AMP Ltd (ASX: AMP) shares closed at $1.72 apiece, up 0.29% on Tuesday, while the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) rose 0.17%.

With the countdown to the Christmas break now on, ASX 200 companies are getting organised and releasing their 2026 calendars.

Here are the important dates for AMP shareholders next year.

Key dates for AMP investors in 2026

AMP will announce its FY25 results and final dividend on 12 February.

The annual general meeting will be held on 10 April.

AMP will drop its first quarterly update for FY26 on 16 April.

The second update will be released on 16 July.

The wealth manager will release its 1H FY26 results and announce the interim dividend on 6 August.

A third quarter update will follow on 16 October.

What’s the latest news from AMP?

At the last update, AMP revealed a 3.6% increase in total assets under management (AUM) to $159.5 billion for the September quarter.

The company said this was mainly due to the platforms business, with net cashflows increasing by an impressive 61.6%.

However, the superannuation and investments division had a net cash outflow of $214 million.

On the bright side, this was less than the $334 million outflow in the prior corresponding period.

AUM in the superannuation and investments division increased 3.4% to $60.5 billion.

AMP Bank reported a 1.3% rise in the value of its total loan book to $23.8 billion, and total deposits of $20.8 billion.

What do the experts think of AMP shares?

The AMP share price has increased 7.2% over the past 12 months.

AMP shares hit a five-year high of $2.01 in October.

Macquarie has a neutral rating on AMP with a 12-month share price target of $1.92.

The broker issued a new note last month after APRA released its authorised deposit-taking institutions (ADIs) data for September.

Macquarie said:

AMP’s Gross Loan and Acceptance (GLAA) balance was +2.3% from Dec ’24 vs market at +5.2%.

GLAAs are ~45bps below closing balances expected by MRE at Dec ’25 and ~84bps below VA expectations.

The broker said the data was consistent with AMP’s previously flagged expectations of slower than market growth for FY25.

Macquarie said the next catalyst for AMP shares would be the FY25 results on 12 February.

The broker added:

To become more bullish we need to see a live walk-through of the “best in class technology platform”.

Jeffries reiterated its buy rating on AMP shares following the third quarter update.

Analyst Simon Fitzgerald gave AMP shares a 12-month price target of between $2.02 and $2.20 apiece.

Citi downgraded AMP shares to a hold rating after the 3Q FY25 report with a price target of $2 to $2.10.

The post Own AMP shares? Here’s your financial calendar for 2026 appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Citigroup is an advertising partner of Motley Fool Money. 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 Macquarie Group. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Macquarie Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

Fresh analysis from VanEck has shed light on the “AI Euphoria” sweeping the US. 

But there might be another market set to benefit long term. 

Alice Shen, Portfolio Manager at VanEck said in a recent report that Nvidia Inc (NASDAQ: NVDA) posted gravity-defying earnings in its most recent October quarter. 

This came as the AI economy increasingly looped back on itself and the major players invested in each other’s technologies.

Ms Shen said giants like OpenAI and Oracle Corp (NYSE: ORCL) are locking in the chip supply needed to scale their models. This means demand for Nvidia hardware could soar even more.

How does China fit into the AI puzzle?

AI euphoria isn’t limited to the US. 

The Chinese market has also been focussed on homegrown AI technology and chipmaking. 

Subsequently, valuations for pure-play AI stocks have soared.

While China is a global leader in semiconductor production, it isn’t limiting its AI participation to this segment. 

Ms Shen believes China may be taking a different, more holistic approach compared to the western world.

The tremendous amounts of electricity, cooling, metal-intensive data centres, and resilient power supply required by AI have been the focus of many Chinese companies that have been specialising in these systems for decades.

For investors, this means there could be more reasonably priced opportunities across the broader supply chain that powers the physical backbone of AI: metals producers, energy storage leaders, and optical fibre manufacturers.

The AI boom isn’t just digital 

When you think of AI, the first thing that comes to mind might be cloud computing, Chat AI tools, etc. 

But the truth is, the data centres fuelling these AI solutions require huge amounts of copper and aluminium in servers and heatsinks. 

Data indicates global copper demand could surge as much as 24% by 2035, with data centre expansion being one of the key drivers. 

