The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) had a decent start to the week, gaining 0.06% to close at 7,351.5 points.

It was driven higher by the S&P/ASX 200 Financials Index (ASX: XFJ) which rose 0.9% today amid earnings from Bendigo and Adelaide Bank Ltd (ASX: BEN) and NIB Holdings Ltd (ASX: NHF).

The former stock rose 1.9% after posting a 49% just in a half-year profit while the latter tumbled 11.6% despite growing its interim dividend by 18%.

Meanwhile, the S&P/ASX 200 Energy Index (ASX: XEJ) fell 1% despite a strong performance from the Ampol Ltd (ASX: ALD) share price. Shares in the fuel refiner and distributor lifted 1.7% after it posted record 2022 earnings.

The sector's suffering followed a rough Friday for oil prices. After the Aussie market shut for the week, the Brent crude oil price fell 2.5% to US$83 a barrel while the US Nymex crude oil price dropped 2.7% to US$76.34 a barrel.

But which ASX 200 share posted the biggest gain on the index today? Let's take a look.

Top 10 ASX 200 shares countdown

Today's top-performing ASX 200 share was none other than Inghams Group Ltd (ASX: ING). It gained 11.7% to close at $3.06 after a number of brokers upgraded the stock.

These shares made today's biggest gains:

Our top 10 shares countdown is a recurring end-of-day summary to let you know which companies were making big moves on the day. Check in at Fool.com.au after the weekday market closes to see which stocks make the countdown.

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

The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) broke a three-session-long losing streak on Tuesday, gaining 0.18% to close at 7,430.9 points.

It came on the back of a strong session on Wall Street. The Dow Jones Industrial Average Index (DJX: .DJI) and the S&P 500 Index (SP: .INX) both rose 1.1% overnight while the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC) gained 1.5%.

It makes sense then that the S&P/ASX 200 Information Technology Index (ASX: XIJ) posted the biggest gain on the Aussie index, rising 1.3%.

The S&P/ASX 200 Communications Index (ASX: XTJ) also outperformed, gaining 1.1% with the Domain Holdings Australia Ltd (ASX: DHG) share price leading the way, lifting 5.5%.

Meanwhile, market giant CSL Limited (ASX: CSL) saw its share price rise 0.9% on the back of the company's half-year earnings.

On the other end of the market, the S&P/ASX 200 Energy Index (ASX: XMJ) and the S&P/ASX 200 Materials Index (ASX: XMJ) fell 0.4% and 0.2% respectively.

But which ASX 200 share outperformed all others on Tuesday? Let's take a look.

Top 10 ASX 200 shares countdown

The index's best performer today was metal recycler Sims Ltd (ASX: SGM). Its stock soared 7.1% to close at $15.72 on Tuesday.

That was despite the company posting an 80% fall in statutory profit for the first half, leading it to slash its interim dividend by 66% to 14 cents per share.

These shares made today's biggest gains:

Our top 10 shares countdown is a recurring end-of-day summary to let you know which companies were making big moves on the day. Check in at Fool.com.au after the weekday market closes to see which stocks make the countdown.

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

Four ASX shares that are climbing more than most today are listed below. Here's why they are rising:

Challenger Ltd (ASX: CGF)

The Challenger share price is up 5% to $7.65. Investors have been buying this annuities company's shares following the release of its half year results. Challenger reported a 5% increase in normalised profit before tax to $250 million. This allowed the company to increase its interim dividend by 4% to 12 cents per share.

SG Fleet Group Ltd (ASX: SGF)

The SG Fleet share price is up 10% to $2.29. This morning, this fleet management company reported a 16% lift in revenue to $178.4 million and a 41% jump in half year profit to $41.9 million. Management commented: "We have demonstrated the strength of our competitive position and our ability to turn the steady stream of new business opportunities into further customers wins and vehicle orders."

Sims Ltd (ASX: SGM)

The Sims share price is up 8% to $15.91. The catalyst for this has been the release of the scrap metal company's half year results. Sims reported a 10% decline in revenue and a whopping 80% decline in underlying net profit after tax. However, investors appear to have been expecting even worse.

Universal Store Holdings Ltd (ASX: UNI)

The Universal Store share price is up 5% to $5.69. This appears to have been driven by a bullish broker note out of Citi. According to the note, the broker has upgraded this retailer's shares to a buy rating with a $6.00 price target. Citi believes consensus estimates are too low.

The post Why Challenger, SG Fleet, Sims, and Universal Store shares are rising appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

The Challenger Ltd (ASX: CGF) share price soared by 7% in early trading after the investment management company released its FY23 half-year results.

