The team at Vanguard have released an updated outlook on Australian and global equities. 

In its Investment and Economic Outlook report, the investment firm provided commentary on Australia, USA, Mexico, Japan, UK, Canada, Europe, and China. 

Chinese equities have been an emerging story for global investors thanks to the country’s AI development and exposure.

China is a global leader in semiconductor production, but it isn’t limiting its AI participation to this segment. 

Last month, I covered that Chinese companies engaged in battery manufacturing and Graphics Processing Units (GPUs) have been benefiting from the Chinese AI boom. 

However, a new report from Vanguard has provided a more modest outlook on Chinese equities moving forward. 

AI to drive near-term growth, but upside is limited

In yesterday’s report from Vanguard, the ETF provider said China’s AI development appears faster but less impactful than that of the US. 

According to the report, China’s front-loaded strategy is driven by a strong digital ecosystem, robust energy infrastructure, greater acceptance of AI, aggressive government funding, and a vast talent pool in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. 

Vanguard said these factors imply near-term upside risk, but it sees more limited upside potential for capital deepening and productivity gains. 

Efficient models and strong infrastructure reduce the need for heavy investment, and China’s labour market is significantly less exposed to potential AI automation because jobs are far more concentrated in agriculture, manufacturing, and construction than in the US.

Commenting on this outlook, Grant Feng, Vanguard Senior Economist, said: 

Faster AI adoption in China will boost real growth in the near term, but the upside potential is limited for future capital deepening and productivity gains. Structural headwinds are strong, and AI alone won’t be enough to lift the economy.

The report said Vanguard expects GDP growth to ease modestly to 4.5% in 2026, with tariff drags partly offset by a rebound in manufacturing and infrastructure investment. 

How can Aussie investors get exposure to Chinese equities?

For Aussie investors more bullish on the Chinese market, there are a few pure-play thematic ETFs to consider. 

The first is the iShares China Large-Cap AUD ETF (ASX: IZZ). 

As the name suggests, it is designed to measure the performance of 50 of the largest and most liquid Chinese companies that trade on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange.

It has risen roughly 13.8% in the last year. 

Investors more focused on Chinese tech exposure might consider the Global X China Tech ETF (ASX: DRGN). 

It offers access to 20 leading Chinese technology companies listed in Hong Kong and Mainland across 15 core sectors, including semiconductors, robotics, software, and internet platforms.

It has risen more than 20% in the last year. 

Finally, VanEck China New Economy ETF (ASX: CNEW) offers exposure to roughly 120 Chinese companies with growth prospects in sectors that make up ‘the New Economy’. 

These are sectors such as technology, health care, consumer staples, and consumer discretionary.

It has risen 14% in the last 12 months. 

The post Should Aussie investors have exposure to Chinese equities in 2026? – Expert  appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Aaron Bell 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 Perseus Mining Ltd (ASX: PRU) share price is in focus after the gold miner delivered quarterly gold production of 88,888 ounces and finished the period with a cash and bullion balance of US$755 million.

What did Perseus Mining report?

• Gold production of 88,888 ounces in the December 2025 quarter, down from 99,953 ounces in the prior quarter
• All-In Site Costs (AISC) increased to US$1,800 per ounce (up from US$1,516 in Q1 FY26)
• Average realised gold price reached US$3,437 per ounce
• Operating cashflow of US$145 million for the quarter
• Cash and bullion balance at quarter-end of US$755 million, plus US$229 million in listed securities
• Company paid an additional 2% royalty in Côte d’Ivoire, totalling US$20 million in Q2

What else do investors need to know?

Perseus Mining continued to advance major development projects. The CMA Underground at Yaouré delivered its first ore in January 2026, marking a key step toward commercial production, while the Nyanzaga project in Tanzania remains on schedule for first gold production in January 2027.

During the quarter, Perseus launched an unsuccessful takeover offer for Predictive Discovery Limited. Additionally, the company refinanced and upsized its debt facility to US$400 million, improving future funding flexibility. On the sustainability front, the group maintained a Lost Time Injury Frequency Rate of zero, though tragically two contractor fatalities occurred in an offsite accident.