According to VanEck, China may have an advantage is its integrated value chain across mining, refining and manufacturing.

Several Chinese copper and aluminium miners have been outperforming the CSI 300 Materials Index this year. In our view, investing in these metals may offer a more cost-effective and direct way to participate in China’s AI capex cycle.

Chinese companies engaged in battery manufacturing and Graphics Processing Units (GPUs) have also been soaring this year as a result of the Chinese AI boom. 

How do investors gain exposure?

For investors here in Australia, the most important question is how to gain exposure to this market. 

There are a few ASX ETFs directly targeting Chinese technology and AI: 

• VanEck China New Economy ETF (ASX: CNEW) – Invests in 120 fundamentally sound and attractively valued companies with growth prospects in China’s New Economy, targeting technology, healthcare, and consumer staples and consumer discretionary sectors.
• VanEck Ftse China A50 ETF (ASX: CETF) – Invests in a diversified portfolio comprising the 50 largest companies in the mainland (A-shares) Chinese market.
• Global X China Tech Etf (ASX: DRGN) – designed to track the performance of 20 leading technology companies listed in Mainland China and Hong Kong. The index selects across 15 innovation-linked sectors, including semiconductors, automation, industrial software, and internet platforms.

The post How to target China’s AI rush through ASX investing appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

What an astounding year for gold, with the commodity price rising by more than 60% to above US$4,200 per ounce in 2025.

And that was after a 27% rise in 2024, which at the time was gold’s best annual performance since 2010.

The gold price reached an all-time high of US$4,381.58 per ounce in October after a phenomenal two-year run.

But can it go even further?

Experts seem to think so, with a Goldman Sachs poll revealing a high level of confidence among institutional investors.

Before we get into the poll results, let’s recap what’s happened to the gold price this year.

Why did the gold price rip in 2025?

Strong and continuing structural demand from central banks created an incredible tailwind for the gold price this year.

Goldman Sachs Research analyst, Lina Thomas, estimates that central banks have increased their gold purchases by about 5x since 2022.

The catalyst was Russia’s foreign-currency reserves being frozen following its invasion of Ukraine.

This year, global concern about the reliability of the US dollar as the reserve currency has encouraged further hoarding of gold.

Meanwhile, investors have piled into ASX gold shares and gold ETFs, pushing their share and unit prices to new heights.

This year, the S&P/ASX All Ords Gold Index (ASX: XGD) has surged 107% versus a 5% bump for the S&P/ASX All Ords Index (ASX: XAO).

The biggest gold mining share, Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST), is up 75% to $27.11 per share.

The Evolution Mining Ltd (ASX: EVN) share price has soared 143% to $11.75.

Newmont Corporation CDI (ASX: NEM) shares are up 130% to $138.76.

Among the gold ETFs, Betashares Global Gold Miners Currency Hedged ETF (ASX: MNRS) has rocketed 136% to $14.70 per unit.

The VanEck Gold Miners AUD ETF (ASX: GDX) is up 127% to $125.79 per unit.

Insto investors confident gold can go further in 2026

Goldman Sachs conducted a poll of 900 institutional clients from 12 to 14 November.

The broker found almost 70% of investors expect the gold price to exceed US$4,500 per ounce by the end of next year.

More than one in three investors — or 36% — anticipate the gold price exceeding US$5,000 per ounce by this time next year.

About 22% of investors expect the gold price to finish 2026 somewhere between US$4,000 and $US4,500 per ounce.

Only a very small portion of insto investors were bearish on the gold price.

About 6% expect gold to fall to between US$3,500 and $US4,000 per ounce, and 3% predict it will go below US$3,500 per ounce.

The investors cited central bank buying (38%) and fiscal concerns (27%) as the likely primary drivers of the gold price next year.

Russel Chesler, VanEck’s Head of Investments and Capital Markets, says there is always a place for gold in investment portfolios.

In an article, Chesler said:

Unlike other assets, gold is not tied to corporate earnings, interest rate policies or government fiscal decisions.

It moves to the beat of its own drum, providing valuable diversification.

Gold, we think, has an important role to play in portfolios.

