There are a growing number of exchange traded funds (ETFs) for investors to choose from on the Australian share market.

But which ETFs might be top options to buy and hold right now?

Listed below are three quality ETFs that could be worth considering in April

BetaShares Global Cybersecurity ETF (ASX: HACK)

The first ETF for investors to look at is the BetaShares Global Cybersecurity ETF.

This ETF gives investors access to the leading companies in the global cybersecurity sector. As we have seen over the last 12 months, cyberattacks are becoming increasingly prevalent. In light of this, you won’t be surprised to learn that demand for cybersecurity services is expected to rise strongly in the future.

This is great news for the companies held by the fund. This includes Accenture, Cisco, Cloudflare, Crowdstrike, Okta, Palo Alto Networks, and Splunk.

VanEck Vectors Morningstar Wide Moat ETF (ASX: MOAT)

Another ETF for investors to consider in April is the popular VanEck Vectors Morningstar Wide Moat ETF.

If you want to follow in the footsteps of legendary investor Warren Buffett, then this ETF could be for you. It tracks an index which has been designed to replicate the type of investments that Buffett has made through is long career.

These are typically companies with fair valuations and sustainable competitive advantages or moats (hence its name). And given the Oracle of Omaha’s incredible track record, it’s hard to argue against this strategy.

The ETF generally comprises approximately 50 companies with these qualities. At present, this includes the likes of Adobe, Alphabet, Boeing, Kellogg Co, Meta Platforms, and Walt Disney.

Vanguard MSCI Index International Shares ETF (ASX: VGS)

Finally, the Vanguard MSCI Index International Shares ETF could be another great option for investors in April. Particularly if you’re wanting to diversify your portfolio.

That’s because this very popular ETF gives investors access to approximately 1,500 of the world’s largest listed companies. This provides significant diversity for a portfolio, as well as letting investors gain exposure to the long term growth potential of international economies.

There are a host of global giants held by the ETF. This includes Amazon, Apple, Nestle, Procter & Gamble, Tesla, and Visa.

The post Here are 3 fantastic ETFs for ASX investors to buy and hold this month appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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More reading

• Top ASX ETFs to buy in April 2023
• How I’m building more passive income to retire early
• Why did the Vanguard MSCI Index International Shares ETF just hit a new 52-week high?
• It’s another day, another all-time high for this Buffett-esque ASX ETF
• Keen to pocket the next Vanguard MSCI Index International Shares ETF dividend? Read this

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 BetaShares Global Cybersecurity ETF and Vanguard Msci Index International Shares ETF. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended BetaShares Global Cybersecurity ETF. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended VanEck Morningstar Wide Moat ETF 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.

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The last five years have likely been a disappointing period for those invested in AGL Energy Limited (ASX: AGL) shares.

The stock has tumbled more than 60% in that time amid a failed demerger plan, deepening losses, and a major board room shake up, to name a few dramas facing the company.

Back in April 2018, $3,000 would likely have bought 141 AGL shares. The energy producer and retailer’s stock was trading at around $21.14 at that point.

Today, that holding would sell for just $1,1,73.12. The AGL share price last closed at $8.32.

For comparison, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) has lifted around 24% over the same period.

But what about the ASX 200 energy giant’s dividends? Let’s see if the company’s offerings have made up for its share price’s poor performance.

All the dividends paid to those holding AGL shares since 2018

Here are all the dividends paid by AGL shares over the last five years:

AGL dividends’ pay date	Type	Dividend amount
March 2023	Interim	8 cents
September 2022	Final	10 cents
March 2022	Interim	16 cents
September 2021	Final	34 cents
March 2021	Interim	31 cents
March 2021	Special	10 cents
September 2020	Final	51 cents
March 2020	Interim	47 cents
September 2019	Final	64 cents
March 2019	Interim	55 cents
September 2018	Final	63 cents
Total:		$3.89

All up, AGL shares have each provided investors with $3.89 in dividends over the last five years.

