The post Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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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 DroneShield. 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.

Shares in Premier Investments Ltd (ASX: PMV) are flashing a potential turning point after staging a sharp rebound from multi-year lows.

The Premier Investments share price is up 10.82% today to $14.14, following a broker upgrade that appears to have reignited investor interest. The rally comes after the stock recently hit a 5-year low of $12.76, capping off a painful 12 months for shareholders.

Despite today’s jump, Premier shares remain down roughly 30% over the past year.

While it may be a little too early to celebrate, the rebound suggests the worst of the sell-off may now be behind the company.

Let’s take a closer look at what is driving the move.

A broker upgrade sparks renewed interest

The catalyst for today’s rally appears to be a fresh broker note from Macquarie.

The broker upgraded Premier Investments to an outperform rating and set a $16.20 price target. Even after today’s surge, that still implies potential upside of around 15%.

Macquarie pointed to valuation support following the share price collapse, arguing the market may have become overly pessimistic about near-term retail conditions. The broker also highlighted the group’s balance sheet strength and exposure to higher margin brands as reasons sentiment could improve from here.

Breaking the downtrend

Premier shares have been locked in a clear downtrend for much of the past year, consistently making lower highs and lower lows. That pattern was only broken this week after the stock rebounded strongly off the $12.76 low.

The move back above short-term moving averages suggests selling pressure is easing. While this does not confirm a sustained uptrend, it does signal that bearish momentum has weakened.

Volume has also lifted on the rally, adding weight to the idea that new buyers are stepping in rather than just short covering.

A quality retailer facing tough conditions

Premier Investments owns well-known retail brands including Smiggle, Peter Alexander, and Just Jeans. These businesses have delivered strong returns over the long term, particularly during periods of robust consumer spending.

However, the past year has been difficult. Higher interest rates, cost-of-living pressures, and weaker discretionary demand have weighed heavily on apparel retailers. Premier has not been immune, with margins and sales growth coming under pressure.

While the share price collapse reflects those challenges, the rebound suggests investors may now be looking beyond the short-term headwinds.

What to watch next

For Premier Investments, the key question is whether operational performance can stabilise.

Upcoming trading updates, cost control progress, and any signs of demand improvement will be crucial. If earnings expectations stop falling, today’s technical break could mark the start of a broader re-rating.

For now, uncertainty remains. But after hitting a 5-year low, investors are starting to ask whether much of the bad news is already priced in.

The post Premier Investments shares surge 10% on broker upgrade. Has this ASX retailer finally turned the corner? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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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 Macquarie Group. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Macquarie Group. 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.

When markets are volatile and headlines change daily, it helps to own businesses you can rely on to keep executing regardless of conditions.

ASX blue chip shares earn that label not because they avoid setbacks, but because they have the scale, balance sheets, and business models to navigate them.

With that in mind, these are three ASX blue chip shares I would trust with my money over the long term.

CSL Ltd (ASX: CSL)

While 2025 was extremely disappointing, I believe it was just a blip and that CSL remains a business built for the long haul.

Its global plasma collection and manufacturing network underpins treatments used by patients around the world. That infrastructure is expensive, complex, and time-consuming to replicate, which gives CSL a powerful competitive advantage.

What makes CSL particularly trustworthy as an ASX blue chip investment is its approach to capital allocation. The company consistently reinvests in research and development, ensuring that it has the facilities and development pipeline to support its growth over the next decade and beyond.

For investors, CSL represents a rare mix of defensiveness and long-term growth potential.

The team at Morgans remains positive on the company and has a buy rating and $249.51 price target on its shares.

Macquarie Group Ltd (ASX: MQG)

Macquarie is another ASX blue chip share I would trust with my money. Unlike traditional banks, the company operates across asset management, infrastructure investment, commodities, and financial services, which allows it to pivot as conditions change. This diversified model has enabled Macquarie to perform successfully through very different market environments over the years.