The Challenger share price opened at $7.45 and quickly rose to a high of $7.77, up 7% on yesterday's close. It is now trading at $7.63, up 5.1%.

Challenger share price rockets as dividend is raised

Here are the highlights for the six months ending 31 December 2022:

• Normalised net profit before tax (NPBT) of $250 million, up 5% on the prior corresponding period (pcp) of 1H22
• Normalised net profit after tax (NPAT) of $167 million, down 1% pcp
• Statutory NPAT of $123 million, down 56% due to largely unrealised investment market movements
• Total assets under management of $99.4 billion, down 14% pcp (reflecting the sale of Whitehelm Capital in 2H FY22 and the market sell-off in 2022)
• Interim dividend 12 cents per share fully franked, up 4% pcp.

What else happened in 1H FY23?

The company reported a record half-year for its retirement income business, Challenger Life, with $5.5 billion in sales, up 11% pcp.

This was driven by record annuity sales growth of 41%, with particularly strong retail growth of 89%.

The life book grew in value by $1 billion, reflecting 5.5% book growth in 1H FY23.

In its statement, the company said the life business is "benefitting from a more favourable macroeconomic environment, with higher interest rates helping to accelerate annuity sales and expand margins".

In October, Challenger announced the $36 million sale of Challenger Bank to Heartland Group
Holdings Ltd (ASX: HGH). Pleased investors pushed the Challenger share price 4.6% higher on the day.

The bank is well-capitalised and Challenger expects about $100 million to be returned upon completion.

What did management say?

Managing director and CEO, Nick Hamilton said:

Our strong performance over the half year again demonstrates the resilience we have embedded
through our diversified business model, enabling us to capture opportunities in all market
conditions.

We have positioned the business to benefit from rising interest rates, which have stimulated strong demand for retail annuities, particularly longer dated products.

What's next?

Challenger expects profit growth to continue and reaffirmed its FY23 full-year guidance. It's expecting normalised NPBT of between $485 million and $535 million.

Challenger share price snapshot

The Challenger share price is up 22% over the past 12 months.

This compares to a 3% bump for the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO).

The post Challenger share price screams 7% higher on half-year results appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Over the last year, the annuity provider has risen by more than 20%.

The company's updates have been exciting investors with strong annuity sales growth numbers.

In the first quarter of FY23, total life sales increased by 33% to $2.8 billion, while annuity sales jumped 50% to $1.8 billion.

I think there are two key reasons why Challenger is now a much more compelling investment to consider.

Interest rates normalised

The idea behind Challenger's offering of annuities is that it enables people to swap their capital for a guaranteed source of income.

When interest rates kept reducing, it made the yield on offer reduce and seem less appealing. For example, in 2021, its 3-year annuity return on offer was 1.85%.

But, now that interest rates have gone up, people can get much more appealing annuity rates. They're able to lock in a much better return. I think this is promising for the Challenger share price.

When the company announced its FY23 first quarter, the Challenger managing director and CEO Nick Hamilton said:

Annuity sales are benefiting from the interest rate environment, which has improved the customer proposition. Our 3-year annuity rate reached 4.85% in October, the highest level in the last ten years. We are seeing a significant pick up in quote levels from advisers and we are attracting new customers.

Pleasingly, the higher interest rate environment is providing us the opportunity to remix our sales. Annuity sales greater than two years, including lifetime sales, are increasing, reflecting our focus on growing longer duration business.

We are well placed to continue our growth trajectory, with the interest rate environment supportive for the business and achieving our purpose of helping customers achieve financial security for retirement.

With those strong fund inflows, the business is expecting to achieve normalised net profit before tax of between $485 million to $535 million in FY23.

I think it's also worth pointing out that the ageing demographics of Australia give the business strong tailwinds for the coming years as the baby boomer generation moves from the accumulation phase to the retirement phase with their money, though that's not all going to play out in 2023.

Asset falls finished?

Challenger manages an enormous amount of assets. At the end of the FY23 first quarter, it had $96 billion of assets under management (AUM). The more this figure can grow from asset price growth, the better it is for Challenger and shareholders.

Rising interest rates have been rough on asset values over the past 12 months. But, I think that's just a temporary setback.

Over the long term, assets like shares have risen in value. Once interest rates stop rising, I think this will be a real positive for Challenger's asset base, while still benefiting from the improved environment for annuity demand.

Challenger share price valuation

According to the forecasts on Commsec, the business is currently valued at 15 times FY23's estimated earnings.

