S&P/ASX All Ords Index (ASX: XAO) shares are 0.26% lower at 8,668.3 points on Friday.

Today’s fall builds on yesterday’s 1.77% drop after missile strikes on energy assets in the Middle East caused a spike in oil prices.

ASX All Ords shares have fallen 8.13% since the war began, and the market is now 4% in the red for the year to date (YTD).

Meantime, brokers have named 3 ASX shares with buy recommendations amid all this volatility.

Let’s take a look.

Helloworld Travel Ltd (ASX: HLO)

Helloworld Travel shares are steady at $1.44 on Friday, down 23.8% YTD and down 6.5% over 12 months.

Shaw and Partners reiterated its buy rating on this ASX travel share after the Australian Bureau of Statistics released new data.

The broker commented:

The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) Overseas Arrivals and Departures data for January 2026 bodes well for Helloworld Travel Limited (ASX:HLO) with Departures up 8.4% Financial YTD and the travel destination mix reasonably steady. 

Shaw and Partners kept its 12-month share price target at $2.80.

This implies a potential 94% upside from here.

Bega Cheese Ltd (ASX: BGA)

The Bega Cheese share price is down 0.27% to $5.60 at the time of writing.

The ASX consumer staples share is down 7.67% YTD and up 8.6% over the past year.

This month, PAC Partners retained its buy rating and increased its price target by 7% to $7.50 per share.

This implies a potential 34% upside from here.

The broker said:

Bega Cheese Limited’s (ASX:BGA) vision of a great Australian food company arrived this year with: a scalable platform #1 and #2 “better for you” brands; #1 Australian cold chain; off-shore leverage; and a 50% lift in dividend in 1H’26.

Starpharma Holdings Ltd (ASX: SPL)

The Starpharma share price is 47 cents, up 1.1% on Friday.

This ASX small-cap share has risen 25.7% YTD and soared 365% over 12 months.

PAC Partners has a buy rating on this ASX healthcare share.

The broker forecasts growth in partnerships and over-the-counter revenue over the next four years.

PAC Partners says it has a “high risk” 12-month price target range of 80 cents to $1 on Starpharma shares.

This suggests a possible minimum capital gain of 70% over the next 12 months.

PAC Partners commented:

Starpharma Holdings Limited (ASX:SPL) will start human clinical trials of its novel radiotherapy drug for a solid cancer target by the end of 2026.

This in-house project opens up SPL dendrimer applications beyond the Genentech, medicxi and RAD.ASX partnered projects.

The post 3 buy-rated ASX shares in today’s falling market appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• These 3 ASX stocks are paying better than 7% dividend yields
• ASX travel shares are hovering near yearly lows – time to buy?
• 2 ASX small-cap shares with 100% potential upside
• What is Morgans saying about Helloworld, TPG Telecom, and Coles shares?
• Brokers think these two travel shares could take off

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 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.

Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST) shares have taken a massive hit this week, with selling picking up after a weak update from the company.

The share price is down 2.58% to $18.47 at the time of writing. Over the past week, the stock has dropped about 32%, putting it among the worst performers in the gold sector.

So, what has gone wrong, and where to from here?

Production concerns weigh on sentiment

The sell-off followed an operational update that has raised fresh concerns for investors.

Northern Star said production is now expected to land at the lower end of its FY26 guidance range. It also flagged weaker milling performance at KCGM and softer mining productivity at Jundee.

For January and February 2026, gold sales totalled 220,000 ounces. Open pit grades at KCGM averaged about 1.6 grams per tonne, which fell short of expectations.

Although the company still expects full-year production to exceed 1.5 million ounces, the update has shifted the focus to execution risks.

It is also not the first downgrade. Northern Star has lowered expectations multiple times, which is starting to weigh on investor confidence.

Gold price pullback adds to pressure

The broader market backdrop has not helped.

Gold prices have pulled back in recent weeks after a strong run earlier in the year. The metal is now down around 10% over the past month, which has weighed on sentiment across the sector.

At the same time, costs remain a concern. Rising oil prices and ongoing inflation across labour and materials are adding pressure to operating margins.

This combination of softer gold prices and higher costs has made investors more hesitant on gold stocks in the short term.

Mixed views from brokers

Despite the heavy sell-off, broker views are not all negative.

Bell Potter has kept a ‘buy’ rating on Northern Star but noted the latest update was disappointing. It expects the share price could stay under pressure in the near term as the market digests the weaker guidance.

