The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) shot to a nine-month high of 7,537.7 points today. However, by the time the market closed it was sitting at 7,501.7 points – marking a 0.33% gain.

And leading the way was the S&P/ASX 200 Real Estate Index (ASX: XRE). It rose 1.4% today.

Meanwhile, the S&P/ASX 200 Materials Index (ASX: XMJ) lifted 0.7% as the iron ore price hit a seven-month high of US$123.37 a tonne.

The S&P/ASX 200 Health Care Index (ASX: XHJ) also gained, jumping 0.6%.

But the S&P/ASX 200 Energy Index (ASX: XEJ) didn’t get in on the upwards swing. It slipped 1.2% despite a mixed night for oil prices. Brent crude oil fell 0.5% overnight to US$84.49 a barrel while US Nymex crude oil rose 1.2% to US$78.87 a barrel.

So, with all that in mind, take a stab at which ASX 200 share might have outperformed all others on Wednesday.

Top 10 ASX 200 shares today

If you guessed Flight Centre Travel Group Ltd (ASX: FLT), congratulations!

Shares in the travel agent took off today, lifting 8.1% to close at $17.11 after completing a $180 million placement, the proceeds of which will go towards buying luxury travel brand Scott Dunn.

These shares made today’s biggest gains:

ASX-listed company	Share price	Price change
Flight Centre Travel Group Ltd (ASX: FLT)	$17.11	8.09%
James Hardie Industries plc (ASX: JHX)	$32.80	4.29%
Imugene Limited (ASX: IMU)	$0.14	3.7%
Sandfire Resources Ltd (ASX: SFR)	$6.48	3.68%
Alumina Limited (ASX: AWC)	$1.62	3.51%
Lottery Corporation Ltd (ASX: TLC)	$4.86	3.4%
Lynas Rare Earths Ltd (ASX: LYC)	$9.70	3.3%
Champion Iron Ltd (ASX: CIA)	$7.38	3.22%
Nickel Industries Ltd (ASX: NIC)	$1.13	3.2%
Stockland Corporation Ltd (ASX: SGP)	$4.04	2.8%

Our top 10 shares countdown is a recurring end-of-day summary to let you know which companies were making big moves on the day. Check in at Fool.com.au after the weekday market closes to see which stocks make the countdown.

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

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More reading

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• Why is the Arafura share price surging 12% to an 11-year high?
• Flight Centre share price rockets 15% as ASX 200 travel stock resumes trading
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• Top ASX shares to buy in February 2023

Motley Fool contributor Brooke Cooper 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 recommended Flight Centre Travel 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 looking for exposure to the banking sector, then Westpac Banking Corp (ASX: WBC) shares could be the way to do it.

That’s the view of analysts at Morgans, which have named the banking giant on its best ideas list for February.

Morgans’ best ideas are those that it believes offer the highest risk-adjusted returns over a 12-month timeframe supported by a higher-than-average level of confidence.

Why Westpac shares?

Morgans is positive on Westpac due to its belief that Australia’s oldest bank has the potential to deliver big return on equity improvements. It also highlights its attractive fully franked dividends. The broker explained:

We view WBC as having the greatest potential for return on equity improvement amongst the major banks if its business transformation initiatives prove successful. The sources of this improvement include improved loan origination and processing capability, cost reductions (including from divestments and cost-out), rapid leverage to higher rates environment, and reduced regulatory credit risk intensity of non-home loan book. Yield including franking is attractive for income-oriented investors, while the ROE improvement should deliver share price growth.

Morgans currently has an add rating and $25.80 price target on Westpac’s shares. Which, based on its current share price, implies a potential return of 9.5% for investors over the next 12 months.

But of course, the returns don’t stop there. Westpac is a big favourite of income investors because it tends to provide a generous dividend yield.

Pleasingly, FY 2023 will be no exception according to Morgans. Its analysts are forecasting a $1.53 per share fully franked dividend this financial year. This equates to a pretty tasty 6.5% dividend yield at current levels.

Combined, this suggests that Westpac’s shares could provide investors with a total return of 16% between now and this time next year.

The post Westpac shares are ‘attractive for income-oriented investors’: analyst appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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More reading

• Investing in ASX 200 bank shares? Here’s the dividend outlook for 2023
• Forget gold! ASX 200 blue-chip shares could be the new safe-haven asset
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Wednesday
• Everything you need to know about Wednesday’s Australian inflation data release
• How much profit could Westpac shares make in 2023?

Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in Westpac Banking. 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 recommended Westpac Banking. 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 All Ordinaries (ASX: XAO) is having a positive day. In afternoon trade, the index is up 0.3% to 7,708.5 points. This leaves it trading approximately 3% away from its 52-week high.

Three ASX All Ordinaries shares that have already reached that milestone during today’s session are listed below. Here’s why they are hitting new highs today:

Accent Group Ltd (ASX: AX1)

The Accent share price climbed to a new 52-week high of $2.27 on Wednesday. Investors have been scrambling to buy this footwear and fashion retailer’s shares in recent weeks thanks partly to a strong trading update. So much so, the Accent share price is now up a sizeable 35% since the start of the year. That update revealed that total sales for the first half were up 33% over the prior corresponding period to $825 million. This is expected to lead to half year earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) in the range of $90 million to $92 million, up from $30.3 million a year earlier.

Arafura Rare Earths Ltd (ASX: ARU)

The Arafura share price has hit a new 52-week high of 63.7 cents today. While there has been no news out of the rare earths developer today, its shares have been on fire since early November. This has been driven by a combination of good progress at the company’s Nolans project, the positive outlook for rare earths demand, and investments from key backers in the mining space. The latter includes Gina Rinehart’s Hancock Prospecting business taking part in a recent capital raising.

Emerald Resources NL (ASX: EMR)

The Emerald Resources share price has hit a 52-week high of $1.45. Last month, Emerald revealed that it achieved record production of 29,640 ounces of gold during the December quarter. This comes at a time when the gold price is particularly strong, which bodes well for the gold miner’s earnings in the first half.

The post 3 ASX All Ordinaries stocks hitting new 52-week highs today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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More reading

• Why is the Arafura share price surging 12% to an 11-year high?
• 7%+ dividend yield! I’d buy this ASX 300 share for passive income in 2023
• Brokers name 3 ASX shares to buy now
• Why Accent, Mineral Resources, Newcrest, and Whitehaven Coal shares are dropping
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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 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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The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) peaked at a nine-month high on Wednesday, helped along by five shares hitting their own long-forgotten highs.

Right now, the index is up 0.28% at just under 7,500 points. That’s less than 2% off the all-time high it set in August 2021.

Among the stocks rejoicing alongside the iconic index today are some of the market’s most recognisable names. Let’s take a look at their shiny new 52-week highs.

5 ASX 200 shares soaring to long-forgotten highs

First off the bat is ASX 200 banking giant Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA). It hit another record high today, peaking at $110.81 – a 0.7% gain on its previous close.

Interestingly, there’s been no news from the ASX’s second largest company, commanding a market capitalisation of $185 billion.

However, its stock has now bested its previous 52-week high for four consecutive sessions.

Joining CBA shares in posting a new 12-month high are those of Rio Tinto Ltd (ASX: RIO). Stock in the iron ore giant rocketed 1.7% earlier today to a high of $128.78.

Investors might be snapping up Rio Tinto shares for the company’s exposure to iron ore and copper, or its whopping dividend yield. Whatever the reason, it appears to be good news for the Rio Tinto share price.

And who could forget shares in ASX 200 travel giant Webjet Limited (ASX: WEB)? They launched 2.3% earlier today to reach $7 – the highest the stock has been since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

That’s despite only silence from the online travel agent. Indeed, the last time the market heard news from Webjet was back in November. And investors might have more time to wait.

The company isn’t expecting to post its full-year earnings until May.

The Treasury Wine Estates Ltd (ASX: TWE) share price is also taking off today, peaking at $14.84 – a 2.2% gain on its previous close and another post-pandemic high.

The company has been tipped to benefit if tensions between Australia and China ease this year.

Finally, also posting a new 52-week high today is ASX 200 healthcare share Pro Medicus Limited (ASX: PME). It soared 1.4% to hit $67.80 shortly after the market opened today.

The stock has been on a roll in 2023, gaining 22% year to date amid news of contracts with Samaritan Health Service and the University of Washington.

The post 5 ASX 200 shares smashing new 52-week highs on Wednesday appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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More reading

• The Rio Tinto share price just hit a new 52-week high! Here’s why
• 2 explosive ASX growth shares to buy now: Goldman Sachs
• Own Rio Tinto shares? The iron ore giant just sank $21m into this copper stock
• CBA share price hits new record high again on Tuesday
• 3 of the very best ASX 200 travel shares to buy according to Goldman Sachs

Motley Fool contributor Brooke Cooper 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 Pro Medicus. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Pro Medicus. 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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