The post Why I think the Challenger share price could be a top performer in 2023 appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Some former top ASX dividend shares could be trading at a good value to deliver market-leading returns from here.

I like to be able to buy businesses that pay dividends at lower prices because it boosts the dividend yield. However, I'd only invest in a business if I thought its earnings could grow over the longer term.

Higher earnings can translate into a rising share price and bigger dividend payments.

Baby Bunting Group Ltd (ASX: BBN)

Baby Bunting is one of the leading retailers of baby and toddler products. It sells a variety of things like prams, car seats, furniture, toys, blankets and so on.

The Baby Bunting share price is down by around 45% over the past year. It faced difficulties with its profit margins in the first half of FY23. The company has spent money on establishing its New Zealand business and opening new stores while also targeting efficiency improvements.

A growing store network and New Zealand expansion may enable Baby Bunting to keep growing earnings in the years ahead. It expects to open a total of eight stores in FY23. It has a long-term target of 120 stores in Australia and New Zealand.

Commsec estimates put the current Baby Bunting share price at 16x FY23's estimated earnings with a grossed-up dividend yield of 6.1%. Looking ahead to the early FY25 projections, the ASX retail share is valued at 11x FY25's estimated earnings with a possible 8.9% grossed-up dividend yield.

Challenger Group Ltd (ASX: CGF)

Challenger is the largest annuity provider in Australia. An annuity is where a customer can turn their capital into a source of regular income over a set period or the rest of their life.

I don't think the previous record low interest rate environment benefited Challenger. A higher interest rate appears to be better for the business as it delivers better returns for customers.

After all, a retiree is more likely to want an annuity with an interest return of more than 4%, for example, than the lower rate being offered in mid-2021.

This is reflected in results from the first quarter of FY23, where annuity sales increased by 50% to $1.8 billion.

Challenger recently explained at its annual general meeting (AGM) some of the tailwinds it is benefiting from:

Successive governments have implemented significant regulatory reforms across the financial services sector, such as the Retirement Income Covenant. These reforms are expected to provide retirees with the confidence of a secure retirement and have also created tailwinds for our business.

We have reached an exciting point in Australia's retirement system with a definitive shift in industry focus towards the decumulation phase. And Challenger – as Australia's leading retirement income brand – is well positioned to benefit.

Our unique competitive advantages combined with supportive long-term tailwinds see us well-placed to capture opportunities and drive strong business growth. We are leaders and innovators in our respective markets – with a broad offering and strong distribution footprint.

Australia's world-class superannuation system continues to grow rapidly. Assets are set to triple over the next 20 years.

Using the Commsec estimates, the Challenger share price is valued at under 17x FY23's estimated earnings. This, with a grossed-up dividend yield of 4.8%.

The post Why I think these 2 ASX dividend shares offer great buying right now appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Last year was a rough one for many S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) shares, and those of banking giants were no exception.

While rising interest rates potentially buoyed market sentiment for banks due to the potential for higher net interest margins (NIMs), most ASX 200 banks ultimately ended the year lower than they started.

Indeed, the home sector of ASX 200 banking shares, the S&P/ASX 200 Financials Index (ASX: XFJ), fell almost 3% over the 12 months ended 31 December 2022. Simultaneously, the ASX 200 tumbled around 5%.

But it wasn't all bad for ASX 200 bank shares. Here are three that defied the downturn to post the biggest share price gains out of their peers in 2022.

2022's best performing ASX 200 bank shares

Taking out the gold is one many might overlook when hunting for ASX 200 bank shares.

The Challenger Ltd (ASX: CGF) share price gained 16.7% between its final close of 2021 – $6.53 – and the end of 2022, which saw it trading at $7.62.

The company operates three core businesses – an investment management division, an annuities business, and an APRA-regulated bank. However, it likely won't be a contender for 2023's top spot.

Challenger Bank is currently in the process of being acquired by Heartland Group Holdings Ltd (ASX: HGH).

Coming in second best is the Westpac Banking Corp (ASX: WBC) share price, having gained 9.4% over the 12 months to 31 December 2022.

After ending 2021 trading at $21.35, the Westpac share price rose to $23.35 as of the final close of 2022 – a 9.4% improvement.

Looking forward, Goldman Sachs is tipping further gains from the ASX 200 bank in the coming years.

Finally, the Suncorp Group Ltd (ASX: SUN) share price also outperformed most other ASX 200 bank operators in 2022.