That means our figurative parcel has likely yielded around $548.49 – not quite enough to mitigate the capital losses.

Though, it has bumped the total return on investment (ROI) offered by AGL shares in that time to a 42% loss.

It’s also worth remembering that some of the company’s dividends have carried franking credits. All the offerings it paid between 2017 and 2020 were 80% franked – meaning they might have brought additional benefits for some shareholders at tax time.

Right now, AGL shares trade with a 2.16% dividend yield.

The post Bought $3,000 of AGL shares 5 years ago? Guess how much passive income you’ve earned since appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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More reading

• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• Here are the 3 most heavily traded ASX 200 shares on Tuesday
• ‘Risks, returns, and decarbonisation’: AGL shares scrubbed from $68b superfund’s climate watchlist
• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today

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 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 Insurance Australia Group Ltd (ASX: IAG) share price managed to outpace the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) in March.

Shares in the ASX 200 insurance stock closed out February trading for $4.65 each. At the closing bell on 31 March, shares were changing hands for $4.69 apiece.

That put the IAG share price up 0.9% in a month that saw the benchmark index fall 1.1%.

Here’s what ASX 200 investors have been considering.

What’s influencing ASX 200 investor decisions?

The only price-sensitive news from the Aussie insurance giant was released on 31 March.

That related to the company redeeming all $220.2 million of IAG Capital Notes, which were issued on 22 December 2016. The IAG share price edged 0.2% lower on the day.

With no other price-sensitive news out since the insurer reported its half-year results on 13 February, IAG’s relative outperformance in March may be linked to the defensive nature of the stock in the face of stubbornly high inflation.

As The Motley Fool reported on 15 March, Wilsons equity strategist Rob Crookston advised seeking out stocks that are able to withstand the margin-eroding powers of inflation.

“The best defence against cost inflation is pricing power,” Crookston said.

“High quality companies with resilient customer demand through the cycle and dominant market positions operating in attractive industry structures are best placed to protect their margins by raising prices.”

Crookston named five stocks that fit the bill, including IAG.

“Number 1 general insurer in Australia, which has been [raising] premium rates strongly to offset rising perils costs (albeit there is a timing lag to margins),” he said. “Even with higher premiums, customer retention rates remain high.”

Indeed, at its half-year results, IAG reported adding more than 100,000 direct customers across Australia and New Zealand over the six-month reporting period. Retention levels for its motor insurance were 91% while home insurance retention rates were 95%.

Net profit after tax (NPAT) for the six months surged 171% year on year to $468 million.

March also saw IAG pay out its six cents per share interim dividend, 30% franked.

IAG share price snapshot

As you can see in the chart below, the IAG share price has been a strong performer over the past 12 months, up 13%.

The post Why the IAG share price outperformed the ASX 200 in March appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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More reading

• Is IAG stock a good defensive ASX 200 buy right now?
• Insurance companies are raking it in, so should you buy ASX 200 shares like IAG right now?
• The IAG dividend is being paid today. Here’s the latest
• 5 ASX 200 shares that inflation can’t touch: expert
• Warren Buffett is invested in IAG shares, should you be?

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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Passive income can be a great way to earn extra money without having to leave the comfort of your home.

One ASX 300 dividend stock that may provide investors with a decent yield is Accent Group Ltd (ASX: AX1).

Accent shares fell 4.33% in Thursday’s trade and closed at $2.43. For perspective, the S&P/ASX 300 (ASX: XKO) slid 0.26% on the last day of trading before Easter.

So is this ASX 300 dividend stock a good buy for passive income?

Dividend yield

Accent paid an interim dividend of 12 cents per share in the first half of FY23. This represents a dividend yield of 4.9% based on the company’s last closing share price of $2.43.

Looking ahead, Goldman Sachs is tipping Accent to hand out fully franked dividends of 15 cents per share in FY23. This represents a dividend yield of 6.2%.

