Buy and hold investing is one of the best ways to grow wealth in the share market.

That’s because it allows investors to leverage the power of compounding, which is what happens when you generate returns on top of returns.

But if you’re not a fan of stock picking, don’t worry because exchange traded funds (ETFs) are here to save the day.

They allow investors to buy large groups of shares in one fell swoop. This eliminates the need to buy individual stocks.

With that in mind, listed below are two ASX ETFs that could be worth considering for the long term. Here’s what they offer investors:

Betashares Asia Technology Tigers ETF (ASX: ASIA)

The first ASX ETF with strong long-term potential is the popular Betashares Asia Technology Tigers ETF.

This fund focuses on large technology companies across Asia, giving investors exposure to digital growth outside the United States.

That could be important because Asia’s technology sector has its own drivers. It includes ecommerce platforms, semiconductor leaders, digital payments, online services, and companies tied to rising consumption across large populations.

Among its holdings are the likes of Baidu (NASDAQ: BIDU), Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (NYSE: TSM), Samsung Electronics, and WeChat owner Tencent Holdings (SEHK: 700).

The fund will not always move in line with US technology ETFs. That can make it a more volatile option at times, but also gives investors exposure to a different set of opportunities.

It was recently recommended by analysts at Betashares.

Vanguard MSCI Index International Shares ETF (ASX: VGS)

Another ASX ETF to consider as a buy and hold investment is the Vanguard MSCI Index International Shares ETF.

This fund is one of the broadest options available to investors on the Australian share market.

It provides exposure to over 1,000 stocks from developed markets around the world, including the United States, Europe, Japan, and other major economies.

Among its holdings are household names such as iPhone maker Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL), software leader Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT), luxury giant LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton SE, and food behemoth Nestle (SWX: NESN).

That breadth is its strength. The Vanguard MSCI Index International Shares ETF can act as a simple way to participate in global equity market growth without needing to decide which country, sector, or theme will lead next.

For investors looking for a core global ETF to hold for a decade or more, it arguably remains one of the cleanest options on the ASX.

The post 2 of the best ASX ETFs to buy and hold appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• 3 Vanguard ETFs for Australian investors to build wealth by 2036
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Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in Betashares Capital – Asia Technology Tigers Etf. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Apple, Baidu, Microsoft, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing, and Tencent. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has recommended Lvmh Moët Hennessy – Louis Vuitton, Société Européenne and Nestlé. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Apple, Microsoft, and Vanguard Msci Index International Shares ETF. 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) enjoyed a strong recovery day this Tuesday, lifting the value of many ASX shares over the session.

After yesterday’s nasty loss to start the week, investors were clearly more optimistic today, with the ASX 200 starting in the green and remaining consistent until market close. By that time, the index had finished with a 1.17% rise to 8,604.7 points.

This happy trading day for the local markets comes after a mixed start to the American trading week on Wall Street last night.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average Index (DJX: .DJI) was in a good mood, rising 0.32%.

However, things were different on the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC), which fell 0.51%.

But let’s get back to the ASX now and take stock of how the different ASX sectors navigated today’s fair trading conditions.

Winners and losers

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

More reading

• 4 ASX 200 shares tipped to jump another 50% to 60%
• ASX 200 charges higher as buyers return after Monday’s sell-off
• Buy, hold, sell: Endeavour and these popular ASX shares
• 3 ASX shares down 70% that could be cheap buys
• Why Elders, New Hope, Pro Medicus, and Tuas shares are storming higher today

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 Domino’s Pizza Enterprises, Steadfast Group, and Temple & Webster Group. 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 Steadfast Group. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Aub Group, Domino’s Pizza Enterprises, Pro Medicus, and Temple & Webster Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

Analysts at Ord Minnett have been running the rule over a number of ASX 200 shares this month.

Does the broker rate them as buys, holds, or sells? Let’s take a look:

Mineral Resources Ltd (ASX: MIN)

This mining and mining services company recently delivered a strong quarterly update, with volumes across iron ore, lithium, and mining services all exceeding the broker’s expectations.