The stock rose from $11.07 to $12.04 – or 8.8% – over the 12 months ended 31 December 2022.

However, like Challenger, the company's days operating a bank appear limited.

Suncorp Bank is being lined up to be acquired by ANZ Group Holdings Ltd (ASX: ANZ) in a near-$5 billion deal announced last year.

The post The 3 ASX 200 bank shares that outperformed all others in 2022 appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

The ASX 200 financial sector saw a 2.2% rise, with the big four banks contributing significantly.

ASX 200 financial shares deliver the goods

Here's a rundown of the sector's share price movements today:

• The Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA) share price climbed 2.1%
• The National Australia Bank Ltd (ASX: NAB) share price grew by 1%
• The Westpac Banking Corp (ASX: WBC) share price went up by 3.1%
• The ANZ Group Holdings Ltd (ASX: ANZ) share price dropped 0.7%
• The Macquarie Group Ltd (ASX: MQG) share price climbed 3.2%
• The Suncorp Group Ltd (ASX: SUN) share price gained 1.9%
• The QBE Insurance Group Ltd (ASX: QBE) share price increased by 2.5%
• The Challenger Ltd (ASX: CGF) share price rose 2%

While it wasn't a gigantic jump for the sector, its constituents collectively saw share price gains, driving the index higher.

Indeed, the ASX 200 saw positive price movement in different sectors on Wednesday. For example, ASX 200 tech shares also experienced a pleasing bump today.

It was a welcome sign on the second trading day of the new year. Yesterday, on 3 January, we saw a hefty fall.

Certainly, ASX financial shares have seen plenty of volatility over the last 12 months.

According to reporting by CNBC, Asian investors have pushed valuations (including in Hong Kong) higher as focus turns to the US Federal Reserve meeting minutes for possible signs about future interest rate increases.

The media outlet also reported that European share markets are headed for a positive opening.

The ASX's return is often influenced by what happens in overseas markets. While there are plenty of large businesses on the ASX, it only makes up a small part of global share markets.

What could influence the sector this year?

Investor expectations about interest rates could significantly impact how share prices move this year.

ASX bank shares provide loans to borrowers. With central banks increasing interest rates, the Aussie banks are quickly passing on those increases to households. But, savers are seeing less of the interest rate hikes, so it's benefiting bank margins.

However, if interest rates go too high then it could negatively impact the budgets of some households and businesses. Banks typically check that investors can afford their loans if the interest rate were to rise by 2%. The Australian official interest rate has risen by 3%, going from 0.1% to 3.1%.

Time will tell how high interest rates have to go to control inflation, and what impact this will have on ASX 200 financial shares.

The post ASX financial shares lifted the ASX 200 today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) traded in the green on Tuesday, recovering some of yesterday's slump. At the end of today's session, the index was 0.31% higher at 7,203.3 points

Tech shares were among the market's best performers today, with the S&P/ASX 200 Information Technology Index (ASX: XIJ) lifting 1.7%.

It followed a decent night on Wall Street that saw the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC) posting a 1.3% gain. The Dow Jones Industrial Average Index (DJX: .DJI) meanwhile, rose 1.6% and the S&P 500 Index (SP: .INX) lifted 1.4%.

Banks also posted a good day's trade today, with the S&P/ASX 200 Financials Index (ASX: XFJ) gaining 1.4%.

However, the market's other giants, miners, struggled. The S&P/ASX 200 Materials Index (ASX: XMJ) fell 1.4% on the back of lower commodity prices.

Gold futures prices fell 1% to US$1,792.30 an ounce overnight while iron ore futures slipped 0.9% to US$109.47 a tonne.

All in all, all but one of the ASX 200's 11 sectors closed higher. But which stock outperformed all its peers to post today's biggest gain? Keep reading to find out.

Top 10 ASX 200 shares countdown

Today's top-performing ASX 200 share was Bendigo and Adelaide Bank Ltd (ASX: BEN) – lifting 6.9%.

Its gains come on the back of a positive trading update, detailing a 22% jump in cash earnings.

Today's biggest gains were made by these shares:

Our top 10 shares countdown is a recurring end-of-day summary to let you know which companies were making big moves on the day. Check in at Fool.com.au after the weekday market closes to see which stocks make the countdown.

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

The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) started the week off in the red today. It slumped 0.45% in Monday's session to trade at 7,180.8 points.

The star of today's trade was the S&P/ASX 200 Energy Index (ASX: XEJ). It gained 1.2% amid rising oil prices.