Meanwhile, Bell Potter is tipping Accent to pay out dividends of 15.5 cents per share in FY23 and 12.2 cents per share in FY24. This represents dividend yields of 6.4% and 5% respectively.

Accent is known for its lifestyle and footwear brands. The company has more than 805 retail stores covering 26 retail names. The company estimates it will have 825 stores by the end of FY23.

The Accent share price has soared 45% in the year to date and 48% in the last year.

And analysts are tipping this top run to continue. In a research note on 29 March, Goldman said “we believe the market is underestimating the full earnings potential” of Accent’s business. Goldman has placed a $3.10 price target on Accent’s share price.

Commenting on Accent, Goldman said:

We see AX1 as well protected from a potential slowdown in discretionary spend given its exposure to a younger consumer and performance footwear.

The business is yet to achieve its full earnings potential, in our view, notwithstanding a strong recovery post lockdowns.

Our FY24/FY25 forecast is +9.8%/+12.8% of consensus.

Bell Potter is also positive on Accent. Analysts were impressed with the company’s first-half performance and are confident this can continue due to its exposure to younger consumers. The younger demographic is not as hard hit by inflation and rising interest rates.

Accent delivered record sales and profit in the first half of FY23. NPAT soared 295.2% on the prior corresponding half, while EBITDA lifted 70.9%.

The post Invest in this 6% yielding ASX 300 dividend stock for passive income appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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More reading

• Brokers name 3 ASX shares to buy now
• This ASX All Ords share has soared 70% in 6 months. Is it too late to buy?
• Don’t underestimate the earnings potential of this ASX 300 share: Goldman Sachs
• Brokers name 3 ASX shares to buy now
• 7 ASX dividend shares you can buy for under $10

Motley Fool contributor Monica O’Shea 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 Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS) share price was a poor performer in March.

During the month, the energy giant’s shares lost 7% of their value to finish at $33.34.

Though, it would have been far worse if oil prices had not rebounded late in the month.

For example, at one stage, the Woodside share price was down almost 14% month to date at $31.00.

What weighed on the Woodside share price last month?

There were a couple of reasons for the weakness in the Woodside share price in March.

The first was falling oil prices. At the height of the recent banking crisis, traders were selling down oil amid concerns that global economic growth (and therefore demand for oil) could be impacted.

How things have changed since then, though! With concerns easing in the banking sector and OPEC cutting its production, oil prices have hurtled higher in April and the Woodside share price is starting to recover.

What else happened?

Also weighing on its shares last month was the Woodside dividend.

In February, Woodside released its full-year results and declared a record fully franked final dividend of US$1.44 per share. This was up 37% on the prior corresponding period and brought its full-year dividend to US$2.53 per share, which was an increase of 87% year over year.

During March, Woodside shares traded ex-dividend for that final dividend of US$1.44 (A$2.154) per share.

When this happens, a company’s shares will usually drop in line with the dividend. After all, why would new buyers pay for something they won’t receive?

And given how this dividend represented a 6% yield based on the Woodside share price at the start of the month, this accounts for the majority of its decline in March.

Here’s hoping April is a strong month!

The post Why did the Woodside share price drop 7% in March? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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More reading

• Here’s Citi’s forecast for the Woodside share price
• The whopper Woodside dividend is being paid today. Here’s the lowdown
• How I would build a Warren Buffett-style portfolio with ASX 200 shares
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Wednesday
• How much would I need to invest in Woodside shares for a $500 monthly income?

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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Last month in March, the Rio Tinto Ltd (ASX: RIO) share price managed to outperform the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO).

The ASX mining share climbed by around 3%, while the ASX 200 dropped just over 1%.

Outperformance of around 4% in just one month is very helpful for Rio Tinto investors hoping to beat the return of the ASX 200 Index considering the ASX iron ore share typically comes with a good dividend yield as well.

Why did the ASX 200 fall in March?

There are 200 businesses in the ASX 200. But, there are two sectors that have a large weighting in the index, so they can have the largest influence – resources and ASX bank shares.

