Category: Stock Market

On Wednesday, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) was out of form and sank into the red. The benchmark index fell 1.2% to 8,843.6 points.

Will the market be able to bounce back from this on Thursday? Here are five things to watch:

ASX 200 set to fall

The Australian share market looks set for a subdued session on Thursday despite a good night on Wall Street. According to the latest SPI futures, the ASX 200 is expected to open the day 30 points or 0.35% lower this morning. In the United States, the Dow Jones was up 0.7%, the S&P 500 rose 1.05% and the Nasdaq charged 1.65% higher.

Fortescue update

Fortescue Ltd (ASX: FMG) shares will be on watch on Thursday when the iron ore giant releases its third-quarter update. The market is expecting the miner to report iron ore shipments of approximately 49Mt for the three months. In addition, all eyes will be on its costs after the surge in diesel prices following the war in the Middle East.

Oil prices rise

ASX 200 energy shares such as Beach Energy Ltd (ASX: BPT) and Santos Ltd (ASX: STO) could have a good session on Thursday after oil prices pushed higher. According to Bloomberg, the WTI crude oil price is up 3.1% to US$92.45 a barrel and the Brent crude oil price is up 2.9% to US$101.31 a barrel. This was driven by news that Iran has seized container ships in the Strait of Hormuz.

DroneShield shares rated as a buy

DroneShield Ltd (ASX: DRO) shares are in the buy zone according to analysts at Bell Potter. In response to the counter-drone technology company’s quarterly update, the broker has retained its buy rating and $4.80 price target on DroneShield’s shares. It said: “At 43x CY26e EV / EBITDA, DRO trades at a discount to the global drone peer group. Further, we see upside risk to our revenue forecasts in CY26/27e, given the opportunities observed in the C-UAS industry.”

Gold price rises

ASX 200 gold shares Newmont Corporation (ASX: NEM) and Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST) could have a good session on Thursday after the gold price pushed higher overnight. According to CNBC, the gold futures price is up 0.75% to US$4,754.8 an ounce. Traders were buying gold after a drop in Treasury yields.

The post 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Thursday appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• 3 key takeaways from DroneShield’s latest results
• Why Bank of Queensland, Cochlear, Northern Star, and Paladin Energy shares are falling today
• Why Northern Star, DroneShield and BHP shares are making waves on Wednesday
• Why are Northern Star shares sinking today?

Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended 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.

Investors in Pro Medicus Ltd (ASX: PME) shares have been on a wild ride.

The healthcare tech stock is down 6% over the past five days, yet still up 19% over the past month. Zoom out further, and it’s a different story, as shares have fallen more than 50% over the past six months. Hectic is one word for it.

So what’s really going on?

Landing new contracts

Start with the fundamentals. Pro Medicus remains a high-quality business. Its imaging software platform is widely used by hospitals and radiology groups, particularly in the US, and continues to win new contracts. The company benefits from a sticky customer base, high margins, and strong recurring revenue once systems are embedded.

The long-term growth story is still intact. Demand for advanced imaging solutions continues to rise, and Pro Medicus shares are well positioned to capture that trend. It’s also expanding within existing customers, which can drive incremental revenue without the need for entirely new deals.

Broad market de-rating

So why the share price volatility? The main culprit is sentiment, not operations.

High-growth healthcare and tech stocks have been hit by a broad market de-rating, and Pro Medicus has been caught in the crossfire. Even after the sell-off, the stock still trades on a price-to-earnings ratio above 60, leaving it sensitive to any shift in investor expectations.

That dynamic has flowed through to broker views. Morgans recently retained its buy rating but trimmed its price target to $210, which suggests a 50% upside at the time of writing. The broker adjusted its model to reflect more conservative growth assumptions, including slower implementation revenue and updated currency settings. Even so, it maintained that the underlying business remains strong and long-term demand is intact.

More broadly, analyst sentiment remains favourable. According to TradingView data, 11 out of 15 brokers rate the stock as a buy or strong buy. The average 12-month price target sits at $194.38, implying around 38% upside, while the most bullish forecasts suggest gains of up to 75%.