The black liquid's value rose by as much as 1% on Monday amid an ongoing leak at a key North American pipeline, Russia's response to a price cap on its oil exports, and China's relaxed COVID-19 restrictions, as Reuters reports.

On the other side of the coin, the S&P/ASX 200 Utilities Index (ASX: XUJ) tumbled 4.3%, weighed down by the Origin Energy Ltd (ASX: ORG) share price's 7.8% tumble.

Another major drag was the S&P/ASX 200 Materials Index (ASX: XMJ). It fell 1.5% on Monday.

All in all, only four of the ASX 200's 11 sectors closed in the green today. But which stock outperformed all others to take home today's crown? Keep reading to find out.

Top 10 ASX 200 shares countdown

The biggest gains on the ASX 200 today came from BrainChip Holdings Ltd (ASX: BRN).

The artificial intelligence and machine learning technology developer's share price gained 9.4% despite the company's silence.

Today's biggest gains were made by these shares:

Our top 10 shares countdown is a recurring end-of-day summary to let you know which companies were making big moves on the day. Check in at Fool.com.au after the weekday market closes to see which stocks make the countdown.

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

Woe, thy name is the Magellan Financial Group Ltd (ASX: MFG) share price. Magellan shares have had an absolutely awful run over the past two years. Once venerated as the leading fund manager and investment company on the ASX, Magellan has seen its star fall dramatically over the past 24 months.

Back in February 2020. Magellan was a $65 share. Back in November 2020, the company was still commanding a price of around $55. Today, this company is a shell of what it once was, and is asking just $9.40 a share at the time of writing (down 2.79% for the day today).

Magellan shares have crashed 50% over 2022 year to date, and by 70% over the past 12 months. The company is down more than 85% from its all-time highs.

Magellan's woes can be put down to a few factors: namely chronic underperformance of its funds leading to an exodus of investors, and the loss of its co-founder and former chief investment officer Hamish Douglass.

Douglass has caused some fresh concern with investors this week after it was revealed yesterday that he had sold off more than half of his ownership stake in Magellan. Douglass offloaded approximately 13 million shares for a price of $9.10 per share (worth around $118.3 million). This reduced his holding from 21.45 million shares to 8.45 million.

Was Hamish Douglass looking for a buyer for his Magellan shares?

However, it appears that there is a possibility Douglass was doing more than just offloading his Magellan shares.

According to reporting in The Australian this week, Douglass is also rumoured to have been asking around about a potential buyer for his Magellan stake. The report suggests Douglass has approached Phil King, of Regal Funds Management, about a possible buyout of Douglass' Magellan holdings. That's in addition to approaching Challenger Ltd (ASX: CGF) as well.

Buying out Douglass' stake would give any potential suitor a hefty beachhead to launch more buy-ups of the company's stock.

However, it is understood that both Regal and Challenger have rejected Douglass' alleged advances.

If these rumours are true, it's hardly a vote of confidence from Douglass over Magellan's future. And it's also the last thing investors probably want to hear right now. The Magellan share price will be an interesting one to watch going forward, that's for sure.

The post The Magellan share price has crashed 50% in 2022. Is the company looking for a buyer? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

As impressive as this was, some ASX 200 shares managed to deliver even stronger gains! Here's why these were the best performers on the index last month:

Liontown Resources Limited (ASX: LTR)

The Liontown share price was the best performer on the ASX 200 in October with a 26.8%. Last month, the lithium developer announced the approval of the mining proposal and works approval by the Western Australian Government for a 4Mtpa operation at the Kathleen Valley Lithium Project. This allowed major site works to commence

Core Lithium Ltd (ASX: CXO)

The Core Lithium share price wasn't far behind with a 25% gain. Investors were buying this lithium miner's shares thanks to booming prices of the battery making ingredient and news that its Finniss lithium mine was officially open for business.

Domino's Pizza Enterprises Ltd (ASX: DMP)

The Domino's share price was a strong performer in October with its 24% gain. This appears to have been driven by a promising update from its US parent which revealed improving sales trends globally. Despite this strong gain, the pizza chain operator's shares are still down almost 50% in 2022.

Hub24 Ltd (ASX: HUB)

The Hub24 share price wasn't far behind with a gain of 21.5% last month. Investors were buying this investment platform provider's shares following the release of a strong quarterly update. According to the release, Hub24 recorded platform net inflows of $3 billion for the three months. This took its total funds under administration to $52.4 billion. This was driven by continued growth in the number of advisers on its platform.