Morgans also revised its forecasts after the announcement, cutting its price target from $35 to $30. Even after this cut, the revised target still implies upside from current levels.

Across the market, views remain split. Some see value at these levels if operations improve, while others remain focused on execution risks and rising costs.

What to watch from here

Attention will now shift to Northern Star’s next quarterly update.

Investors will be watching production, costs, and whether performance at KCGM and Jundee starts to improve. Another downgrade would likely put further pressure on the share price.

Gold prices will also remain a key driver in the near term.

Until then, the market is likely to stay focused on delivery.

The post Does Northern Star shares have further to fall? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Why EOS, Latitude, Northern Star, and Rio Tinto shares are falling today
• Down 32% in a month: Where to from here for this ASX gold stock?
• Why are ASX 200 gold stocks like Northern Star and Newmont down so much today?
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Thursday
• Which ASX gold shares have risen the most in 2026?

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.

With just a few hours of trade left this week, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is down 1.6% since last Friday’s closing bell, but that hasn’t held back these three surging ASX 200 stocks.

It’s a diversified list of top performers on my list for the week. One is a major energy supplier; one is a leading healthcare stock; and the third is a global metals and electronics recycler.

Here’s why they’ve been charging higher this week despite the broader market retrace.

ASX 200 stocks leaping higher this week

First up we have Sims Ltd (ASX: SGM).

Shares in the metals and electronics recycler closed last Friday trading for $18.36. At time of writing, shares are changing hands for $20.65. That sees this ASX 200 stock up 12.4% for the week.

Sims shares got a big boost on Wednesday after the company reported a positive FY 2026 trading update.

Noting continued price strength in both the non-ferrous and memory chip markets, Sims forecast full year underlying earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) to be between $350 million and $400 million.

Sims also reassured investors that the impact on its performance from the Middle East conflict to date remains relatively limited outside of shipping and fuel costs.

Moving on to the second ASX 200 stock racing higher in this week’s falling market, we have Viva Energy Group Ltd (ASX: VEA).

Shares in the oil refiner and fuel supplier closed last week trading for $2.14 and are currently changing hands for $2.42 each. This puts the Viva Energy share price up 13.3% for the week.

The stock has been a clear beneficiary of surging global oil and gas prices, with shares now up more than 37% over the past months.

Viva Energy also caught investor interest today following news of renewed Federal government support for domestic oil refining as the war in Iran threatens imports.

The government’s Fuel Security Services Payment (FSSP) provides financial support for Australia’s two remaining refineries when regional refining margins fall below long-term breakeven costs.

Viva Energy owns and operates the Geelong Refinery in Victoria.

Which brings us to…

Leading the charge

The top performing ASX 200 stock on my list for today is Telix Pharmaceuticals Ltd (ASX: TLX).

Shares in the diagnostic and therapeutic product developer closed last Friday at $11.29. Shares are currently trading for $12.99 each. This sees the Telix share price up an impressive 14.7% in this week’s slumping market.

Telix shares look to have gotten a delayed boost throughout the week from Monday’s announcement that it had resubmitted a New Drug Application to the US Food and Drug Administration for its brain cancer imaging product TLX101-Px (Pixclara).

The resubmission included additional data requested by the FDA.

“Our resubmission is supported by an extensive and compelling data set – particularly so for an orphan indication,” Telix chief medical officer David Cade said.

The post 3 ASX 200 stocks screaming higher in this week’s sinking market appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Up 38% in a month, ASX 200 energy share lifting off again Friday on big oil refining news
• Viva Energy welcomes government boost to refinery support
• Could Telix shares be a millionaire-maker stock?
• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today
• 5 ASX 200 energy shares smash multi-year highs after oil price spike

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

It’s probably fair to say that many ASX investors might be starting to worry that the share market is heading for a rough patch. At the extreme ends, we could see a stock market correction, or even crash, in 2026. Now, to be clear, I’m not trying to scare anyone. I, nor anybody else, knows what the markets will do tomorrow, let alone next week or next month.

However, we can’t skirt the fact that a severe energy shock, as the the world is currently experiencing, has the potential to be highly damaging to the global economy. The US-Iran war has resulted in the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz. The Strait is a vital energy artery that, until a few weeks ago, allowed the transit of about a fifth of the world’s energy supply chain. As most Australians would already be aware, this has sent energy costs soaring around the globe.