Valuation risk

Still, risks remain. Valuation is the big one. Even after a sharp pullback, Pro Medicus shares continue to trade at a premium to most ASX stocks. That leaves less margin for error if growth slows or expectations aren’t met.

Execution is also key. Investors are closely watching the pace of contract wins and how quickly those deals translate into revenue. Any delays or weaker-than-expected growth could weigh on sentiment further.

Foolish Takeaway

Pro Medicus remains a high-quality growth company, but it’s also a stock driven heavily by expectations. When sentiment is strong, it can rally quickly. When it shifts, the downside can be just as sharp.

For now, the business looks solid. The price of Pro Medicus shares, however, may continue to be anything but.

The post What on earth’s going on with Pro Medicus shares? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Are Pro Medicus shares a buy right now?
• Are ASX healthcare shares the next to rally?
• Buy, hold, sell: Collins Foods, Netwealth, and Pro Medicus shares
• Want to double your money in 2026? This is what I’d buy
• Leading brokers name 3 ASX shares to buy today

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

NextDC Ltd (ASX: NXT) shares are in the spotlight this week after the ASX 200 data centre operator continued rebounding from a 12-month low.

At the close of the ASX on Wednesday afternoon, NextDC shares were 1.27% higher at $14.30 each. 

NextDC shares slumped to an annual low of just $11.26 on the 2nd of April, and have since rebounded 27%. 

The latest increase means the ASX tech shares are now 4% higher over the past week.

For the year-to-date, NextDC shares are up 14%. They’re also 36% higher than 12 months ago.

The latest rally comes off the back of a series of new announcements out of the company.

And it looks like investors are excited by the flurry of good-news updates.

What did NextDC report this week?

On Monday, NextDC reported a 60% increase in its contracted utilisation. It also confirmed a significant 83% boost of its forward order book and increased its FY26 capital expenditure guidance to between $2.7 billion and $3 billion. This is an increase from between $2.4 billion and $2.7 billion previously. 

Its FY26 guidance for net revenue and underlying EBITDA is unchanged.

NextDC said its recent customer contract wins are driving both increased utilisation and ambitious growth plans, especially at its S4 data centre.

NextDC shares were further pushed higher again on Wednesday when it confirmed it has raised around $1 billion after successfully completing its institutional entitlement offer.

The offer, which was $12.70 per new share and at a ratio of 1 for 5.4 pro-rata, saw a strong take-up by around 98% of eligible institutional shareholders. 

New shares issued under the offer will rank equally with existing shares. They are expected to commence trading on the 30th of April 2026.

The company plans to open a retail entitlement offer to eligible retail shareholders at the same price and ratio from 27th of April where it hopes to raise around $500 million.

NextDC said it plans to use the fresh capital, alongside other funding initiatives, to support its expansion and fulfil its strong pipeline of customer contracts.

Can NextDC shares keep climbing higher?

Analysts are incredibly bullish about the potential for NextDC shares over the next 12 months.

According to TradingView data, all 14 analysts have a buy consensus on the data operators shares.

The average $20.49 target price implies a potential 43% upside at the time of writing. But the maximum $32.29 target price suggests that NextDC shares have the potential to boom another 126%.

The post NextDC shares rocket 27% higher: Buy, hold or sell? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• Top brokers name 3 ASX shares to buy today
• Why are NextDC shares storming higher today?
• NEXTDC completes $1bn institutional entitlement offer to fund growth
• 3 reasons to buy NextDC 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 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.

Markets don’t fall in a straight line. They lurch, recover, lurch again — and right now, with geopolitical tensions between Iran and the United States keeping energy prices volatile and inflation expectations unsettled, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is doing exactly that.

For long-term investors, this kind of volatility isn’t a threat. It’s a calendar.

A 10% pullback from current ASX 200 levels wouldn’t be unusual by historical standards. 

What matters more is what you’d do with it. Rather than reaching for a broad ETF, I’d be looking at two specific companies that I think deserve a spot in a quality portfolio — and that would become even more compelling at lower prices.

The case for Soul Patts

Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Co. Ltd (ASX: SOL) is one of Australia’s oldest listed investment companies, but it operates more like a quietly compounding private holding company than a traditional fund manager.