Overall, I think Macquarie offers a winning combination of exposure to global markets and infrastructure while maintaining a disciplined approach to growth.

The team at UBS upgraded Macquarie’s shares to a buy rating with a $235.00 price target this week.

ResMed Inc. (ASX: RMD)

Finally, ResMed could be one of the best ASX blue chip shares to trust with your hard-earned money

It is a medical device company operating in sleep and respiratory care. These are areas supported by long-term health trends rather than economic cycles. Its devices, masks, and software platforms are deeply embedded in patient care, creating recurring revenue and strong customer relationships.

And with a total addressable market estimated to be 1 billion sleep apnoea suffers worldwide, it has a significant growth runway over the next decade and beyond.

Macquarie is bullish on this one and has an outperform rating and $49.20 price target on its shares.

The post The ASX blue chip shares I’d trust with my money appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in CSL and ResMed. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended CSL, Macquarie Group, and ResMed. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Macquarie Group and ResMed. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended CSL. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

One of the advantages of exchange traded funds (ETFs) is flexibility.

Rather than trying to predict which individual company or country will perform best next, investors can position their portfolios around regions, themes, and long-term trends. Right now, a mix of global technology, emerging markets, and non-US exposure could make sense for investors looking to stay diversified.

With that in mind, here are five ASX ETFs that look worth considering today.

Betashares Nasdaq 100 ETF (ASX: NDQ)

The Betashares Nasdaq 100 ETF provides exposure to some of the most influential companies in the global economy.

The ETF tracks the Nasdaq 100 Index, which includes large technology and innovation-driven businesses such as Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL), Microsoft Corp (NASDAQ: MSFT), and NVIDIA Corp (NASDAQ: NVDA). These companies tend to dominate their markets and reinvest heavily to maintain leadership.

For investors, the Betashares Nasdaq 100 ETF offers access to global growth through established businesses rather than early-stage speculation, making it a popular long-term holding.

Betashares Asia Technology Tigers ETF (ASX: ASIA)

The Betashares Asia Technology Tigers ETF focuses on technology leaders across Asia.

Its holdings include companies such as Tencent Holdings (SEHK: 700), PDD Holdings (NASDAQ: PDD), and Baidu (NASDAQ: BIDU). These businesses sit at the centre of ecommerce, digital payments, gaming, and communication across the region.

The appeal of the Betashares Asia Technology Tigers ETF lies in its exposure to large populations, rising digital adoption, and technology ecosystems that operate differently from those in the United States.

Betashares India Quality ETF (ASX: IIND)

The Betashares India Quality ETF offers a more targeted way to invest in India’s long-term growth story.

The ETF invests in high-quality Indian companies with strong balance sheets and consistent earnings. Examples of holdings include Reliance Industries, Infosys (NYSE: INFY) and HDFC Bank.

India’s expanding middle class, increasing digital infrastructure, and ongoing economic reform provide a structural backdrop that could support growth over many years.

Betashares Global Shares ex‑US ETF (ASX: EXUS)

The Betashares Global Shares ex US ETF gives investors exposure to global share markets outside the United States.

The ETF includes companies across Europe, Japan, and other developed markets, with holdings such as Nestle, Toyota Motor Corp, and ASML Holding (NASDAQ: ASML).

There is currently some discussion around a so-called “sell America” trade, partly linked to geopolitical uncertainty and comments from Donald Trump, including threats related to Greenland. While no outcome is certain, this fund offers an option for investors who want to reduce reliance on Wall Street and increase exposure to other developed markets.

Betashares MSCI Emerging Markets Complex ETF (ASX: BEMG)

The Betashares MSCI Emerging Markets Complex ETF provides broad exposure to emerging markets.

The ETF invests across countries such as China, Taiwan, India, and Brazil, with major holdings including SK Hynix, Alibaba (NYSE: BABA), and Hon Hai Precision Industry (Foxconn).