Let’s look at how the four biggest ASX bank shares performed last month.

The Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA) share price dropped 2.3%, the ANZ Group Holdings Ltd (ASX: ANZ) share price fell 7%, the Westpac Banking Corp (ASX: WBC) share price fell around 4% and the National Australia Bank Ltd (ASX: NAB) share price sank 7.6%.

This was unfortunate as investors may have gone negative on the banking sector because of the troubles faced by Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) and Credit Suisse.

On top of that, the Bank of Queensland Ltd (ASX: BOQ) share price dropped 8%, the Bendigo and Adelaide Bank Ltd (ASX: BEN) share price fell 11% and the Macquarie Group Ltd (ASX: MQG) share price declined 7.3%.

Was anything announced that was positive for Rio Tinto shares?

While it wasn’t a positive announcement, the ASX mining share did reveal that it had agreed to pay a $15 million civil penalty to the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for “violations of the books and records and internal controls provisions of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act.”

But, on the positive side of things, at the end of the month, Rio Tinto announced it was partnering with First Quantum Minerals to progress the La Granja copper project in Peru, which is reportedly one of the largest undeveloped copper deposits in the world.

La Granja has the potential to be a “large, long-life” operation.

First Quantum is going to buy a 55% stake in the project for $105 million and commit to further invest up to $546 million into the joint venture to solely fund capital and operational costs to take the project through a feasibility study and toward development.

After completing the sole funding commitment, all subsequent expenditures will be applied on the basis of how much of the project each business owns.

This transaction is expected to complete by the end of the third quarter of 2023.

Rio Tinto share price snapshot

While it rose in March, the ASX mining share’s valuation hasn’t moved much since the start of the year.

The post Why did the Rio Tinto share price outperform the ASX 200 in March? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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More reading

• Why did this ASX All Ords stock just crash 68%?
• How I’d invest $20,000 to earn reliable passive income today
• Buy these ASX 200 dividend shares for passive income: analysts
• Why did the Rio Tinto share price lag the ASX 200 today?
• Top ASX dividend shares to buy in April 2023

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 no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Bendigo And Adelaide Bank and Macquarie Group. 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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If you’re looking for ASX dividend shares to buy, then it could be worth looking at the two listed below.

Both have recently been named as best buys by brokers and tipped to provide attractive yields. Here’s why they believe they could be must-buys for passive income investors:

Telstra Corporation Ltd (ASX: TLS)

The first ASX 200 dividend share that could be a must-buy right now is telco giant Telstra.

That’s the view of analysts at Morgans, which have put the company’s shares on their best ideas list again this month. The broker sees strong earnings momentum and the potential for value to be unlocked from asset divestments. It commented:

After a major turnaround, TLS has emerged in good shape with strong earnings momentum and a strong balance sheet. In late CY22 shareholders vote on Telstra’s legal restructure, which opens the door for value to be released. TLS currently trades on ~7x EV/EBITDA. However some of TLS’s high quality long life assets like InfraCo are worth substantially more, in our view. We don’t think this is in the price so see it as value generating for TLS shareholders. This, free option, combined with likely reputational damage to its closest peer, following a major cybersecurity incident, means TLS looks well placed for the year ahead.

In respect to dividends, Morgans is expecting fully franked dividends of 17 cents per share in both FY 2023 and FY 2024. Based on the current Telstra share price of $4.27, this equates to yields of 4%.

The broker also sees decent upside for its shares. It currently has an add rating and $4.70 price target on them.

Westpac Banking Corp (ASX: WBC)

Another ASX 200 dividend share that could be a must-buy right now is Westpac.

Analysts at Goldman Sachs are very bullish on the banking giant and have it on their coveted conviction list. The broker believes the company is well-placed for earnings and dividend growth thanks to rising rates and cost reductions. It commented:

We are Buy-rated (on CL) and continue to see WBC as our preferred exposure to the A&NZ Financials reflecting: i) its strong leverage to rising rates, ii) despite WBC revising its FY24E cost target to A$8.6 bn (from A$8.0 bn), the bank’s performance on cost management remains strong in this inflationary environment with a 9% step down in costs expected over the next two years, iii) the business is still investing effectively in its franchise, and iv) we note the stock is trading at a notable discount to peers, versus the historical average discount of 2%.

