On Tuesday, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) had a subdued session and edged lower. The benchmark index fell 0.1% to 9,066.7 points.

Will the market be able to bounce back from this on Wednesday? Here are five things to watch:

ASX 200 to sink

The Australian share market looks set for a disappointing session on Wednesday following a poor night on Wall Street. According to the latest SPI futures, the ASX 200 is expected to open the day 78 points or 0.85% lower. In the United States, the Dow Jones fell 0.8%, the S&P 500 dropped 0.7%, and the Nasdaq sank 1%.

Oil prices jump

ASX 200 energy shares Beach Energy Ltd (ASX: BPT) and Santos Ltd (ASX: STO) could have a good session on Wednesday after oil prices jumped overnight. According to Bloomberg, the WTI crude oil price is up 5.7% to US$90.65 a barrel and the Brent crude oil price is up 5.1% to US$95.13 a barrel. This was driven by an escalation in US-Iran tensions.

Buy Catalyst Metals shares

Bell Potter thinks that Catalyst Metals Ltd (ASX: CYL) shares could be worth considering. This morning, the broker has retained its buy rating on the gold miner’s shares with a trimmed price target of $12.80 (from $13.25). It said: “FY26 was a significant year for CYL, building operationally and financially YoY, achieving guidance. Our FY27 outlook remains unchanged (128koz for $2,833/oz AISC), subject to the September 2026 guidance and strategy release. We lower our TP to $12.80/sh and retain Buy.”

Gold price tumbles

ASX 200 gold shares Westgold Resources Ltd (ASX: WGX) and Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST) could have a poor session on Wednesday after the gold price tumbled. According to CNBC, the gold futures price is down 2.4% to US$4,375 an ounce. A stronger US dollar and US treasury yields weighed on the precious metal.

Buy GrainCorp shares

Bell Potter is also tipping Graincorp Ltd (ASX: GNC) shares as a buy this week with an improved price target of $7.15 (from $5.90). Commenting on its recommendation, the broker said: “The ABARE crop report is positive and likely to lead to consensus upgrades. However, the margin backdrop at this point, in terms of both grain basis and oilseed crush margins, looks possibly the strongest it has for three years. To us this is key, as consensus FY27e expectations (which this crop estimate underwrites) looks to be carrying forward the margin environment of FY25-26e, which was materially weaker. This implies that there is both volume and margin upside potential within consensus FY27e expectations.”

The post 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Wednesday appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

A good investment portfolio should do more than just look good on the day it is created.

I think it should also be something an investor can comfortably hold when markets fall, individual shares disappoint, and the latest hot investment starts grabbing attention.

Here is how I would build one with a decade in mind.

Start with businesses I genuinely understand

I would begin with ASX shares where I can explain the investment case without needing a complicated spreadsheet.

Coles Group Ltd (ASX: COL), for example, sells products Aussies buy regularly. ResMed Inc. (ASX: RMD) provides treatment for sleep apnoea, while Macquarie Group Ltd (ASX: MQG) has built expertise across banking, asset management, commodities, and investment markets.

The businesses themselves can be complex, but I want the reason for owning them to remain clear.

That makes it easier to judge whether something has genuinely changed when the share price falls.

Give the ASX portfolio several ways to succeed

I would also spread my investments across ASX shares that make money in different parts of the economy.

A portfolio dominated by one industry can perform brilliantly when conditions are favourable, but it can become uncomfortable very quickly when that sector struggles.

I would want exposure to areas such as healthcare, financial services, consumer spending, technology, infrastructure, and resources.

An exchange-traded fund (ETF) could make this easier. The Vanguard Australian Shares Index ETF (ASX: VAS), for example, provides exposure to hundreds of Australian shares through one investment.

I could then add individual shares where I have particularly strong conviction.

Leave room for growth

I think a 10-year portfolio should contain businesses that have somewhere to go.

That does not necessarily mean choosing the fastest-growing companies today.

I would look for businesses that can keep entering new markets, adding products, improving their operations, or becoming more important to customers. This might include ASX shares like Breville Group Ltd (ASX: BRG) or TechnologyOne Ltd (ASX: TNE).

A company that can repeatedly find sensible places to reinvest its money has a much better chance of being worth considerably more a decade from now.

I would also be careful not to fill the portfolio entirely with businesses that already depend on everything going right. Some balance between established companies and higher-growth opportunities can make the journey easier to tolerate.

Avoid constantly rebuilding it

There will always be reasons to change an ASX portfolio.