Soul Patts gives investors exposure to a carefully managed mix of assets: resources, telecommunications, nationwide swimming schools, agriculture, water entitlements, electrification, and more. It recently completed its full merger with Brickworks and has been actively reshaping its portfolio — most notably, selling down its long-held stake in TPG Telecom Ltd (ASX: TPG) to free up capital for higher-growth opportunities.

That capital reallocation is the interesting part. Soul Patts isn’t sitting still. The proceeds from the TPG selldown give management fresh firepower to deploy into assets it believes will deliver stronger long-term growth. For a patient investor, that’s exactly what you want to see — disciplined capital allocation, not loyalty to underperforming positions.

At time of writing, the Soul Patts share price is currently around $42.30. A 10% market-wide pullback might push the share price even lower, but the underlying value and fundamentals of the Sol Patts’ underlying businesses wouldn’t change materially. That’s the gap a long-term buyer could exploit.

Why Pinnacle is worth watching

Pinnacle Investment Management Group Ltd (ASX: PNI) is a different kind of business but a similarly compelling structural story.

Pinnacle runs a network of affiliated fund managers, providing them with seed capital, distribution support, and operational infrastructure. It earns revenue from management fees and a share of affiliate profits — a model that scales well as funds under management grow.

In its most recent half-year results, Pinnacle reported record net inflows of $17.2 billion, with strong contributions across retail, institutional, and international channels. That’s a business attracting capital, not losing it.

The Pinnacle share price has pulled back sharply from its 52-week high of $25.33 to around $12.30, and the stock carries an analyst price target of around $24. That’s a meaningful gap between where the share price is and where analysts believe it could be.

A broader market sell-off would likely push Pinnacle lower in the near term. But for an investor with a long time horizon, that volatility is a feature, not a flaw.

The Foolish takeaway

Neither of these companies needs a market crash to be worth owning. Both are genuinely interesting at today’s prices. But the point of having a watchlist is knowing exactly what you’d do when prices move — and a further 10% dip in the ASX 200 could see individual stocks like Soul Patts and Pinnacle fall further still, putting them within reach of entry prices that are difficult to walk away from.

As always, share prices can fall further than expected, and volatility driven by macro events — energy prices, rate expectations, geopolitical uncertainty — can linger longer than most anticipate. However, quality doesn’t go on sale forever. 

When it does, it pays to be ready.

The post 2 quality ASX 200 shares I’d buy if the market fell another 10% appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Want to build a second income? I’d buy these ASX shares today
• Why Monash IVF, NAB, Viva Energy, and Worley shares are falling today
• 17,875 shares of this ASX dividend star pays an income equal to the Age Pension
• Why I’m even more bullish about Soul Patts shares from now on!
• ASX 200 shares rip with financials leading a remarkable recovery last week

Motley Fool contributor Leigh Gant 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 Pinnacle Investment Management Group and Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Company Limited. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Pinnacle Investment Management Group and Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Company Limited. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

A new report from VanEck has discussed how investors should be positioning their portfolio with consideration to the Iran-US conflict.

According to the report, US consumer sentiment has plunged to a record low. At the same time, inflation expectations have spiked, and global growth forecasts are being revised down.

Despite this, equity markets continue to rally. 

Furthermore, the S&P 500 has climbed to reach an all-time high, despite oil prices remaining elevated above US$90/barrel (at the time of writing), the Strait of Hormuz remaining disrupted, and a US naval blockade on Iranian ports now in effect.

VanEck believes the market is underestimating the risks of a slowdown.

The ASX ETF provider has pointed to quality investing as a relevant strategy for investors to consider right now. 

What is quality investing?

Quality investing focuses on companies with strong financial health, characterised by high return on equity, manageable leverage levels, and consistent earnings stability over time to compound value and reduce risk.

According to VanEck, Quality companies have historically demonstrated outperformance during periods of economic slowdown and over the long term.

On the flip side, quality investments typically underperform when low interest rates and accommodative economic policy are dominant macroeconomic features. 

The case for quality right now

According to VanEck, history suggests that quality companies outperform during economic slowdowns, experiencing smaller declines during market downturns, and recovering more swiftly to previous levels. 

