The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) has just finished the day 1.25% lower at 6,932 points.

This means the benchmark index has lost 4.2% of its value this week, which is the worst weekly performance in over two years.

In fact, the last time the ASX 200 recorded a greater weekly decline was at the height of the pandemic in April 2020.

What caused the ASX 200 to tumble?

Investors were hitting the sell button in a panic this week following the Reserve Bank of Australia’s cash rate meeting.

That meeting, and its larger than expected rate hike, has led to the market now forecasting a cash rate of 3% by the end of the year. This was unthinkable at the start of the year when rates were practically at zero.

Investors appear concerned that this could slow economic growth and even risk a recession. There are also worries that borrowers could struggle with repayments if rates rise in line with the market’s expectations.

Unsurprisingly, because of the latter, the banks were among the worst performers on the ASX 200 index this week.

For example, the Westpac Banking Corp (ASX: WBC) share price sank 13.1% and the Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA) share price lost 11% of its value over the five days.

But they weren’t the worst performer on the index. That unwanted title goes to the Zip Co Limited (ASX: ZIP) share price with its 20.3% weekly decline.

Weakness in the tech sector and news that Apple has launched its buy now pay later (BNPL) offering, Apple Pay Later, led to rampant selling. The Zip share price is now down over 85% in 2022, making it also the worst performer on the ASX 200 year to date.

Here’s hoping for a rebound next week!

The post ASX 200 has its worst week in two years appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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More reading

• 3 ASX 200 real estate shares that hit new 52-week lows on Friday
• Why did the Lynas share price dive 8% today?
• Could these ASX 200 shares be most vulnerable to rising energy costs? Macquarie weighs in
• Zip share price hits multi-year low as Assistant Treasurer flags BNPL regulation
• Here are the 3 most traded ASX 200 shares on Friday

Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in Westpac Banking Corporation. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended ZIPCOLTD FPO. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Westpac Banking Corporation. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

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If you’re looking for an easy way to invest your hard-earned money, then exchange traded funds (ETFs) could be worth considering.

But which ETTs should you buy? Here are two ETFs that are rated highly by analysts right now:

ETFS Battery Tech & Lithium ETF (ASX: ACDC)

The first ETF for investors to look at is the ETFS Battery Tech & Lithium ETF.

This ETF provides investors with exposure to a range of companies involved in battery technology and lithium mining. These are a group of companies which look well-placed to prosper from the decarbonisation trend.

Among the shares included in the ETF are AMG Advanced Metallurgical Group, Lockheed Martin, Mineral Resources Limited (ASX: MIN), and Pilbara Minerals Ltd (ASX: PLS).

Jessica Amir from Saxo Markets believes this ETF could be a top option for investors. She recently suggested that it could be good way for investors to gain exposure to the decarbonisation megatrend.

VanEck Vectors MSCI World ex Australia Quality ETF (ASX: QUAL)

Another ETF that could be a top option for investors is the VanEck Vectors MSCI World ex Australia Quality ETF.

This ETF gives investors access to a group of high quality shares from across the world but excluding Australia. This could make it a good option for investors that already have a portfolio of quality Australian shares.

The companies included in the fund typically have low leverage, high earnings growth rates, and high returns on equity. Among its holdings are the likes of Apple, Microsoft, Nike, and Nvidia.

Shaw and Partners’ Felicity Thomas is positive on this ETF. She recently told Livewire: “[F]or me, it’s actually a buy. With rising interest rates and the war that’s going on in Europe, I actually think it’s important to invest in quality companies with high revenue growth and a solid balance sheet, which QUAL provides.”

The post Are these 2 high quality ETFs in the buy zone this month? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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More reading

• Down 14% in 2022, is the EFTS Battery Tech & Lithium EFT (ACDC) a buy?
• 2 ETFs I’d buy in June 2022
• These 2 ASX ETFs are focused on ‘green’ technology
• 2 fantastic ETFs for ASX investors to buy next week
• 2 high quality ETFs for ASX investors to buy

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 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.

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The Pexa Group Ltd (ASX: PXA) share price fell 3.62% on Friday to close the trading week at $13.30.

