• Mesoblast just cleared a key FDA hurdle. So why are investors exiting?

    Scientist looking at a laptop thinking about the share price performance.

    Shares in Mesoblast Ltd (ASX: MSB) are under pressure, despite the company releasing a positive regulatory update today.

    The Mesoblast share price is down almost 15% over the past week and is trading around $2.59 this afternoon, down another 1.89%. That puts the stock at a 2-month low, despite news of progress with the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

    So, what’s driving the weakness?

    What did the FDA say?

    According to the release, the FDA said Mesoblast’s lead treatment, rexlemestrocel-L, helped reduce pain levels. The feedback relates to patients with long-term lower back pain caused by degenerative disc disease.

    The update follows a Type B meeting with the FDA, where the regulator reviewed results from Mesoblast’s first Phase 3 trial. The FDA said the pain reduction results looked better for patients treated with rexlemestrocel-L and that the data support the treatment working as intended.

    The FDA also noted that strong reductions in opioid use seen in at least one major trial could potentially be included on the product label. Mesoblast said many patients treated with rexlemestrocel-L were able to reduce or stop opioid use for long periods after treatment.

    A second Phase 3 trial is already underway in the US and is now more than halfway enrolled. Mesoblast expects recruitment to finish later this year, which keeps the regulatory process moving forward.

    So why is the share price falling?

    Despite the positive announcement, the share price reaction has been underwhelming.

    Part of the weakness appears to be technical. Mesoblast shares have pulled back sharply over the past week and are now trading at their lowest level in roughly 2 months, which can weigh on short-term sentiment.

    There is also likely some profit-taking at play. The stock rallied strongly late last year, and some investors appear to be taking profits after the update rather than waiting for the next stage.

    Adding to the pressure, director activity may have unsettled some investors. Filings show that Executive Director Dr Eric Rose recently sold around 640,000 shares on market at prices near $2.97, ahead of the recent pullback. While director sales do not necessarily reflect concerns about fundamentals, they can influence near-term confidence.

    What investors need to keep in mind

    Mesoblast remains a high-risk, high-reward biotech stock. While the FDA response is encouraging, the product is still not close to being commercialised.

    With the share price on the back foot, investors appear to be weighing long-term potential against short-term uncertainty. However, with more work still needed before approval, the share price is likely to remain volatile.

    The post Mesoblast just cleared a key FDA hurdle. So why are investors exiting? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in Mesoblast Limited right now?

    Before you buy Mesoblast Limited shares, consider this:

    Motley Fool investing expert Scott Phillips just revealed what he believes are the 5 best stocks for investors to buy right now… and Mesoblast Limited wasn’t one of them.

    The online investing service he’s run for over a decade, Motley Fool Share Advisor, has provided thousands of paying members with stock picks that have doubled, tripled or even more.*

    And right now, Scott thinks there are 5 stocks that may be better buys…

    * Returns as of 1 Jan 2026

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    Motley Fool contributor Aaron Teboneras has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has 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.

  • Why Fortescue, Life360, PLS, and Syrah shares are dropping today

    A man sits in despair at his computer with his hands either side of his head, staring into the screen with a pained and anguished look on his face, in a home office setting.

    The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) has followed Wall Street’s lead and dropped into the red. At the time of writing, the benchmark index is down 0.3% to 8,879.1 points.

    Four ASX shares that are falling more than most today are listed below. Here’s why they are dropping:

    Fortescue Ltd (ASX: FMG)

    The Fortescue share price is down almost 2% to $22.40. This may have been driven by the release of a broker note out of Morgan Stanley this morning. According to the note, the broker has downgraded the iron ore miner’s shares to an underweight rating with a $19.75 price target. This implies potential downside of approximately 12% from current levels. The broker is expecting strong realised prices for the second quarter of FY 2026. However, it thinks costs could be higher and Iron Bridge production could soften. And due to recent share price strength, it feels its shares are overvalued now and downgrades them to underweight.

    Life360 Inc (ASX: 360)

    The Life360 share price is down almost 7% to $27.23. This follows a similar decline by the location technology company’s NASDAQ listed shares on Wall Street on Friday night. This appears to have been driven by broad weakness in the tech sector as investors rotate into other areas of the market.

