After setting a series of new all-time highs in March, April is offering a more difficult first week for the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO).

In this shortened holiday trading week, the benchmark index closed down 0.1% on Tuesday before plunging 1.3% on Wednesday.

Yesterday saw a reprieve, with the index closing up a healthy 0.5%, bringing it back to a 12.9% six-month gain.

So, why is the ASX 200 reversing course again and tumbling 0.9% in morning trade today?

What’s spooking ASX 200 investors on Friday?

It’s not just the ASX 200 under selling pressure today.

Overnight the S&P 500 Index (SP: .INX) closed down 0.2%. Notably, the S&P 500 was well into the green for most of the day, before plummeting 1.8% in the final two hours of trade.

It was a similar picture on the Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC). The tech-heavy index lost 2.3% in the final two hours of trade to close the day down 1.4%.

And the ASX 200 is facing the same combination of headwinds today that dragged down US markets while most of us were asleep.

Interest rates and inflation

The first bugbear dragging on stock markets is becoming a familiar refrain for ASX 200 investors.

Namely sticky inflation and the resulting potential of delayed and fewer interest rate cuts.

The latest round of jitters looks to have been stoked by US Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis president Neel Kashkari.

Kashkari said the US’ inflation data in January and February were “a little bit concerning”. He added that the Fed will want to be more confident inflation is on track to return to its 2% target range before lowering interest rates.

And he likey sent US and ASX 200 investors to their sell buttons when he added that rate cuts might not be needed “at all“.

According to Kashkari (courtesy of Bloomberg):

In March I had jotted down two rate cuts this year if inflation continues to fall back towards our 2% target. If we continue to see inflation moving sideways, then that would make me question whether we needed to do those rate cuts at all.

ASX 200 and the Middle East

Atop fears that interest rate cuts may be longer in coming and fewer in number, ASX 200 investors also appear concerned over a potential serious escalation in the Middle East conflicts.

Commenting on the sudden retrace in US stock markets earlier today, National Australia Bank Ltd (ASX: NAB) said (quoted by The Australian Financial Review), “US equities opened higher and retained their initial gains until an hour or so ago.”

NAB continued:

Sentiment was dented following news of a security cabinet meeting in Israel following which Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu said that his country will operate against Iran and its proxies and will hurt those who seek to harm it.

And if investors need any more uncertainty, there’s the US jobs report, which comes out at 11:30am AEDT today.

US employment is broadly expected to remain strong with fewer layoffs and more hirings. If the data surprises to the upside, it could be a case of ‘good news is bad news’. Meaning good news for the US economy and workforce could delay any Fed rate cuts.

And that could throw up another medium-term headwind for US stocks and the ASX 200.

The post Why is the ASX 200 ending the week with a whimper? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Friday
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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.

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The market may be falling today, but that hasn’t stopped Biotron Ltd (ASX: BIT) shares from rocketing.

In morning trade, the ASX healthcare stock is up almost 50% to 11 cents.

Why is this ASX healthcare stock rocketing?

Investors have been scrambling to buy the antiviral therapies developer’s shares this morning after it released an update on its Phase 2 study of BIT225.

BIT225 is Biotron’s lead compound. It is in Phase 2 development for the treatment of HIV-1 and Hepatitis C virus infections.

According to the release, preliminary analyses of data from the BIT225-010 Phase 2 clinical trial provide confirmation, and extension, of the results of previous trials in people infected with HIV-1.

The ASX healthcare stock explained that the double-blind placebo-controlled Phase 2 trial was designed to characterise the effect of BIT225 (200 mg, once daily for 24 weeks) added to a standard of care antiretroviral therapy (cART) in 27 treatment naive people infected with HIV-1. This comprises 18 using BIT225 and 9 using a placebo.

Study participants were followed for a one-month period following 24-weeks of BIT225 or placebo dosing, with all individuals continued on cART as per standard treatment guidelines post-study.

Preliminary analysis of the safety data has shown that BIT225 was safe and generally well tolerated at the 200mg once daily dose, with no deaths or drug-related serious adverse events.

As for efficacy, preliminary analyses of the HIV-1 plasma viral load (pVL) data suggest that the addition of BIT225 to cART results in a more rapid reduction in plasma virus levels during the second phase of viral decay, compared to cART alone.

Furthermore, preliminary analyses of blood immune cell populations showed changes in specific immune cell populations in the BIT225 group compared to cART alone.

