On Wednesday, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) had a disappointing session and dropped deep into the red. The benchmark index fell 0.95% to 8,978.4 points.

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

ASX 200 expected to rise

It looks set to be a better session for Australian investors on Thursday following a positive night on Wall Street. According to the latest SPI futures, the ASX 200 is expected to open the day 39 points or 0.45% higher this morning. In the United States, the Dow Jones rose 0.55%, the S&P 500 was up 0.45%, and the Nasdaq pushed 0.45% higher.

ASX 200 shares going ex-dividend

A number of ASX 200 shares are going ex-dividend this morning and could trade lower. This includes packaging leader Amcor PLC (ASX: AMC), mining behemoth BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP), supermarket giant Coles Group Ltd (ASX: COL), private hospital operator Ramsay Health Care Ltd (ASX: RHC), and energy giant Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS). BHP is paying shareholders a 139.2 cents per share fully franked dividend on 23 September.

Oil prices rise again

ASX 200 energy shares Beach Energy Ltd (ASX: BPT) and Santos Ltd (ASX: STO) could have a positive session after oil prices rose again overnight. According to Bloomberg, the WTI crude oil price is up 0.45% to US$90.63 a barrel and the Brent crude oil price is up 0.6% to US$95.22 a barrel. Traders were buying oil in response to an escalation in Middle East tensions.

Buy Nufarm shares

Nufarm Ltd (ASX: NUF) shares are in the buy zone according to Bell Potter. This morning, the broker has retained its buy rating on the agricultural chemicals company’s shares with an improved price target of $3.75. It said: “Our Buy rating is unchanged. Trading trends continue to infer FY26e is a year where improved gross margin (on lower COGS) and cost out are the main driver of profit growth. The is the potential for surprise is omega-3, where Peruvian fishoil stock is in short supply and pricing indicators are reaching levels consistent with previous peaks.”

Gold price charges higher

It could be a good day for ASX 200 gold shares Newmont Corporation (ASX: NEM) and Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST) on Thursday after the gold price charged higher overnight. According to CNBC, the gold futures price is up 0.9% to US$4,435.8 an ounce. Traders were buying the precious metal after the US dollar and treasury yields pulled back.

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

More reading

• BHP shares are falling – is it time to take profits?
• Buy, hold, sell: New Hope, BOQ, Santos shares
• Here’s how Fortescue, Rio Tinto and BHP shares stacked up in August
• Why is the ASX 200 having its worst day in 3 months?
• Coles versus Woolworths shares: Which ASX supermarket giant outperformed in August?

Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in Woodside Energy Group Ltd. 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 Amcor Plc. 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.

Knowing how much superannuation you have, and how much you should have, is crucial to ensuring you have sufficient retirement savings for a comfortable lifestyle after you stop working.

Retirement savings falling short

While comparisons with others might not be helpful in themselves, what is interesting is that, on average, 45-year-olds do not have enough in their superannuation to be on track for a comfortable retirement.

Figures from the Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia (ASFA) show that for men aged 45-49 the average superannuation balance is $193,501, while for women it is $147,146.

But ASFA also has a useful calculator called Super Detective, which will show you how much superannuation you need for your age to be on track for what they deem a comfortable retirement.

That figure for a 45-year-old is $239,000 – well above the average.

ASFA’s Retirement Standard, or what they deem necessary for a comfortable retirement, envisages a superannuation balance which generates $55,923 per year for singles or $78,566 for couples.

It envisages retirees being able to afford top level health cover, a reasonable car, leisure activities and occasional travel as well as home maintenance.

Keep in mind it also assumes you own your own home and draw a part pension once you hit the pension age of 67.

How to boost your superannuation?

-If your superannuation is coming up short, there are various strategies to boost it, with some of them also being tax-effective.

The first step is to confirm that you have only one superannuation account. As simple as it sounds, this can save you from a double-up on fees charged by your superannuation provider.

Extra contributions can also be made to superannuation in the form of concessional and non-concessional contributions.

Concessional contributions are taxed at just 15% and include money contributed by your employer, salary sacrifice contributions, and extra contributions you make up to a cap of $32,500.

If funds permit and your superannuation balance is less than $500,000 in the last financial year, you can also carry forward any unused concessional contribution cap amounts from the previous five financial years.

The amount you are able to contribute in this way can be found in your myGov account.

A notice of intent to claim must be lodged with your super fund for concessional contributions so they know to deduct the 15% tax from the amount.

It is also possible to make non-concessional contributions up to $130,000 and to contribute more than this amount using the bring-forward rule.  

The post The average superannuation balance for 45-year-olds in Australia in FY26. How does yours compare? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• How much is needed in superannuation for $1,000 in weekly passive income?
• Why is the ASX 200 having its worst day in 3 months?
• Why these ASX shares are worth watching closely today
• The average superannuation balance for 64 year olds in Australia in FY27
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Wednesday

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.

Exchange-traded funds (ETFs) can make it much easier to invest in markets and industries that are difficult to access through individual ASX shares.

There are several Betashares funds I like, but these three stand out to me as long-term investments I would be happy to own.

Betashares Global Cybersecurity ETF (ASX: HACK)

Cybersecurity is becoming increasingly important as businesses move more of their operations online.

Companies now store enormous amounts of sensitive information digitally, while cloud computing, remote work, artificial intelligence, and connected devices are creating more potential points of attack.

That means cybersecurity spending is becoming harder for businesses and governments to avoid.

The HACK ETF provides exposure to a collection of global stocks involved in areas such as network security, cloud protection, identity management, and threat detection.

I think it makes sense to use an ETF for this industry because technology changes quickly. Today’s strongest cybersecurity company may not necessarily remain the leader a decade from now. The HACK ETF allows investors to back the broader growth in cybersecurity spending without relying on one company to get everything right.

Betashares Global Healthcare ETF (ASX: DRUG)

Healthcare is another area I would be comfortable investing in for decades.

The DRUG ETF provides exposure to major global healthcare businesses across pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, medical devices, and other parts of the sector.

I think there are several reasons demand could keep growing. Populations are ageing in many developed countries, new treatments continue being developed, and medical technology is improving what doctors can diagnose and treat.

For me, this ETF offers a simple way to gain exposure to healthcare innovation without needing to predict which individual drug or medical technology becomes the biggest success.

Betashares Global Shares ETF (ASX: BGBL)

My final choice would be much broader than the others.

The BGBL ETF provides exposure to a large collection of companies across developed markets outside Australia.

I like it because an investor can gain access to many of the world’s leading businesses through one relatively simple holding.

It also fills some gaps that naturally exist in the Australian share market. Global markets offer much greater exposure to industries such as technology, healthcare, consumer brands, and industrial businesses.

For someone building wealth over many years, I think having part of a portfolio invested beyond Australia makes a lot of sense. The BGBL ETF could therefore serve as a long-term core holding.

Foolish takeaway

I would be comfortable owning all three of these Betashares ETFs for the long term.

What I like most is that they give me access to opportunities that are difficult to capture through the ASX alone, while still keeping the investment process straightforward.

For investors prepared to stay patient, I think the HACK, DRUG, and BGBL ETFs are three funds worth considering.

The post 3 Betashares ETFs I want to buy appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• How much passive income can I earn off a $630,000 superannuation balance
• 3 ASX ETFs to buy for simple investing
• The best ASX ETFs to buy with $50,000
• Here are 3 top Betashares ETFs I’d buy now
• 3 strong ASX ETFs for smart investors to buy and hold

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 BetaShares Global Cybersecurity ETF. 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.