As for dividends, Goldman is forecasting fully franked dividends of 147 cents per share in FY 2023 and 156 cents per share in FY 2024. Based on the current Westpac share price of $21.77, this will mean yields of 6.75% and 7.15%, respectively.

Goldman Sachs has a conviction buy rating and $27.74 price target on its shares.

The post Are these ASX 200 dividend shares must-buys for passive income investors? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• Could right now be a great time to buy ASX 200 bank stocks for passive income?
• How I’d invest $20,000 to earn reliable passive income today
• Here are the 3 most heavily traded ASX 200 shares on Wednesday
• Big Wednesday: 12 ASX 200 stocks cracking new 52-week highs
• Morgans names the best ASX 200 dividend shares to buy in April

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 positions in and has recommended Telstra Group. 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 S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) traded in the red ahead of the Easter long weekend, falling 0.25% to close Thursday’s session at 7,219 points. That left it 0.57% higher week-on-week.

Weighing heaviest was the S&P/ASX 200 Information Technology Index (ASX: XJO), which fell 2.1%. The Megaport Ltd (ASX: MP1) share price was the sector’s biggest weight, falling 4.3%.

It followed a poor Wednesday session on the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC), which fell 1.1% overnight.

It was also a rough day for the S&P/ASX 200 Real Estate Index (ASX: XRE) and the S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Discretionary Index (ASX: XDJ). They slumped 1.3% and 1.2% respectively.

But it wasn’t all bad news on the market today. The S&P/ASX 200 Health Care Index (ASX: XHJ) posted the biggest gain, rising 1.7%.

So, with all that in mind, let’s dive into today’s top-performing ASX 200 shares.

Top 10 ASX 200 shares countdown

The Imugene Limited (ASX: IMU) share price posted the index’s biggest gain today, lifting 7.14% despite no news having been released by the company.

These shares made today’s biggest gains:

ASX-listed company	Share price	Price change
Imugene Limited (ASX: IMU)	$0.15	7.14%
Silver Lake Resources Ltd (ASX: SLR)	$1.275	4.08%
Bega Cheese Ltd (ASX: BGA)	$3.75	3.31%
ASX Ltd (ASX: ASX)	$69.94	3.2%
CSL Limited (ASX: CSL)	$300.18	2.24%
APA Group (ASX: APA)	$10.45	2.15%
Perpetual Limited (ASX: PPT)	$22.80	1.97%
Regis Resources Ltd (ASX: RRL)	$2.20	1.85%
Incitec Pivot Ltd (ASX: IPL)	$7.52	1.76%
AGL Energy Limited (ASX: AGL)	$8.32	1.46%

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

• Here are the 3 most heavily traded ASX 200 shares on Thursday
• Brokers name 3 ASX shares to buy now
• Why Bega Cheese, Elanor Investors, Neometals, and Talga shares are pushing higher
• The broker community’s 3 best ASX 200 shares to buy for 2023
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Thursday

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 CSL and Megaport. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Apa Group. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Megaport. 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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It’s looking like the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is set to give investors a bit of an Easter headache as we round out the shorter trading week this Thursday. After starting this morning in positive territory, the ASX 200 has sunk into red ink this afternoon and is currently down by 0.31% at just over 7,210 points.

They’ll be a bit less chocolate to go around this weekend if the markets continue their current trajectory.

But rather than letting that put a dampener on our long weekend, let’s instead turn to the ASX 200 shares that are currently at the top of the share market’s trading volume charts, according to investing.com. 

The 3 most traded ASX 200 shares by volume this Thursday

Mirvac Group (ASX: MGR)

ASX 200 real estate investment trust (REIT) Mirvac is first up this Thursday. So far this session, a hefty 14.45 million Mirvac units have made their way across the ASX boards. We haven’t heard anything from Mirvac for a while now.