Management commentary

The ASX 200 healthcare stock’s managing director, Dr Michelle Miller, was pleased with the trial results. She said:

The positive outcomes from this trial further our understanding of BIT225. The blood (plasma) viral load data in particular should be highlighted, as it suggests that BIT225 is having an impact on a critical phase of viral decay when latent reservoirs are established. Current cART is efficient at rapidly and durably reducing virus levels in the blood, but this does not translate into clearance of latent reservoirs.

The observed changes to immune markers and cells further the results from the previous 009 trial and suggest the utility of targeting viroporins as a new class of antiviral drugs. The results reported here are preliminary, and ongoing analysis of the BIT225-010 study, as well as its companion study, BIT225-011 in HIV-1 chronically infected individuals, will be reported when complete.

The post Guess which ASX healthcare stock is rocketing almost 50% on Friday appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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More reading

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• Bell Potter names the best ASX 200 shares to buy in April
• 3 lower-risk, high-yield ASX dividend shares to consider buying now
• 4 ASX All Ords shares with ex-dividend dates next week

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.

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ASX growth stocks that have fallen heavily in value can be attractive opportunities, in my opinion.

The more a share price falls, the bigger potential there is to make returns from a possible recovery. For example, if a company’s share price falls 50% from $20 to $10, simply returning to $20 again would be a return of 100%.

Of course, we need to keep in mind that a share price isn’t going to go back up just because it has fallen. A bear market can be a good time to find opportunities that have been sold in a widespread panic because the long-term outlook for that business may still be very positive.

The ASX tech share Frontier Digital Ventures Ltd (ASX: FDV) is down 65% from its peak in November 2021. I think it has very appealing prospects as an investment for a few different reasons.

Digital adoption tailwinds

Frontier Digital Ventures invests in leading online classifieds marketplaces in emerging regions, such as South America, the Middle East and Asia.

The ASX growth stock says that online classifieds marketplaces (like property, cars and general marketplaces) have “significant leverage to population and economic factors, with emerging markets amplifying the opportunity”.

The total population of the markets in which Frontier Digital’s investments operate is 882 million, which is 34 times the population of Australia. The markets have a growing middle-class and urban population.

The internet ‘penetration’ within the company’s regions rose to 68% in 2023, up from 62% in 2022. This statistic may never reach 100%, but I think there’s plenty more potential growth as more people start using the internet for more services.

Operating leverage

The ASX growth stocks’ investments have already built their platforms. Additional users, new subscriptions or more volume can help ramp up profit margins because the business is spreading largely fixed costs across more customers.

One of the strongest benefits of technology businesses is how cheap it is to create an additional piece of software for another customer – tech companies can typically have an attractively high gross profit margin.

A company like REA Group Limited (ASX: REA), for example, has shown the underlying potential of an online business to generate stronger margins over the long term as it scales.

Increasingly profitable

I think it’s an important milestone when a technology company can reach profitability after a long period of investing.

Frontier Digital Ventures recently reported a number of positives in its 2023 full-year result.

The ASX growth stock’s 2023 statutory revenue increased by 15% to A$67.9 million, statutory earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) grew $8.3 million year over year to $3.7 million, and the 2023 second half net profit after tax (NPAT) was A$1.3 million compared to a net loss of $9.9 million in the first half of 2023.

With strong tailwinds (like digitalisation) in the regions it invests in, I think this ASX growth stock has an appealing, profitable future. The more profit it can make, the easier it will be for investors to value the business and recognise the full potential of the company.

The post 1 ASX growth stock down 65% to buy right now appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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More reading

• 2 ASX 200 retirement shares to buy now
• Bell Potter names the best ASX 200 shares to buy in April
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• 4 ASX All Ords shares with ex-dividend dates next week
• Want an income boost? Buy ANZ Bank and these ASX dividend stocks

Motley Fool contributor Tristan Harrison 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 Frontier Digital Ventures and REA Group. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Frontier Digital Ventures and REA Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

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If you’re building a retirement portfolio, then you will no doubt want some high-quality companies in it with the ability to grow and pay consistent dividends.

But which ASX 200 shares could fit the bill right now?

Two retirement shares that analysts are feeling very positive about are listed below. Here’s what they are saying about them:

Treasury Wine Estates Ltd (ASX: TWE)

The first ASX 200 retirement share for investors to look at is Treasury Wine.

It is one of the world’s leading wine companies and the owner of popular brands including Penfolds, Beringer, 19 Crimes, Lindemans, and Wolf Blass.

The company was given a huge boost last week when the Chinese government announced that it has removed tariffs on Australian wine. This gives the company a huge growth runway over the next decade for its premium wines.