Emerging markets can be volatile, but they also offer access to faster-growing economies and expanding consumer bases. For long-term investors, the Betashares MSCI Emerging Markets Complex ETF can add a different growth engine to a diversified portfolio.

The post 5 excellent ASX ETFs to buy now appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in BetaShares Nasdaq 100 ETF and Betashares Capital – Asia Technology Tigers Etf. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended ASML, Apple, Baidu, BetaShares Nasdaq 100 ETF, Microsoft, Nvidia, and Tencent. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has recommended Alibaba Group and HDFC Bank and has recommended the following options: long January 2026 $395 calls on Microsoft and short January 2026 $405 calls on Microsoft. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended BetaShares Nasdaq 100 ETF. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended ASML, Apple, Microsoft, and Nvidia. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

ASX 200 mining share Alcoa Corporation CDI (ASX: AAI) is up 1.3% to $93.82 per share on Thursday.

This aluminium stock has had an outstanding run over the past six months.

As the chart below shows, Alcoa shares have streaked 93% higher over that short period.

Alcoa produces and sells bauxite, alumina, and aluminium products in the United States, Australia, Spain, Canada, and elsewhere.

The US-based company mines the bauxite, processes it into alumina, and then sells the alumina to smelters and industrial manufacturers.

The company also sells alloy ingot or value-add ingot to producers in the transport, construction, packaging, and wiring segments.

Alcoa also owns hydro power plants that generate electricity, which it sells in the wholesale market to traders, large industrial consumers, and others.

Tomorrow, Alcoa will release its full-year FY25 results.

Before we get a look at the books, let’s consider what’s driving this ASX 200 mining share higher.

What’s powering this ASX 200 mining share’s remarkable surge?

In an article on Forbes.com, investment data analysts at Trefis say Alcoa shares have ripped for three main reasons.

The first is the rising aluminium price.

Aluminium futures are currently trading at three-and-a-half-year highs.

Today, the aluminium price is US$3,119 per tonne, up 6% in a month and 18% year over year.

A number of factors are supporting aluminium futures, including strong demand for renewable energy infrastructure and electric vehicles; aluminium production caps in China, which is the world’s largest producer; and a 50% tariff on imports into the US (with some exceptions).

Trefis commented:

Aluminum is omnipresent in the contemporary economy. It’s an essential material in everything from lightweight automotive structures to aircraft components and green energy infrastructure.

The soaring demand from industries like electric vehicles and data centers — which require large quantities of aluminum for cooling systems and structural elements — has bestowed this metal with a newfound strategic significance not observed since the early 2000’s.

Amid this higher demand, temporary suspensions at key smelters in Iceland, Mozambique, and Australia have lowered global supply.

This has also supported the aluminium price.

Remember Alumina shares?

Alcoa is listed on the New York Stock Exchange as Alcoa Corp (NYSE: AA).

Alcoa Corporation CDIs began trading on the ASX after Alcoa acquired the ASX-listed company, Alumina Limited, in August 2024.

Alumina was a 40% joint venture partner in Alcoa World Alumina and Chemicals (AWAC).

AWAC operates bauxite mines and alumina refineries in Australia and other countries.

As part of the deal, Alumina shareholders received Alcoa CDIs.

Trefis said the second reason this ASX 200 mining share has ripped is strategic company decisions, including buying out Alumina.

They said:

Alcoa is not merely benefiting from a commodity upturn — the company’s financials have exhibited substantial progress.

In the third quarter of 2025, Alcoa disclosed revenues of nearly $3.0 billion and a net income of $232 million, more than double that of the same timeframe a year prior.

This strong performance was bolstered not only by increased aluminum realizations but also by strategic portfolio decisions.

Another strategic decision was Alcoa’s divestment of its stake in the Ma’aden joint venture in July last year.

The analysts said this generated considerable capital gains and strengthened Alcoa’s balance sheet.

These cash inflows have offered flexibility for debt repayment, investments in efficiency upgrades, and support for shareholder returns.