What did Perseus Mining management say?

Managing Director and CEO Craig Jones said:

Despite some operational headwinds in the December quarter, particularly at Yaouré, our team has kept a strong focus on safety and advancing our growth projects. We remain well placed to deliver on our FY26 production targets and continue investing in the future of Perseus.

What’s next for Perseus Mining?

Perseus continues to guide for full year FY26 gold production of 400,000 to 440,000 ounces, with group AISC expected in the range of US$1,600–1,760 per ounce. The company flagged that production will be weighted to the second half, given higher grade ore is expected from Edikan and Sissingué. Key project milestones ahead include ramping up the CMA Underground and keeping Nyanzaga development on track. Exploration will also remain an area of active investment across its African portfolio.

Perseus Mining share price snapshot

Over the past 12 months, Perseus Mining shares have risen 127%, strongly outperforming the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) which has risen 6% over the same period.

View Original Announcement

The post Perseus Mining posts quarterly gold output and solid cash, progresses key projects appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Laura Stewart 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. This article was prepared with the assistance of Large Language Model (LLM) tools for the initial summary of the company announcement. Any content assisted by AI is subject to our robust human-in-the-loop quality control framework, involving thorough review, substantial editing, and fact-checking by our experienced writers and editors holding appropriate credentials. The Motley Fool Australia stands behind the work of our editorial team and takes ultimate responsibility for the content published by The Motley Fool Australia.

If you have $5,000 to invest and want exposure to the technology sector, it could make sense to focus on businesses with proven products and long-term growth runways rather than short-term hype.

With that in mind, here are three ASX tech shares I would consider buying today.

Catapult Sports Ltd (ASX: CAT)

The first ASX tech share I would buy with the money is Catapult Sports. It is a sport analytics and wearables company.

Its technology and analytics software are used by elite teams to monitor athlete performance, manage workloads, and reduce injury risk. Once embedded, these systems become part of day-to-day decision-making for coaches and performance staff.

After years of investing in product development and global reach, the focus is shifting more toward cash generation and operating leverage. With a large installed customer base, expanding analytics capabilities, and recent acquisitions, growth no longer relies solely on signing new teams, but on extracting more value from existing relationships.

Pro Medicus Ltd (ASX: PME)

Another ASX tech share I would buy with $5,000 is Pro Medicus.

Its health imaging platforms are designed to handle enormous volumes of medical data with speed and precision, which is becoming increasingly important as imaging complexity grows and radiologist shortages persist.

What sets Pro Medicus apart is not just the quality of its technology, but how it wins business. Contracts are typically large, long-term, and with major hospital groups, particularly in the United States. Once installed, the software becomes deeply integrated into clinical workflows, creating very high switching costs.

Rather than chasing rapid expansion at any cost, Pro Medicus has built a business that prioritises margins, discipline, and scalability, which can be a powerful combination over time.

WiseTech Global Ltd (ASX: WTC)

A final ASX tech share I would consider for the money is WiseTech Global.

WiseTech provides software that supports global logistics and freight forwarding. Its platform handles complex regulatory, compliance, and operational tasks that become more challenging as supply chains grow more interconnected.

What often gets overlooked is how incremental WiseTech’s growth can be. The company continually adds functionality, acquires complementary businesses, and deepens its role within customer operations. These changes may not always grab headlines, but they strengthen customer reliance on the platform.

While sentiment has been hit hard due to executive controversies and product launch delays, I believe this is just a minor blip on a very big future.

The post 3 ASX tech shares I would buy with $5,000 appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in Pro Medicus and WiseTech Global. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Catapult Sports and WiseTech Global. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has recommended Pro Medicus. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Catapult Sports and WiseTech Global. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Pro Medicus. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

The IGO Ltd (ASX: IGO) share price is in focus after the company posted a solid December quarter, highlighting stronger operational performance at Nova and a 16% lift in the realised spodumene price at Greenbushes.