    PLS Group Ltd (ASX: PLS)

    The PLS Group share price is down 4% to $4.49. This is despite there being no news out of the lithium miner on Monday. Though, it is worth noting that Australian Super revealed that it has been selling down its holding in the company. Last week, it sold down its stake from 16.27% to 15.11%. Despite today’s share price weakness, the lithium miner’s shares remain up over 80% since this time last year.

    Syrah Resources Ltd (ASX: SYR)

    The Syrah Resources share price is down 3% to 29.5 cents. This follows the release of an update on the graphite producer’s offtake agreement with Tesla (NASDAQ: TSLA). The parties have an agreement for the supply of natural graphite active anode material (AAM) from Syrah’s 11.25ktpa AAM facility in Vidalia, Louisiana. Today’s update reveals that the parties have agreed to amend the offtake agreement to extend the final qualification date to 16 March 2026. This is subject to the consent of the United States Department of Energy. Tesla has the right to terminate the offtake agreement if Syrah does not provide conforming AAM samples from Vidalia by this date.

    The post Why Fortescue, Life360, PLS, and Syrah shares are dropping today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in Life360 right now?

    Before you buy Life360 shares, consider this:

    Motley Fool investing expert Scott Phillips just revealed what he believes are the 5 best stocks for investors to buy right now… and Life360 wasn’t one of them.

    The online investing service he’s run for over a decade, Motley Fool Share Advisor, has provided thousands of paying members with stock picks that have doubled, tripled or even more.*

    And right now, Scott thinks there are 5 stocks that may be better buys…

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    Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in Life360. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Life360 and Tesla. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Life360. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

  • How much will markets and rates rise this year? AMP’s Shane Oliver makes a prediction

    A woman in a red dress holding up a red graph.

    AMP Ltd (ASX: AMP) Chief Economist Shane Oliver is expecting the Australian share market to deliver returns of 8% this year and for interest rates to remain on hold, in a new investment outlook for 2026 published this week.

    Dr Oliver said he also expected balanced growth super funds to return about 7%, and expected house price growth to slow to 5%-7%.

    Returns defy global uncertainty

    Dr Oliver said, despite a somewhat unsettled year just past, investment returns held up.

    He added:

    Despite uncertainty around US President Trump’s policies, geopolitics and interest rates, 2025 saw strong investment returns on the back of falling interest rates, solid economic and profit growth globally and expectations for stronger profit growth in Australia. AI enthusiasm boosted US shares although they were relative underperformers globally. This saw average superannuation funds return around 9%. This is the third year in a row of returns around 10% and over the last five years, they returned 7.7% pa.

    Dr Oliver said there were several reasons to be wary on the investment front this year, including that share valuations remain “stretched relative to history, with US shares offering little risk premium over bonds and Australian shares not much better”.

    Other areas of concern included the surge in AI shares, which “shows some signs of being a bubble”, risks to the Chinese economy, and the fact that some central banks are at or close to the bottom when it comes to interest rates.

    Interest rates to stay on hold

    In terms of Australian rates, Dr Oliver said he believed interest rate increases would likely not come until 2027.

    He wrote:

    In Australia we expect some fall back in underlying inflation to allow the RBA (Reserve Bank of Australia) to avoid rate hikes, but it’s a close call.

    Geopolitical risk was also expected to remain high, and Dr Oliver said the mid-term elections in the US were historically associated with pullbacks in the market.

    The Ukraine war is yet to be resolved, problems with Iran could flare up again with a possible US military strike, US tensions with China could escalate again, political uncertainty will likely be high in Europe with the rise of the far right, the US intervention in Venezuela could turn bad for the US (and may be interpreted as a ‘green light’ for China and Russia to act in their own spheres of influence). Trump’s grab for Greenland threatens the NATO appliance. And the midterm elections in the US are often associated with share market volatility with an average 17% drawdown in US shares in midterm election years since 1950. This is arguably evident in Trump’s increasingly erratic and populist policies.

    Dr Oliver expects Australian economic growth to come in at 2.2%, and profit growth in Australia to come in at 10% after three years of falls.

    The post How much will markets and rates rise this year? AMP’s Shane Oliver makes a prediction appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Wondering where you should invest $1,000 right now?