Capital flows out of high-tech and into hard assets

A third factor driving this ASX 200 mining share’s price is more institutional money flowing out of technology and into materials producers.

Alcoa’s surge aligns with a larger trend emerging in 2025–2026: institutional capital is shifting away from high-flying tech stocks and towards hard asset producers — material companies that provide the essential building blocks of the global economy.

Aluminum, copper, and steel manufacturers have all experienced renewed interest as investors reassess inflation, infrastructure spending, and commodity restrictions.

There are other factors driving this redirection of capital.

Trefis said:

This transition … encompasses geopolitical developments, trade regulations, and supply chain adjustments.

Recent tariffs on aluminum and steel, capacity limitations in Asia, and infrastructure reconstructions in certain areas of South America have contributed to a narrative that industrial metals are back in demand.

While the Alcoa share price surge is certainly impressive, with clear tailwinds behind it, Trefis warns of potential risks.

The stock could be susceptible to an increase in global supply, especially from Indonesia, which may add over 1.5 million tons of annual capacity in the coming years.

Concerns about valuations also persist. Current P/E and price-to-book ratios are at elevated levels compared to historical averages, implying that investor enthusiasm might already be factored into stock prices.

The post Why is this ASX 200 mining share up 93% in six months? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Bronwyn Allen has positions in Alcoa. 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.

The PLS Group Ltd (ASX: PLS) share price is trading in the green at the time of writing on Thursday afternoon. The shares are up 1.41% to $5.02 in what is the first time the stock has broken the $5 barrier since August 2023.

The Australian lithium miner’s shares have had an incredible run throughout the first few weeks of the year. For the year to date, the shares are up 16.47% and the stock is currently trading 109.3% higher than this time last year.

What caused the PLS share price surge?

The PLS share price has been steadily rising over the past six months, and at a pretty fast pace. 

Most of the increase is due to a rally in lithium prices and sentiment, primarily driven by a surge in interest in electric vehicles (EV) and battery energy storage. Global EV sales have been rising faster than carmakers can keep up, and demand for grid-scale energy storage amid a shift towards renewable energy is also rocketing.

As owner and operator of one of the world’s largest independent hard rock lithium mines, Pilgangoora in Western Australia, PLS has scooped up a lot of the benefit. 

As a business, PLS has also gone from strength to strength over the past 6 months. In its September quarter update, the company revealed a 2% increase in spodumene production and a 20% increase in realised pricing. This gave PLS a huge 30% increase in its revenue to $251 million.

What’s next for the miner?

In 2026, PLS will continue to focus on its production growth and cost reduction plans to make the business more efficient and boost investor confidence.

Meanwhile, recent upgrades for the lithium market could also drive the PLS share price higher in 2026. 

UBS recently said that an 11% increase in lithium demand could push the market into a deficit from 2026 onwards. Based on that, the broker has lifted its lithium (SC6 CFR China) forecast by 64% in 2026 to US$1,800 per tonne. The broker anticipates lithium prices could jump up to US$2,625 per tonne in 2028. 

This is great news for PLS as it positions itself to pick up more demand, but after such a strong price rally over the past few months, I’m concerned we could see some share price volatility ahead. 

Some brokers have moved quickly to upgrade their price targets on the shares but many still expect the price to cool in coming months.

This week, Bell Potter upgraded its rating to hold and lifted its price target to $4.55, from $2.65. Macquarie has a hold rating but has lifted its price target to $4.50, from $3.80.

TradingView data shows that the majority of analysts have a hold rating on PLS shares. The average target price is $4.12, which implies an 18.09% downside at the time of writing. But the maximum target price is $6.50, which suggests a potential 28.97% upside over the next 12 months.

The post So the PLS share price made it past $5. Big deal. What’s next? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Samantha Menzies 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 Macquarie Group. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and 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.

ASX blue-chip shares are typically among the most stable and resilient businesses on the stock exchange, capable of providing a good dividend yield.

