Day: 2 August 2022

  • 3 wonderful ETFs for ASX investors to buy today

    man looks at phone while disappointed

    man looks at phone while disappointed

    If you’re looking for an easy way to build a diverse portfolio, then exchange traded funds (ETFs) could be the answer.

    That’s because ETFs allow investors to invest in a large number of shares through just a single investment, providing instant diversification in some cases.

    With that in mind, listed below are three ETFs that could be good options for investors. Here’s what you need to know about them:

    BetaShares Global Energy Companies ETF (ASX: FUEL)

    The first ETF to look at is the BetaShares Global Energy Companies ETF. This ETF provides investors with access to the leading players in the energy sector. And given how energy prices are very strong right now, it could be a great place to have some investment exposure. This ETF includes the likes of BP, Chevron, ExxonMobil, and Royal Dutch Shell. The former has just released its quarterly update and revealed a profit of US$8.45 billion. This was BP’s second largest quarterly profit in its history and followed a record profit from Shell last week.

    iShares S&P 500 ETF (ASX: IVV)

    Another ETF for investors to consider this month is the iShares S&P 500 ETF. This popular ETF could be a great way to diversify a portfolio because it gives investors access to a massive 500 of the top listed U.S. companies. In addition, iShares notes that the fund offers long-term growth opportunities for a portfolio. This is thanks to the inclusion of high quality companies such as Amazon, Apple, Disney, Facebook, JP Morgan, Johnson & Johnson, Microsoft, Tesla, and Visa.

    Vanguard MSCI Index International Shares ETF (ASX: VGS)

    A final ETF for investors to look at is the Vanguard MSCI Index International Shares ETF. When it comes to diversification, this ETF has it in spates. That’s because the Vanguard MSCI Index International Shares ETF allows investors to invest in approximately ~1,500 of the world’s largest listed companies. This means you’ll be owning many of the world’s biggest and brightest companies such as Amazon, Apple, AstraZeneca, Johnson & Johnson, JP Morgan, Nestle, Procter & Gamble, Roche, and Visa.

    The post 3 wonderful ETFs for ASX investors to buy today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Wondering where you should invest $1,000 right now?

    When investing expert Scott Phillips has a stock tip, it can pay to listen. After all, the flagship Motley Fool Share Advisor newsletter he has run for over ten years has provided thousands of paying members with stock picks that have doubled, tripled or even more.* Scott just revealed what he believes could be the “five best ASX stocks” for investors to buy right now. These stocks are trading at near dirt-cheap prices and Scott thinks they could be great buys right now

    See The 5 Stocks
    *Returns as of July 7 2022

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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 BetaShares Global Energy Companies ETF – Currency Hedged and Vanguard MSCI Index International Shares ETF. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Vanguard MSCI Index International Shares ETF and iShares Trust – iShares Core 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.

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  • What could a tighter household budget mean for NIB shares?

    a woman sits in her home with chin resting on her hand and looking at her laptop computer with some reflection with an assortment of books and documents on her table.a woman sits in her home with chin resting on her hand and looking at her laptop computer with some reflection with an assortment of books and documents on her table.

    NIB Holdings Limited (ASX: NHF) shares have fallen slightly over the past month, but what are their future prospects?

    The NIB share price has slipped 0.41% in the last month, closing at $7.33 on Tuesday. That was 2.37% higher on the day.

    So let’s check what could be ahead for shares in the healthcare insurer.

    What’s ahead for private insurance

    UBS has recently highlighted how more Australians see the benefit of private health insurance despite the “ongoing increase in out-of-pocket expenses”.

    However, UBS analyst Scott Russell is predicting customers will pay more attention to monthly premiums “under tighter household budgets”. In a note cited by The Australian, analyst Scott Russell said:

    Switching is inevitable and we note the typical profile is younger, less than 35, and in lower/middle income bands; many of these are customers of nib and ahm – lower value for money – and appear to be eyeing Medibank, Bupa and HBF brands.