Perseus Mining Limited (ASX: PRU)

The Perseus Mining share price was a strong performer and rose 20.1% in October. This followed the release of a strong quarterly update late in the month. That update revealed production that was well ahead of the market's expectations. In light of this strong start, analysts at Macquarie suspect that the miner could outperform its production guidance.

Challenger Ltd (ASX: CGF)

The Challenger share price was just a touch behind with a gain of 20% last month. Investors were buying this annuities company's shares after it released its quarterly update and announced an agreement to divest its banking operations. In respect to its update, Challenger's Life sales were up an impressive 33% during the first quarter to $2.8 billion. Whereas for the latter, the company has agreed to sell its Australian bank to Heartland Group Holdings Ltd (ASX: HGH) for $36 million.

The post These were the best-performing ASX 200 shares in October appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

That's because Bell Potter has just released its "champion stocks" list.

The broker explained that these are the ASX shares that the broker believes would be great long term options for investors.

Furthermore, for these quality shares, the broker is "not particularly concerned about the current year's investment arithmetic or the analyst's twelve month buy-hold-sell rating." It explained:

"These Champion Stocks all have a long term positive thematic, which should drive superior earnings growth and shareholder value over the coming years, notwithstanding inevitable disruptions in the economic and investment environment such as COVID-19 as well as some corporate stumbles from time to time."

Which ASX shares does Bell Potter rate as champions?

Bell Potter has a total of nine ASX shares on its champion stocks list. They are as follows:

• Amcor PLC (ASX: AMC)
• Brambles Limited (ASX: BXB)
• Challenger Ltd (ASX: CGF)
• CSL Limited (ASX: CSL)
• Goodman Group (ASX: GMG)
• Lendlease Group (ASX: LLC)
• Netwealth Group Ltd (ASX: NWL)
• Sonic Healthcare Limited (ASX: SHL)
• Transurban Group (ASX: TCL)

Here's what Bell Potter is saying about a couple of its picks:

The broker believes Netwealth is well-placed to benefit from structural changes in the wealth management industry. It said:

A specialist investment platform technology provider in Australia that offers investment management solutions to financial intermediaries, who provide financial advice on superannuation and other investments, and self-directed individuals who have chosen not to seek advice. In recent years, the group has been taking market share from the institutional platform providers such as the major banks and other large diversified financial companies. Looking forward, a structural shift within the wealth management sector from large vertically integrated players towards the more independent players should further boost the group's growth outlook.

As for Transurban, the broker highlights:

Australia's largest builder, owner and operator of urban toll road networks. The group also has toll road assets in North America. The group's current pipeline of growth projects is $3.1 billion (TCL's share of total project cost) and further huge development opportunities are expected over the next few decades supported by population and economic growth.

The post Bell Potter names 9 'champion' ASX 200 shares to buy for the next five years appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) sank lower on Thursday, weighed down by tech shares. The index closed 1.02% lower at 6,730.7 points.

Its suffering followed a rough night's trade on Wall Street amid surging US government bond yields. The Dow Jones Industrial Average Index (DJX: .DJI) fell 0.3% overnight while the S&P 500 Index (SP: .INX) slipped 0.7% and the Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC) slumped 0.9%.

The S&P/ASX 200 Information Technology Index (ASX: XIJ) led the Aussie bourse's downturn, falling 3.8%.

The S&P/ASX 200 Materials Index (ASX: XMJ) also struggled, plunging 2.4% alongside base metal prices.

All base metals except nickel and zinc slipped lower overnight, with lead's 1.6% fall leading the pack. Gold futures also slumped 1.3% to US$1,634.20 an ounce while iron ore futures dumped 0.4% to US$94.86 a tonne.

The S&P/ASX 200 Energy Index (ASX: XEJ) was alone in the green today, gaining 3.1%.

It followed a good night for oil prices, with the Brent crude oil price lifting 2.6% to US$92.41 a barrel and the US Nymex crude oil price climbing 3.3% to US$85.55 a barrel.

So, with all that in mind, which share outperformed all others on Thursday? Keep reading to find out.

Top 10 ASX 200 shares countdown

The Novonix Ltd (ASX: NVX) share price topped the lot today after the company announced it has been awarded a US$150 million grant.

Today's biggest gains were made by these shares:

Our top 10 shares countdown is a recurring end-of-day summary to let you know which companies were making big moves on the day. Check in at Fool.com.au after the weekday market closes to see which stocks make the countdown.