Having a great market position has usually come about because the business has (one of) the best offerings for customers, great brand power, and appealing economics (compared to peers).

Businesses in the blue-chip space can usually provide investors with a good dividend yield because of two key factors.

Firstly, they are not priced for a lot of growth – they are already very large companies – so the price-earnings (P/E) ratio is lower than a faster-growing business.

Secondly, they’re not investing significantly for growth, so they can be generous with the dividend payout ratio.

While they’re not 10% dividend yields, the below businesses have solid dividend yields themselves.

Telstra Group Ltd (ASX: TLS)

Telstra’s leading position in the Australian mobile space is not new, but the company’s focus on growing dividends is a relatively new development.

I’d rather have a good yield with growing payments than a huge yield and no growth (with a higher risk of dividend reductions).

Telstra is in a much better position now that the NBN transition has finished and there’s ongoing adoption of 5G by the nation. It has the widest network coverage and seemingly a very reliable connection.

The ASX blue-chip share’s outlook is positive – user numbers on the network continue to grow and Telstra is capitalising on its market position with price increases, which is driving mobile earnings higher.

Analyst projections on CommSec suggest the business could pay an annual dividend per share of 20 cents in FY26. That would be a grossed-up dividend yield of around 6%, including franking credits.

I’m optimistic that the business can claim a larger market share in home and small business broadband that is powered by 5G. For each connection, Telstra captures the margin that’s currently going to the NBN. This could help increase its profitability, which would be helpful for the dividend.

Coles Group Ltd (ASX: COL)

Coles is a leading supermarket business which is currently delivering faster growth than Woolworths Group Ltd (ASX: WOW) thanks to its product offerings and value. The business also operates a number of liquor companies including Coles Liquor and Liquorland.

The ASX blue-chip share has invested heavily in new automated distribution centres (ADCs) from Witron as well as customer fulfilment centres (CFCs). This is helping improve the company’s efficiencies and stock management, as well as driving e-commerce capabilities.

In the first quarter of FY26, supermarket sales excluding tobacco grew 7%, while e-commerce sales soared 27.9%.

The boost to cash flow after the completion of the distribution centres will help fund larger dividend payouts in the next few years. Its base earnings are very defensive thanks to the integral nature of what it sells.

The forecast on CommSec suggests the business could pay an annual dividend per share of around 79 cents in FY26, translating into a grossed-up dividend yield of 5.3%, including franking credits.

The post 2 ASX blue-chip shares offering big dividend yields appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Tristan Harrison 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 and Woolworths Group. 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 are being hit hard today, even though gold prices remain near record highs.

The Northern Star share price has dropped 8.78% to $26.08 following the release of the company’s December quarter update. That sell-off comes despite the stock still being up 53% over the past year.

Let’s take a look at the headline results and why the top-tier gold miner’s shares fell today.

Why Northern Star shares fell

Northern Star reported gold sales of 348,062 ounces for the quarter at an all-in sustaining cost (AISC) of $2,937 per ounce. That AISC figure was higher than expected and reflected a series of one-off operational issues across several sites.

Management said production was hit by a crusher failure at Kalgoorlie and unplanned downtime at Thunderbox. Lower grades at the Pogo mine, as it moved into new mining areas, also weighed on results.

While many of these issues have since been resolved, the weaker quarter forced the company to revise full-year guidance.

The guidance cut that worried the market

For FY26, Northern Star now expects gold sales of 1.6 to 1.7 million ounces, down from its prior range of 1.7 to 1.85 million ounces. Cost guidance was also lifted, with AISC now forecast at $2,600 to $2,800 per ounce.

That change was enough to knock confidence in the short term. Investors appear to be reacting to weaker near-term numbers, rather than reassessing the company’s longer-term outlook.

Strong balance sheet remains a key positive

For long-term investors, the key question is whether this update affects the company’s long-term outlook.