Morgans is likely to have been pleased with the news having previously highlighted that the China removal of tariffs on Australian wine imports as a  “key near term share price catalyst.”

Its analysts have an add rating and $14.03 price target on the wine giant’s shares.

In addition, the broker is expecting the company’s shares to provide investors with a growing source of income. It is forecasting fully franked dividends of 36.4 cents per share in FY 2024 and 44.8 cents per share in FY 2025. Based on its current share price of $13.00, this will mean yields of 2.8% and 3.45%, respectively.

Woolworths Limited (ASX: WOW)

Another ASX 200 retirement share for investors to consider buying is Woolworths. It is one of the big two supermarket operators and also the owner of Big W, Everyday Rewards, PFD, Cartology, and Quantium, to name just a few.

Goldman Sachs is a big fan of the company and believes it is well-positioned for growth over the coming years. This is due to its leadership position in the market and the stickiness and loyalty of its customer base. It recently stated:

We are Buy rated on the stock as we believe the business has among the highest consumer stickiness and loyalty among peers, and hence has strong ability to drive market share gains via its omni-channel advantage, as well as pass through any cost inflation to protect its margins, beyond market expectations.

Goldman has a conviction buy rating and $40.40 price target on Woolworths’ shares.

As with Treasury Wine, the broker is expecting a growing income stream from Woolworths’ shares in the coming years. It is forecasting fully franked dividends per share of $1.09 in FY 2024 and $1.17 in FY 2025. Based on the current Woolworths share price of $32.47, this will mean yields of 3.4% and 3.6%, respectively.

The post 2 ASX 200 retirement shares to buy now appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in Treasury Wine Estates. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Goldman Sachs Group. The Motley Fool Australia 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.

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If you’re in the market for some new ASX 200 shares in April, then it could be worth listening to what analysts at Bell Potter are saying.

That’s because they have just revealed their favoured picks for the month ahead. Two on its list this month are named below. Here’s what the broker is saying about them:

Coles Group Ltd (ASX: COL)

The first ASX 200 share that Bell Potter is urging investors to buy this month is Coles. It is of course one of Australia’s big two supermarket operators.

The broker believes that costs will start to moderate in the near term and sees positives from the company’s investment in its supply chain and online offering. It said:

Costs are expected to remain elevated but should moderate through FY24 and FY25 as general inflation tapers off. In the medium term, 1) higher immigration should support grocery spending, and 2) Coles is entering a period of elevated capex intensity as it reinvests to modernise its supply chain and to catch up to competitors on online and digital offerings, which should help Coles maintain its market position.

Bell Potter has a buy rating and $19.00 price target on its shares. This suggests upside of 15% is possible for investors over the next 12 months. In addition, the broker is expecting a 4%+ dividend yield from its shares, boosting the total potential return to almost 20%.

Regis Resources Ltd (ASX: RRL)

Another ASX 200 share that Bell Potter rates as a buy is Regis Resources. It is one of Australia’s leading gold miners.

Bell Potter likes the miner due to its local operations and positive growth outlook. It also highlights that the company could be an attractive takeover target in the current environment. It explains:

As one of the largest ASX listed gold producers, we are attracted to its all-Australian asset portfolio and organic growth options which are unique at this scale. Furthermore, we see key opportunities in the fundamental, medium-term outlook and, in our view, these may also make RRL an appealing corporate target in the current conducive M&A environment.

Despite its shares rallying strongly due to the rising gold price, Bell Potter still sees significant returns ahead. It currently has a buy rating and $2.60 price target on its shares. This implies upside of 30% for investors over the next 12 months. No dividends are expected in the near future.

The post Bell Potter names the best ASX 200 shares to buy in April appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

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If you have a low tolerance for risk but want to invest in some ASX dividend shares, then read on.

That’s because the three shares listed below could be classed as defensive options with generous dividend yields. Let’s take a closer look at them:

APA Group (ASX: APA)

The first low-risk ASX share for investors to look at is APA Group. It is an energy infrastructure business that owns, manages, and operates a diverse, $27 billion portfolio of gas, electricity, solar and wind assets.

In February, the company released its half year results and delivered revenue, earnings, and distributions growth. The latter builds on 19 years of distribution growth.

This hasn’t gone unnoticed by analysts at Macquarie. They are feeling very positive on the company’s outlook and recently upgraded APA Group’s shares to an outperform rating with a $9.40 price target.

