In afternoon trade, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is out of form and has dropped deep into the red. At the time of writing, the benchmark index is down 1% to 7,294.4 points.

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

Nuix Ltd (ASX: NXL)

The Nuix share price is down almost 16% to $1.08. Investors have been selling this investigative analytics and intelligence software provider's shares after its former CEO appealed a recent court decision. Nuix is now being sued for $61 million plus interest.

Smartgroup Corporation Ltd (ASX: SIQ)

The Smartgroup share price is down over 5% to $6.29. The majority of this decline is attributable to the fleet management company's shares trading ex-dividend this morning for its 29 cents per share fully franked final dividend. Eligible shareholders can now look forward to receiving this dividend on 23 March.

Ventia Services Group Ltd (ASX: VNT)

The Ventia share price is down over 5% to $2.19. This follows news that CIMIC and Apollo have each sold approximately 93 million shares. Following the sale, the two parties will each hold approximately 21.9% of the issued share capital in the infrastructure services company. They have agreed to a customary 90 day escrow period in respect of their remaining Ventia shares.

Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS)

The Woodside share price is down over 7% to $34.87. This has also been driven by its shares trading ex-dividend on Wednesday. Last month, the energy giant declared a massive 211.3 cents per share fully franked final dividend. This will now be paid to eligible shareholders in a touch under a month on 5 April.

The post Why Nuix, Smartgroup, Ventia, and Woodside shares are dropping today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

In afternoon trade, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) has fought back and is edging slightly higher. At the time of writing, the benchmark index is up to 6,994.9 points.

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

A2 Milk Company Ltd (ASX: A2M)

The A2 Milk share price was up 7% to $4.85 before being placed into a trading halt. This follows speculation that the US Food and Drug Administration has granted the company approval to sell infant formula within the United States of America. A2 Milk is preparing an announcement that responds to the speculation.

Qualitas Ltd (ASX: QAL)

The Qualitas share price has stormed higher again and is up 14% to $2.30. Investors have been buying this alternative real estate investment manager's shares since it secured commitments for a mandate to invest $700 million on behalf of a new fully discretionary investment vehicle of the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority. The gains may not stop there, though. This morning Goldman Sachs reiterated its buy rating and lifted its price target to $3.20.

Telix Pharmaceuticals Ltd (ASX: TLX)

The Telix share price is up 4% to $7.41. This morning the biopharmaceutical company announced pleasing regulatory progress for its core prostate and kidney cancer imaging programs in the Asia Pacific operating region. This includes progress in the major market of China with its strategic partner Grand Pharmaceutical Group.

Ventia Services Group Ltd (ASX: VNT)

The Ventia share price is up 5% to $2.83. This morning the essential infrastructure services provider revealed that it has been awarded a major road maintenance contract by Auckland Transport. Management notes that the five-year contract has an expected base contract value of NZ$220 million. The agreement also has a five-year extension option.

The post Why A2 Milk, Qualitas, Telix, and Ventia shares are pushing higher today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) shares bounced back from Friday's disappointing trade today, starting the week out on the right foot. The index closed Monday's session 1.23% higher at 6,687.10 points.

Leading the upwards charge was the S&P/ASX 200 Information Technology Index (ASX: XIJ). The tech sector lifted more than 2% on Monday following Friday's strong session on Wall Street.

The tech-heavy NASDAQ Composite rose 1.79% on Friday overseas. The S&P 500 also lifted 1.92% while the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 2.15%.

Financial shares were also among today's winners. They were bolstered by news Suncorp Group Ltd (ASX: SUN)'s Suncorp Bank is set to be snapped up by Australia New Zealand Banking Group Ltd (ASX: ANZ) in a $4.9 billion takeover deal.

Meanwhile, the S&P/ASX 200 Health Care Index (ASX: XHJ) was the market's worst performing sector, slipping around 0.7%.

At the end of today's trade, eight of the ASX 200's 11 sectors were trading in the green.

But which shares outperformed all others on Monday? Keep reading to find out.

Top 10 ASX shares countdown

The best performing share among ASX's 200 biggest companies by market capitalisation on Monday was Genesis Energy Ltd (ASX: GNE).