What did IGO report?

• Group sales revenue of $82.4 million, down 22% on the previous quarter
• Group underlying EBITDA up 55% to $29.9 million
• Positive operating cash flow of $12.8 million and underlying free cash flow of $13.4 million
• Greenbushes spodumene production increased to 352kt (up 10%), with sales of 328kt
• Nova nickel production rose to 3,790 tonnes, up 11%; copper to 1,776 tonnes (+29%)
• Net cash increased to $298.9 million at quarter end

What else do investors need to know?

IGO continued to deliver on safety, with its Total Recordable Injury Frequency Rate (TRIFR) improving from 8.0 to 5.8. The company recorded no serious potential incidents for the quarter, reflecting a stronger safety culture and refreshed risk controls.

At Greenbushes, first ore from CGP3 was processed in December, marking a major milestone. Spodumene production and EBITDA margin (64%) both improved, supported by higher ore grades and a stronger lithium price. However, Kwinana lithium hydroxide production declined to 2,120 tonnes due to planned maintenance, limiting output to 35% of nameplate capacity for the quarter.

Board renewal is underway, with Dr Vanessa Guthrie AO appointed Chair from 1 January 2026, and a new CFO, Johan van Vuuren, to join in April. IGO is also progressing a transaction to transfer certain Forrestania nickel assets to Medallion Metals, while retaining rights over nickel and lithium.

What’s next for IGO?

IGO’s outlook for the rest of FY26 remains steady. Greenbushes spodumene output is expected to come in just below the lower end of guidance, but capex is running below forecast thanks to disciplined capital management. Attention will stay on ramping up the new CGP3 plant.

At Kwinana, production should remain within prior guidance. The Nova operation continues to perform ahead of plan, with stable nickel volumes and costs. Investors can expect more portfolio optimisation, ongoing exploration, and board renewal activity through the year.

IGO share price snapshot

Over the past 12 months, IGO hares have risen 73%, strongly outperforming the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) which has risen 6% over the same period.

View Original Announcement

The post IGO posts improved earnings on higher lithium price, Nova strength appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Laura Stewart 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. This article was prepared with the assistance of Large Language Model (LLM) tools for the initial summary of the company announcement. Any content assisted by AI is subject to our robust human-in-the-loop quality control framework, involving thorough review, substantial editing, and fact-checking by our experienced writers and editors holding appropriate credentials. The Motley Fool Australia stands behind the work of our editorial team and takes ultimate responsibility for the content published by The Motley Fool Australia.

The Mineral Resources Ltd (ASX: MIN) share price is in focus today after the miner released a strong Q2 FY26 update, with lithium sales up 29% and iron ore shipments hitting record levels.

What did Mineral Resources report?

• Quarterly attributable lithium spodumene production: 138,000 dmt SC6; sales: 143,000 dmt SC6 at US$1,094/dmt, up 29% on the previous quarter
• Iron ore: Onslow Iron shipped 8.7Mt (100% basis) with 1H26 costs tracking at $52/wmt, near the bottom end of guidance
• Lithium FY26 volume guidance upgraded: Wodgina to 260–280k dmt SC6 (previously 220–240k); Mt Marion to 190–210k dmt SC6 (previously 160–180k)
• Group liquidity strengthened to over $1.4B; net debt reduced to about $4.9B from $5.4B
• Binding agreement for POSCO Holdings to acquire a 30% stake in MinRes’ lithium operations for ~US$765M

What else do investors need to know?

The company maintained FY26 volume and cost guidance across all divisions except for the higher lithium volumes. Operating performance in mining services also improved, with a 5% quarterly increase in production volumes to 85Mt.

MinRes continues to reduce its net debt as Onslow Iron ramps up to nameplate capacity, and the liquidity position is bolstered by strong operating cash flows and financing activities, including a recent US$700M bond issue and successful refinancing of existing notes.

Board renewal saw two new Independent Non-Executive Directors welcomed, and the safety record improved, with the LTIFR dropping to 0.00 for the quarter. MinRes also advanced key iron ore and lithium projects and flagged ongoing exploration at Wodgina and Mt Marion.