On that front, Northern Star still looks well-positioned. The company ended December with $1.176 billion in cash and bullion, remained in net cash, and generated $328 million in underlying free cash flow, even after heavy growth spending.

Management expects production to improve in the second half as recent issues are resolved. Major projects, including the KCGM mill expansion, are also continuing to move forward.

So, is this a buying opportunity?

Today’s sell-off looks driven by short-term disappointment, not long-term damage to the company’s underlying fundamentals.

Northern Star still owns long-life gold assets, has a strong balance sheet, and benefits from gold prices near record highs.

For investors who believe gold prices will stay strong, this pullback may offer an excellent buying opportunity. The key is to be comfortable with short-term ups and downs along the way.

The post After today’s 8% plunge, is Northern Star now a buy for gold investors? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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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 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.

The top three S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) uranium shares for capital growth were also the best performers of the whole energy sector last year.

This represented a rising global trend of nations embracing domestically produced nuclear power as part of the green energy transition.

Anna Wu, a senior associate in cross-asset investment research for VanEck, said nuclear power was a “winner” in markets last year.

In an article, Wu said:

Demand for low carbon, efficient energy sources, primarily driven by the artificial intelligence sector, has resulted in a recent boom for uranium miners and nuclear energy infrastructure sectors.

Some of the companies within the markets helped drive global equity markets in 2025 and this could continue into 2026.

Broadly speaking, the ASX 200 energy sector was sluggish in 2025, with the S&P/ASX 200 Energy Index (ASX: XEJ) falling 2.25%.

Dividends raised the total return to 3.21%.

Both the energy and materials sectors involve harnessing naturally occurring commodities that are abundantly available in Australia.

Yet there was a stark contrast in performance last year.

Materials was the strongest sector, with the S&P/ASX 200 Materials Index (ASX: XMJ) rising 31.71% and giving a total return of 36.21%.

3 best ASX 200 uranium shares for growth

These were the top stocks last year.

1. Deep Yellow Ltd (ASX: DYL)

Shares in ASX 200 uranium explorer Deep Yellow lifted 63% to close at $1.84 per share on 31 December.

Today, Deep Yellow shares are steady at $2.28.

2. Nexgen Energy (Canada) CDI (ASX: NXG)

Shares in Canadian uranium explorer Nexgen Energy rose 30% to $14 per share on 31 December.

On Thursday, Nexgen Energy shares are $18.18, up 2.2%.

3. Paladin Energy Ltd (ASX: PDN)

The ASX 200’s largest uranium share, Paladin Energy, lifted 27% to finish the year at $9.59.

Today, the Paladin Energy share price is $12.76, down 3.2%.

What’s driving ASX 200 uranium shares higher?

The uranium price gained momentum in 2H CY25, supporting ASX 200 uranium shares.

The commodity hit a 15-month high of $83.50 per tonne in September. Today, the uranium price is US$85.25 per tonne.

Wu said there are three key forces powering the nuclear energy investment thematic.

They are increasing electricity demand due to new artificial intelligence infrastructure, more electric vehicles on the roads, more battery-powered machinery used across many industries, the adoption of cryptocurrency, and intense heat driving the use of air conditioning.

Wu noted increased government and regulatory support for nuclear power across the world.

Wu commented:

Following the Fukushima nuclear accident in 2011, many countries deprioritised nuclear energy in favour of other sources.

However, in recent years, many have reversed their stance or affirmed their commitment, recognising the critical importance of nuclear energy in the power mix…

The United States, Japan, China, Switzerland, India, and Norway are all seeking to establish or expand domestic nuclear production.

In the US, Wu said the ADVANCE Act and the Inflation Reduction Act are providing critical support for nuclear technologies.

The ADVANCE Act streamlines regulatory processes, fosters public-private partnerships, and accelerates innovation in small modular reactors (SMRs).

Similarly, the Inflation Reduction Act bolsters nuclear energy’s competitiveness by offering production tax credits, levelling the playing field with renewable sources like wind and solar.

