Category: Stock Market

ASX gold stock Ramelius Resources Ltd (ASX: RMS) is edging lower on Wednesday, down around 2% in early afternoon trade. The share price fell despite the company unveiling promising new exploration results.

Over the past 12 months, the $7 billion stock has been a strong performer. It has climbed around 30%, beating the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO), which has gained roughly 14%. But momentum has cooled in 2026, with the stock now down around 12% year to date.

So, what’s behind today’s dip?

Strong discoveries at Dalgaranga

The ASX gold stock released an exploration update from its Dalgaranga project, highlighting high-grade gold hits that could support future underground mining at the Gilbey’s deposit.

Standout drill results included 3.9 metres at 21.2g/t gold and 6.1 metres at 10.4g/t gold — impressive grades that point to a potentially valuable underground resource.

Total mineral resources at Gilbey’s Underground now sit at 6.9 million tonnes at 1.9g/t for around 380,000 ounces of gold.

Drilling across areas like West Winds and Four Pillars is helping validate earlier estimates and is pushing Ramelius to consider Gilbey’s as its next underground mine at Dalgaranga. Importantly, these higher-grade zones could replace lower-grade ore currently planned for processing in FY29 and FY30.

That could potentially boost margins and supporting long-term production targets.

More growth potential emerging

Beyond Gilbey’s, the ASX gold stock is actively drilling across the Plymouth-Sly Fox region, aiming to add both underground and open-pit opportunities to its pipeline.

Early results are pointing to further resource growth, with additional assays still pending. Exploration is also underway at nearby Golden Wings and Gilbey’s South, with more updates expected in coming months.

Ramelius plans to ramp up drilling at Gilbey’s Underground from late April 2026, targeting resource upgrades and extensions to known high-grade zones. Similar work is planned at Sly Fox and Plymouth to support future mine planning.

All of this feeds into a bigger ambition: lifting group gold production beyond 525,000 ounces per year by FY30 through a mix of resource conversion and new discoveries.

So why are shares falling?

Despite the positive operational update, external factors appear to be driving today’s weakness.

Gold prices slipped overnight, with futures down around 0.95% to US$4,695.7 an ounce. Concerns around inflation and the potential for further interest rate hikes — partly linked to rising oil prices — weighed on the precious metal.

For ASX gold stocks like Ramelius, short-term share price moves are often closely tied to the gold price itself. So even strong exploration results can be overshadowed if the commodity price is moving in the opposite direction.

Foolish takeaway

Ramelius has delivered encouraging exploration news, pointing to higher-grade resources and future production upside. But in the short term, macro factors — particularly gold price movements — can have the final say on share price direction.

For investors, that means separating the long-term story from the day-to-day noise.

The post Why is this ASX gold stock slipping despite new gold discoveries? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Why did the ASX 200 just rebound following the hottest inflation print since 2023?
• Nickel Industries reports March quarter earnings
• BSP Financial Group Q1 2026 earnings: Profit and revenue climb as bank continues investment
• Mesoblast shares in focus after key Phase 3 milestone for low back pain
• Stanmore Resources: Coal output recovers in March quarter

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.

The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) was down 0.4% at 8,673 points when the clock struck 11:30am AEST today.

In the minutes that followed, Australia’s benchmark stock market index rebounded to be down less than 0.2% at 8,696 points.

ASX 200 investors have been favouring their buy buttons following the release of the latest inflation data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).

Here’s what we know.

Inflation not quite so hot as expected

ASX 200 investors appear relieved at the latest inflation print, despite the annual Consumer Price Index (CPI) running at two and a half year highs.

That’s likely because consensus economist forecasts had been expecting headline inflation for the 12 months to March to come in at a blistering 4.8%, while the ABS revealed price increases have been slightly below those expectations.

“March CPI inflation of 4.6% is up from the 3.7% annual inflation to February,” Sue-Ellen Luke, ABS head of prices statistics, said. “‘Annual CPI inflation is the highest it’s been since September 2023.”

A 6.5% increase in housing was the biggest driver of the annual inflation increase in March.

