Northern Star declared an interim dividend of 25 cents per share, reflecting the strong cash generation from its operations.

What could happen next?

While the Northern Star share price is falling today, the broader outlook for the gold sector remains closely tied to movements in the gold price.

Gold often attracts demand during periods of economic uncertainty and geopolitical tension.

Central bank buying has also remained strong in recent years, providing additional support for the market.

If gold prices remain elevated or move higher again, miners such as Northern Star could continue to benefit.

For now, the latest pullback in the gold price is clearly putting pressure on the Northern Star share price.

The post Why the Northern Star share price is sinking 7% today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Why BHP, Northern Star, Resimac, and Tivan shares are falling today
• If gold is a safe haven, why are ASX 200 gold stocks like Northern Star and Evolution Mining getting smashed this week?
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Thursday
• Can these red hot ASX 200 stocks keep rising?
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Wednesday

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.