BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP) shares are outperforming today.

Shares in the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) mining giant closed on Friday trading for $62.25. In late morning trade on Monday, shares are swapping hands for $63.00 apiece, up 1.2%.

For some context, the ASX 200 is up 0.1% at this same time.

That’s today’s price action for you.

Now, why is everyone talking about BHP shares and China?

China eyeing more control over BHP shares

China has long been the top export market for Australia’s iron ore.

Indeed, the Middle Kingdom’s voracious appetite for the industrial metal, alongside copper and coal, have helped support BHP shares over the years.

You may also be aware that the Chinese government has long been trying to increase its influence over how iron ore prices are set. And to increase the nation’s own exposure to the metal.

In the latest developments, two anonymous sources familiar with the matter (referenced by various news sources, including Reuters) said that global steel making giant China Baowu Steel Group is looking at taking a 15% to 25% stake in BHP’s Jimblebar iron ore mine, located in Western Australia.

And Australia’s opposition government is not pleased with the development. The Coalition has said that Labor must not allow foreign entities to buy one of Western Australia’s top iron ore mines.

Responding to the media speculaitons putting BHP shares in the headlines, the miner said:

BHP notes the recent media speculation regarding a potential partnership involving part of the Western Australia Iron Ore (WAIO) business.

BHP has a long history of partnerships at its assets and regularly explores options that may create long-term value to its shareholders. WAIO remains central to BHP’s portfolio and BHP remains fully committed to WAIO and to Western Australia.

What’s the latest from the miner’s WA iron ore operations?

When BHP released its full-year FY 2026 results on 18 August, the miner reported a 1% year-on-year increase in total iron ore production to 265 million tonnes.

The bulk of that came out of WAIO, which produced 257 million tonnes of iron ore in FY 2026.

BHP also achieved a 1% increase in its underlying earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) from its iron ore division to US$14.5 billion.

Management provided FY 2027 iron ore production guidance in the range of 260 million to 272 million tonnes.

BHP shares closed up 2.7% on the day of the results release.

The post Why is everyone talking about China and BHP shares today? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

Last week, the Australian dollar crossed the 72 US cents mark for the first time in more than three months. Investors have today returned from the weekend to see our Aussie dollar at about the same level, currently buying 72.1 US cents. It’s quite a comeback for a currency that was, as recently as July, trading at under 70 US cents. Moves like this one can seem inconsequential. But they can have a real impact on the value of ASX shares, and Australian investors’ portfolios by extension.

Remember, the exchange rate really prices the value of our currency, which naturally has far-reaching consequences across our economy. There are countless factors that pay into what one currency trades at compared to another. I won’t pretend to know everything that has caused our dollar to appreciate by close to 5% over the past two months or so. But there’s little doubt that inflation (and interest rate) expectations, the ongoing wars in the Middle East and Europe, as well as concerns about the mounting levels of debt in the United States, are all playing a part.

What moves a dollar?

So what does a higher dollar mean for ASX investors, aside from the odd case of a healthy bout of nationalistic pride?

Well, at a simple level, the primary outcome from an increase in the value of the Aussie dollar is that exporting goods or services becomes cheaper for consumers and companies, while importing becomes more expensive. To illustrate, let’s say an agricultural company has to buy fertiliser every month for US$100 a bag. Back in July, that bag would have cost roughly $144.50. Today, that same bag would only set the buyer back by $138.90.

However, let’s say that a bushel of wheat that could be grown using that fertiliser costs US$700. Back in July, our company would have received over $1,000 in our local currency. Today, they would get just over $972.

Which ASX shares prosper from a higher Aussie dollar?

A higher Aussie dollar benefits companies that import more goods or services than they export, and punishes companies that export more than they import.