And, as you’ll know if you’ve stopped by the petrol station lately, Australia is feeling the price pain from the Middle East conflict.

According to the ABS:

The CPI monthly movement for March was 1.1 per cent, driven by transport which rose 9.2%, due primarily to a 32.8% monthly increase in automotive fuel prices.

Electricity costs also offered an unwelcome jolt. Electricity prices were up 25.4% year on year, largely due to the removal of Commonwealth and State government rebates that reduced electricity costs for households.

Trimmed mean annual inflation, which takes out certain volatile items like automotive fuel, was unchanged at 3.3% in the 12 months to March.

Why are ASX 200 investors celebrating the uplift in inflation?

While Australia’s inflation print is the highest in almost three years, the fact that it came in lower than most economists had been expecting looks to have lifted hopes that the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) may hold off on another interest rate hike.

The RBA meets again next Tuesday, 5 May, to announce its next interest rate decision.

Australia’s central bank has diverged from most leading global central banks on embarking on its tightening path this year to combat inflation, which was already back on the rise before the Middle East conflict put a rocket under energy prices.

After hiking interest rates by 0.25% at both of its 2026 meetings this year, Australia’s official cash rate currently stands at 4.10%.

Whether the slightly cooler-than-expected inflation print is enough to see the RBA keep rates on hold, as some ASX 200 investors appear to believe today, remains to be seen.

It’s important to remember that a lot of the price pressures we’re likely to see from the Iran war have yet to flow through to the broader economy.

Stay tuned!

The post Why did the ASX 200 just rebound following the hottest inflation print since 2023? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Why is this ASX gold stock slipping despite new gold discoveries?
• Nickel Industries reports March quarter earnings
• BSP Financial Group Q1 2026 earnings: Profit and revenue climb as bank continues investment
• Mesoblast shares in focus after key Phase 3 milestone for low back pain
• Stanmore Resources: Coal output recovers in March quarter

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 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.

Today marks the 7th consecutive day in which the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) has fallen. 

On Wednesday morning Australia’s benchmark index opened at 8,671 points – roughly 0.5% down from yesterday. 

This morning, I covered earlier this morning which ASX sectors may now offer opportunity for investors. 

However, on the bearish side, there’s no guarantee of a market recovery in the short term as the ongoing conflict in the Middle East continues to weigh on sentiment.

For those bolstering down the hatches for a prolonged share market fall, it may be worth revisiting some defensive options. 

What are defensive shares?

As a quick refresher, defensive stocks are shares in well-established, mature companies that tend to generate steady profits and pay consistent dividends 

These occur regardless of the overall economic environment. 

Unlike growth stocks, which usually reinvest most of their earnings to expand the business, defensive companies often distribute a larger portion of their profits to shareholders through dividends.

These companies typically operate in non-discretionary industries, meaning their products or services are always in demand, even when the economy is weak or consumer confidence declines. 

Common examples include:

• consumer staples such as supermarkets and essential food producers
• healthcare providers like hospitals and pharmaceutical companies,
• food and beverage businesses 
• utilities that supply electricity, gas, and water
• infrastructure companies that manage essential services like toll roads.

Defensive examples 

For investors looking for individual defensive companies, some well known examples include: 

• Transurban Group (ASX: TCL) – one of the world’s largest toll-road operators, managing and developing urban toll-road networks in Australia and North America.
• Telstra Group Ltd (ASX: TLS) – Australia’s largest and longest-running provider of telecommunications and information products and services
• Woolworths Group Ltd (ASX: WOW) and Coles Group Ltd (ASX: COL) – Australia’s largest supermarkets. 

Investing in defensive shares using ASX ETFs

Another option for investors looking for more diversified defensive options is an ASX ETF. 

There are several that group together high dividend or defensive themed companies into one fund. 

Some options include: 

• Global X Physical Gold (ASX: GOLD) – Gold is often considered a defensive option because it tends to hold its value (or rise) during periods of economic uncertainty, market volatility, or inflation.
• iShares International Equity ETFs – iShares Global Healthcare ETF (ASX: IXJ) – provides investors with the performance of the S&P Global 1200 Healthcare (Sector). 
• VanEck Msci International Quality ETF (ASX: QUAL) – provides investors with an international equity portfolio of 300 companies with fundamentals that satisfy principles of quality (high ROE, stable year-on-year earnings growth and low financial leverage). 