The post 70% of institutional investors expect gold price to rise in 2026 appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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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 Goldman Sachs Group. 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.

ASX growth shares can generate strong returns for investors over the long term; however, it may be a good idea to consider investments that provide exposure to markets outside of Australia.

The local economy is a great place to operate, but there are also significant opportunities elsewhere. Australia is a relatively small part of the global economy.

Let’s look at two ASX growth share investments that could deliver strong returns, in my opinion.

Betashares Global Quality Leaders ETF (ASX: QLTY)

This exchange-traded fund (ETF) focuses on investing in 150 of the highest-quality businesses from across the world.

These businesses rank well on four different quality metrics. First, they have a high return on equity (ROE). Second, they have a low debt-to-capital ratio. Third, they have strong cash flow ability. Finally, they provide earnings stability (and growth).

When you put all of those factors together, it’s no wonder the fund has managed to return an average of 15% per year since November 2018 (when it was started). Of course, past performance is not a guarantee of future performance. With a return like that, I’d call that an ASX growth share (it’s listed on the ASX, and it’s about investing in shares).

Another reason to like this fund is the diversification. I like that there are four sectors with a double-digit allocation within the portfolio: IT, industrials, healthcare, and financials. IT seems like the most compelling industry, with strong margins and growth prospects, so it’s pleasing that it makes up more than a third of the portfolio.

I think many Australian investors could benefit by having a bigger allocation to good assets outside of Australia, and this investment could be a good way to get that exposure.

Tuas Ltd (ASX: TUA)

Tuas is one of the largest positions in my portfolio that I’d describe as an ASX growth share.

It’s a Singaporean telecommunications business that is rapidly capturing market share through its value offerings across different price points.

The company’s FY25 results included a lot of pleasing growth for shareholders. Active mobile subscribers grew by approximately 200,000 to 1.25 million, and active broadband services rose by around 23,000 to 25,592.

This helped revenue increase by 29% to $151.3 million, and operating profit (EBITDA) grew by 38% to $68.4 million. The net profit after tax (NPAT) increased by $11.3 million to $6.9 million.

One of the most important factors of the company’s future success is the rising profit margins, which will allow the ASX growth share’s net profit to rise at a faster pace than revenue, which is usually what investors value a business on.

FY25 saw the company’s EBITDA margin increase to 45%, up from 42%, representing a pleasing rate of improvement. I think there’s room for further growth.

There are two factors that I believe could contribute significantly to the business’ growth in the coming years. First, it’s acquiring a Singapore competitor called M1, which will significantly improve the company’s market share and profitability. Second, the company could expand into other nearby Asian countries such as Malaysia and Indonesia.

The post These 2 ASX growth shares are ideal for Australians appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Tristan Harrison has positions in Tuas. 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.

I think it’s a great time to invest in ASX shares after a recent bout of volatility. Some of the best investments are trading more cheaply.

The best businesses don’t often become cheap, but I believe it’s always a good time to invest in companies with strong economic moats, even if they still don’t appear good value.

If I had $20,000 to invest in ASX shares, I’d happily invest in the four in this article in a heartbeat. I did recently put money into the first three and I have an intention to buy more of the fourth stock of my list, if the valuation stays as appealing.

TechnologyOne Ltd (ASX: TNE)

The enterprise resource planning (ERP) software business has fallen 23% in the last month alone, despite reporting a strong level of growth in its recent result.

FY25 saw revenue rise 18% and profit before tax (PBT) growth of 19%. The company continues to unlock at least 15% revenue growth from its existing client base each year by investing significantly in its software for customers.

By growing revenue at 15% per year, it can double its top line within five years, which is a strong growth rate. If the company continues winning new customers in the UK, it’ll continue to be on a very pleasing path.

According to the forecast on CMC Markets, the ASX share is trading at 58x FY26’s estimated earnings.

MFF Capital Investments Ltd (ASX: MFF)

This is best known as a listed investment company (LIC) that focuses on investing in high-quality international shares. Its portfolio includes Alphabet, Mastercard, Visa, Meta Platforms, Amazon and Microsoft.

Past performance is not a guarantee of future returns, but according to CMC Markets, it has delivered an average return per year of 15.8% over the last five years.