The broker is also expecting some great (and growing) yields from its shares in the near term. It is forecasting dividends per share of 56 cents in FY 2024 and 57.5 cents in FY 2025. Based on the current APA Group share price of $8.48, this equates to 6.6% and 6.8% yields, respectively.

Telstra Group Ltd (ASX: TLS)

Another low-risk ASX share that could be a buy is Telstra. It is of course Australia’s leading telecommunications company.

Given that some people would rather go without food before giving up their phone and internet access, it’s clear to see just how defensive its earnings are.

In fact, it is one of the reasons that Goldman Sachs is bullish on the company. It recently stated that its analysts “believe the low risk earnings (and dividend) growth that Telstra is delivering across FY22-25, underpinned through its mobile business, is attractive.”

Goldman currently has a buy and $4.55 price target on its shares.

And thanks to recent share price weakness, investors can expect to receive an above average dividend yield from its shares.

Goldman is forecasting fully franked dividends of 18 cents per share in FY 2024 and then 19 cents per share in FY 2025. Based on the current Telstra share price of $3.85, this equates to fully franked yields of 4.7% and 5%, respectively.

Transurban Group (ASX: TCL)

Finally, Transurban could be another low-risk ASX share to buy. It owns a portfolio of toll roads in Australia and North America, as well as a significant project pipeline.

As these roads are always in need, particularly as populations grow and urbanisation continues, Transurban has defensive qualities like the others.

Analysts at Citi like the company and have a buy rating and $15.60 price target on its shares.

As for income, its analysts are forecasting dividends per share of 63 cents in FY 2024 and then 65 cents in FY 2025. Based on the current Transurban share price of $13.29, this will mean yields of 4.75% and 4.9%, respectively.

The post 3 lower-risk, high-yield ASX dividend shares to consider buying now appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Citigroup is an advertising partner of The Ascent, a Motley Fool company. 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 Goldman Sachs Group and Transurban Group. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Apa Group and Telstra Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

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The dividends from the latest ASX earnings reporting season are drying up. If you own a portfolio of All Ordinaries Index (ASX: XAO) shares, chances are you’ve bagged yourself a dividend over the past few weeks. If that’s the case, congratulations.

But while most ASX All Ords shares have paid out their biannual dividends, we still have some stragglers to report on. Next week, we’ll see no fewer than four All Ords stocks scheduled to trade ex-dividend.

Ex-dividend?

When a company trades ex-dividend, it draws a line in the sand over which investors are eligible for an upcoming dividend payment, as well as any associated franking credits.

If investors own a company’s shares at the close of trading one day before the ex-dividend date, they will be eligible for the particular payout. But bad luck for any investor who buys that company’s shares on or after the ex-dividend date.

As such, it’s important for investors to keep abreast of the ex-dividend dates of any ASX All Ords share they wish to receive a paycheque from.

So, with all that in mind, here’s the list of the ASX All Ords shares that will experience this very phenomenon next week:

4 ASX All Ords shares trading ex-dividend next week

 *Dividend yield as of Thursday’s close

But that’s not all, folks. There are a slew of popular ASX exchange-traded funds (ETFs) from provider BlackRock that are also scheduled to go ex-dividend (or ex-distribution in this case) next week on 9 April.

These include the iShares Core S&P/ASX 200 ETF (ASX: IOZ), the iShares Treasury ETF (ASX: IGB) and the iShares Core Cash ETF (ASX: BILL), among others.

Whilst not technically ASX All Ords shares, these ETFs will still all pay out their respective distributions.

So keep your eyes on any or all of these investments next week if you own any of them, or perhaps if you are just looking for a share price dip before your next buy.

The post 4 ASX All Ords shares with ex-dividend dates next week appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

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The good news for income investors is that there are plenty of ASX dividend stocks to choose from on the Australian share market.

But which ones are brokers tipping as buys in April?

Let’s take a look at three that have been given the thumbs up by analysts:

Accent Group Ltd (ASX: AX1)

The team at Bell Potter thinks that income investors should check out Accent Group. It is footwear focused retailer operating over 800 stores, 34 brands, and 35 online platforms. Its store brands include Sneaker Lab, Platypus, Stylerunner, and The Athlete’s Foot.

The broker likes the company due to its strong market position and its “growth adjacencies via exclusive partnerships with globally winning brands such as Hoka and growing vertical brand strategy.”

In respect to income, Bell Potter is forecasting fully franked dividends per share of 13 cents in FY 2024 and then 14.6 cents in FY 2025. Based on the latest Accent share price of $1.96, this represents dividend yields of 6.6% and 7.4%, respectively.