    When investing expert Scott Phillips has a stock tip, it can pay to listen. After all, the flagship Motley Fool Share Advisor newsletter he has run for over ten years has provided thousands of paying members with stock picks that have doubled, tripled or even more.*

    Scott just revealed what he believes could be the ‘five best ASX stocks’ for investors to buy right now. We believe these stocks are trading at attractive prices and Scott thinks they could be great buys right now…

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    Motley Fool contributor Cameron England 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.

  • Guess which surging ASX gold share is leaping another 18% today on high-grade results

    A few gold nullets sit on an old-fashioned gold scale, representing ASX gold shares.

    Small-cap ASX gold share Yandal Resources Ltd (ASX: YRL) is kicking off Monday with a bang.

    Yandal Resources shares closed on Friday trading for 25 cents. At tithe me of writing in late morning trade today, shares are swapping hands for 29.5 cents each, up 18%.

    For some context, the All Ordinaries Index (ASX: XAO) is down 0.3% at this same time.

    With today’s intraday boost factored in, Yandal shares are up a whopping 110.7% since this time last year.

    Here’s what’s grabbing investor interest again today.

    ASX gold share leaps on exploration results

    Investors are piling into Yandal shares today after the miner reported on promising assay results from the New England Granite prospect situated within its Ironstone Well-Barwidgee Gold Project in Western Australia.

    The ASX gold share drilled 38 air-core (AC) holes as part of its exploration drilling program.

    The fire assay results (which test the gold content via a smelting process) from those holes have now been received.

    Among the top results, Yandal reported 6 metres at 6.3 grams of gold per tonne from 36 meters, including 2m at 18.2 g/t Au from 36m from one hole.

    Likely piquing ASX investor interest, the miner said the high-grade gold intercept in this hole presents a key target. It correlates with an intrusive contact adjacent to the main New England Granite intrusive complex, and it is associated with a previously defined structure.

    Looking ahead, Yandal plans to commence reverse circulation (RC) drilling to follow up on the high-grade air-core intercepts within the prospect in April.

    What did management say?

    Commenting on the strong assays boosting the ASX gold share today, Yandal Resources managing director Chris Oorschot said, “These air-core results continue to build on the discovery potential of the broader New England Granite [NEG] target area.”

    Oorschot added:

    Our best intercept, which includes 2m @ 18.2g/t, is associated with an intrusive contact proximal to an interpreted northeast striking structure. This same structure may have also been intercepted 120 metres to the southwest with 2m @ 6.0g/t in 25IWBAC142.

    We will assess whether similar grades continue into fresh rock and test strike continuity associated with the intrusive contact. Positive results would signify another potential gold discovery within NEG.

    As for the next steps, Oorschot concluded:

    Today’s results reinforce the potential we see in the structural targets identified on the western side of the four-kilometre by two-kilometre intrusive complex…. Once heritage clearances are received, we are well prepared to quickly respond with an expanded AC drilling program across the western side of NEG.

    The post Guess which surging ASX gold share is leaping another 18% today on high-grade results appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in Yandal Resources Limited right now?

    Before you buy Yandal Resources Limited shares, consider this:

    Motley Fool investing expert Scott Phillips just revealed what he believes are the 5 best stocks for investors to buy right now… and Yandal Resources Limited wasn’t one of them.

    The online investing service he’s run for over a decade, Motley Fool Share Advisor, has provided thousands of paying members with stock picks that have doubled, tripled or even more.*

    And right now, Scott thinks there are 5 stocks that may be better buys…

    * Returns as of 1 Jan 2026

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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.

  • The figures are in – how did super funds perform last year?

    A wad of $100 bills of Australian currency lies stashed in a bird's nest.

    Superannuation funds have had another strong year, with the median growth fund returning an impressive 9.3% for the 12 months to the end of December, according to figures just released by Chant West.

    This result, for a fund with 61%-80% of investments in growth assets, follows returns of 9.9% in 2023 and 11.4% in 2024, translating into nearly 35% growth over the past three years.

    Chant West Senior Investment Research Manager Mano Mohankumar said super fund members invested in higher risk portfolios did even better last year.

    Offshore returns impressive

    Mr Mohankumar said international share markets were the key driver of 2025’s strong performance, delivering 18.6% on a currency-hedged basis, despite uncertainty around tariffs and geopolitical tensions.