Long story short, the possibility of a stock market correction or crash looks more likely today than it did three weeks ago. At least in my view.

This might seem like a scary prospect. And it is. Stock market downturns can have serious implications for investors, particularly those at or approaching retirement.

How to approach a potential 2026 stock market crash

However, even before the US-Iran war started, ASX investors should have been preparing for a crash at some point. As the long history of the stock market proves, periodic corrections or crashes are an inevitable part of investing. There is usually a catalyst , of course. But regardless of what that catalyst turns out to be, the question when it comes to the next crash is always ‘when’, not ‘if’.

As such, I think all investors should be wargaming the prospect of a market downturn at the best of times. If you haven’t, today is probably a good day to start.

That doesn’t mean girding yourself to start selling shares if things get worse though. It is my firm belief that the ASX share portfolio you have when you expect the good times to roll should be the same portfolio that you have if you are bracing for a possible stock market crash. If you buy an ASX share, whether it be TechnologyOne Ltd (ASX: TNE) or Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA), you are buying an ownership stake in that company’s future profits.

The future is a long time. So if you believe a company will be permanently damaged or even perish in the next recession or economic calamity, why would you own the shares in the first place? It would be the equivalent of buying a house on a floodplain.

If the market crashed tomorrow, I would not sell a single share in my portfolio. Instead, I would be scraping whatever money I had at my disposal together to buy more shares at a much cheaper price.

The post What if the stock market crashes in 2026? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 3 buy-rated ASX shares in today’s falling market
• Does Northern Star shares have further to fall?
• 3 ASX 200 stocks screaming higher in this week’s sinking market
• Are Fortescue shares a top buy in March?
• EOS shares tumble 8% as insider selling ramps up

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

Fortescue Ltd (ASX: FMG) shares have had a solid run, climbing 17% over the past 12 months to $18.68.

That’s a strong return for a mining stock. But it also raises an important question.

At these levels, is Fortescue still a top buy in March, or are there better options in the sector?

There’s a lot to like about Fortescue

To be clear, I’m not negative on Fortescue.

In fact, if I already owned the shares, I wouldn’t be in a hurry to sell them.

The company continues to generate strong cash flow, which supports its dividend. Its latest result highlighted a fully-franked interim dividend of 62 cents per share, reflecting a 65% payout of profits.

It is also one of the lowest-cost iron ore producers globally, which gives it resilience when commodity prices weaken.

On top of that, Fortescue is investing heavily in decarbonisation and future-facing projects, while also building exposure to copper through its acquisition of Alta Copper.

So there’s clearly a lot going right.

But I’d still choose BHP first

That said, if I were adding mining exposure to my portfolio today, I would lean toward BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP) shares instead.

The main reason comes down to diversification and future earnings drivers.

Fortescue is still heavily reliant on iron ore. While that has been a very profitable commodity, it also makes earnings more cyclical and tied to a single market.

BHP, on the other hand, offers exposure to a broader mix of commodities.

Most importantly, it has made copper a major part of its portfolio.

Copper could be the key difference

This is where I think the gap between the two companies becomes most important.

Copper demand is expected to grow strongly over time, driven by electrification, renewable energy, and data infrastructure.

BHP is already one of the world’s largest copper producers, with operations like Escondida and Olympic Dam underpinning its position.

Fortescue is clearly moving in that direction as well, but it is starting from a much smaller base. Even with acquisitions, it is unlikely to match BHP’s scale in copper any time soon.

For me, that matters.

If I’m investing for the next decade, I want meaningful exposure to commodities with structural growth tailwinds, and BHP offers that today.

Income vs diversification

One area where Fortescue arguably has the edge is income. It has a strong track record of paying generous dividends, supported by its low-cost operations and high margins.

That makes it an appealing option for income-focused investors.

But I think there’s a trade-off.

BHP may not always offer the highest dividend yield, but its more diversified earnings base could make its long-term returns more balanced.

Foolish Takeaway

Fortescue is a high-quality miner with strong cash flow, attractive dividends, and a clear strategy to evolve over time.

If I owned the shares, I’d be happy to hold onto them. But if I were putting fresh money to work in the mining sector this month, I’d be leaning toward BHP shares instead.

For me, its diversification and leadership in copper give it the edge right now.