As such, it’s clear that the biggest losers from a higher Aussie dollar are our major exporters. Namely, our largest mining stocks. The likes of BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP), Rio Tinto Ltd (ASX: RIO), Fortescue Ltd (ASX: FMG), Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS), and Northern Star Ltd (ASX: NST) are arguably some of the companies most exposed. So to are companies that report their earnings in US dollars. That includes CSL Ltd (ASX: CSL) and WiseTech Global Ltd (ASX: WTC).

Conversely, net importers will be lining up to enjoy the benefits of a higher Aussie dollar. That might be Ampol Ltd (ASX: ALD), which imports petroleum products to refine or on-sell. It could be Wesfarmers Ltd (ASX: WES), which receives a huge amount of its stock for Bunnings and OfficeWorks from overseas. Ditto with JB Hi-Fi Ltd (ASX: JBH) or Harvey Norman Holdings Ltd (ASX: HVN). It could even give Coles Group Ltd (ASX: COL) and Woolworths Group Ltd (ASX: WOW) a bit of a margin boost on any food or drinks that are grown or manufactured beyond our shores.

Not all companies are winners or losers, though. Changes in our currency would have little to no impact on the earnings of something like Telstra Group Ltd (ASX: TLS) or Transurban Group (ASX: TCL).

Changes in the Aussie dollar can have a tangible impact on one’s ASX share portfolio. Keep that in mind if you’re wondering why one of your investments has been a bit of a laggard of late, or has jumped in value with no other obvious catalysts.

The post These ASX shares benefit from a high Aussie dollar appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Sebastian Bowen has positions in CSL and Wesfarmers. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended CSL, Transurban Group, Wesfarmers, and WiseTech Global. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Harvey Norman, Telstra Group, Transurban Group, and WiseTech Global. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended BHP Group, CSL, and Wesfarmers. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS) shares are marching higher today.

Shares in the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) energy stock closed on Friday trading for $31.83. In morning trade on Monday, shares are changing hands for $32.13 apiece, up 0.9%.

For some context, the ASX 200 is up 0.1% at this same time.

This sees Woodside shares up 35.8% in 2026, smashing the 3.2% year-to-date gains posted by the benchmark index.

That’s the recent share price action for you.

Now here’s how the Aussie energy giant is building a global LNG portfolio.

Woodside shares expanding global LNG footprint

Woodside’s major growth projects include the Trion oil field, located offshore Mexico, which was 64% complete at the end of H1 2026.

On the liquid natural gas (LNG) front, Woodside shares could get long-term support on two fronts.

First, its Scarborough Energy Project, a natural gas resource project located in Western Australia. At the end of H1 2026, Scarborough was 98% complete and on track for first LNG cargo in Q4 2026.

Then there’s the mammoth Louisiana LNG project in the United States, which was 28% complete at the end of H1 2026.

The approximately AU$24 billion project got the green light from former CEO Meg O’Neill in April 2025.

On completion, Louisiana LNG has a total permitted capacity of 27.6 million tonnes per annum.

The company stated:

Development of Louisiana LNG will position Woodside as a global LNG powerhouse, enabling the company to deliver approximately 24 Mtpa from its global LNG portfolio in the 2030s, and operating over 5% of global LNG supply.

And MST Marquee analyst Saul Kavonic noted that the United States, and Louisiana in particular, provide regulatory certainty that Woodside and other energy companies aren’t getting from Australia.

According to Kavonic (quoted by the Australian Financial Review):

The fact that even Woodside is looking to spend most of its next wave of investment in the US instead of Australia is a stark signal that Australia is losing its competitiveness to attract investment in our world-scale gas resource base.

Commenting on the company’s LNG ambitions intended to boost Woodside shares over the years, Liz Westcott, who took over the reins as Woodside CEO in March this year, said, “We’ll have LNG facilities in the Atlantic and the Pacific. That is really quite a unique position for an operator to be in.”

Woodside owns 90% of Louisiana LNG, with United States-based Williams holding the rest.

The post How Woodside shares are building a ‘unique position’ to supply global LNG markets appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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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.