Bell Potter has a buy rating and $2.50 price target on its shares.

ANZ Group Holdings Ltd (ASX: ANZ)

If you don’t already have exposure to the big four banks, then Ord Minnett thinks that ANZ Bank could be an ASX dividend stock to buy this month.

It recently stated its belief that the proposed acquisition of Suncorp Bank will add scale to areas where the bank currently trails the rest of the big four. The good news is that this transaction is now nearing completion after finally gaining regulatory approval.

In the meantime, Ord Minnett is forecasting fully franked dividends per share of $1.62 in FY 2024 and $1.65 per share in FY 2025. Based on the current ANZ share price of $29.16, this will mean dividend yields of 5.5% and 5.65%, respectively.

The broker has a buy rating and $31.00 price target on ANZ’s shares.

Transurban Group (ASX: TCL)

A third ASX dividend stock that could be a buy according to analysts at Citi is Transurban. It is one of the world’s leading toll road operators, building and operating toll roads in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane, as well as in Greater Washington, United States, and Montreal, Canada.

Citi is a fan of the company and believes it is positioned to pay a dividend ahead of guidance in FY 2024. It is expecting dividends per share of 63 cents in FY 2024 and then 65 cents in FY 2025. Based on the current Transurban share price of $13.29, this will mean yields of 4.75% and 4.9%, respectively.

Citi has a buy rating and $15.90 price target on Transurban’s shares.

The post Want an income boost? Buy ANZ Bank and these ASX dividend stocks appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Citigroup is an advertising partner of The Ascent, a Motley Fool company. 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 Transurban Group. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Accent Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

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Australia is a world-renowned supplier of natural resources, and ASX 200 mining and energy shares are among the largest and most popular stocks on the market.

Investors view these ASX 200 large-cap stocks as solid investments providing good dividend income.

A key component in the earnings of these companies is commodity prices.

Miners are ‘price takers’, which means they sell the stuff they dig up for prices largely dictated by the global commodities markets.

That’s why we see ASX stock prices go up and down every day in line with commodity values.

If the iron ore price rises, it means companies like BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP) and Fortescue Ltd (ASX: FMG) will earn more, and this tends to push their share prices up.

So, it’s helpful to know if commodity prices are likely to go up or down over the short to medium term.

Of course, no one has a crystal ball, but every year, the Federal Department of Industry and Resources has a crack at forecasting how commodity values will change over the next five years.

Those forecasts have just been published, and we’ve got all the details for you.

FY24 to FY29 commodity price forecasts

Here are the price forecasts for 10 different commodities.

Iron ore price

FY24: US$103 per tonne (up from US$95 per tonne in FY23)
FY29: US$75 per tonne

Examples of ASX 200 iron ore shares: BHP, Fortescue, Rio Tinto Ltd (ASX: RIO)

Gold price

FY24: US$1,995 per ounce (up from US$1,831 per ounce in FY23)
FY29: US$1,909 per ounce

Examples of ASX 200 gold shares: Newmont Corporation CDI (ASX: NEM), Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST)

Copper price

FY24: US$8,258 per tonne (down from US$8,289 per tonne in FY23)
FY29: US$10,061 per tonne

Example of ASX copper shares: Sandfire Resources Ltd (ASX: SFR)

Lithium spodumene price

FY24: US$1,800 per tonne (down from US$5,174 per tonne in FY23)
FY29: US$1,231 per tonne

Examples of ASX lithium shares: Pilbara Minerals Ltd (ASX: PLS), Core Lithium Ltd (ASX: CXO)

LNG price

FY24: $17 per gigajoule (down from $21 per gigajoule in FY23)
FY29: $12 per gigajoule

Brent crude oil price

FY24: US$84 per barrel (down from US$87 per barrel in FY23)
FY29: US$73 per barrel

Examples of ASX energy shares: Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS), Ampol Ltd (ASX: ALD)

Uranium price

FY24: US$85 per pound (up from US$51 per pound in FY23)
FY29: US$119 per pound

Examples of ASX uranium shares: Paladin Energy Ltd  (ASX: PDN), Boss Energy Ltd (ASX: BOE)

Metallurgical & thermal coal prices

Metallurgical

FY24: US$289 per tonne (up from US$277 per tonne in FY23)
FY29: US$207 per tonne

Thermal

FY24: US$135 per tonne (down from US$302 per tonne in FY23)
FY29: US$115 per tonne