The post Are Fortescue shares a top buy in March? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• Here’s how much I’d need to invest in BHP shares to generate a $100 monthly income
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• How are Australia’s biggest blue-chip stocks performing in 2026?
• What does a change of CEO mean for the BHP share price?

Motley Fool contributor Grace Alvino 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 BHP Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

The Electro Optic Systems Holdings Ltd (ASX: EOS) share price is under pressure on Friday after a significant round of insider selling caught the market’s attention.

At the time of writing, the EOS share price is down 8.19% to $8.86. This follows a strong run over the past year, with the stock still up close to 600% over 12 months despite today’s pullback.

So, how many shares did the management team offload?

Let’s take a look.

CEO leads major share sale

According to the release, EOS Chief Executive Dr Andreas Schwer has sold 1.5 million shares in an off-market transaction.

The shares were sold at $9.28 each, which implies proceeds of roughly $13.9 million.

Following the sale, Dr Schwer still holds 1,407,211 shares, along with 585,929 unvested share rights and 986,842 unvested share options.

The company noted that the sale follows a previously announced intention to divest shares after exercising options.

EOS also confirmed that Dr Schwer does not intend to make further sales before the next trading window, which is expected to open in mid-April.

Other executives also reduce holdings

Clive Cuthell, the company’s Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer, has also sold shares. The size and value of the transaction have not been disclosed.

In addition, Non-Executive Director Kate Lundy sold 13,000 shares at $8.96 each, raising just over $116,000.

On the other side of the ledger, Chairman Garry Hounsell purchased 5,000 shares on market at prices between $9.15 and $9.17. This increases his total holdings to more than 522,000 shares.

Why the share price pulled back

Despite the company flagging management’s intention to sell shares last week, the decline appears to reflect a mix of factors.

The size of the CEO’s sale stands out. A $13.9 million disposal is enough to raise questions, even if it was disclosed in advance.

The timing is also notable. EOS shares have surged in recent weeks, hitting an all-time high of $11.80, which appears to have prompted profit-taking from both insiders and investors.

The broader backdrop is also playing a role, particularly the ongoing Middle East conflict between the US, Israel, and Iran. ASX defence stocks have been volatile in recent months, meaning any news has been triggering sharp moves either way.

Foolish Takeaway

EOS shares have pulled back following a wave of insider selling. Even so, the broader trend remains strong after a sharp rally through the middle of 2025 and into 2026.

The company operates in defence and space markets, where demand continues to grow as global tensions remain elevated.

That said, this update shows how quickly sentiment can shift when management reduces holdings, particularly after a strong run in the share price.

Whether this proves to be a short-term pullback or a sign of slowing momentum remains to be seen. It will depend on the company’s ability to deliver further contract wins and earnings growth.

The post EOS shares tumble 8% as insider selling ramps up appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

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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 positions in and has recommended Electro Optic Systems. 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 S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is out of form on Friday and trading lower. In afternoon trade, the benchmark index is down 0.2% to 8,482.8 points.

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

Electro Optic Systems Holdings Ltd (ASX: EOS)

The EOS share price is down 5% to $9.13. This defence and space company’s shares are falling today after it confirmed that its CEO, Dr Andreas Schwer, has sold shares as planned. It advised that on Thursday, Dr Schwer sold 1.5 million shares for an average of $9.28 per share. This equates to a total consideration of approximately $13.9 million. EOS notes that Dr Schwer still holds approximately 1.4 million shares in EOS. These are valued at approximately $12.7 million based on its current share price. The company’s leader has “no intention to make further divestments before the next trading window which may open in mid-April 2026.”

Latitude Group Holdings Ltd (ASX: LFS)

The Latitude share price is down 7% to 94 cents. This has been driven by the consumer finance company’s shares going ex-dividend this morning. Last month, the company released its FY 2025 results and declared a final fully franked dividend of 5 cents per share. Eligible shareholders can look forward to receiving this payout next month on 21 April.

Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST)

The Northern Star share price is down almost 3% to $18.46. This follows a pullback in the gold price overnight amid concerns that soaring energy prices could lead to higher inflation in the United States and send interest rates higher. This would be bad news for gold, which is a safe haven asset and popular when interest rates are low. The S&P/ASX All Ordinaries Gold index is down 2% at the time of writing.