What’s next for Mineral Resources?

Looking ahead, the Wodgina and Mt Marion lithium upgrades put MinRes in a strong position to benefit from higher pricing into the second half of FY26. The company is focused on completing the POSCO transaction and managing its capital structure as it maintains operating discipline.

Further iron ore cost improvements are targeted as new projects like Lamb Creek and lower-cost ore sources come online, supporting long-term production and margin stability. MinRes continues to assess the possible restart of Bald Hill and development options at Mt Marion.

Mineral Resources share price snapshot

Over the past 12 months, Mineral Resources shares have risen 73%, outperforming the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) which has risen 6% over the same period. 

View Original Announcement

The post Mineral Resources upgrades lithium guidance on strong Q2 sales appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Laura Stewart 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. This article was prepared with the assistance of Large Language Model (LLM) tools for the initial summary of the company announcement. Any content assisted by AI is subject to our robust human-in-the-loop quality control framework, involving thorough review, substantial editing, and fact-checking by our experienced writers and editors holding appropriate credentials. The Motley Fool Australia stands behind the work of our editorial team and takes ultimate responsibility for the content published by The Motley Fool Australia.

There are a lot of ASX shares out there for investors to choose from.

So, to narrow things down, let’s take a look at three popular shares and see if analysts currently rate them as buys, holds, or sells.

Here’s what they are saying:

DroneShield Ltd (ASX: DRO)

The team at Bell Potter remains very positive on this counter-drone technology company’s shares.

Despite them rising very strongly over the past 12 months, the broker believes they are undervalued compared to its global drone peer group. Bell Potter has a buy rating and $5.00 price target on its shares. It said:

We believe DRO has a market leading RF detect/defeat C-UAS offering and a strengthening competitive advantage owing to its years of battlefield experience and large and focused R&D team. We expect 2026 will be an inflection point for the global C-UAS industry with countries poised to unleash a wave of spending on RF detect and defeat solutions.

Consequently, we believe DRO should see material contracts flowing from its $2.1b potential sales pipeline over the next 3-6 months as defence budgets roll over to FY26e. At 47x CY26e EV / EBITDA, DRO trades at a 28% discount to the global drone peer group. Further, we see upside risk to our revenue forecasts in CY26/27e, given the opportunities observed in the C-UAS industry.

Regis Resources Ltd (ASX: RRL)

Morgans has been looking at this gold miner’s shares following its quarterly update. While it was a record quarter of cash generation, the broker thinks its shares are fully valued and has retained its hold rating with an improved price target of $8.05. It said:

RRL delivered a strong 2Q26, with group gold production of 96.6koz Au supporting record quarterly cash and bullion generation of A$255m, lifting the balance to A$930m. The result was underpinned by stable performance at Duketon, a sharp uplift in gold sales at Tropicana and continued strength in spot gold prices. We maintain our HOLD rating, and price target of A$8.05ps (previously A$6.17ps) with the uplift a function of our updated precious metals price deck.

Suncorp Group Ltd (ASX: SUN)

A third ASX share that brokers have been looking at is insurance giant Suncorp. The broker believes there are heightened earnings risks for investors to consider. As a result, it has put a hold rating and $20.50 price target on its shares. It said:

Post the update, we have downgraded our FY26 EPS estimate by a significant 12%. Even then, we highlight heightened earnings risk for the rest of FY26 and potentially into FY27. For the moment, our EPS estimates for FY27 and FY28 have been downgraded only by a nominal 0.1% for both years. ‍ Between weather-related volatility and an industry-wide slowdown in premium rate growth, the outlook for Suncorp (and its peers) remains challenging. This leads Ord Minnett to cut its target price on Suncorp to $20.50 from $22.50, and maintain its Hold recommendation despite the apparent value on offer.

The post Buy, hold, sell: DroneShield, Regis Resources, and Suncorp shares 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 positions in and has recommended DroneShield. 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.