    He explained further:

    International shares in unhedged terms was lower, with a 12.5% return due to the appreciation of the Australian dollar over the year (up from US$0.62 to US$0.67). On average, growth funds have 31% in total invested in international shares and 25% allocated to Australian shares, with Australian shares also contributing meaningfully, returning 10.7%. It also helped that all major asset classes generated positive returns over the period.

    Mr Mohankumar said Chant West was still in the process of calculating the final returns for unlisted asset classes, such as property, infrastructure, and private equity, “all of which were in positive territory”.

    He added:

    We estimate that unlisted infrastructure finished with gains in the 7% to 10% cent range, with private equity likely to finish with a low double-digit return. Unlisted property, which was in the red in each of the two previous years, is expected to finish with a positive return in the 3% to 6% range. Listed real assets were also up, with Australian listed property returning 9.7%, while international listed property and international listed infrastructure yielded gains of 7.5% and 11.6%, respectively. Within the traditional defensive asset classes, cash, Australian bonds and international bonds returned 4%, 3.2% and 4.4%, respectively.

    Returns higher than historical trend

    Mr Mohankumar said that the returns achieved over the past three years should not be considered normal, given the typical long-term goal of beating inflation by 3.5% per year, which is just more than 6% per year.

    He added:

    Since the introduction of compulsory super, the annualised return is 8% and the annual CPI (consumer price index) increase is 2.7%, giving a real return of 5.3% a year – well above that 3.5% target. Even looking at the past 20 years, which includes three major share market downturns – the GFC in 2007-2009, COVID-19 in 2020 and the high inflation and rising interest rates in 2022 – super funds have returned 6.9% a year, which is still comfortably ahead of the typical objective.

    The post The figures are in – how did super funds perform last year? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Wondering where you should invest $1,000 right now?

    When investing expert Scott Phillips has a stock tip, it can pay to listen. After all, the flagship Motley Fool Share Advisor newsletter he has run for over ten years has provided thousands of paying members with stock picks that have doubled, tripled or even more.*

    Scott just revealed what he believes could be the ‘five best ASX stocks’ for investors to buy right now. We believe these stocks are trading at attractive prices and Scott thinks they could be great buys right now…

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    Motley Fool contributor Cameron England 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.

  • 3 unstoppable ASX shares to buy with $3,000

    Green stock market graph with a rising arrow symbolising a rising share price.

    There are certain ASX shares that look unstoppable to me because of the strong outlook of the businesses. The more that a company can scale its operations and increase its bottom line, the more likely it is that share price gains can occur.

    The three businesses I’m about to highlight have risen strongly in the last 12 months, and I’m expecting these companies to deliver more earnings growth in the coming years. I already own one, and I wouldn’t be surprised if another of them enters my portfolio this year.

    L1 Group Ltd (ASX: L1G)

    L1 Group is a fund manager that offers various investment strategies, with multiple funds offering short selling as part of the investment strategy.

    The business recently joined the ASX boards by acquiring Platinum, and now investors can get a piece of this growing business.

    The ASX share’s assets under management (AUM) grew by approximately $700 million over the three months to December 2025. This was driven by positive investment returns and strong L1 Global Long Short Fund Ltd (ASX: GLS) inflows after a capital raising, partially offset by Platinum legacy outflows predominantly from the Platinum International Fund.

    I expect these trends to continue in the coming years, with strong investment performance and further net inflows.

    Life360 Inc (ASX: 360)

    This is a software business that enables families to stay connected and know they’re safe. Its offerings include location sharing, safe driver reports, and crash detection with emergency dispatch. It also has an offering for pet tracking.

    As the world becomes increasingly digital and risks become highlighted and amplified by technology, Life360 can provide reassurance.

    The ASX share has more than 50 million monthly active users (MAU) in the US, making it one of the top technology apps in the country. The company also said that it provides advertisers with a “powerful way to reach families with high intent in real-world moments when decisions are made, from a quick trip to the grocery store to a top at a local coffee shop”.

    It’s also seeing strong growth in places like Australia and other international locations. As a technology business, it has pleasing operating leverage, giving it a good outlook for profit and cash flow growth in the coming years.

    Tuas Ltd (ASX: TUA)

    Tuas is one of the most promising non-tech companies on the ASX, in my view.

    The business offers telecommunication services in Singapore, with a focus on mobile users, though it also has a small (but growing) broadband segment. Its aim to provide value for customers is drawing many thousands of new customers each year.