This has ultimately seen Ord Minnett boost its earnings estimates for FY 2026 and FY 2028.

However, due to significant strength in its share price, the broker has downgraded Mineral Resources shares to an accumulate rating (from buy) with an improved price target of $67.00. It said:

Post the result, we have incorporated actuals, a lower cost of debt and higher operating costs. Across the forecast horizon, this leads to a 3.3% upgrade in our EPS estimate for FY26, a cut of 7.3% for FY27, and an increase of 4.7% in FY28. As a result, we raise our target price on Mineral Resources to $67.00 from $65.00 but downgrade our recommendation to Accumulate from Buy on valuation grounds given the stock’s almost 20% surge in April.

Sigma Healthcare Ltd (ASX: SIG)

Ord Minnett sees more value in Sigma shares.

In response to news that the Chemist Warehouse owner is expanding into the UK market, it has retained its buy rating on its shares with an improved price target of $3.40.

Commenting on the expansion, the broker said:

Chemist Warehouse will enter the UK market via a JV with GreenLight, a British pharmacy group founded in 1999 with 22 stores across Greater London. Phase 1 of the agreement to focus on five initial stores with Sigma set to acquire a 75% interest in each, while GreenLight leverages Chemist Warehouse’s intellectual property (IP) and retail support.

It is, in effect, only a pilot operation at this stage, but we see the UK opportunity as significant it is a large and fragmented market – more than 13,000 pharmacies, with Boots being the No.1 player with 13% share and independents making up 29%. The traditional UK pharmacy model is also under stress, with around 47% of stores making losses at the operating earnings (EBITDA) line, and the industry exhibits only limited retail innovation given a strong dispensary skew. We raise our target price on Sigma to $3.40 from $3.30 and reiterate our Buy recommendation.

Ventia Services Group Ltd (ASX: VNT)

A third ASX share that Ord Minnett has been looking at is infrastructure services company Ventia Services.

It was pleased to see management recently reaffirm its expectation for its operating earnings margin to at least match what it achieved in 2025.

Ord Minnett expects management to deliver on this and then expects further expansion through to 2030.

However, this is not quite enough for a buy recommendation. The broker has retained its accumulate rating with an improved price target of $6.10. It said:

Ventia noted costs related to redundancies from some lost defence work and the end of a NSW schools contract would weigh on first-half CY26 results although management was confident its operating earnings margin (EBITDA) would at least match the 8.7% booked in CY25 given efficiency savings and a concentration on winning work in the above-mentioned higher-margin markets.

We have raised our forecast for EBITDA margins to 8.8% in CY26 before expanding to more than 9% by CY30 as its business mix improves. ‍ Post the investor day, we have trimmed our CY26 EPS estimate by 0.7%, while our CY27 and CY28 forecasts rise by 1.6% and 4%, respectively, which leads us to raise our target price on Ventia to $6.10 from $6.05. We maintain our Accumulate recommendation.

The post Buy, hold, sell: Ventia, Sigma, and Mineral Resources shares appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Why Technology One, Megaport and Mineral Resources shares are turning heads on Tuesday
• Up 167% in a year, here’s why this ASX 200 lithium stock is rising again
• 3 reasons to buy Sigma Healthcare shares today
• Buy, hold, sell: ResMed, Sigma, and TechnologyOne shares
• A long-term contract win is lifting this ASX 200 stock 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 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.

A massive artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure buildout is underway across the world today.

James Gerrish from Shaw and Partners says Amazon, Microsoft, Google parent, Alphabet, and Facebook parent, Meta Platforms, are the hyperscalers of AI, and they plan to spend a combined $725 billion on AI development this year alone.

In a recent Market Matters newsletter, Gerrish said:

All four companies appear to be following the same narrative – the cost of falling behind in AI is greater than the risk of overspending.

Gerrish noted that 70% to 75% of this capex spending was going to AI infrastructure.