The post Is it time for investors to turn back to defensive ASX shares? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• Is the Telstra share price a buy for its 5.4% dividend yield?
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• Are Telstra shares a good deal at $5.32?

Motley Fool contributor Aaron Bell 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 Transurban Group. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Telstra Group, Transurban Group, and Woolworths Group. 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) has tumbled again in early morning trade on Wednesday as inflation fears, interest rate hike concerns, and surging oil prices continue to put pressure on Australian stocks across several sectors.

During periods of market weakness, it’s important to look for stocks with the strongest outlooks. Here are four ASX stocks that brokers rate as strong buys, with potential upside of over 50%.

Seek Ltd (ASX: SEK)

Seek shares have tumbled another 0.6% in Wednesday morning trade, to $13.97 a piece. There is no price-sensitive news from the company this week, so the downward share price pressure is likely a mix of broad economic fears about slowing economic growth and a higher cost of living, combined with concerns about a weakening job market. Seek reported robust double-digit revenue growth for the first half of FY26, although investors were underwhelmed by the result. But it looks like analysts consider the shares well below fair value. Hiring activity is expected to slowly improve this year, and as a company so closely linked to the employment market, this is great news for Seek. Market Index data shows brokers are tipping a 58% upside to $21.94 at the time of writing.

Telix Pharmaceuticals Ltd (ASX: TLX)

Telix shares have rebounded sharply from a multi-year low in mid-February. In Wednesday morning trade, the ASX 200 biopharmaceutical stock is climbing higher again, up 0.2% to $14.77 a piece. The rebound comes off the back of a series of good-news announcements out of the company over the past couple of months. In late February, the company confirmed that it had filed a key regulatory approval in Europe. Later in March, Telix posted several announcements about its growth and development plans. Earlier this month, Telix announced that the FDA had accepted its NDA for TLX101-Px (Pixclara®) and also announced a major collaboration with US-based Regeneron Pharmaceuticals. It has also announced a 56% increase in revenue and issued FY26 guidance in the range of US$950 million to US$970 million. Brokers seem to think there is plenty more room for the stock to run too. They tip a 54% upside to $22.63 a piece, at the time of writing.

Westgold Resources Ltd (ASX: WGX)

Westgold shares are tumbling this morning, down 1.23% to $6.02 a piece, after posting a $285 million quarterly cash build ahead of the market open. The miner maintained its FY26 gold production guidance of 345,000 to 385,000 ounces despite slightly lower quarterly grades and volumes. A softening gold price has also contributed to downward pressure on many ASX gold stocks this week. But Westgold said it expects production rates to ramp up in Q4 FY26, with ventilation upgrades at Beta Hunt and Big Bell now complete and no major shutdowns planned. Its Higginsville Expansion Plan is also underway, with plans to increase processing capacity and reduce unit costs from mid FY28. Brokers tip a 55% upside to $9.31 per share over the next 12 months, at the time of writing.

Zip Co Ltd (ASX: ZIP)

Zip shares are in focus this month after rebounding from an annual low in late March. The shares have rocketed 64% higher over the past month, and the gains keep on coming. The ASX 200 stock is up another 1.24% at the time of writing to $2.44 a piece. The BNPL provider posted its Q3 FY26 results ahead of the ASX earlier this month, including a 41.5% year-on-year EBITDA increase. The company also updated FY26 guidance figures ahead of the back of the results. It looks like investor sentiment has finally turned a corner, and many are buying back into the tech company’s shares. Brokers tip a 56% upside to $3.76 over the next 12 months.

The post 4 ASX 200 stocks rated a strong buy with an upside over 50% appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Why is this ASX 100 gold stock under pressure today?
• 3 reasons to buy Zip shares
• Westgold Resources posts $285M quarterly cash build
• Experts think the Zip share price can rise 48% in a year!
• Why this top ASX gold share could rise 50% from here

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

A key clinical milestone has put ASX biotech stock Mesoblast Ltd (ASX: MSB) back on the radar on Wednesday.

