Liontown Resources Ltd (ASX: LTR), Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST), and Telstra Group Ltd (ASX: TLS) shares are creating a stir today.

In morning trade on Monday, two of the big-name ASX shares are outperforming the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) ‘s 0.2% losses at this time, while one is trailing.

Here’s what’s grabbing investor attention.

Telstra shares in the green amid board shakeup

Telstra shares are up 0.6% today, trading for $4.64 apiece.

Investors are tuning into the ASX 200 telco today after the company reported that Bridget Loudon-Harris will step down from the Telstra board on 13 October after six years as a director.

Loudon-Harris has served as a member of Telstra’s People and Remuneration Committee since October 2022.

Commenting on the positive impact Loudon-Harris has had in helping to support Telstra shares, chairman Craig Dunn said:

The board has benefited greatly from Bridget’s valuable insights and constructive challenge across strategy, disruption, AI, transformation and performance culture. Having an entrepreneur and digital native around the table has allowed us to bring a diverse and very important perspective to the board.

Liontown shares jump on record revenue

Like Telstra shares, Liontown shares are outperforming today, up 2.1% and changing hands for $1.22 apiece.

This follows the release of the ASX 200 lithium miner’s full-year FY 2026 results.

Over the year, Liontown produced 391,992 dry metric tonnes (dmt) and shipped 381,997 dmt of lithium concentrate at (5.1% Li₂O average grade).

And FY 2026 saw Liontown record its first-ever net profit after tax (NPAT), which came in at $93 million. The company reported record revenue of $639 million, up 114% from FY 2025.

Importantly, FY 2026 also saw Liontown transition its Kathleen Valley lithium project into a 100% underground operation.

Liontown CEO Tony Ottaviano commented:

The market handed us two very different halves in the year. Prices were weak early, so we kept costs tight and preserved cash. When the market turned, we backed our own read of it and we are now reinvesting in Kathleen Valley with the same discipline.

Northern Star shares slide amid top leadership changes

Joining Liontown and Telstra shares in turning heads today, we find Northern Star.

Shares in the ASX 200 gold mining giant are down 3.9% at the time of writing, trading for $23.82 apiece, pressured in part by a sliding gold price.

This morning, Northern Star also reported that, as previously revealed, Suresh Vadnagra will succeed Stuart Tonkin as managing director and CEO commencing on 5 October.

Tonkin stepped down as Northern Star’s managing director and CEO on Friday, 28 August. Ryan Gurner, who has worked alongside Turner as deputy CEO since 2 July, will serve as interim CEO until Vadnagra takes the reins in October.

Commenting on Tonkin’s departure, Northern Star chairman Michael Chaney said:

Through his financial acumen, integrity and leadership, Ryan has made a significant contribution to Northern Star’s growth and success over his eleven years with the Company, a period marked by substantial value creation.

The post Why Liontown, Northern Star and Telstra shares are turning heads on Monday appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Liontown FY26 results: Maiden profit, record revenue as lithium prices rebound
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Monday
• ASX 200 mining shares outperform in final week of earnings season
• Why gold stocks have regained their shine: Expert
• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares 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 positions in and has recommended Telstra Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

Xero Ltd (ASX: XRO) and WiseTech Global Ltd (ASX: WTC) are already major technology businesses.

What keeps me interested in them is how much opportunity could still lie ahead.

For investors prepared to look several years into the future, I think both are strong buys.

Xero shares

Xero is already deeply established in Australia, so it can sometimes feel like the company has travelled further than it actually has.

It finished FY26 with 4.92 million customers globally. Yet Xero has previously estimated its total addressable market at around 100 million small and medium-sized businesses.

The US illustrates the opportunity particularly well. Xero had around 424,000 US customers at the end of FY26. Its investor day material estimated there were more than 35 million small and medium-sized businesses in the country.

For me, that gap is far more exciting than simply talking about adding another few hundred thousand subscribers.

The business also has more to sell as it expands. Its acquisition of Melio has strengthened payments, while payroll and artificial intelligence are becoming more important parts of the platform.

I think Xero can gradually become the place where a small business handles much more of its financial life.

If the company can make meaningful progress in the US while continuing to grow elsewhere, today’s customer base could eventually look surprisingly small.

WiseTech shares

WiseTech requires a little more patience from me right now.