AI infrastructure includes GPUs, custom silicon, data centres, networking, and the energy and cooling systems required to run them.

This is a clear shift beyond traditional cloud computing capex, Gerrish said.

Gerrish provided an assessment and guidance on three ASX exchange-traded funds (ETFs) with exposure to the AI infrastructure buildout.

Here are his thoughts.

Global X Semiconductor ETF (ASX: SEMI)

The ASX SEMI is $35.47 apiece, down 2.3% on Tuesday and up 51% in the year to date (YTD).

Semiconductors control electrical currents in devices like computer chips and smartphones.

Gerrish said:

In simple terms, no AI model gets trained, no data centre gets built, and no smart device gets made without the chips SEMI’s holdings produce, making it the most direct play on the raw computing power driving the entire AI buildout.

If the AI buildout continues to accelerate, this is where the capex flows first.

The ETF holds 31 global stocks, with more than 60% exposure to US names, positioning it at the pointy end of the AI infrastructure cycle.

It has already delivered ~36% in 2026, and we see scope for further upside, provided hyperscaler spending remains robust.

The world’s biggest semiconductor manufacturer, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, and semiconductor designers Broadcom and Nvidia are among this ETF’s largest holdings.

In terms of a buy-in price, Gerrish said he was bullish on this ASX ETF at about $31 apiece:

We like the SEMI ETF through 2026, but from a risk/reward perspective, would leave some flexibility to add into the next ~$3-4 pullback.

VanEck FTSE Global Infrastructure (Hedged) ETF (ASX: IFRA)

IFRA ETF is $25.19 apiece, up 1.2% today and up 8% YTD.

Gerrish said:

The IFRA ETF gives ASX investors diversified exposure to the world’s essential infrastructure operators, electric utilities, toll roads, pipelines, airports and rail networks across developed markets.

It can be considered the boring backbone of the AI buildout, with every data centre needing a power grid, and IFRA owns the companies that run them.

However, the returns over the last year haven’t been particularly boring, with the ETF up more than +16%.

The ETF holds about 150 stocks with more than 70% exposure to the US and Canada.

The ASX ETF’s top holding is Australian toll road operator Transurban Group (ASX: TCL).

Gerrish added:

It’s arguably less sexy than the pure AI plays, but increasingly relevant, data centres require enormous amounts of electricity, cooling, and physical construction.

The more AI adoption accelerates, the more demand rises for the heavy industries that support it.

For good measure, the ETF is also forecast to yield almost 3% over the coming 12-months.

Gerrish said he is bullish and ‘long’ on this ASX ETF, and it is held in the Market Matters’ Core ETF portfolio.

Global X Artificial Intelligence Infrastructure ETF (ASX: AINF)

AINF ETF is $17.44 apiece, down 2.5% today and up 17% YTD.

Gerrish said:

AINF arguably offers the purest exposure among the four ETFs looked at today, providing targeted access to the physical backbone of AI, spanning energy, data and materials infrastructure.

This includes copper and uranium producers, utilities and engineering firms, effectively everything required to build and power the data centres underpinning AI’s global expansion.

Only launched in April 2025, the AINF was the first ASX-listed fund targeting the physical buildout of AI, and it has delivered a strong ~20% return in 2026.

The AINF ETF invests in 31 stocks with about 50% exposure to the US market.

The largest positions are Delta Electronics Inc, GE Vernova Inc, and Vertiv Holdings Co.

In terms of value, Gerrish said he was bullish on this ASX ETF below $18:

We like this ETF moving forward, but from a risk/reward perspective, we would leave room to average into dips below $17.

The post Best 3 ASX ETFs to leverage massive artificial intelligence buildout appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Here are 3 ASX ETFs for smart investors to buy
• Why US earnings is good news for artificial intelligence ETFs: Expert
• These ASX ETFs are smashing record highs 
• Why Aussie investors are pouring into international ASX ETFs
• 3 ASX ETFs that have raced ahead this year

Motley Fool contributor Bronwyn Allen has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Alphabet, Amazon, Broadcom, GE Vernova, Meta Platforms, Microsoft, Nvidia, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing, Transurban Group, and Vertiv. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Transurban Group. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Alphabet, Amazon, Meta Platforms, Microsoft, and Nvidia. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

Fortescue Ltd (ASX: FMG) shares have tumbled 1.32% in afternoon trade on Tuesday. At the time of writing, the shares are trading hands at $21.66.