Saluda Medical Inc (ASX: SLD) is a recently listed ASX healthcare stock. 

It is a commercial-stage medical device company commercialising spinal cord stimulation (SCS) therapy. 

Saluda is currently a single product company, centred around its differentiated SCS product called the ‘Evoke System’.

It is designed for the treatment of patients with chronic pain of the trunk and/or limbs.

A bumpy ride 

Since initially listing in December last year, this small-cap ASX healthcare stock has experienced volatility.

After opening at $1.27, the company saw its share price rocket 20% higher within the first week of trading. 

However after topping out at $1.54, it has tumbled more than 26%. 

This included a fall of more than 5% yesterday.

It now sits close to an all-time low at $1.13. 

It’s important to acknowledge that small-cap stocks can often experience increased volatility. 

First update since December 

Yesterday, the company released its first financial update since its IPO last December. 

The company reported 1H26 revenue of $39.4m (+17% on pcp). 

In a report from Bell Potter yesterday, the broker said the biggest positive was strong Q2 sales of $15.4m in the US (+17% on pcp and +19% qoq) driven by a greater number of physicians utilising the Evoke System. 

International sales are a smaller contribution compared to the key US market but also increased during 1H26 to $11.0m (+26% on pcp).

Bell Potter said this reflected strong execution on commercial targets as the company beat its 1H26 revenue forecast. This resulted in an upgraded FY26 revenue guidance by 4% to $85m. 

Buy recommendation for this ASX healthcare stock

The broker increased FY26 forecasts in line with the updated guidance while leaving FY27 and FY28 effectively unchanged. 

Bell Potter said penetration into the US physician base is deepening and total volumes will benefit from the ongoing expansion and training of Saluda’s US sales force, which is proceeding at good pace. 

Updated forecasts imply 2H26 global revenue growth of +25% on the pcp, with the most relevant focus being US sales, which we now expect to reach $34.2m in 2H26 at a growth rate of +37% on the pcp.

The broker has retained its speculative buy recommendation on this ASX healthcare stock and slightly decreased its price target to $2.70 (previously $2.80). 

From yesterday’s closing price of $1.13, this indicates an upside of 138.94%. 

We maintain our BUY (speculative) recommendation and look forward to accelerating market share capture of the crucial US market over the coming reporting periods.

The post Is this ASX healthcare stock a buy after yesterday’s 5% drop? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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• How a beginner investor could build a $250,000 ASX share portfolio

Motley Fool contributor Aaron Bell 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.

When the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is trading near record highs, it’s natural to feel cautious. At around 8,916 at the time of writing, the index is not far from its peak of 9,115, which makes broad market buying feel a little less comfortable.

That’s usually when I start looking for high-quality blue chips that haven’t kept pace with the index and still offer a margin of safety.

One ASX blue-chip stock that fits that bill for me right now is Goodman Group (ASX: GMG).

Goodman shares are trading around $30.96 at the time of writing, well below their 52-week high of $37.31.

A different kind of REIT

Goodman is often grouped in with traditional real estate investment trusts (REITs), but I think that misses the point. This is not a passive rent-collection business.

Goodman owns, develops, and manages logistics facilities and data centres in some of the most supply-constrained metropolitan markets in the world. These assets sit at the heart of e-commerce, automation, cloud computing, and artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure. Demand for that combination is structural, not cyclical.

That positioning is becoming increasingly important as customers invest heavily in automation, robotics, AI, and digital infrastructure.

Development momentum is building

Goodman’s most recent operational update showed just how much activity is underway across the group.

As at 30 September 2025, Goodman had $12.4 billion of development work in progress, with projections pointing to more than $17.5 billion by June 2026. Data centres now represent 68% of work in progress, highlighting how central digital infrastructure has become to the strategy. Occupancy across partnerships remains high at 96.1%, and the group reaffirmed its forecast of 9% operating earnings per share (EPS) growth for FY26.

What I find particularly appealing is that much of this development is taking place in highly constrained markets, where access to land and power creates meaningful barriers to entry.