    Tuas has seen its mobile subscriber base reach 1.34 million as of the first quarter of FY26, helping increase its scale and grow its profitability. It’s growing at a double-digit rate in percentage terms.

    The ASX share is about to become much more profitable if and when the M1 acquisition (a competitor) goes through.

    It could be a particularly good investment if it successfully expands into other markets.

    The post 3 unstoppable ASX shares to buy with $3,000 appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in Life360 right now?

    Before you buy Life360 shares, consider this:

    Motley Fool investing expert Scott Phillips just revealed what he believes are the 5 best stocks for investors to buy right now… and Life360 wasn’t one of them.

    The online investing service he’s run for over a decade, Motley Fool Share Advisor, has provided thousands of paying members with stock picks that have doubled, tripled or even more.*

    And right now, Scott thinks there are 5 stocks that may be better buys…

    * Returns as of 1 Jan 2026

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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 positions in and has recommended Life360. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Life360. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

  • Leading brokers name 3 ASX shares to buy today

    A financial expert or broker looks worried as he checks out a graph showing market volatility.

    With so many shares to choose from on the Australian share market, it can be difficult to decide which ones to buy. The good news is that brokers across the country are doing a lot of the hard work for you.

    Three top ASX shares that leading brokers have named as buys this week are listed below. Here’s why they are bullish on them:

    Boss Energy Ltd (ASX: BOE)

    According to a note out of Morgan Stanley, its analysts have upgraded this uranium producer’s shares to an overweight rating with a $2.05 price target. The broker sees value in the company’s shares at current levels. Particularly given its belief that its Honeymoon operation could outperform production and sales expectations. It also suspects that its costs could be lower than consensus estimates. Outside this, the broker sees a number of potential catalysts on the horizon that could support its shares. This includes updates on the Gould’s Dam and Jason deposits. The Boss Energy share price is trading at $1.77 on Monday.

    Mader Group Ltd (ASX: MAD)

    A note out of Bell Potter reveals that its analysts have upgraded this specialised contract labour provider’s shares to a buy rating with a price target of $9.00. The broker made the move on valuation grounds following a sizeable pullback in its share price. It feels this share price weakness offers investors a more attractive risk-reward proposition. Bell Potter also highlights that Mader’s outlook is positive thanks to favourable trading conditions in both the Australian and North American markets. Outside this, it feels that the disclosure of the company’s next five-year strategy could be a near-term catalyst for its share price. The Mader share price is fetching $8.19 at the time of writing.

    Zip Co Ltd (ASX: ZIP)

    Analysts at UBS have retained their buy rating on this buy now pay later provider’s shares with a trimmed price target of $5.20. According to the note, the broker believes that significant share price weakness has created a buying opportunity for investors. It notes that this has been driven partly by an inquiry into the industry. However, there has been good news with President Trump calling for 10% caps on credit card interest rates. It feels that this could mean tighter conditions for credit card lending and push consumers to buy now pay later services. Though, it does concede that a lot will depend on how Zip’s fees are interpreted by law makers. The Zip share price is trading at $3.04 on Monday.

    The post Leading brokers name 3 ASX shares to buy today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in Boss Energy Ltd right now?

    Before you buy Boss Energy Ltd shares, consider this:

    Motley Fool investing expert Scott Phillips just revealed what he believes are the 5 best stocks for investors to buy right now… and Boss Energy Ltd wasn’t one of them.

    The online investing service he’s run for over a decade, Motley Fool Share Advisor, has provided thousands of paying members with stock picks that have doubled, tripled or even more.*

    And right now, Scott thinks there are 5 stocks that may be better buys…

    * Returns as of 1 Jan 2026

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

  • Why this ASX small cap has hit the pause button again

    an attractive woman gives a time out signal with her hands, holding them in a T shape, indicating a trading halt.

    Shares in Metallium Ltd (ASX: MTM) are in a trading halt today after the company requested a temporary suspension in trading.

    The halt will remain in place until trading resumes on Wednesday, 21 January 2026. It could also be lifted earlier if an announcement is released.

    So, what is Metallium preparing to release to the market? Let’s take a look.

    What triggered the trading halt

    In its request to the ASX, Metallium confirmed the trading halt is pending the release of an announcement relating to a strategic US capital raising.