Meanwhile, China is investing in nuclear fusion.

By some estimates, the Chinese government is spending around US$1.5 billion annually on fusion research, nearly twice that of the US.

In India, Wu said there are plans to set up 50 small modular reactors, with the hope of integrating them into old, non-nuclear power plants.

The post Best 3 ASX 200 uranium shares of 2025 appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

• Should you buy Paladin Energy shares after its strong update?
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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.

The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) experienced an immediate fall after new unemployment data was published today.

The ASX 200 was trading at an intraday peak of 8,864.5 points when the Australian Bureau of Statistics released the data at 11:30am.

The ASX 200 dropped by 0.3% to an intraday low of 8,782.9 points after the data revealed that the jobless rate fell to 4.1% in December.

This has enhanced fears of an interest rate hike in the new year to quell resurgent inflation.

At the time of writing, the ASX 200 has recovered to be up 0.5% for the day at 8,829.6 points.

Unemployment falls to 4.1%

The ABS reported a 0.2% fall in the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate from 4.3% in November to 4.1% in December.

The concern here is that lower unemployment may contribute to resurgent inflation seen in the last few months of 2025.

Lower unemployment indicates a healthy economy in which people have capacity to spend.

This could see demand for goods and services rise, which may push up inflation.

The ABS said the number of people employed rose by 65,000 in December, comprising 55,000 full-time jobs and 10,000 part-time jobs.

Sean Crick, ABS head of labour statistics, said:

This month we saw more 15-24 year olds moving into employment, contributing to the rise in overall employment and the fall in the unemployment rate.

The growth in employed people led to the participation rate rising slightly to 66.7 per cent.

This was despite a 30,000 person drop in unemployment.

The number of hours worked rose 0.4% to reach a record high of more than two billion hours for the first time.

ASX 200 bank stocks rise while gold miners flounder

ASX 200 bank shares are higher on Thursday, with Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA) up 1.7% to $149.76.

The Westpac Banking Corp (ASX: WBC) share price is up 1.4% to $38.66.

National Australia Bank Ltd (ASX: NAB) shares are 2.7% higher at $42.31.

ANZ Group Holdings Ltd (ASX: ANZ) shares are up 0.8% to $36.45.

The Macquarie Group Ltd (ASX: MQG) share price is up 2.5% to $210.89.

Meanwhile, the ASX 200 materials sector is the worst performer of the day.

The S&P/ASX 200 Materials Index (ASX: XMJ) is down 1.7% as gold shares cop a beating.

Gold shares and gold ETFs are lower because higher interest rates make non-yielding safe-haven assets like precious metals less attractive.

Gold stocks are also suffering a contagion effect today after the market’s largest player, Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST), disappointed investors with its December quarter report.

The Northern Star Resources share price is sharply down 8.9% at $26.06.

The Evolution Mining Ltd (ASX: EVN) share price is 5.9% lower at $13.92.

Newmont Corporation CDI (ASX: NEM) shares are 4.7% lower at $172.24.

The Genesis Minerals Ltd (ASX: GMD) share price is $7.51, down 4.3% today.

The Betashares Global Gold Miners Currency Hedged ETF (ASX: MNRS) is down 4.5% to $17.99 per unit.

The VanEck Gold Miners AUD ETF (ASX: GDX) is down 6% to $150.38 per unit.

By contrast, ASX 200 retail shares are sharply higher, with the S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Discretionary Index (ASX: XDJ) up 2.2%.

Shares in Smiggle owner Premier Investments Ltd (ASX: PMV) are among the highest risers of the sector today, up 9.4% to $13.96.

Footwear retailer Accent Group Ltd (ASX: AX1) is up 4.4% to 96 cents per share.

Yesterday, the market was already pricing in a 25% chance of an interest rate hike when the Reserve Bank Board meets on 2-3 February.

The post ASX 200 drops as lower unemployment raises the risk of an interest rate hike appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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