Aside from the growing dividend, one of the most appealing aspects of this investment is that it’s usually trading at a 10% discount to its underlying net tangible asset (NTA) value. Who doesn’t like buying a piece of great businesses at a double-digit percentage discount?

MFF is one of my biggest holdings and I’m even more optimistic on the ASX share after its recent acquisition of the funds management business Montaka.  

VanEck Morningstar Wide Moat ETF (ASX: MOAT)

This exchange-traded fund (ETF) was one of my latest investments and I’m glad that it’s now part of my portfolio.

I really like the investment strategy of this fund and it gives me exposure to shares I wouldn’t own a small piece of otherwise.

It invests in US shares that are seen as having economic moats (competitive advantages) that are expected to endure for at least two decades, allowing the business to generate strong profits. Additionally, the fund only buys when those businesses are trading at attractive value.

Past returns are not a guarantee of future returns, but I think it can continue its long-term track record of net returns in the mid-teens.

Temple & Webster Group Ltd (ASX: TPW)

The Temple & Webster share price has fallen heavily – 31% at the time of writing – since the ASX share’s AGM trading update which showed sales growth had slowed in the last few months.

But, I’m expecting ongoing double-digit sales growth to enable the business to become much larger and unlock strong operating leverage.

The company is investing in technology and AI to improve its costs, boost the customer experience and deliver stronger conversion.

If its core offering continues growing, combined with impressive home improvement and trade and commercial sales, its future looks positive. I hope to buy more shares of this great business in the coming weeks if the valuation stays at this level (or goes lower).

The post Where I’d invest $20,000 into ASX shares right now appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Tristan Harrison has positions in Mff Capital Investments, Technology One, Temple & Webster Group, and VanEck Morningstar Wide Moat ETF. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Alphabet, Amazon, Mastercard, Meta Platforms, Microsoft, Technology One, Temple & Webster Group, and Visa. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has recommended the following options: long January 2026 $395 calls on Microsoft and short January 2026 $405 calls on Microsoft. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Alphabet, Amazon, Mastercard, Meta Platforms, Mff Capital Investments, Microsoft, Technology One, Temple & Webster Group, VanEck Morningstar Wide Moat ETF, and Visa. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) stocks closed higher on Tuesday, up 0.17% to 8,579.7 points.

In this article, we reveal analysts’ latest opinions on ASX gaming stocks, including sector leader Aristocrat Leisure Ltd (ASX: ALL).

Let’s take a look.

ASX gaming stocks: Buy, hold, or sell?

Let’s start with the ASX gaming sector leaders.

Aristocrat Leisure Ltd (ASX: ALL)

This Australian poker machine and digital games developer is the largest ASX gaming stock with a market capitalisation of $36 billion.

The Aristocrat share price closed at $58.06 on Tuesday, down 0.6%.

Last month, Aristocrat revealed an 11% increase in revenue to $6,297 million for FY25.

Morgans responded by raising its rating from accumulate to buy and cutting its 12-month price target from $77 to $73.

The broker commented:

Headline numbers were broadly in line with both our and market expectations, though a few soft spots emerged beneath the surface.

Encouragingly, management expects the business to return to its normalised growth range moving forward.

UBS reiterated its buy rating following Aristocrat’s results, with a price target of $72.70.

Light & Wonder Inc. CDI (ASX: LNW)

Light & Wonder is a US company and the second-largest ASX gaming stock with a market cap of $12 billion.

The Light & Wonder share price finished the session at $153.27, up 0.3% yesterday.

Morgans has a buy rating on Light & Wonder shares with a price target of $175 following the company’s 3Q FY25 results.

The broker said:

LNW delivered record margin expansion across all three segments, with iGaming operating leverage the standout performer, while land-based margins surprised on favourable product mix as Grover scales and premium installed base momentum continues.

UBS reiterated its buy rating on this ASX gaming stock with a much more ambitious price target of $206.

If you prefer small-caps…

Jumbo Interactive Ltd (ASX: JIN)

Australian lottery and online gaming services provider Jumbo Interactive has a market cap of $675 million.

Jumbo Interactive shares closed at $10.76 on Tuesday, up 1%.