In our view, looking ahead, should risk sentiment roll back, or if the war continues for longer than expected it could spark economic growth concerns, increasing market volatility, and a ‘flight to quality’ could be triggered.”

Valuations-wise, while quality companies typically trade at a premium to the broader market due to their defensive characteristics, the valuation differential has narrowed toward the 10-year average. This makes for a potentially compelling entry point for quality companies, we think.

How to target quality 

There are several ASX ETFs available to investors that focus on these core quality principles. 

The first option to consider is the VanEck Vectors Msci World Ex Australia Quality ETF (ASX: QUAL). 

It provides investors with an international equity portfolio of 300 companies with fundamentals that satisfy principles of quality investing advocated by investment greats Benjamin Graham and Warren Buffett, namely:

• High ROE;
• Stable year-on-year earnings growth; and
• Low financial leverage.

Another option to consider is VanEck Msci International Quality (Hedged) ETF (ASX: QHAL). 

QHAL is an Australian dollar hedged version of QUAL so you can now also manage your desired currency exposure.

Another option for investors targeting quality investing is the Betashares Capital Ltd – Global Quality Leaders Etf (ASX: QLTY). 

It includes 150 of the highest quality global companies.

The post Why quality is king during economic downturns appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 3 ASX ETFs to build a portfolio around in 2026
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• Stop ‘saving’, start investing! How to target a $1 million ASX share portfolio
• 5 excellent ASX ETFs to buy next week
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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 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.

When it comes to ASX dividend stocks, blue-chip business Wesfarmers Ltd (ASX: WES) is an old favourite.

At the close of the ASX on Wednesday afternoon, Wesfarmers shares had tumbled 0.87% to $74.32 a piece.

The slump means the shares are now 9% lower over the year-to-date and 18% lower over the past six months.

For context, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is 1.33% higher over the year-to-date but 2% lower than 6 months ago.

Global volatility and concern about inflation and the rising cost of living has smashed the retail giant’s shares recently. After initially climbing 9% through the first few weeks of the year, Wesfarmers shares have crashed nearly 17% since mid-February.

Some investors might be put off by the dwindling share price and company headwinds over the past couple of months, but I see it as a rare opportunity to buy the ASX dividend stock for cheap.

Here’s why.

Wesfarmers has a long track record of consistency

As a leading Australia blue-chip company and the seventh-largest company listed on the ASX, Wesfarmers is well-established and long-standing.

The company is diversified too, with retail operations in everything from home improvement to health and wellbeing and even chemicals.

Wesfarmers has demonstrated consistent and long-term net profit growth over several years. It also has a track record of delivering solid earnings regardless of how challenging the economic conditions are.

Take the latest first-half FY26 update, for example.

The Kmart and Bunnings owner posted a 9.3% increase in its NPAT, an 8.4% hike in EBIT, and its revenue climbed 3.1% on the prior period.

And while the company acknowledges that inflation and higher operating expenses could remain as headwinds going forward, it is confident that earnings growth will continue.

Markets estimate that Wesfarmers could achieve a $2.86 billion in net profit in FY26 before climbing to $3.07 billion FY27, and $3.1 billion in FY28.

Its dividend payment is reliable and consistent

Wesfarmers is well-known for its reliable and consistent passive income payment. 

In February, the ASX dividend stock declared a fully franked interim dividend of $1.02 per share, up 7.4%. 

And it’s expected to keep climbing higher too. The board is expected to deliver an annual dividend per share of $2.13 in FY26, which translates to a dividend yield of around 2.9%.

The retail conglomerate is forecast to pay an annual dividend per share of $2.31 in FY27 and $2.56 in FY28. By FY30, it could hike as high as $3 per share, which would be a 41% increase from FY26. 

The post 1 ASX dividend stock down 18% — I’d buy right now appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• How to build a $25,000 ASX share portfolio from zero
• How to start investing in ASX shares with $1,000
• Stagflation: How to position an ASX stock portfolio
• Here are the latest growth forecasts for the Wesfarmers share price
• Buy, hold, or sell? Coles, Wesfarmers, BHP shares

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

For many investors, the hardest part is not choosing ASX shares. It is getting to the first meaningful milestone.