    But despite the risk of Australians changing health insurers, Russell still sees upside in the NIB share price. He has lifted the company’s price target from $7.10 to $7.70. That’s 8% more than the current share price.

    Russell predicts NIB’s earnings per share (EPS) could jump by 11 to 22% in FY23, claiming the company “enjoys similar tailwinds” to Medibank Private Ltd (ASX: MPL), The Australian reported.

    The analyst has also upgraded Medibank Private to a buy rating with a $3.90 price target. That’s 11% more than the company’s current share price of $3.50.

    NIB will report its full-year results on 22 August.

    Share price snapshot

    NIB shares have climbed 2% in the past year and are up nearly 5% year to date.

    For perspective, the  S&P/ASX 200 Financials Index (ASX: XFJ) has lost 2.6% so far in 2022.

    NIB has a market capitalisation of about $3.4 billion based on the current share price.

    The post What could a tighter household budget mean for NIB shares? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in Nib Holdings Limited right now?

    Before you consider Nib Holdings Limited, you’ll want to hear this.

    Motley Fool Investing expert Scott Phillips just revealed what he believes are the 5 best stocks for investors to buy right now… and Nib Holdings Limited wasn’t one of them.

    The online investing service he’s run for over a decade, Motley Fool Share Advisor, has provided thousands of paying members with stock picks that have doubled, tripled or even more.* And right now, Scott thinks there are 5 stocks that are better buys.

    See The 5 Stocks
    *Returns as of July 7 2022

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    Motley Fool contributor Monica O’Shea 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 recommended NIB Holdings Limited. 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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  • Why did the Bapcor share price outpace the ASX 200 on Tuesday?

    The Bapcor Ltd (ASX: BAP) share price outperformed the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) on Tuesday. At the end of the day, Bapcor shares finished at $6.71 each, 1.36% higher.  

    Bapcor outperformed the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) by 1.29% today.

    Bapcor is a car parts, accessories, and services provider operating the Autobarn, Autopro, and Burson chains across Australia, New Zealand, and Thailand.

    New CEO locked in but is it the right decision?

    Since the acrimonious departure of the former CEO and Managing Director Darryl Abotomey in December 2021, the Bapcor share price has fallen by 3%. 

    Bapcor’s then CFO Noel Meehan was appointed as Acting CEO. Today, Bapcor announced the appointment of Meehan as CEO and managing director effective from 1 September 2022.

    Bapcor chair, Margaret Haseltine said in today’s release:

    The Board has observed Noel in the role of CEO since 8 February 2022 and during this, he has secured the engagement of new key executives and has shown strong leadership by establishing a clear vision and strategic direction for Bapcor.

    Appointing an internal candidate can foster confidence across the management team and potentially offers a smooth transition given Meehan’s prior experience. However, Meehan only came onboard as CFO in July 2020 and does not appear to possess industry experience based on his profile on the company website. 

    I think it’s prudent to monitor Meehan’s execution of the strategic objectives, which centre around growing the network, capitalising on operational efficiencies, expanding the product range, and penetrating the Asia market as outlined in the HY22 results announcement.

    Furthermore, the Bapcor FY21 annual report shows Meehan only held a small parcel of Bapcor shares in the company. Further details of Meehan’s remuneration package will hopefully shed light on the strength of alignment with shareholders. 

    Could the reshuffle present an investment opportunity?

    Meehan’s formal appointment as CEO coincides with the retirement of Therese Ryan as an independent non-executive director effective from 30 September 2022. 

    Ryan has been a director since 2014, so her departure could be viewed by some as leaving an experience gap on the board. For reference, the Bapcor share price has increased around 246% since 2014.

    Bapcor is undergoing an unusual level of personnel turnover at the higher ranks. This could provide investment opportunities as the market may view such events in a negative light. However, new management and directors could provide a much-needed breath of fresh air and direction. 

    One way to evaluate whether Bapcor has the right leaders to steer the ship is to closely monitor key milestones against what management has promised. 

    So, make sure to keep your eyes peeled for Motley Fool’s coverage of Bapcor’s financial year-end results. 