I would certainly sell if the investment case genuinely deteriorated. But I would not want ordinary volatility to turn a 10-year strategy into a series of short-term decisions.

Regularly adding money, reinvesting dividends, and allowing strong businesses to develop would be far more important to me than continually searching for something better.

Foolish takeaway

I think the best long-term ASX portfolio is one that gives an investor enough confidence to remain patient.

For me, that means understandable businesses, sensible diversification, room for growth, and a strategy simple enough that I do not feel compelled to keep changing it.

If I can build that portfolio and still feel comfortable owning it through difficult markets, I think I have given myself a strong chance of being pleased with the result 10 years from now.

The post How to build an ASX portfolio you can stick with for 10 years appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Could a September rate hike hurt your superannuation returns?
• By September 2027, $5,000 invested in Macquarie shares could turn into…
• How much superannuation do I need to earn $90,000 per year in passive income?
• Why I think the VAS ETF is a top pick for beginners and experienced investors
• Up 12%: Is there still value in Coles shares?

Motley Fool contributor Grace Alvino has positions in Vanguard Australian Shares Index ETF. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Macquarie Group and ResMed. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended ResMed. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Macquarie Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) shares rose 1% during the August earnings season and are up 4% in the calendar year to date (YTD).

Brokers have been updating their ratings and 12-month share price targets after reviewing the FY26 results of hundreds of companies.

Let’s see what Bell Potter and Morgans thinks of these 3 ASX shares.

Liontown Ltd (ASX: LTR)

The Liontown share price leapt 27% during earnings season and is down 22% YTD.

Bell Potter has a buy rating on this ASX 200 lithium share after reviewing Liontown’s FY26 report.

The broker maintained its 12-month share price target at $1.90.

This implies a potential near-50% upside from here.

Analysts Stuart Howe and Ritesh Varma said:

We still believe that LTR’s EV is lagging the recent recovery in lithium markets and expected tight fundamentals.

The last time LTR was trading at its current EV (early December 2025), SC6 prices were US$1,150/t and net debt was $274m.

Since then, the Kathleen Valley underground ramp-up has been further derisked and spot SC6 prices are above US$2,300/t.

While we expect lithium markets will be volatile, market fundamentals remain strong.

Over FY27, LTR will continue to ramp up and de-risk Kathleen Valley, a highly strategic asset in terms of scale, long project life and location in a tier-one mining jurisdiction.

Austal Ltd (ASX: ASB)

The Austal share price ascended 15% during earnings season and is down 38% YTD.

Bell Potter has a hold rating on this ASX 200 industrials share following Austal’s FY26 results.

The broker reduced its 12-month share price target from $5 to $4.70.

This suggests a potential 11% upside from here.

Analyst Baxter Kirk said: 

ASB pre-reported an EBIT loss of -$113m earlier this month, however, FY26 EBIT came in below this pre-report at -$125m.

ASB reported +11% YoY revenue growth to $2,029m 8% below BPe of $2,197m and consensus of $2,213m.

ASB typically does not provide guidance this early in the year…

The Board and management are committed to delivering a return to profitability in FY27e.

Management expects the operational and financial performance of the Australasia

Support segment to fall to some extent in the near term due to scheduled end of current contracts and closure of Austal Darwin.

Boss Energy Ltd (ASX: BOE)

The Boss Energy share price jumped 16% during earnings season and is down 8% YTD.

Morgans downgraded this ASX 300 energy share from an accumulate to sell rating after its FY26 results.

The broker reduced its 12-month share price target from $1.40 to $1.30.

This implies a potential 10% downside from here.

Morgans said: 

Guidance rest and expectations move lower — FY27 guidance implies a ~15% production downgrade versus consensus even at the top end of the range, while C1 costs and AISC are ~15-18% above market expectations.

While FY26 was broadly in line, FY27 guidance is likely to drive a reset in earnings expectations.

Honeymoon new feasibility study — The updated feasibility study outlines a more achievable development pathway with improved unit economics and lower sustaining capital intensity; however, the 13.8Mlb production profile sits below the ~15.1Mlb assumed by consensus, shifting the debate towards whether improved margins can offset lower volumes.

The post Buy, hold, sell: Boss Energy, Austal, Liontown shares appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Liontown enters Argentina lithium brine farm-in, diversifying future growth
• Down 28% to 46%: Are these beaten-down ASX shares cheap buys?
• Why Liontown shares could be dirt cheap
• Buy, hold, sell: Boss Energy, Magellan, and NextDC shares
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Tuesday

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.