The latest slump continues a run of three consecutive days of declines. The shares spiked to a two-year high of $22.99 on Thursday last week but have since shed 6% of their value.

They’re now down 2% for the year to date but 34% higher than this time 12 months ago.

What happened to Fortescue shares?

The iron ore miner’s shares rallied 15% in early May week as investors broadly rotated back into slumping ASX mining stocks. 

Investor sentiment appeared to briefly reverse from earlier this year, when many were concerned about rising costs, fears about a shortage of oil supply, and geopolitical uncertainty around conflict in the Middle East. Renewed confidence in the outlook for iron ore then acted as a strong tailwind for the miner’s share price.

Trading Economics data shows that the price of iron ore spiked higher again in May. Just over a week ago, the price of iron ore spiked to a multi-year high of over US$111 per tonne. It has slumped slightly ever since but is still 3.225% higher than a month ago and 11% higher than last year. 

It also looks like the market has become more optimistic about Fortescue’s decarbonisation and green-energy investments after management highlighted potential future fuel savings and operational efficiencies.

The company said it is committed to spending US$6.2 billion on decarbonisation, including a US$680 million investment to accelerate its 200-megawatt Pilbara Green Energy Project. 

Overall market sentiment and improved confidence explains why the shares spiked to a multi-year high late last week. But when it comes to understanding today’s slump, it’s not as clear.

There hasn’t been any price-sensitive company news to explain the turnaround since the share price spiked. It’s likely that the latest sell-off is mostly due to investors selling their shares and taking their gains off the table after the price rally. 

Is the latest slump a buying opportunity?

It doesn’t look like it.

While Fortescue shares rallied last week, data suggests that analysts don’t think the rally can continue. In fact, they expect the opposite.

TradingView data shows that eight out of 17 analysts have a sell or strong sell rating on the shares. Another eight have a hold rating while just one analyst rates the iron ore miner’s shares as a strong buy.

The average $18.90 target price implies a 13% downside at the time of writing. Meanwhile, some expect the shares to crash another 32% to $14.76 over the next 12 months.

The post Fortescue shares slump 6% from a multi-year high: Buy, sell or hold? 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.

Investors will have to wait a little longer to see where Webjet Group Ltd (ASX: WJL) shares trade next.

The ASX travel stock was placed in a trading halt on Tuesday, with its shares last sitting at 49 cents.

It has been a rough year for shareholders, with the stock down around 44% in 2026 and 44% over the past year.

The halt comes as investors wait for a potentially major update that could materially affect its financial outlook.

Here’s what we know so far.

Webjet calls a trading halt

In a statement to the ASX, Webjet said it had requested an immediate trading halt pending an announcement.

The company said the update relates to “future material changes to a certain commercial arrangement”.

Webjet also said the change is currently expected to have a material impact on its financial outlook.

No other details were provided in the trading halt request.

The halt is expected to remain in place until the earlier of the announcement being released or normal trading beginning on Wednesday, 21 May 2026.

The timing is also notable because Webjet is due to hold its FY26 results briefing tomorrow morning.

The company said CEO and Managing Director Katrina Barry, along with CFO Layton Shannos, will discuss its half-year results, strategy, and outlook.

More change at the top

The halt comes at a sensitive time for the business.

Barry is leaving the business this week after less than 2 years in the top job.

Her departure follows the recent exit of deputy CEO David Galt.

Chairman Don Clarke is also due to retire on Wednesday.

That leaves Webjet dealing with several leadership changes while shareholders wait for more details on the commercial update.

The company previously said Barry would remain through the completion of the company’s full-year results in May.