    The company has not yet disclosed the size, structure, or pricing of the potential capital raise. However, the wording suggests Metallium is working on funding linked to its US operations, potentially to support commissioning and early commercial activity.

    Why funding is important at the moment

    Metallium is moving through a critical phase of its development.

    The company is working toward commissioning and early commercial activity in the United States, where it plans to deploy its Flash Joule Heating technology to recover metals from recycled and industrial materials.

    That stage of growth usually requires additional funding, with costs rising as the business moves closer to commissioning.

    What investors will be watching for

    When the halt is lifted, investors will be focused on several key details.

    These include the amount of capital being raised, whether existing shareholders are diluted, and whether the raise involves new strategic investors or institutions.

    The market will also be watching how the funds are expected to be used, particularly whether they are tied to specific milestones in the US, such as commissioning progress or capacity expansion.

    The price set for the raising will also be important. A heavily discounted issue could pressure the share price, while a smaller discount may be seen as a sign of confidence.

    A quick reminder on the business

    Metallium is a technology-focused metals recovery company.

    It does not operate traditional mines. Instead, it uses its patented Flash Joule Heating process to extract metals from mineral concentrates, industrial waste, and recycled materials.

    Target metals include rare earths elements, gallium, germanium, antimony, and gold, many of which are considered important to modern manufacturing and energy systems.

    Foolish Takeaway

    Another trading halt always puts a stock firmly on investor watchlists, especially when it follows a halt earlier this month.

    I will be paying close attention to the details of the proposed capital raising. In particular, how it supports Metallium’s US strategy and advances the business toward sustainable commercial operations.

    The post Why this ASX small cap has hit the pause button again appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in Mtm Critical Metals right now?

    Before you buy Mtm Critical Metals shares, consider this:

    Motley Fool investing expert Scott Phillips just revealed what he believes are the 5 best stocks for investors to buy right now… and Mtm Critical Metals wasn’t one of them.

    The online investing service he’s run for over a decade, Motley Fool Share Advisor, has provided thousands of paying members with stock picks that have doubled, tripled or even more.*

    And right now, Scott thinks there are 5 stocks that may be better buys…

    * Returns as of 1 Jan 2026

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    Motley Fool contributor Aaron Teboneras has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has 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.

  • ASX All Ords mining stock sinking on big Tesla news

    ASX All Ords mining stock Syrah Resources Ltd (ASX: SYR) is taking a hit today.

    Shares in the Aussie graphite producer closed on Friday trading for 30.5 cents. In morning trade on Monday, shares are swapping hands for 28.7 cents apiece, down 5.9%.

    For some context, the All Ordinaries Index (ASX: XAO) is down 0.1% at this same time.

    Here’s what’s happening.

    ASX All Ords mining stock catching Tesla headwinds

    Investors are pressuring Syrah Resources shares today following an update on its offtake agreement with Tesla Inc (NASDAQ: TSLA).

    The offtake agreement with Elon Musk’s EV company is for the supply of natural graphite active anode material (AAM) from Syrah’s 11.25 thousand tonne per annum Vidalia AAM facility, located in the US state of Louisiana.

    The ASX All Ords mining stock initially executed the offtake agreement with Tesla back in December 2021.

    On 30 July 2025, Syrah announced to the market that Tesla had sent a notice alleging that Syrah had defaulted on an obligation under the agreement to provide conforming AAM samples from Vidalia.

    Following an amended notice, Tesla required Syrah to cure the alleged default by last Friday, 16 January, or risk the termination of the offtake agreement. Tesla has the right to terminate the agreement if final qualification of Vidalia AAM is not achieved by 9 February.

    Syrah stated that it does not accept that it is in default under the offtake agreement.

    However, in news that has yet to lift the ASX All Ords mining stock today, the company said that it is closely collaborating with Tesla to cure the alleged default. In light of the collaborative efforts, the two companies have agreed to amend the offtake agreement to extend the potential termination date to 16 March.

    The amended agreement remains subject to the consent of the United States Department of Energy.

    What’s the latest from Syrah Resources?

    Syrah Resources reported its first quarter (Q1 FY 2026) results on 28 October.

    Among the highlights, the ASX All Ords mining stock produced 26,000 tonnes of natural graphite at its Balama mine and processing facility, located in Mozambique.