    The post Why did the Bapcor share price outpace the ASX 200 on Tuesday? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Wondering where you should invest $1,000 right now?

    When investing expert Scott Phillips has a stock tip, it can pay to listen. After all, the flagship Motley Fool Share Advisor newsletter he has run for over ten years has provided thousands of paying members with stock picks that have doubled, tripled or even more.* Scott just revealed what he believes could be the “five best ASX stocks” for investors to buy right now. These stocks are trading at near dirt-cheap prices and Scott thinks they could be great buys right now

    See The 5 Stocks
    *Returns as of July 7 2022

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    Motley Fool contributor Raymond Jang has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. 

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  • Here’s why the next bull market may have already begun

    Cut interest ratesCut interest rates

    For a third consecutive month, the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA), as expected, lifted the cash rate by 50 basis points today.

    This brings the cash rate to 1.85% as the central bank tries to fight inflation, currently running at its highest level since the early 1990s.

    The RBA is expecting inflation to peak later this year but doesn’t expect it to fall towards the top end of its target range until 2024.

    So much for inflation being transitory.

    Somewhat counterintuitively, the ASX 200 took the increase in its stride, paring its losses to trade relatively flat on Tuesday.

    Prior to today, market expectations were for the cash rate to peak at around 3.3% in March next year before edging lower later next year and early 2024.

    Equity bulls are already salivating at the prospect of interest rate cuts, a possibility that helped send the ASX 200 almost 6% higher in July.

    The ‘central bank put’ is back in play… even whilst interest rates are still rising. Once a bull, always a bull. Yes, I’m a signed-up, paying member of the club.

    It seems I may not be alone, with Scott Haslem, chief investment officer at Crestone Wealth Management recently saying in the AFR that bond yields have just about peaked, something that “signals a respite for many long-duration equities, including quality tech exposures”.

    As if to emphasise the point, the S&P/ASX All Technology Index (ASX: XTX) moved sharply higher after the RBA decision.

    Bears will point to a raft of challenges, including falling house prices, higher mortgage repayments, lower consumer confidence, lower corporate profitability, the prospect of higher inflation for longer, and the prospect of recession.

    All this comes against a backdrop of the lowest unemployment rate for almost 50 years and the RBA’s forecast of economic growth of over 3% in 2022, moderating to 1.75% in each of the following two years.

    Close your eyes and look at the numbers and you’d be excused for assuming it’s plain sailing ahead.

    I’m not so naive to think everything is golden.

    With household debt running at record levels, and with veteran bank analyst Jon Mott saying up to $250 billion of mortgages taken out in the last few years could be at risk of delinquency, there are clearly tougher times ahead.

    Equity markets are forward-looking. As opposed to June — a truly horror month for many investors, particularly for small cap stocks — even in the face of today’s RBA interest rate hike, markets are looking ahead to inflation peaking and to the day central banks get back to “the good old days” and start cutting interest rates again.

    It won’t be plain sailing. It won’t be the COVID bounce we experienced in 2020. But neither will it be GFC II. The next bull market may already have begun.

    The post Here’s why the next bull market may have already begun appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Wondering where you should invest $1,000 right now?

    When investing expert Scott Phillips has a stock tip, it can pay to listen. After all, the flagship Motley Fool Share Advisor newsletter he has run for over ten years has provided thousands of paying members with stock picks that have doubled, tripled or even more.* Scott just revealed what he believes could be the “five best ASX stocks” for investors to buy right now. These stocks are trading at near dirt-cheap prices and Scott thinks they could be great buys right now

    See The 5 Stocks
    *Returns as of July 7 2022

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    Motley Fool contributor Bruce Jackson 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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  • Why Goldman Sachs says the Bendigo and Adelaide Bank share price is great value

    A couple sits in their lounge room with a large piggy bank on the coffee table. They smile while the male partner feeds some money into the slot while the female partner looks on with an iPad style device in her hands as though they are budgeting.

    A couple sits in their lounge room with a large piggy bank on the coffee table. They smile while the male partner feeds some money into the slot while the female partner looks on with an iPad style device in her hands as though they are budgeting.