A $25,000 portfolio does not happen overnight. It is usually built through steady contributions, patience, and a few good investments that compound over time.

The process tends to look less like a single plan and more like a series of small, repeatable steps.

Start by making the first $5,000 count

The early stage matters more than it seems. With a smaller balance, each investment has a larger impact on overall performance. That makes it worth focusing on businesses with established earnings, strong positions in their industries, and a track record of delivering results. Think Goodman Group (ASX: GMG) or Wesfarmers Ltd (ASX: WES).

This is not about finding the next breakout stock. It is about choosing ASX shares that are already working and are likely to keep working.

Getting the first few investments right builds both momentum and confidence.

Add regularly, not occasionally

Most $25,000 portfolios are built through a combination of contributions and market gains.

Adding a fixed amount at regular intervals can turn a slow start into steady progress. It also removes the need to decide when the right time to invest is.

Some months will feel uncomfortable. Markets move, headlines change, and prices fluctuate. A consistent approach keeps the focus on the long term instead of short-term noise.

Over time, these regular additions become a large driver of growth.

Let winners grow

As the portfolio begins to take shape, some holdings will perform better than others.

It can be tempting to lock in gains quickly, especially when a position moves higher in a short period. But long-term portfolio growth often comes from allowing strong performers to continue compounding.

This does not mean ignoring risk. It means recognising when a business is still delivering and giving it time to grow.

A small position can become a meaningful part of the portfolio if it is allowed to run.

Keep the number of holdings manageable

A $25,000 portfolio does not need a long list of ASX shares.

Holding too many positions can dilute returns and make it harder to keep track of what is actually driving performance. A focused group of investments is easier to understand and manage.

Each addition should have a clear reason for being there. If that reason is not clear, it is often better to wait.

Stay invested through the difficult periods

Every investor encounters periods where the portfolio falls in value.

These moments can feel like setbacks, but they are a normal part of building long-term wealth. Selling out during weaker periods can interrupt the compounding process and make it harder to reach the next milestone.

Staying invested allows the portfolio to recover and continue growing as conditions improve.

Progress tends to be gradual, then noticeable

Building a $25,000 ASX share portfolio rarely feels dramatic while it is happening.

Growth is often gradual at first. Then, over time, the combination of contributions and compounding begins to show.

What started as a small collection of investments becomes something more substantial. For many investors, that is the point where the process starts to feel real.

The post How to build a $25,000 ASX share portfolio from zero appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 1 ASX dividend stock down 18% — I’d buy right now
• How to start investing in ASX shares with $1,000
• Stagflation: How to position an ASX stock portfolio
• Here are the latest growth forecasts for the Wesfarmers share price
• Buy, hold, or sell? Coles, Wesfarmers, BHP shares

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

When it comes to ASX dividend shares, most of them pay their investors every 12 months, six months, or possibly quarterly.

But for any investor who wants to be paid a reliable income much more frequently, there are a few ASX dividend shares that pay out to their shareholders on a monthly basis.

Here are three of my favourites.

Plato Income Maximiser Ltd (ASX: PL8)

As a listed investment company (LIC), Plato targets investors who need a dependable income stream. These are mostly income-focused investors like retirees and SMSF investors.

The company actively manages a portfolio of mature ASX-listed equities, cash, and listed futures. It mostly focuses on ASX dividend shares with strong dividend payouts, such as major banks, mining giants, and energy firms. 

Plato has consistently paid fully-franked dividends of 0.55 cents per share every month since April 2022. That equates to an annual running total of 6.6 cents per share in fully-franked passive income. This equates to a dividend yield of 4.89% at the time of writing.

Betashares Australian Top 20 Equity Yield Maximiser Fund (ASX: YMAX)

The Betashares YMAX is an ASX-listed exchange-traded fund (ETF) that targets the 20 largest Australian shares on the ASX. 

As at 31st of March, the YMAX ETF has a 12-month gross distribution yield of 10.3% and a 12-month distribution yield of 8.7%. The total 12-month franking level is 41.6%.