    Over the three months to 30 September, the miner sold and shipped 24,000 tonnes of natural graphite to third-party customers at an average price of US$625 per tonne.

    Commenting on the quarterly performance on the day, Syrah CEO Shaun Verner said:

    Syrah’s operational highlights for the third quarter included the safe ramp-up of operations at Balama following the extended non-operating period and the completion of large-volume breakbulk shipments to Indonesia and the US.

    As for its US operations that involve the offtake agreement with Tesla, Verner noted, “The company’s successful capital raising in July better positions us to manage market volatility and extended AAM qualification processes at Vidalia.”

    The post ASX All Ords mining stock sinking on big Tesla news appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in Syrah Resources Limited right now?

    Before you buy Syrah Resources Limited shares, consider this:

    Motley Fool investing expert Scott Phillips just revealed what he believes are the 5 best stocks for investors to buy right now… and Syrah Resources Limited wasn’t one of them.

    The online investing service he’s run for over a decade, Motley Fool Share Advisor, has provided thousands of paying members with stock picks that have doubled, tripled or even more.*

    And right now, Scott thinks there are 5 stocks that may be better buys…

    * Returns as of 1 Jan 2026

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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 positions in and has recommended Tesla. 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.

  • Up 81% since April, ASX All Ords gold stock reveals latest exploration success

    Engineer looking at mining trucks at a mine site.

    The All Ordinaries Index (ASX: XAO) is down 0.1% in morning trade, with ASX All Ords gold stock Red Hill Minerals Ltd (ASX: RHI) trading flat at this same time.

    Red Hill shares closed on Friday trading for $5.07. At the time of writing on Monday, shares are changing hands for, well, $5.07 apiece.

    This leaves the Red Hill share price up 81.1% since plumbing a one-year closing low on 7 April.

    Here’s what’s happening today.

    ASX All Ords gold stock expanding its footprint

    The Red Hill Minerals share price has yet to make any big moves following the release of an exploratory drilling update.

    The ASX All Ords gold stock reported on a fresh batch of assay results from a diamond and reverse circulation (RC) drilling program targeting the Barkley Gold prospect, situated within its West Pilbara Gold and Base Metal Project, located in Western Australia.

    Red Hill’s 2025 RC and diamond drill program expanded the mineralisation footprint at Barkley to more than a one-kilometre strike length. The target was reported to remain open in multiple directions.

    The miner said the results from the two latest diamond twin holes, which were drilled for a total of 424.3 metres, have confirmed gold mineralisation and “extensive alteration”.

    Among the top results, Red Hill reported 1.3 metres at 2.0 grams of gold per tonne from 9.7 metres, and 0.7 metres at 1.2 grams of gold per tonne from 83.3 metres.

    For the geologically informed, management stated:

    Drilling across the target confirms mineralisation is present in both weathered and fresh rock. Bedrock alteration and structural overprint has been observed in diamond drill core to increase with depth, adding previously undescribed alteration styles for this project including hematite alteration, observed from approximately 190 metres.

    The ASX All Ords gold stock has commenced initial 3D geological modelling that incorporates the structural information from the diamond core to assist with future drill planning.

    Management said that Future drilling at Barkley will likely step out to the north, south, and east of three of its most promising drill holes, “where the thickest and highest-grade mineralisation remains open and heritage clearance has been obtained”.

    What’s been happening with Red Hill Minerals?

    Atop its recent exploration successes at the Barkley Gold Prospect, the ASX All Ords gold stock has been catching solid tailwinds from the surging gold price.

    Gold is currently fetching US$4,596 per ounce. That’s within a whisker of its all-time highs posted last week. And it sees the price of the yellow metal up a whopping 67% since this time last year.

    The post Up 81% since April, ASX All Ords gold stock reveals latest exploration success appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in Red Hill Iron right now?

    Before you buy Red Hill Iron shares, consider this:

    Motley Fool investing expert Scott Phillips just revealed what he believes are the 5 best stocks for investors to buy right now… and Red Hill Iron wasn’t one of them.

    The online investing service he’s run for over a decade, Motley Fool Share Advisor, has provided thousands of paying members with stock picks that have doubled, tripled or even more.*

    And right now, Scott thinks there are 5 stocks that may be better buys…

    * Returns as of 1 Jan 2026

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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.