Webjet has also reaffirmed its FY26 earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) guidance of $28 million to $29 million.

That guidance excludes Webjet Bizness Travel, which is delivering in line with plan.

It also excludes Hive, which is expected to reduce second-half earnings by $600,000 to $900,000.

Why bidders may still be watching

The leadership changes are also feeding renewed takeover speculation.

The Australian reported that RBC Capital Markets analyst Wei-Weng Chen believes the departures of Barry and Galt could create a leadership vacuum.

He said this could potentially play into the hands of suitors Helloworld Travel Ltd (ASX: HLO) and BGH Capital.

Both groups had previously shown interest in Webjet.

BGH Capital had offered 91 cents per share, while Helloworld had offered 90 cents per share.

Those takeover talks were terminated earlier this year, with uncertainty around an acceptable binding proposal blamed for the end of discussions.

Since then, Webjet shares have fallen more than 15%.

The post Why this ASX travel stock is halted after crashing 44% in 2026 appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 5 ASX All Ords shares downgraded by brokers this week
• Webjet and Web Travel Group: Are these ASX travel shares a buy?

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 team at Morgans has been busy looking at recent updates from a couple of popular ASX shares.

Is the broker now positive on them? Or has it turned negative? Let’s find out:

Megaport Ltd (ASX: MP1)

Morgans notes that this network-as-a-service company has announced a series of major contract wins for its recently acquired Latitude.sh business.

The broker was impressed with the contract wins and has upgraded its estimates to reflect them.

This has led to Morgans reaffirming its buy rating on Megaport’s shares with an improved price target of $15.50. Based on its current share price of $12.63, this implies potential upside of 23% for investors over the next 12 months.

Commenting on the company, the broker said:

MP1 has announced a series of large contract wins which are financially and strategically significant. MP1 will use its globally unique communications platform to connect servers and GPU clusters in numerous DCs across the US.

DC power constraints are a growing issue and MP1 was uniquely able to stitch together multiple sites to provide consolidated inference solutions. We update our forecasts to reflect recent contract wins, lifting our TP to $15.50 per share. We retain a BUY recommendation.

New Hope Corporation Ltd (ASX: NHC)

Another ASX share that Morgans has been looking at is coal miner New Hope.

It released its third-quarter update this week and performed comfortably ahead of expectations. In fact, Morgans highlights that New Hope’s group coal sales were 20% better than consensus forecasts.

It was also a similar story for production and its underlying earnings for the period.

However, due to its current valuation, this strong performance wasn’t enough for a buy rating from Morgans.

It has retained its hold rating on New Hope shares with a $5.25 price target. Based on its current share price of $5.48, this implies potential downside of 4.2% over the next 12 months. It commented:

NHC delivered a materially stronger-than-expected 3Q26, with group coal sales of 3.2Mt beating consensus by ~20%. Saleable Production was also strong at 3.01Mt, beating consensus by ~10%. Bengalla achieved a FOB cash cost ($AUD/t) of $74, down from $84.4 in the prior quarter.

Underlying EBITDA (unaudited) of ~A$130m came in ~22% ahead of the prior quarter, supported by higher volumes and a meaningful step-down in unit costs. We maintain a HOLD rating with a target price of A$5.25ps.

The post What is Morgans saying about Megaport and New Hope shares appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Why Elders, New Hope, Pro Medicus, and Tuas shares are storming higher today
• Why Technology One, Megaport and Mineral Resources shares are turning heads on Tuesday
• 3 ASX shares that could be much bigger in 10 years
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• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today

Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in Megaport. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Megaport. 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) has rebounded early this week. Here are four ASX 200 shares that I think can help drive the index higher over the next 12 months.