Examples of ASX 200 coal shares: Whitehaven Coal Ltd (ASX: WHC), Yancoal Australia Ltd (ASX: YAL)

Alumina & aluminium prices

Alumina

FY24: US$341 per tonne (down from US$343 per tonne in FY23)
FY29: US$369 per tonne

Aluminium

FY24: US$2,204 per tonne (down from US$2,333 per tonne in FY23)
FY29: US$2,685 per tonne

Examples of ASX alumina shares: Alumina Limited (ASX: AWC), South32 Ltd (ASX: S32)

Nickel price

FY24: US$17,889 per tonne (down from US$23,911 per tonne in FY23)
FY29: US$20,950 per tonne

Example of ASX nickel shares: IGO Ltd (ASX: IGO)

The trends driving commodity values

There is a clear main trend in this year’s numbers. Commodity prices are more likely to rise for the metals and minerals essential to the green energy transition, such as copper, which is used for electrification.

This will directly benefit ASX 200 mining shares specialising in the red metal.

Minister for Resources Madeleine King said commodities would continue to underpin Australia’s economic wellbeing.

While global prices are easing, the March 2024 Resources and Energy Quarterly shows demand is likely to be sustained for commodities used in low emissions technologies, including iron ore, copper, aluminium and lithium. The road to net zero runs through Australia’s resources sector.

Another trend is the rising demand for resources from India.

While demand from China will continue to drive commodity prices, India is expected to need a lot more resources as it industrialises. The Indian economy is the fastest growing in the world right now.

The post Own ASX 200 mining shares? Here’s the 5-year forecast for commodity prices appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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More reading

• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Friday
• Invest $6,000 in Fortescue shares and get $502 in passive income
• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• Why is everyone talking about Rio Tinto stock on Thursday?
• Why is the South32 share price having such a cracker run today?

Motley Fool contributor Bronwyn Allen has positions in Alumina, BHP Group, Core Lithium, South32, and Woodside Energy Group. 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.

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On Thursday, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) returned to form after a selloff on Wednesday. The benchmark index rose 0.45% to 7,817.3 points.

Will the market be able to build on this on Friday and end the week on a high? Here are five things to watch:

ASX 200 poised to sink

The Australian share market looks set to end the week deep in the red following another poor night on Wall Street. According to the latest SPI futures, the ASX 200 is expected to open 50 points or 0.65% lower this morning. In late trade on Wall Street, the Dow Jones is down 1.25%, the S&P 500 is down 1%, and the NASDAQ is down 1.1%. Nervous investors were selling down stocks ahead of the US jobs report.

Oil prices rise again

ASX 200 energy shares such as Beach Energy Ltd (ASX: BPT) and Karoon Energy Ltd (ASX: KAR) could have a good finish to the week after oil prices rose again overnight. According to Bloomberg, the WTI crude oil price is up 1.45% to US$86.66 a barrel and the Brent crude oil price is up 1.6% to US$90.81 a barrel. Oil prices rose amid reports that Israeli embassies have been put on high alert after Iran vowed to retaliate over a missile strike on its consulate in Damascus this week.

BHP and Rio Tinto likely to fall

It looks set to be a tough session for BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP) and Rio Tinto Ltd (ASX: RIO) shares on Friday after iron ore prices weakened again. The spot price of the benchmark 62% fines iron ore is down 1.5% to US$98.00 a tonne. This led to both mining giants’ NYSE listed shares dropping almost 2% during last night’s session.

Gold price edges lower

ASX 200 gold shares including Evolution Mining Ltd (ASX: EVN) and Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST) could have a subdued session after the gold price edged lower overnight. According to CNBC, the spot gold price is down slightly to US$2,314.5 an ounce. Traders appear to have been locking in gains after the precious metal reached a record high.

Dividend payday

A number of ASX 200 shares will be rewarding their shareholders with their latest dividend payments today. Among the companies making dividend payments are airport operator Auckland International Airport Limited (ASX: AIA), corporate travel specialist Corporate Travel Management Ltd (ASX: CTD), gold miners Evolution Mining and Perseus Mining Ltd (ASX: PRU), hospital operator Ramsay Health Care Ltd (ASX: RHC). The latter is paying its shareholders a 40 cents per share fully franked dividend.

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

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More reading

• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• Why is everyone talking about Rio Tinto stock on Thursday?
• How this unexpected development in China could boost ASX 200 mining stocks
• What’s happened to ASX travel shares since COVID ended?
• Top brokers name 3 ASX shares to buy 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 Corporate Travel Management. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Corporate Travel Management. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

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