The biotech announced a key milestone before the market opened, though investors are not getting carried away.

During midday trade, the share price is up 4% to $2.24.

Overall, it has been a rough year for Mesoblast, with the stock still down around 18% in 2026.

Here’s what came through.

Phase 3 trial reaches key milestone

According to the release, Mesoblast has now fully enrolled patients in its Phase 3 trial for chronic low back pain.

The study is testing rexlemestrocel-L in patients with degenerative disc disease. It includes 300 participants and is designed to confirm results seen in an earlier Phase 3 study.

The earlier trial showed reductions in both pain and opioid use after a single injection.

With recruitment now complete, the study moves into the monitoring phase. Patients will be followed over 12 months, with the goal of showing a clear difference compared to a placebo.

Secondary endpoints include reduced opioid use, which has become a bigger focus in the US healthcare system.

What this actually changes

While the update does not bring revenue closer, it does remove another layer of uncertainty around the trial.

Large clinical studies can take time to recruit patients, so reaching full enrolment keeps the timeline on track and gives investors something more concrete to follow.

If the data lines up with earlier findings, Mesoblast expects it could support a regulatory filing in the United States in 2027.

The therapy has already received regenerative medicine advanced therapy designation from the US FDA, which can speed up the review process.

Looking further ahead

Chronic low back pain linked to degenerative disc disease is a large and growing market.

Mesoblast estimates more than 7 million people in the United States are affected.

The company believes even modest uptake could translate into significant revenue over time.

But there are still a few steps before that happens.

The trial needs to deliver positive results, and regulators will need to approve the therapy.

After that, it still needs to be rolled out and taken up by doctors.

Foolish takeaway

The ASX biotech has moved another step forward, but I am still taking a wait-and-see approach.

The milestone keeps things moving, but the outcome now comes down to the data. Until those results land, it is hard to get too confident about the potential upside.

I will be watching from the sidelines here.

The post A big milestone for this ASX biotech. Here’s why the share price is moving appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Mesoblast shares in focus after key Phase 3 milestone for low back pain
• Down almost 20% this year, how high could Mesoblast shares go?
• Why are Mesoblast shares jumping 8% today?
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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.

The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is expected to drop further this morning. 

Another day in the red would mark 7 consecutive days of falling for Australia’s benchmark index. 

That’s after already hitting a three-week low yesterday. 

Intriguingly, the Australian market has been moving south despite US equities holding near record highs. 

Part of the puzzle is the higher oil prices, which usually feed into inflation. 

With the market expected to lag again today, let’s look at where opportunities may lie. 

Healthcare still lagging 

ASX healthcare stocks have been some of the worst-performing in 2026. 

This has continued over the past week. 

The S&P/ASX 200 Health Care Index (ASX: XHJ) is down 23% year to date. 

This includes a 7% drop in the last 7 days of trading. 

One noticeable decline has been 4DMedical Ltd (ASX: 4DX), which has dropped 8% in that period and 30% since mid-April. 

This could be a buy-the-dip opportunity for a stock now down significantly from 52-week highs.

On the other end of the spectrum, healthcare giants Pro Medicus Ltd (ASX: PME) and CSL Ltd (ASX: CSL) remain well below yearly highs. 

Bell Potter currently views CSL as a hold, although its $155 price target indicates 20% upside. 

Meanwhile, Pro Medicus shares have attracted a buy rating from the team at Bromley.

Aussie tech pulls back 

During the start of 2026, ASX technology shares were also down significantly. 

The S&P/ASX All Technology Index (ASX: XTX) fell 27% from January until March 30. 

Then, from March 30 until April 17, it rebounded more than 17%. 

This has now reversed again over the last week. 

Some major names that have also pulled back in this period include: 

• WiseTech Global Ltd (ASX: WTC) shares are down 8% in the last 7 days
• Xero Ltd (ASX: XRO) shares are down almost 5% since April 21 
• Technology One Ltd (ASX: TNE) shares have fallen 4.5%

For investors hoping for a long-term rebound for Aussie tech, a thematic ASX ETF to consider is Betashares S&P ASX Australian Technology ETF (ASX: ATEC). 