Morgans noted substantial M&A activity in October as part of the company’s pivot from the business-to-business (b2b)/software-as-a-service (SaaS) segment to the higher-growth business-to-consumer (b2c) market.

Jumbo acquired the UK’s Dream Car Giveaways, and bought its first US competition, the Dream Giveaway, in October.

The broker maintained its buy recommendation on Jumbo Interactive shares and lifted its price target from $15.90 to $16.60.

Morgans said:

We view this as disciplined capital allocation: Acquiring proven profitable assets at reasonable multiples with clear operational improvement pathways.

The two B2C acquisitions combined add a base line A$24m in pro-forma EBITDA.

Jarden reiterated its buy rating with a price target of $13.40 to $13.70 on the ASX gaming stock.

Morgan Stanley also has a buy rating but is more optimistic on share price growth with a $16.80 target.

betr Entertainment Ltd (ASX: BBT)

Morgans reckons sports and racing betting group betr Entertainment is a great buy.

The ASX gaming stock touched a 52-week low of 21 cents on Friday, down 25% over the past year.

Yesterday, Betr shares closed at 22 cents, up 4.8%.

Morgans maintained a buy rating on betr shares after the company reported a 27% lift in turnover for 1Q FY26.

The broker said:

Turnover, gross win, and net win margins all exceeded forecasts, supported by improved customer engagement and product mix.

We take encouragement that the recent lift in brand and product investment is now translating into operating momentum.

The balance sheet remains in a strong position, providing flexibility to pursue both organic and inorganic growth opportunities.

The broker has a price target of 43 cents on the ASX gaming stock, suggesting a potential doubling of the share price over the next year.

Betr Entertainment has a market cap of $218 million.

The post ASX gaming stocks: Should you try your luck? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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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 Jumbo Interactive and Light & Wonder Inc. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Jumbo Interactive and Light & Wonder Inc. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

CSL Ltd (ASX: CSL) shares dipped 0.11% for the day on Tuesday. At the close of the ASX, the share price was $183.44. The decline is small though, and off the back of a 3.64% increase over the past month it sparks the question: Have CSL shares finally reached the bottom?

What happened to CSL shares?

The biotech company’s shares suffered a brutal sell-off in mid-August. This followed CSL’s FY25 results, where a surprise restructure announcement strategic demerger sparked an investor panic. Investors weren’t happy with the announcement and sold off their shares in fear. As a result, the CSL share price lost around a fifth of its value within just one week. At the time, analysts said the investor reaction was overdone and unwarranted. 

Just two and a half months later, in late-October, the company’s share price dropped another 19.2% to a seven-year low after it downgraded its FY26 revenue and profit growth guidance. Management had originally forecast an FY26 revenue growth of 4-5% and forecast net profit after tax before amortisation (NPATA) to grow 7-10%. But in October this was downgraded to FY26 revenue guidance of 2-3% and NPATA growth guidance of 4-7%. CSL also said its planned demerger of its Seqirus business will be pushed back.

Have CSL shares finally reached the bottom?

Despite a cluster of headwinds facing the business this year, and a downwards spiral of the CSL share price, it looks like we could be beginning to see green shoots of recovery.

Since the latest price plunge, CSL shares have climbed just over 7%. While the share price has fallen a little further today, I’m optimistic investor sentiment is turning a corner. CSL shares were the fifth most-traded by CommSec clients last week, over half of which was buying activity. If investor interest begins to pick up, it could mean that the share price does too. 

Analysts appear to be bullish about the stock too. Tradingview data shows that out of 18 analysts, 1 have a buy or strong buy rating on CSL shares. The remaining 4 have a hold rating.

The average target price for the stock is $242.20, but some expect this could be as high as $278.05 over the next 12 months. At the time of writing this implies a huge potential 51.57% upside for investors. 

Macquarie and UBS have a buy rating on CSL shares and a 12-month price target of $275.20 and $275 respectively. This suggests a potential 50% gain from here.

The team at Red Leaf Securities thinks that the biotech giant has been oversold and have named it as an ASX share to buy this week.

The post Is the worst finally over for CSL shares? 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 positions in and has recommended CSL. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended CSL. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.