The company has been through leadership and governance changes, while the e2open acquisition adds considerable integration work. Its new CargoWise Value Packs commercial model is also still relatively new.

Those factors create uncertainty around how smoothly the next few years unfold.

But WiseTech’s position in global logistics software remains difficult for me to overlook.

Its technology is used by more than 20,000 logistics companies across 193 countries, including 47 of the world’s top 50 third-party logistics providers and 24 of the 25 largest global freight forwarders.

I think those relationships say a lot about the strength of CargoWise.

Global logistics is incredibly complex. Freight forwarders need to manage customs, warehousing, transport, compliance, payments, and shipments moving across numerous countries and systems.

WiseTech has spent decades building software around those problems.

The e2open acquisition extends the company further across supply chains, while artificial intelligence could automate more work inside CargoWise and make the platform increasingly valuable to customers.

I am willing to accept some uncertainty while WiseTech works through these changes because its starting position remains so strong.

Foolish takeaway

Xero already serves millions of businesses but has barely scratched some of its largest potential markets, while WiseTech already sits at the heart of many major logistics companies while continuing to expand what its technology can handle.

I think both businesses still have plenty of room to surprise investors over the next decade.

The post Why I think Xero and WiseTech shares are strong buys appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• 4 ASX shares I’d buy with $5,000 in September
• 3 ASX growth shares to buy in September
• Warren Buffett’s playbook: 3 cheap ASX shares that could soar up to 60%
• Top brokers name 3 ASX shares to buy next week
• Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today

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

Oil prices have started the week higher as tensions in the Middle East flare again.

At the time of writing, US crude oil is up 1.68% to US$84.84 a barrel, while Brent crude is 1.69% higher at US$89.79 a barrel.

The latest gains add to what has already been a strong year for oil, with both benchmarks up around 48% in 2026.

The move comes after US forces carried out their first strike on Iranian targets in weeks, putting the Strait of Hormuz back in focus.

Here’s what investors need to know.

What is pushing oil prices higher?

Another flare-up between the United States and Iran is putting the oil market back on edge.

US forces struck two Iranian launchers on Larak Island in the Strait of Hormuz on Sunday, marking the first known American strikes on Iran since late July.

A US official said Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) forces had been preparing to launch rockets carrying sea mines into the Strait of Hormuz.

The IRGC said the attack killed and wounded several soldiers and civilians, while also warning that Tehran would respond.

US President Donald Trump said last week that mines had been cleared or removed from international waters in the strait. He also warned that any ships or boats laying new mines would be destroyed.

Why is the Strait of Hormuz important?

The Strait of Hormuz remains one of the biggest issues hanging over the oil market.

Before the current conflict, around 1/5th of global oil consumption passed through the waterway.

The war involving the US and Iran has now passed the 6-month mark, with shipping through the strait disrupted during that period.

Oil prices had actually fallen late last week as markets weighed reports of possible progress around Hormuz.

Brent fell 0.43% on Friday and WTI slipped 0.16%, leaving the benchmarks down more than 5% and 4% respectively for the week.

Oil has already had a huge year

Oil prices were already sitting on strong gains before Monday’s jump.

According to Trading Economics, US crude is up 47% so far this year and 31% over the past 12 months.

Brent crude has followed a similar path, rising 47% year to date and 31% over the past year.

There is plenty happening in the background as well, with markets also watching the Trump administration’s latest sanctions against Iran.

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent last week announced “Operation Economic Outcast”, which targets Iranian entities, oil trading networks, vessels and financial links.

Reuters reported that nearly 60 entities, individuals and vessels were included in the latest round of sanctions.

What should investors watch?

The Strait of Hormuz is the big one to keep an eye on from here.

Any response from Iran, changes to shipping through the strait or further US sanctions could quickly put the oil market back in focus.

Interest rates are another factor investors will be watching. Federal Reserve Chair Kevin Warsh recently said rates may need to rise if inflation does not move back toward the Fed’s 2% target.

The post Oil prices are jumping nearly 2%. What’s going on? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Why Liontown, Northern Star and Telstra shares are turning heads on Monday
• Why I think Xero and WiseTech shares are strong buys
• The Star Entertainment share price falls on FY26 earnings
• Is NAB a good passive income stock?
• The world’s best investor turns 96

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.