Data centres are a long-term tailwind

One of the most important parts of the Goodman story today is data centres.

The group has built a global power bank of 5.0 GW across 13 major cities, with 3.4 GW already secured and a further pipeline under development. These projects are typically 100% leased to hyperscale and colocation customers, providing long-dated, high-quality income streams once stabilised.

Late last year, Goodman deepened this opportunity by launching a $14 billion European data centre partnership with CPP Investments, focused on prime locations in Frankfurt, Amsterdam, and Paris. These projects benefit from secured power, advanced planning approvals, and speed-to-market advantages that are hard to replicate.

To me, that partnership is a strong external validation of the quality of Goodman’s development platform.

Why I’m comfortable despite the ASX 200 Index being high

At a time when the broader market looks expensive, Goodman stands out because its growth is being driven by execution rather than multiple expansion.

The shares are not cheap in absolute terms, but they are cheaper than they were a year ago, while the underlying opportunity set has arguably improved. Between logistics consolidation, automation, and data centre demand tied to cloud and AI, Goodman has several long-duration growth drivers working in its favour.

Foolish Takeaway

With the ASX 200 hovering near record levels, I’m not rushing to buy the market indiscriminately. But I am happy to look for high-quality businesses that are still trading below their highs and continue to build long-term value.

For me, Goodman Group fits that description well. It’s a blue-chip ASX stock with global scale, structural tailwinds, and a visible development pipeline. If I were looking to put money to work selectively at these market levels, this is one stock I would seriously consider.

The post 1 ASX blue-chip stock I’d consider buying with the ASX 200 around 8,900 appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

More reading

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• How much could I make investing $500 a month in ASX shares?

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

Building a $250,000 ASX share portfolio can sound like something only experienced investors achieve. In reality, it is often the result of ordinary behaviour repeated consistently.

For a beginner investor, the path does not rely on market timing, day trades, or finding the next big thing. It relies on patience, regular investing, and allowing compounding to do its work.

If an investor contributes $500 a month, earns an average 10% per annum over time (not guaranteed, but broadly in line with long-term market returns), and stays invested for around 17 years, the maths begins to take care of itself.

The key is how that money is invested along the way.

Step one

In the early years, it can be tempting to chase fast-moving ideas. A more sustainable approach is to focus on high-quality ASX shares with proven track records and long growth runways.

Companies such as ResMed Inc. (ASX: RMD), Goodman Group (ASX: GMG), Macquarie Group Ltd (ASX: MQG), Xero Ltd (ASX: XRO), and REA Group Ltd (ASX: REA) are examples of businesses that have shown an ability to grow earnings through different market conditions.

These types of companies are not immune to share price volatility, but their underlying businesses tend to keep moving forward. That matters far more than short-term performance when the goal is long-term wealth building.

Step two

For beginners, diversification can be difficult to achieve using only individual shares.

This is where ETFs can play a valuable supporting role. Global and thematic ETFs allow investors to spread risk and gain exposure to markets that are otherwise hard to access.

Funds such as the iShares S&P 500 AUD ETF (ASX: IVV), the Vanguard MSCI International Shares ETF (ASX: VGS), or the Betashares Nasdaq 100 ETF (ASX: NDQ) can complement ASX shares by adding global diversification and exposure to innovation-led companies.

Rather than needing every stock pick to succeed, ETFs help ensure the portfolio participates in broader market growth.

Step three

In the early years, progress feels slow. Contributions matter more than returns, and portfolio balances grow gradually.

Over time, that changes. Returns begin to compound on top of previous returns, and the portfolio starts to grow even without increasing contributions. This is often when investors are surprised by how quickly momentum builds.

The hardest part is not the maths. It is staying invested during market downturns and continuing to contribute when confidence is low.

Step four

Trying to perfect allocations or switch strategies often causes more harm than good.

A beginner investor who consistently invests $500 a month into a mix of quality ASX shares and diversified ETFs is often better off than someone who constantly tweaks their approach. Simplicity helps reduce emotional decisions, which can quietly erode returns over time. This approach is called dollar-cost averaging.