Its first-ever monthly dividend payment (previously the fund paid shareholders on a quarterly basis) was paid on the 17th of February, where it handed investors $0.035221 per unit. Its most recent payment was on Monday this week when it handed shareholders $0.043779 per unit.

Metrics Master Income Trust (ASX: MXT)

As a listed investment trust (LIT), the Metrics Master Income Trust holds a portfolio of corporate loans and private credit investments rather than a portfolio of other ASX dividend shares. 

This means it can give diversity-seeking investors direct exposure to the Australian corporate loan market. This is an area that is currently dominated by regulated banks. 

The Metrics Master Income Trust targets a return of the Reserve Bank cash rate plus 3.25% p.a. (net of fees) through every stage of the economic cycle. 

Its latest payout was 1.33 cents per share unfranked in March, payable next week. That means that over the past 12 months, Metrics Master Income Trust has paid out 12 dividends totalling 15.5 cents per share. At the time of writing, this gives the LIT a dividend yield of 7.93%.

The post These 3 ASX dividend shares yield 5% (or more) with monthly payouts appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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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 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.

At age 50, your focus should be on building your superannuation to a level where you have enough money to retire comfortably.

After all, the difference between a comfortable and a modest retirement is the difference between living a good retirement lifestyle and getting by on a little more than the Age Pension payment. 

Here’s a breakdown of what a comfortable retirement will cost you, and how much you need in your superannuation right now to meet that figure. 

The cost of a comfortable retirement

According to data from the Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia (ASFA), a comfortable retirement will cost around $54,840 per year for individuals and $77,375 per year for couples.

In order to achieve a comfortable retirement, ASFA also calculates that a couple will need a superannuation balance of $730,000 and a single person will need $630,000.

These figures assume that you retire at age 67 and own your home outright.

They also assume that, at retirement, Australians will draw down all their capital and receive a part Age Pension.

How much superannuation should I have at age 50 to be on track to reach that goal?

For a comfortable retirement, your current superannuation balance should be around $313,500 at age 50.

The concerning thing is, the average superannuation balance for a 50 to 54-year-old male is $254,071, and for a female, it’s just $190,175.

How does your balance compare?

Falling behind? Here are a few tips to catch up before it’s too late

While it might be frightening to think your superannuation is below what is needed to fund a comfortable retirement, or even possibly below the average 50-year-old, there are a few things you can do to help.

Keep in mind that if you retire at the average age of 65, or even later, then you still have another 15 (or more) years to go before your retirement years are upon you. That’s quite a lot of time for your investments to grow.

The first, and most important, thing to do is to review your superannuation setup and performance.

It’s important to make sure your super fund is performing well. The difference between a top-performing fund and one that is underperforming a benchmark such as the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) can be the difference between meeting your superannuation balance goal and missing it entirely.

Also, check that your fund’s risk appetite aligns with your own. Putting your money into the wrong type of fund can quickly chip away at your balance. 

Then, the easiest way to boost your superannuation balance is to make extra concessional or non-concessional contributions, whether this is salary sacrificing or after-tax payments (within your annual limits). 

If you don’t currently have the spare funds to add money yourself, you can look into applicable government initiatives. There’s the downsizer contributions rule, the bring-forward rule, the government co-contribution rule, and many others. These can help boost your balance just a little bit further. 

The post Superannuation balance you need at age 50 to be able to retire comfortably appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• Morgans says these ASX shares could rise 30% to 70%
• Where to invest $20,000 in ASX ETFs right now
• CSL’s collapse deepens. Why this ASX giant can’t find a floor
• Top brokers name 3 ASX shares to buy 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 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 was a rather horrid hump day for the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) and many ASX shares today, as investor pessimism once again took over the markets.

After spending the entire session in red territory, the ASX 200 ended up closing down a nasty 1.18%. That leaves the index at 8,843.6 points at this mid-week point.

Today’s unhappy performance from the Australian markets follows a similarly negative night up on Wall Street.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average Index (DJX: .DJI) closed down 0.59% after initially rising during morning trading.

In a rare coincidence, the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC) also finished up with a 0.59% loss.

But let’s return to the local markets now and dive a little deeper into how today’s pessimism filtered down into the various ASX sectors.

Winners and losers

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

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