Rio Tinto Ltd (ASX: RIO)

The Rio Tinto share price is down almost 3% to $146.94. Investors have been selling miners on Friday following a drop in base metal prices overnight. According to CommSec, copper futures dropped 2.2% and hit three-month lows on concerns that surging oil prices could hit global economic growth. This has led to the S&P/ASX 200 Resources index falling 1.4% this afternoon.

The post Why EOS, Latitude, Northern Star, and Rio Tinto shares are falling today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• EOS shares tumble 8% as insider selling ramps up
• Down 32% in a month: Where to from here for this ASX gold stock?
• Why EBR, EOS, Racura, and Woodside shares are rising today
• 2 ASX mining stocks that could rise 60% to 100%+
• Why are ASX 200 gold stocks like Northern Star and Newmont down so much today?

Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Electro Optic Systems. 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 All Ordinaries Index (ASX: XAO) is down 0.6% during the Friday lunch hour, but that’s not holding back this rocketing ASX lithium share.

The fast-rising miner in question is Atlantic Lithium Ltd (ASX: A11).

Atlantic Lithium shares closed yesterday trading for 31.5 cents. During the lunch hour today, shares are changing hands for 36.0 cents apiece, up 14.3%.

At the current price, Atlantic Lithium shares are now up 100% since this time last year.

If you’re not familiar with Atlantic, the junior ASX lithium share is primarily focused on its flagship Ewoyaa Lithium Project. Located in Ghana, Atlantic is working to advance Ewoyaa through to production to become the country’s first lithium-producing mine.

Now, here’s what grabbing ASX investor interest today.

ASX lithium share jumps on project approval

Investors are bidding up the Atlantic Lithium share price after the company announced that Ghana’s parliament has ratified the mining lease for Ewoyaa.

The Ewoyaa mining lease is the first to ever be granted and ratified for mining lithium in Ghana.

Having received formal approval for its proposed Ewoyaa Lithium Mine and Processing Plant, the ASX lithium share said it can now advance project funding discussions and continue its progress towards a Final Investment Decision (FID).

Under the terms of the mining lease, Atlantic Lithium has the exclusive rights to carry out mining and commercial production activities for an initial 15-year period, renewable in accordance with Ghanaian legislation.

The ASX lithium share will pay the government a royalty rate between 5% and 12%, based on the spodumene prices at the time.

What did management say?

Commenting on the government approval boosting the ASX lithium share today, Atlantic CEO Keith Muller said, “Parliamentary ratification of the mining lease for the Ewoyaa Lithium Project marks a watershed moment for both Ghana and Atlantic Lithium.”

Muller added:

We are delighted to have the full support of the government as we work towards achieving first production of spodumene. Having already built itself to become a leading gold producer, Ghana has now taken a major step towards a new lithium future.

Looking ahead, Muller concluded:

Shortly, we intend to provide further clarity on the outcomes of the work we completed through H2 2025 to enhance the viability of the project through ongoing commodity price volatility.

This work will help define the direction of the project’s development and inform the steps to be taken ahead of a project Final Investment Decision.

The post Guess which ASX lithium share is leaping 14% in Friday’s sinking market appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Why Ampol, Atlantic Lithium, Brightstar, and Premier Investments shares are rising today

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.

Rare earths companies’ share prices have been under pressure over the past week or so, but the sector’s fundamentals remain solid, with Wilsons Advisory naming four picks it thinks will outperform.

In a research note sent to clients this week, Wilsons makes the case that rare earths elements “sit at the centre of several powerful structural trends, including electrification, automation and defence modernisation”.  

Large demand drivers

They say that permanent magnets represent the largest source of rare earths demand, “with applications spanning electric vehicle motors, wind turbines, robotics and industrial automation, as well as consumer electronics”.

They go on to say:

Key magnet rare earths include NdPr (neodymium and praseodymium), which are used to produce NdFeB (neodymium–iron–boron) permanent magnets, the dominant magnet technology in advanced electric motors. In certain applications, heavy rare earths such as DyTb (dysprosium and terbium) are added to improve performance at elevated temperatures.

Wilsons says demand for magnet rare earths is expected to triple over the next decade, underpinned by a combination of structural drivers including the energy transition, automation and robotics, and defence and rearmament.