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

Four ASX shares that are not letting that hold them back today are listed below. Here's why they are racing higher:

Challenger Ltd (ASX: CGF)

The Challenger share price is up 4% to $6.75. Investors have been buying this annuities company's shares after it released its quarterly update and announced an agreement to divest its banking operations. In respect to the former, Challenger's Life sales were up 33% during the first quarter to $2.8 billion. Whereas for the latter, the company is selling its Australian bank to Heartland Group Holdings Ltd (ASX: HGH) for $36 million.

Novonix Ltd (ASX: NVX)

The Novonix share price is up 7.5% to $2.29. This morning this battery materials and technology company announced that it has been selected to enter negotiations to receive US$150 million (A$240 million) in grant funding from the US Department of Energy. These funds would be dedicated to the construction of a 30,000 tonnes per annum anode materials US manufacturing facility.

Piedmont Lithium Inc (ASX: PLL)

The Piedmont Lithium share price is up over 8% to 91 cents. Like Novonix, this morning Piedmont Lithium revealed that it is in line to receive a US$141.7 million (A$226 million) grant from the US Department of Energy. These funds would be used to support the construction of the company's US$600 million (A$958 million) Tennessee Lithium project.

Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS)

The Woodside share price is up 5.5% to $34.37. Investors have been buying this energy giant's shares following the release of a record third quarter result. Woodside revealed record production of 51.2 MMboe and record revenue of US$5,858 million. These were up 52% and 70%, respectively, over the second quarter.

The post Why Challenger, Novonix, Piedmont Lithium, and Woodside shares are racing higher appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) posted its first gain of the week today. The index lifted 0.04% to close at 6,647.5 points.

It followed a mixed session on Wall Street that saw the Dow Jones Industrial Average Index (DJX: .DJI) gain 01%, the S&P 500 Index (SP: .INX) fall 0.6%, and the Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC) dump 1.1%.

The S&P/ASX 200 Financials Index (ASX: XFJ) led the way on Wednesday, gaining 1.9%.

Its strong performance came as Bank of Queensland Ltd (ASX: BOQ) posted its full year earnings and Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA) hosted its annual general meeting.

Meanwhile, the S&P/ASX 200 Energy Index (ASX: XEJ) fell 1.5% amid lower oil prices.

Both the Brent crude oil price and the US Nymex crude oil price fell slipped 2% overnight to trade at US$94.29 a barrel and US$89.35 a barrel respectively.

Miners and tech shares also had a rough day, with the S&P/ASX 200 Materials Index (ASX: XMJ) and the S&P/ASX 200 Information Technology Index (ASX: XJI) both slipping 0.9%.

All in all, two of the ASX 200's 11 sectors closed in the green. But which share outperformed all others? Keep reading to find out.

Top 10 ASX 200 shares countdown

Today's top performing ASX 200 share was none other than Bank of Queensland. The stock gained 11% on news the bank's after tax profits lifted 15% year on year in financial year 2022.

Today's biggest gains were made by these shares:

Our top 10 shares countdown is a recurring end-of-day summary to let you know which companies were making big moves on the day. Check in at Fool.com.au after the weekday market closes to see which stocks make the countdown.

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

The Challenger Ltd (ASX: CGF) share price is edging higher today.

This comes after the annuities company provided a market announcement on a subordinated notes offer.

At the time of writing, Challenger shares are up 1.88% to $6.245 apiece.

In comparison, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is up 0.9% to 6,790 points following a strong rally on Wall Street overnight.

Let's take a closer look at what the company updated the ASX with today.

Challenger launches subordinated notes offer

In today's statement, Challenger advised it has launched an offer of unsecured subordinated notes to institutional and other wholesale investors.

Each note is valued at $10,000, with a minimum subscription amount of $50,000 per application. However, it's possible to apply for the notes that are not bound by the minimum subscription amount, provided it does not require disclosure.

The pricing of the notes will be decided by a bookbuild process which is expected to take place today.

Challenger said that the net proceeds from the notes will be used for general corporate, funding, and capital management purposes.

The notes have a term of 15 years, with the maturity date falling in September 2037.

In case you were wondering how to get in on the action, the subordinated notes are not being offered to retail investors.

About the Challenger share price

Throughout the year, the Challenger share price has experienced strong volatility due to the uncertain economic outlook. It's down more than 4% year to date.

On the other hand, the S&P/ASX 200 Financials Index (ASX: XFJ) is down 7.2% in 2022 so far.

Based on today's price, Challenger commands a market capitalisation of approximately $4.27 billion.

The post Why is the Challenger share price climbing on Thursday? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) shares posted another strong performance on Wednesday despite a wobbly morning's trade. The index ended the day 0.31% higher at 7,127.70 points, marking its highest close since early June.