Foolish takeaway

Building a $250,000 ASX share portfolio is not about being clever. It is about showing up regularly, investing in quality, and giving compounding enough time to work.

By focusing on strong ASX shares, using ETFs for diversification, and staying patient for around 17 years, a beginner investor gives themselves a realistic path to reaching that goal.

The post How a beginner investor could build a $250,000 ASX share portfolio appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in BetaShares Nasdaq 100 ETF, Goodman Group, REA Group, ResMed, and Xero. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended BetaShares Nasdaq 100 ETF, Goodman Group, Macquarie Group, ResMed, Xero, and iShares S&P 500 ETF. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended BetaShares Nasdaq 100 ETF, Macquarie Group, ResMed, and Xero. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Goodman Group, Vanguard Msci Index International Shares ETF, and iShares S&P 500 ETF. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

Betashares Chief Economist David Bassanese has weighed in on the upcoming RBA Cash Rate decision on 3 February.

Experts have been updating their predictions after the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) released the latest inflation data yesterday. 

Across the board, it seems like there is little hope for an RBA rate cut next week, after CPI rose by 3.8% in the 12 months to December, sending the ASX 200 south yesterday.

What do these numbers tell us?

The official cash rate currently stands at 3.60%.

As a quick refresher, the cash rate is the interest rate that banks pay to borrow funds from other banks in the money market overnight. 

It influences all other interest rates, including mortgage and deposit rates.

It acts as a benchmark for financial institutions (like banks). 

When the RBA increases the cash rate target, banks tend to follow. 

This means variable loans like mortgages will increase, cutting into the disposable income of many Aussies. 

Yesterday, the ABS reported that the Consumer Price Index (CPI) increased by 3.8% in the 12 months to December.

CPI shows how fast prices are rising, and The Reserve Bank uses it as a guide for setting the cash rate:

• If CPI is high, it is likely to raise or keep rates high to slow spending and cool prices.
• If CPI is low, it often lowers rates to encourage spending and support the economy.

Essentially, CPI is one metric that helps decide whether interest rates should go up, down, or stay the same.

RBA to hike in February

In a new report, Betashares Chief Economist David Bassanese said the quarterly consumer price index report (CPI) suggested the hot underlying inflationary pressures evident in the September quarter persisted into the December quarter. 

According to Mr Bassanese, this suggests the lift in economic growth over the past year has already run into inflationary roadblocks.

As a result, the Reserve Bank seemingly has little choice but to throttle back current economic momentum through at least one, or possibly two, rate hikes in the first half of this year.

The report pointed towards key economic factors such as: 

• Seasonally adjusted quarterly gain in trimmed mean inflation which only eased to 0.9% in the December quarter.
• New home purchase costs rose 1.3% over the quarter, up from 1.0% in the September quarter.
• Rental inflation also remained firm, with a quarterly gain of 0.8% after a 1.0% gain in the previous quarter.
• Holiday and travel costs rose a blistering 4.9%, after a 3.0% gain in the previous quarter.

All up, it appears to be game, set and match for a rate rise at the February policy meeting. My base case is that the RBA will raise rates by 0.25%, taking the cash rate to 3.85%.

To my mind, two rate hikes – given our highly indebted and interest-rate-sensitive economy – should be more than enough to dampen economic growth again and rein in ongoing inflation pressures in areas such as housing, travel and hospitality.

Where should investors turn?

While RBA rates and inflation are far from record highs, there are sectors that have historically performed well in these environments. 

A report last month from Canaccord Genuity pointed to two sectors in particular: 

• Resources – A more hawkish RBA combined with a dovish Fed supports AUD strength, historically a key driver of mining sector outperformance. Ultimately, resources are more sensitive to global growth than domestic demand. 
• Consumer staples – Typically outperform into RBA hiking periods, and valuations look attractive relative to Cyclical Retail, creating scope for a rotation.

The post Expert says an RBA rate hike in February is a done deal – How should investors react? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Aaron Bell 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.