It provides exposure to leading ASX-listed companies across a range of tech-related market segments, including information technology, consumer electronics, online retail, and medical technology.

How to target the ASX 200?

For investors who are more optimistic on a broader market recovery and less interested in targeting individual sectors, there are several ASX ETFs that target the benchmark index. 

Some options include: 

• BetaShares Australia 200 ETF (ASX: A200)
• iShares Core S&P/ASX 200 ETF (ASX: IOZ)

For slightly more diversification but still including the 200 largest companies: 

• Global X Australia 300 ETF (ASX: A300)
• Vanguard Australian Shares Index ETF (ASX: VAS)

The post After 7 straight days in the red, where is the value for ASX 200 stocks? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• All-weather ASX ETFs to buy if the market crashes 20%
• Why it’s time to look past the “SaaSpocolypse” and target Aussie tech

Motley Fool contributor Aaron Bell has positions in WiseTech Global. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended CSL, Technology One, WiseTech Global, and Xero. 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 WiseTech Global and Xero. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended CSL, Pro Medicus, and Technology One. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

Whitehaven Coal Ltd (ASX: WHC) shares have been trading positively since the release of the company’s quarterly report this week, but what are they worth over the longer term?

I’ve had a look at two brokers reports issued following the quarterly results. Both have bullish share price targets on the stock, which we’ll get to shortly.

Solid quarterly results

Firstly, let’s have a look at what Whitehaven reported this week.

The coal producer said it had generated sales of 6.8 million tonnes of coal for the March quarter, broadly in line with the December quarter.

On the upside, coal prices were much stronger over the period, with metallurgical coal prices up 18% and thermal coal prices up 11% quarter on quarter.

The company also said it was on track to deliver $60-$80 million in annualised cost savings by the end of June.

Managing director Paul Flynn said regarding the quarterly results:

Production in the March quarter was broadly in line with plan reflecting strong outcomes from NSW open cut operations and solid results from Queensland operations in a weather impacted quarter. For the first nine months of the year we have produced 29.5Mt of ROM, and we are on track to be firmly in the upper half of guidance for FY26. “Equity sales of 6.8Mt for the quarter were also strong and are tracking at the upper end of guidance for the year. Revenue mix for the quarter was ~58% from metallurgical coal sales and ~42% from thermal coal sales.

Mr Flynn said Whitehaven’s financial position was strong, and the successful refinancing of the company’s debt facilities would deliver considerable cost savings in the order of $50-$55 million per annum.

The company said in its statement to the ASX that coal prices were given a boost by the war in the Middle East, caused by the tightening of gas supplies and the potential for end users to switch from gas to coal for energy production.

The company said it was expecting strong pricing across both metallurgical and thermal coal.

It said:

The expected structural shortfall in global metallurgical coal production, particularly the long-term depletion of hard coking coal from Australian producers combined with increased seaborne demand from India, is anticipated to drive higher metallurgical coal prices over the long-term. Whitehaven’s metallurgical coal portfolio is expected to benefit from these supply constrained market dynamics.

Shares looking like good value

The analyst team at Morgans had a look at the quarterly and said Whitehaven delivered exceptional results for saleable coal production and actual sales.

Morgans has an accumulate rating on the stock and a 12-month price target of $9.20, compared with $8.12 currently.

The analyst team at Macquarie said it was a strong result on the production front, and the company’s focus on costs was a positive.

Macquarie has a price target of $9.75 on Whitehaven shares.

Whitehaven Coal is valued at $6.6 billion.

The post What are Whitehaven Coal shares worth following their quarterly results? 2 Brokers have their say appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Wednesday
• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• Why is everyone talking about Whitehaven, Deep Yellow and Beach Energy shares on Tuesday?
• Why Whitehaven Coal shares are rising today despite a rough month
• Whitehaven Coal shares: Q3 FY26 shows steady sales, improved pricing

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

The All Ordinaries Index (ASX: XAO) is down 0.4% in morning trade today, but that’s not holding back this ASX All Ords gold stock.