A2 Milk Company Ltd (ASX: A2M)

A2 Milk shares have crashed 26% since early April after the company released a trading, supply chain, and outlook update stating that it was experiencing significant supply chain disruptions that are expected to affect its FY26 performance. The ASX 200 company said it was facing temporary product availability issues in China, driven by strong demand, freight disruptions, production constraints, and longer product release and customs clearance times. As a result, the company downgraded its FY26 guidance, and it has sent the share price tumbling. Brokers are still bullish on the ASX 200 company’s shares, though. Market Index data shows they rate the stock a buy and tip a 55% upside to $9.18 at the time of writing. 

Vault Minerals Ltd (ASX: VAU)

Vault Minerals shares shed nearly 40% of their value amid a broad-based sell-off of ASX gold stocks following the escalation of conflict between the US and Iran and resulting global economic uncertainty. It looks like investors were also using the opportunity to take gains off the table after a strong price rally in late 2025. The ASX 200 gold company’s shares have since recovered some ground, but sentiment has still been sluggish over the past month. Brokers are very optimistic about the outlook for the gold miner, though. They rate the ASX 200 shares as a strong buy and tip a potential 59% upside to $7.06.

Pro Medicus Ltd (ASX: PME)

Pro Medicus shares are climbing higher this week. The uptick is great news for investors after it suffered a brutal 53% sell-off over the past 12 months. On Monday, the healthcare imaging software company announced a new contract win. It said its US subsidiary, Visage Imaging, has signed a 7-year, $90 million contract with Beth Israel Lahey Health. The company’s US subsidiary also won two $40 million five-year contract renewals back in early March. It looks like we’ll see plenty more out of the company over the next 12 months, too. TradingView data shows analysts rate the ASX 200 shares as a strong buy and tip an average 47% upside to $191.90, at the time of writing. 

Resmed Inc (ASX: RMD)

Resmed shares have rebounded from a two-year low recorded in mid-May. Again, as an ASX healthcare share, the company has faced significant headwinds in late 2025 and early 2026. Most significantly, Resmed shares were swept up in the general sector-wide sell-off. Its latest third-quarter earnings update also came in softer than expected, which didn’t help lessen declining sentiment. But it looks like the ASX 200 shares are now widely considered oversold and below fair value. Broker consensus is for a strong buy rating. And they tip the shares to climb 51% higher to $43.38 over the next 12 months, at the time of writing.

The post 4 ASX 200 shares tipped to jump another 50% to 60% appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Why Elders, New Hope, Pro Medicus, and Tuas shares are storming higher today
• Why this fallen ASX 200 blue chip could be a strong buy
• 5 ASX shares that could bounce back in the second half of 2026
• 3 ASX mid-cap stocks that could be tomorrow’s big winners
• How to generate $20,000 a year in passive income on the ASX

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 ResMed. 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 ResMed. 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.

ASX gold stock Bellevue Gold Ltd (ASX: BGL) pushed higher on Tuesday after the ASX miner released another encouraging operational update.

During afternoon trade, Bellevue Gold shares climbed 2.5% to $1.55.

The rally continues an impressive run for shareholders. The ASX gold stock is now up roughly 75% over the past 12 months. By comparison, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) has gained just 3% over the same period.

So, what exactly did the ASX gold stock announce?

High-grade ore source

Bellevue Gold revealed that it has delivered first ore from the Deacon North underground mine at its Bellevue Gold Project in Western Australia.

Importantly, management of the ASX gold stock said the milestone was achieved on schedule. That matters because Deacon North has the potential to become a major high-grade ore source for the company as production ramps up through FY26 and FY27.

The company also confirmed that all major mining areas at the Bellevue Gold Mine are now in production. Mining operations at Deacon Main and Viago are already established and tracking in line with FY26 guidance.

Management said growing ore contributions from Deacon Main, Viago, and now Deacon North are expected to drive production growth across the next two financial years.

Operational setbacks, cost pressures

Investors appear to like what they are seeing.

The market has been watching the ASX gold stock closely, following earlier operational setbacks and cost pressures. Hitting key development milestones on time could help rebuild investor confidence in the company’s execution capabilities.

Higher-grade ore production is also critical. If Bellevue can successfully increase access to high-grade material, it could help lift gold production, improve margins, lower unit costs, and strengthen free cash flow.

