Just been looking at what happened in the ASX last month and honestly, the 6% drop in March was pretty brutal. But here's the thing - whenever markets pull back like that, it usually creates some real opportunities if you know where to look.

I've been digging into what the best shares to invest in australia right now, and there's definitely some solid names worth considering. The pullback has made valuations more interesting across the board.

On the ASX side, CSL caught my attention. Their plasma therapy business is doing well - underlying profit grew 14% to $3.3 billion in FY2025, and the healthcare sector is actually trading pretty cheap by price-to-fair-value metrics. BHP is another one worth watching, especially with copper exposure. Copper's getting pulled in two directions right now - the energy transition and AI data center buildouts. Both are massive copper consumers.

Wesfarmers is interesting too because it's showing real resilience. Bunnings and Kmart both grew earnings despite a tough consumer environment, which tells you something about the quality of those brands. Goodman Group is shifting into data center development, which is a direct play on the AI boom. And Macquarie's asset management business is firing - profit surged 43% in the first half of FY2026.

But if you're thinking about the best shares to invest in from a global perspective, you've got to look at the US market too. Nvidia's down about 8% year-to-date, which some analysts see as a better entry point. Their data center revenue alone hit $193.7 billion in FY2026. Microsoft is still in early phases of AI adoption according to CEO Satya Nadella, with Azure growing 39% in Q2. Alphabet crossed $400 billion in annual revenue for the first time, and Google Cloud is accelerating at 48% growth.

TSMC benefits from whoever wins the chip wars - they make for Nvidia, AMD, Apple, and Broadcom. Wall Street consensus is strong buy with around 29% upside potential. Palo Alto Networks is handling the cybersecurity wave well, with next-gen security revenue growing 33%.

Honestly, the question isn't really ASX versus US. They serve different purposes. ASX stocks pay fat dividends - around 3.3% yield compared to 1.5% for global shares. US stocks reinvest earnings and drive capital appreciation instead. The ASX is heavy on mining, banking, and healthcare. The US gives you tech, AI infrastructure, and consumer brands you can't get locally.

For most people, mixing both makes sense. The ASX has returned 11.6% annually since 1900 including dividends. US shares did 10.1%. Both have delivered long-term.

If you want to trade these without buying outright, CFDs are an option - you get leverage and can go long or short. But you won't get dividends or voting rights, so it depends on your strategy.

The key thing is focusing on fundamentals first. A lower price only matters if the business is actually solid underneath. That's where the real opportunity is in this pullback.