The outperforming gold miner in question is Brightstar Resources Ltd (ASX: BTR).

Brightstar shares closed yesterday trading for 39.5 cents. At the time of writing, shares are changing hands for 40 cents apiece, up 1.3%.

This sees the Brightstar Resources share price up an impressive 33.3% since closing at one-year lows of 30 cents on 23 March.

Investors have been bidding up the ASX All Ords gold stock amid recently completed new funding packages and some strong exploratory drilling results.

Here’s what’s happening today.

ASX All Ords gold stock lifts on restart progress

Brightstar Resources shares are marching higher following the release of the company’s March quarter update (Q3 FY 2026).

Over the three months to 31 March, the ASX All Ords gold stock reported total mining production of 58.7Kt at 3.31g/t Au for 6,250 ounces of gold from its Laverton underground mining operations.

The quarter also saw Brightstar release its Goldfields DFS 2.0, an updated definitive feasibility study for the Goldfields Hub in January.

In line with the DFS 2.0 mine plan, Brightstar’s Fish underground gold mine was transitioned to care and maintenance. Mining operations at Fish have ceased, with management expecting the mine will be ready to restart ore production in early calendar year 2027.

According to the miner, the updated Goldfields DFS 2.0 “delivered compelling economics and provides a strong platform for near-term development of 75koz p.a. of gold production with first gold targeted in JunQ’CY27”.

Brightstar Resources well-funded for the next phase

The March quarter also saw the ASX All Ords gold stock secure significant new funding.

That included the successful completion of a $193 million capital raise as well as the completion of a US$120 million Senior Secured Nordic Bond.

Management noted:

Equity and bond capital raises together provide Brightstar with over $380 million of funding to finance Goldfields to gold production (targeted JunQ’CY27) while providing substantial capital to Sandstone to advance drilling and feasibility work streams targeting a Sandstone investment decision from early CY27.

Sandstone is one of Brightstar’s potentially large-scale developing gold projects.

The ASX All Ords gold stock said it is targeting two Mineral Resource upgrades for Sandstone in 2026, aiming to release a maiden Ore Reserve and PFS in the second half of the calendar year.

“Sandstone continues to demonstrate strong multi-million-ounce growth potential,” the miner noted.

As at 31 March, Brightstar Resources had total cash and working capital of $179.3 million.

The post Up 33% since March, why is this ASX All Ords gold stock outperforming again today? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 3 ASX gold shares to buy after the recent pullback
• Could this ASX-listed gold mine developer really increase six-fold?

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 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.

G8 Education Ltd (ASX: GEM) shares are having a day to forget on Wednesday.

In morning trade, the ASX 300 share is down 31% to a multi-year low of 16.5 cents.

This follows the release of a trading update from the childcare centre operator ahead of its annual general meeting.

ASX 300 share crashes on trading update

This morning, G8 Education announced a program of proactive initiatives to respond to ongoing macro, cost of living, and socio-economic challenges that are affecting the early childhood education and care (ECEC) sector.

The ASX 300 share notes that the ECEC sector is experiencing unprecedented change and uncertainty, driven by a combination of socio and macro-economic factors.

Management highlights that occupancy across the ECEC sector is lower compared to 2024 and 2025 due to families experiencing sustained affordability pressures, falling birth rates, increased long-day care supply, and confidence being impacted by serious child safety incidents.

At the same time, it notes that ECEC operators are dealing with increased costs incurred due to inflationary pressures across the economy, persistent workforce challenges, changing regulation and compliance requirements, and a more complex operating environment.

Current occupancy for the ASX 300 share at 24 April 2026 is 56.4%, which is down 7% versus the prior corresponding period. Year-to-date occupancy is 56.1%. This is down 7.9% on the same period last year.

G8 Education’s CEO and managing director, Pejman Okhovat, said:

In this environment, G8 Education’s focus remains firmly on safety, high quality education and care, disciplined execution, as well as efficient and effective management of the areas within its control. While the operating environment means G8 Education does not expect a material recovery in occupancy relative to pcp this year, we will continue to review and adjust the operating model and cost base of the Group where appropriate.