So we’ll have to assume this volume is the result of the movement of Mirvac units themselves. This REIT has indeed had a bit of a volatile day. After closing at $2.14 per unit yesterday, Mirvac opened strong at $2.17. But investors have since cooled off, with Mirvac now up by 0.47% at $2.15 a unit. This bouncing around looks like the cause of this high volume.

Pilbara Minerals Ltd (ASX: PLS)

Next we have ASX 200 lithium leader Pilbara Minerals to check out. This Thursday has seen a sizeable 21.26 million Pilbara shares bought and sold on the markets today. We haven’t seen any news out of Pilbara itself either.

But that hasn’t stopped the Pilbara share price from tanking by a nasty 3.75% this session to $3.59 a share, which explains the volumes on display here. As my Fool colleague James went into this afternoon, this looks like it could be a result of the tumble that lithium stocks took over on the US markets overnight.

Sayona Mining Ltd (ASX: SYA).

Our third, final and most-traded ASX 200 share this Thursday is another lithium stock in Sayona Mining. A whopping 24.13 million Sayona shares have crossed the proverbial Rubicon this far in today’s trading. This looks to be a very similar situation to that of Pilbara.

Fortunately for Sayona investors today, this company isn’t suffering quite as much as some of its peers. Right now, the Sayona share price has slumped by 1.54% down to 19 cents per share but even spent some time in the gain territory this morning. This volatility, as well as the current loss, is probably behind the high trading volumes on display here.

The post Here are the 3 most heavily traded ASX 200 shares on Thursday appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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More reading

• Why did the Pilbara Minerals share price just tumble 5%?
• Why did the Sayona Mining share price tumble 13% in March?
• Why Brickworks, Energy Resources, Magellan, and Pilbara Minerals shares are dropping today
• ASX 200 lithium stocks sink again following Albemarle downgrade
• Should I buy ASX 200 property shares following the RBA rate pause?

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 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 AMP Ltd (ASX: AMP) share price ended last month higher than it started, trading at $1.05.

That marked a 1.94% month-on-month gain, compared to the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO)’s 1.11% fall over the course of March.

So, what went on with AMP last month? Let’s take a look.

AMP stock outperforms ASX 200 in March

Those invested in AMP were able to breathe a sign of relief in March as the company’s share price recovered a fraction of its February losses.

Shares in the financial services icon tumbled 23% in February amid the release of the company’s first-half earnings.

It was a slump AMP chair Debra Hazelton addressed at the company’s annual general meeting last week, where it faced a first strike on its remuneration policy.

More than 49% of investors voted against the policy, with feedback said to address concerns including the decision to award a bonus above the scorecard outcome and undisclosed short-term incentive targets. Hazelton also said:

The board appreciates that the share price performance in February of this year, may have coloured shareholders’ views of management’s performance.

But there was good news from the ASX 200 constituent in March.

It announced the first-stage completion of the long-waited sale of AMP Capital’s real estate and domestic infrastructure equity business to Dexus Property Group (ASX: DXS).

It came after both companies agreed on a revised transaction structure that would enable the business to change hands without AMP’s interest in China Life AMP Asset Management Company.

Dexus paid around $337 million at first completion, including $105 million for sponsor investments and $57 million for the cash held on the business’s balance sheet.

AMP share price snapshot

The AMP share price has dumped 16% over the course of 2023 so far. Though, it’s 7% higher than it was this time last year.

Comparatively, the ASX 200 has lifted 4% year to date and has fallen 4% over the last 12 months.

The post Why did the AMP share price beat the ASX 200 in March? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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More reading

• The first AMP dividend in over 2 years is being paid today. Here’s the lowdown
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Monday
• AMP share price slips amid expected first strike on remuneration
• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• Sunk $3,000 into AMP shares 5 years ago? Here’s how much passive income you’ve realised

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 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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