Electromagnetic surveys for next phase drilling

The ASX gold stock also flagged more exploration activity ahead.

Bellevue Gold said it has completed the first surface drilling program, while a second phase drilling program is already underway. The company expects that work to continue through the June quarter and into FY27.

At the same time, downhole electromagnetic surveys are beginning to refine exploration targeting and support the next phase of drilling activity.

Management also revealed that it expects a sixth underground diamond rig to arrive on site during the June 2026 quarter. The rig will then begin underground exploration drilling in FY27.

What next for the ASX gold stock?

Today’s announcement builds on Bellevue Gold’s stronger March quarter update released last month.

During the quarter, the company produced 40,745 ounces of gold while lowering costs and generating a record underlying free cash flow of roughly $158 million.

Management of the ASX gold stock also reaffirmed FY26 guidance, which was another positive sign for investors looking for greater operational consistency.

Gold prices remain near historically elevated levels, which is also helping sentiment toward ASX gold shares more broadly.

For Bellevue Gold, however, the focus increasingly appears to be shifting toward operational delivery. And right now, the market seems pleased with the progress.

The post Guess which ASX gold stock is edging higher today on drilling news appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Which ASX 200 mining services provider is charging higher on a big contract win?
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• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
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• How ASX 200 gold stocks like Newmont, Evolution Mining and Northern Star shares have their shine back 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 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 getting a decent bounce on Tuesday after a tough start to the week.

At the time of writing, the ASX 200 is up 1.02% to 8,592 points.

Monday’s sell-off left the index at its lowest level in around 7 weeks, with higher oil prices, inflation worries, and Middle East tensions weighing on the market.

But today’s risk appetite looks very different.

Buyers have moved back into a wide spread of shares, with strength coming from banks, supermarkets, healthcare stocks, insurers, and property names.

The rebound helps steady the market after a rough few weeks, although it doesn’t wipe out the recent damage.

The ASX 200 is still down around 1.3% over the past week and 4% over the past month. It also remains slightly lower in 2026.

Broad buying returns

The rebound is fairly broad, with buyers returning across most parts of the market.

At the latest check, 136 ASX 200 stocks are trading higher, while 59 are lower and 5 are unchanged.

Most sectors are also in positive territory, although the S&P/ASX 200 Materials Index (ASX: XMJ) remains the weak spot, down 0.76%.

A softer session for miners is weighing on that part of the market, with lithium, rare earths, and resources shares under pressure.

Liontown Resources Ltd (ASX: LTR), Lynas Rare Earths Ltd (ASX: LYC), and Pilbara Minerals Ltd (ASX: PLS) shares are down 5.60%, 5.07%, and 2.75%, respectively.

But the rest of the market is doing more than enough to offset that weakness.

Woolworths Group Ltd (ASX: WOW) is up more than 4% after a broker upgrade, while Pro Medicus Ltd (ASX: PME) is 3.90% higher, and QBE Insurance Group Ltd (ASX: QBE) is up 4.28%.

Brambles Ltd (ASX: BXB) is also clawing back some ground after Monday’s heavy fall. Its shares are up 0.91% after falling yesterday on the back of an FY26 earnings guidance downgrade.

Oil cools after a wild run

A pullback in oil prices is also helping the market settle after Monday’s heavy selling.

Brent crude futures fell more than 2% after US President Donald Trump said he was holding off a planned attack on Iran while negotiations continued.

Reuters reported that Brent crude dropped to around US$109 a barrel in early Asian trade.

The fall has taken some heat out of the market after oil surged on fears of a wider conflict in the Middle East.

Energy prices are still elevated, so investors are unlikely to treat the risk as gone.

But the drop has given the market some breathing room, especially after energy prices helped drive Monday’s sell-off.

The post ASX 200 charges higher as buyers return after Monday’s sell-off appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Aaron Teboneras has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has recommended Lynas Rare Earths Ltd and Pro Medicus. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Woolworths Group. 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.