Big changes

Pejman Okhovat has revealed that big changes are underway. He said:

In response, G8 Education has proactively assessed its network to ensure we remain sustainable, resilient and well positioned to continue delivering safe, high quality early education and care over the long term. We have carefully considered where our resources can be most effectively allocated to support quality early education and care outcomes.

The company has announced several initiatives that are planned to be delivered in FY 2026.

One is the suspension of the operation of approximately 40 challenged and underperforming centres. G8 Education will focus on supporting families to transition to one of its nearby centres and redeploying team members. The ASX 300 share will then consider longer term options for those centres, including lease surrender, divestment, or another alternative.

There are also procurement and cost saving initiatives that will be undertaken. However, it stresses that these will not impact safety, compliance, or the capacity of its centre-based team to deliver high quality education and care.

G8 Education shares are now down almost 90% over the past 12 months.

The post Why is this ASX 300 share crashing 31% today? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• A big milestone for this ASX biotech. Here’s why the share price is moving
• After 7 straight days in the red, where is the value for ASX 200 stocks?
• What are Whitehaven Coal shares worth following their quarterly results? 2 Brokers have their say
• Up 33% since March, why is this ASX All Ords gold stock outperforming again today?
• Nickel Industries reports March quarter earnings

Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has 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 Nickel Industries Ltd (ASX: NIC) share price is in focus today after the company reported a record US$135.6 million adjusted EBITDA for the March 2026 quarter, boosted by a significant rebound at its Hengjaya Mine and higher quarterly margins across its operations.

What did Nickel Industries report?

• Adjusted EBITDA from operations up 264% quarter-on-quarter to US$135.6 million
• RKEF operations Adjusted EBITDA up 145% to US$85.8 million; RKEF margins increased 155%
• Mining segment Adjusted EBITDA turned positive, jumping from a loss of US$14.9 million to a profit of US$29.0 million
• Strong mine performance: ore sales up 222% on the prior quarter to 3,042,663 wet metric tonnes (wmt)
• Received 2026 RKAB licence at Hengjaya Mine (14.3 million wmt, up 60% year-on-year)
• Cash balance of US$211.8 million at 31 March 2026

What else do investors need to know?

Nickel Industries further strengthened its position with the acquisition of an extra 2% in the Excelsior Nickel Cobalt (ENC) project, lifting its stake to 46%. Pre-commissioning of major ENC assets was completed in the March quarter, with full ramp-up now targeted for late October 2026.

Safety remained a focus, with a company-wide lost time injury frequency rate (LTIFR) of zero for the quarter, though the period was marred by a fatal contractor incident. Investigations have concluded, and corrective actions are being implemented.

The company also made headway on sustainability initiatives, advancing a new 197-hectare biodiversity conservation area at Hengjaya Mine. Community investment programs, such as university scholarships, continued to grow.

What’s next for Nickel Industries?

The successful commissioning and ramp-up of the ENC HPAL and refinery facilities are the company’s immediate priorities for the June and September quarters. Management is monitoring changes to Indonesia’s nickel ore pricing regime, which may affect market dynamics and costs.

Nickel Industries is also progressing development at its Sampala and Siduarsi projects. Continued cost focus, stockpiling strategies, and recent refinancing through US$450 million of new unsecured loan facilities put the company in a strong position to manage ongoing industry cycles.

Nickel Industries share price snapshot

Over the past 12 months, Nickel Industries shares have risen 85%, outperforming the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) which has risen 7% over the same period. 

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The post Nickel Industries reports March quarter earnings appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Laura Stewart 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. This article was prepared with the assistance of Large Language Model (LLM) tools for the initial summary of the company announcement. Any content assisted by AI is subject to our robust human-in-the-loop quality control framework, involving thorough review, substantial editing, and fact-checking by our experienced writers and editors holding appropriate credentials. The Motley Fool Australia stands behind the work of our editorial team and takes ultimate responsibility for the content published by The Motley Fool Australia.