The Genesis Energy share price soared around 10% today. Find out more about what the company has been up to here.

Lithium shares also outperformed today. Both Core Lithium Ltd (ASX: CXO) and Liontown Resources Limited (ASX: LTR) were among today's ten best performers.

Today's top 10 biggest gains were made by these ASX shares:

Data as at 3:59pm AEST.

Our top 10 ASX shares today countdown is a recurring end-of-day summary to ensure you know which companies were making big moves on the day. Check in at Fool.com.au after the market has closed during weekdays to see which stocks make the countdown.

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

The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) was back in the red today, weighed down by utilities and energy shares. At the closing bell, the index was 1.97% lower at 6,568.1 points.

It made for the second consecutive session of losses for the local market following weak trade on Wall Street overnight.

The S&P/ASX 200 Utilities Index (ASX: XUJ) lead the ASX 200's downturn, falling 2.1% despite news that Brookfield appears to have snapped up a 2.5% stake in AGL Energy Limited (ASX: AGL).

Meanwhile, the S&P/ASX 200 Energy Index (ASX: XEJ) suffered amid lower oil prices, which fell between 1.5% and 1.8% overnight.

Iron ore futures also slipped again, falling 0.1% to trade at US$130.11 a tonne.

But not all was dire today. The S&P/ASX 200 Health Care Index (ASX: XHJ) lifted 0.2%.

And there were plenty of gainers among the mix.

Let's take a look at which ASX shares outperformed all others on Thursday.

Top 10 ASX shares countdown today

ASX industrials share APM Human Services International Ltd (ASX: APM) bested the rest today, taking out the top spot among the ASX's 200 biggest companies by market capitalisation. It gained 4.3% today. Read up on APM here.

Next best was financials stock BSP Financial Group Ltd (ASX: BFL). It lifted nearly 4% on Thursday. Find out more about BSP Financial Group here.

Today's top 10 biggest gains were made by these ASX shares:

Data as at 3:59pm AEST

Our top 10 ASX shares today countdown is a recurring end-of-day summary to ensure you know which companies were making big moves on the day. Check in at Fool.com.au after the market has closed during weekdays to see which stocks make the countdown.

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

The Ventia Services Group (ASX: VNT) share price had a fantastic first day on the ASX on Friday.

Following the company's initial public offering (IPO), its share price took off to finish the day 23.5% higher than its prospectus' offer price.

As of Friday's close, the Ventia share price is $2.10. However, in intraday trade, Ventia's stock was swapping hands for $2.14 apiece, representing a gain of 25%.

Let's take a closer look at Ventia's IPO and float on the ASX.

Ventia share price off to a flyer

Today saw infrastructure maintenance provider, Ventia Services, hitting the ASX after lowering its offer price significantly.

Initially, Ventia was expecting to ask investors to pay between $2.75 and $3.15 per share. However, when the company's offer price was finalised, it came to $1.70.

Still, Ventia managed to raise $438 million through its IPO by selling more shares than it originally planned to.  

The company's owners, Cimic Group Ltd (ASX: CIM) and Apollo Global Management (NYSE: APO), also put $64 million towards the IPO, selling some of their holdings to do so.

Despite selling shares in the company, they've each walked away from Ventia's float with a 32.8% holding in the company.

Ventia finished its first day as a listed company with a market capitalisation of around $1.79 billion. That's significantly higher than its planned $1.45 billion valuation.

Additionally, Ventia's first day on the ASX saw more than 31 million of its shares swapping hands. For reference, the company has around 855 million shares outstanding.

Where will Ventia go from here?

Ventia's prospectus outlined its forecasted results for calendar year 2022.  

Over the course of next year, the company hopes to bring in $4.9 billion of revenue and $405 million of earnings before interest, tax, depreciation, and amortisation (EBITDA).

That represents respective increases of 53.3% and 52.5% on the company's revenue and EBITDA from calendar year 2020.

Ventia is also aiming to boast a dividend yield of 8.9% for calendar year 2022. Though, the company has estimated that yield based on an assumed $1.70 share price and a 75% payout ratio – neither of which is guaranteed.

The post Ventia (ASX:VNT) share price surged 25% following IPO appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.