It came after reports surfaced that the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) is investigating the online property exchange network operator.

According to The Australian, the ACCC is probing the company for potential breaches of Section 46 of the Competition and Consumer Act, which “prohibits a firm with a substantial degree of market power from engaging in conduct that has the purpose, effect or likely effect of substantially lessening competition in a market”.

In wider market moves on Friday, the S&P/ASX 200 Real Estate Index (ASX: XRE) slipped 2.85% into the red.

Returns over the last three months for both instruments are plotted on the chart below, showing striking similarities in directional movement.

ACCC to investigate Pexa

The Pexa share price has been descending over the last two to three months, having stumbled from a previous closing high of $18.49 on 5 April.

This week, however, shares have slumped another 11%.

This comes amid reports the ACCC has started proceedings following accusations from competitor Sympli.

Allegations from Sympli say that Pexa delayed “interoperability”, according to The Australian. Interoperability is a system where platforms communicate with each other to enable property transactions to be completed across different operators, the report says.

“Sympli has also accused Pexa of withholding access to information that it needs to move forward to build its own electronic lodgement network,” the report said.

“Sympli CEO Philip Joyce also accused the market leader of being disingenuous in its dealings with other stakeholders.”

This isn’t the first time the ACCC has stuck the needle in to investigate Pexa. Back in September 2018, the ACCC drafted a report on the state of the industry, probing if Pexa’s large market share constituted a risk.

It remains to be seen what course of action the ACCC will take in its investigation and/or any recommendations from its final report.

In the last 12 months, the Pexa share price has crumbled by 22%. It has also fallen 33% this year to date.

The post Pexa Group share price slides 4% amid ACCC probe appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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More reading

• Fund manager names 3 ASX shares with monopoly moats

Motley Fool contributor Zach Bristow 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 PEXA Group Limited. 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.

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This Friday has been a pretty depressing one for most ASX 200 shares. With the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) recording a 1.25% loss for the day, it was always going to be a tough one.

But some ASX 200 shares fared far worse than the index today. So let’s talk about three such companies that hit a new 52-week low during today’s trading session.

All three are in the real estate business, so that should tell you something about what the market is trying to get out of right now.

3 ASX 200 shares that hit new 52-week lows today

Our first unlucky share to check out today is Dexus Property Group (ASX: DXS). Dexus owns a number of real estate assets, of which most are commercial property.

This ASX real estate investment trust (REIT) slipped 3.84% to $9.51 a unit by the end of the day’s trading. That happens to be Dexus’ new 52-week low. This REIT is now down by more than 15.5% over 2022 thus far.

But Dexus wasn’t the only REIT exploring new territory today. Diversified property developer Mirvac Group (ASX: MGR), another ASX REIT, also had a shocker.

Mirvac owns both industrial and commercial office real estate. This company’s units ended up finishing at $2.06 each at the end of today’s trading, down 1.44%. But the REIT hit a new low of $2.04 earlier today. That puts Mirvac down by a painful 31% or so over 2022 thus far.

Another ASX REIT in the doldrums today is GPT Group (ASX: GPT), a shopping centre and diversified property company. GPT units also had a day to forget. It finished up at $4.32 a unit, down a hefty 4.42%. But GPT hit a new 52-week low of $4.32 earlier in today’s session.

Why the battering?

It’s very possible that this distaste for ASX REITs that investors are displaying today is a result of the interest rate rise we saw earlier this week.

There are few ASX shares that are affected more by rising interest rates than REITs. That is because, as leveraged land owners, REITs face higher borrowing costs directly, just as mortgage holders do.

No doubt ASX REIT investors will be hoping for a kinder week next week.

The post 3 ASX 200 real estate shares that hit new 52-week lows on Friday appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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More reading

• Why did the Lynas share price dive 8% today?
• Could these ASX 200 shares be most vulnerable to rising energy costs? Macquarie weighs in
• Here are the 3 most traded ASX 200 shares on Friday
• 3 ASX 200 shares defying Friday’s falls to leap higher
• The market expects the RBA to take the cash rate to 3% by the end of 2022

Motley Fool contributor Sebastian Bowen has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has 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.

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