There are also major barriers to entry on the mining and processing front, as they say:

Rare earth supply is structurally inelastic to price signals. Projects face high capital intensity, complex permitting and financing requirements, and long development timelines that typically span 10-15 years. Against this backdrop, and with demand rising strongly, several magnet rare earth elements, including NdPr and DyTb, are expected to face supply deficits over the near to medium-term. Beyond the global supply/demand balance, an increasingly important dynamic for Western producers is the emergence of an increasingly bifurcated rare earth market, where strategic demand for ex-China supply is supporting pricing premiums and long-term supply agreements for Western rare earths.

Wilsons says China dominates both the extraction and refining of rare earths, which is a strategic vulnerability for Western economies.

Local winners

Among the ASX-listed companies in the sector, Lynas Rare Earths Ltd (ASX: LYC) stands out, Wilsons says, as the largest rare earths producer outside of China.

Wilsons says Canaccord Genuity has a price target of $22 on the company, compared with the current price of $18.89.

Lynas just this week announced a major supply agreement with the US Department of War, involving US$96 million in rare earth oxide offtake and a US$110/kg floor price for NdPr.

Wilsons says Canaccord also has a buy rating on Iluka Resources Ltd (ASX: ILU) and a price target of $6.55 against the current price of $6.03.

Among the project developers, Canaccord has a speculative buy on both Brazilian Rare Earths Ltd (ASX: BRE) and Meteoric Resources Ltd (ASX: MEI).

The price target for Brazilian Rare Earths is $8, against the current price of $4.20, and for Meteoric Resources, 40 cents, compared with 16.5 cents.  

The post 4 cheap Aussie rare earths companies which are worth a look, according to Wilsons Advisory appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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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 recommended Lynas Rare Earths Ltd. 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.

In afternoon trade, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is on course to end the week in the red. At the time of writing, the benchmark index is down 0.65% to 8,442.8 points.

Four ASX shares that are not letting that hold them back are listed below. Here’s why they are rising:

Ampol Ltd (ASX: ALD)

The Ampol share price is up 1.5% to $33.52. Investors have been buying this fuel retailer’s shares after releasing an update outlining changes to the Fuel Security Services Payment (FSSP) and on its fuel supply operations. The former has seen an increase in the collar from 6.4 cents per litre to 10.0 cents per litre. The company’s CEO, Matt Halliday, said: “We welcome the adjustments made to the FSSP, which effectively increase the level at which payments under the scheme will commence. The important role Australian refineries play in supporting the resilience of our domestic fuel supply is being reinforced in the current global oil market environment. The amendments recognise the significant cost increases, and capital investment made, since the scheme began in 2021 and the importance of maintaining an economically viable domestic oil refining capability in Australia for the medium term by providing support when refiner margins do not cover the cost of production.”

Atlantic Lithium Ltd (ASX: A11)

The Atlantic Lithium share price is up 11% to 35 cents. This morning, the lithium explorer announced the ratification of the mining lease of its flagship Ewoyaa Lithium Project by the Parliament of Ghana. It notes that this means the company can advance discussions relating to project funding and continue its progress towards a project final investment decision. Atlantic Lithium’s CEO, Keith Muller, said: “We are delighted to have the full support of the Government as we work towards achieving first production of spodumene. Having already built itself to become a leading gold producer, Ghana has now taken a major step towards a new lithium future.”

Brightstar Resources Ltd (ASX: BTR)

The Brightstar Resources share price is up 2% to 34.7 cents. This follows news that the gold developer has successfully completed its funding package. The company notes that this means it is now fully funded through to gold production at the Goldfields Project and the Sandstone Project final investment decision. Brightstar’s managing director, Alex Rovira, commented: “We are delighted to have successfully executed on this funding package, particularly in the context of the challenging market conditions over the past weeks.”

Premier Investments Ltd (ASX: PMV)

The Premier Investments share price is up almost 4% to $13.00. Investors have been buying the retailer’s shares following the release of its half-year results. The company reported Premier Retail underlying EBIT of $119.3 million, which was in line with its guidance. This allowed the company’s board to declare a fully franked interim dividend of 45 cents per share.

The post Why Ampol, Atlantic Lithium, Brightstar, and Premier Investments shares are rising today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Guess which ASX lithium share is leaping 14% in Friday’s sinking market
• After a major capital raise this ASX gold company is fully-funded through to production
• This ASX 200 stock is charging higher on big news
• Ampol welcomes stronger refinery support and domestic supply boost
• Premier Investments shares jump 8% on results and big interim dividend

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 Premier Investments. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.