Consumer shares were the real winners in today's session with the S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Staples Index (ASX: XSJ) and the S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Discretionary Index (ASX: XDJ) gaining 1.7% and 1.4%, respectively. Their gains followed a strong session for retailers on Wall Street and earnings from Super Retail Group Ltd (ASX: SUL).

Meanwhile, the S&P/ASX 200 Energy Index (ASX: XEJ) weighed on the market, slumping 0.6% amid falling oil prices and earnings from energy giant Santos Ltd (ASX: STO).

Crude oils hit six-month lows overnight, with the Brent crude price falling 2.9% to US$92.34 a barrel ­– its lowest point since February – while the US Nymex crude price lost 3.2% to hit US$86.53 a barrel – its lowest since January.

At the end of the day, seven of the ASX 200's 11 sectors closed in the green. But which share outperformed all others to be crowned today's top performer? Let's take a look.

Top 10 ASX 200 shares countdown

The top performing ASX 200 share on Wednesday was annuities provider Challenger Ltd (ASX: CGF).

It posed a recovery after tumbling on the back of its earnings, released to the market yesterday, helped along by broker upgrades.

Learn more about the company and what it's been up to lately here.

Today's biggest gains were made by these ASX shares:

Our top 10 ASX 200 shares countdown is a recurring end-of-day summary to let you know which companies were making big moves on the day. Check in at Fool.com.au after the weekday market closes to see which stocks make the countdown.

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

Four ASX shares that are climbing more than most today are listed below. Here's why they are rising:

Brambles Limited (ASX: BXB)

The Brambles share price is up 5% to $12.38. Investors have been buying this logistic solutions company's shares following the release of a strong full year result. For the 12 months ended 30 June, Brambles reported a profit after tax of US$593.3 million. This was an 18% year over year increase.

Challenger Ltd (ASX: CGF)

The Challenger share price is up 6% to $6.79. This morning the teams at Citi and Ord Minnett upgraded this annuities company's shares to neutral/hold ratings. Elsewhere, analysts at Morgans retained their add rating but trimmed their price target on the company's shares to $7.40.

Nearmap Ltd (ASX: NEA)

The Nearmap share price is up 4% to $2.00. This has been driven by the release of a solid full year result from the arial imagery company. Nearmap reported annual contract value (ACV) of $167.6 million, which is up 31% year over year. And while it posted another large loss after tax, management revealed that the company remains on track to generate positive free cash flow by FY 2024.

Super Retail Group Ltd (ASX: SUL)

The Super Retail share price is up over 5% to $10.79. This follows the release of a full year result that materially outperformed consensus estimates. Super Retail reported a 19.9% decline in net profit after tax to $301 million, whereas the market was expecting a net profit after tax of $224 million.

The post Why Brambles, Challenger, Nearmap, and Super Retail shares are rising today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Four ASX shares that have failed to follow the market higher today are listed below. Here's why they are dropping:

Bendigo and Adelaide Bank Ltd (ASX: BEN)

The Bendigo and Adelaide Bank share price is down over 4% to $9.44. This morning the team at Goldman Sachs downgraded this regional bank's shares to a neutral rating with a trimmed price target of $10.60. Goldman admitted that it got it wrong with the bank. It said: "[T]oday's result showed that we had underestimated the extent to which the NIM upside that we had initially anticipated BEN would enjoy due to higher cash rates."

Challenger Ltd (ASX: CGF)

The Challenger share price is down over 11% to $6.33. Investors have been selling this annuities company's shares after the release of its full year results. Challenger reported a statutory net profit after tax of $254 million for FY 2022. This was down a disappointing 57% from FY 2021.

SEEK Limited (ASX: SEK)

The Seek share price is down 5% to $23.19. The catalyst for this was the release of the job listings company's full year results. Although Seek delivered an 81% increase in net profit after tax (excluding significant items) to $245.5 million, this was still short of expectations. Goldman Sachs notes that Seek's result was a "slight miss" and its "FY23 outlook [was] mixed."

Sims Ltd (ASX: SGM)

The Sims share price is down 3% to $15.25. This was despite the scrap metal company reporting a 161.2% increase in net profit to $599.3 million in FY 2022. Management's cautious guidance could be weighing on its shares. It notes that ferrous prices have halved in value over the last few months from US$700 per tonne in March to between US$320 and US$400 per tonne at the start of FY 2023.

The post Why Bendigo and Adelaide Bank, Challenger, Seek, and Sims shares are dropping appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.