    The Bendigo and Adelaide Bank Ltd (ASX: BEN) share price could be in the buy zone.

    That’s the view of analysts at Goldman Sachs, which have just upgraded the regional bank’s shares.

    What is Goldman saying about the Bendigo and Adelaide Bank share price?

    According to a note out of the investment bank, its analysts have upgraded the company’s shares to a buy rating from neutral with an improved price target of $11.89.

    Based on the current Bendigo and Adelaide Bank share price of $10.67, this implies potential upside of 11% for investors over the next 12 months.

    But it gets better. Goldman is forecasting a 54 cents per share fully franked dividend in FY 2022 and then 62 cents per share in FY 2023. This represents dividend yields of 5.1% and 5.8%, respectively, for investors over the next couple of years.

    Why is Goldman bullish?

    Goldman is bullish on the Bendigo and Adelaide Bank share price for a few reasons.

    This includes the bank’s strong and improving volume momentum and exposure to rising rates. In fact, the broker thinks it is the best-placed bank for the latter.

    Its analysts explained:

    BEN provides the best exposure of the banks to rising rates, given its overall higher exposure to deposit funding, and higher exposure to rate inert deposits. Furthermore, BEN does not replicate its exposure to higher rates, which will mean the more aggressive cash rate hikes will flow through its P&L quicker than peers. Furthermore, we highlight that to date, BEN has exhibited better discipline than its regional peers on deposit repricing in the face of higher cash rates, which should also support its NIM performance.

    Goldman also believes the bank is well-positioned to cope with an economic downturn and a spike in bad debts should would occur.

    Our assessment of mid-cycle losses has BEN’s exposures as one of the most conservative of the banks we cover, with an estimated over-the-cycle loss rate of just 15 bp, versus 22 bp on average for the major banks. This leaves it well-placed should the macro environment deteriorate more than what is currently implied by our forecasts.

    All in all, the broker sees Bendigo and Adelaide Bank as a great option for ASX investors looking for exposure to the banking sector.

    The post Why Goldman Sachs says the Bendigo and Adelaide Bank share price is great value appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in Bendigo And Adelaide Bank Ltd right now?

    Before you consider Bendigo And Adelaide Bank Ltd, you’ll want to hear this.

    Motley Fool Investing expert Scott Phillips just revealed what he believes are the 5 best stocks for investors to buy right now… and Bendigo And Adelaide Bank Ltd wasn’t one of them.

    The online investing service he’s run for over a decade, Motley Fool Share Advisor, has provided thousands of paying members with stock picks that have doubled, tripled or even more.* And right now, Scott thinks there are 5 stocks that are better buys.

    See The 5 Stocks
    *Returns as of July 7 2022

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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 no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Bendigo and Adelaide Bank Limited. 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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  • 3 ASX 200 shares rocking new, multi-year highs on Tuesday

    Three businesspeople leap high with the CBD in the background.

    Three businesspeople leap high with the CBD in the background.

    Overall, it wasn’t too pleasant a day for the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) on Tuesday. The ASX 200 spent most of the day deep in red territory, although it did recover late afternoon to record an overall loss of only 0.07% for the day. But that didn’t stop three ASX 200 shares from hitting new, multi-year highs today.

    3 ASX 200 shares that hit new multi-year highs today

    Coles Group Ltd (ASX: COL)

    It certainly wasn’t ‘down, down’ for the Coles share price today, with the ASX 200 supermarket operator hitting a new record high. Coles shares ended up closing at $19.21 each today, up a healthy 1.91%.

    But Coles rose as high as $19.28 around midday. That’s the company’s highest-ever share price since it was kicked out of its old parent company Wesfarmers Ltd (ASX: WES) in 2018.

    There wasn’t anything specific that prompted Coles shares to hit this new high watermark, although we did take a look at some of the underlying factors behind this rise earlier today.

    Endeavour Group Ltd (ASX: EDV)

    Endeavour is our next ASX 200 share to take a look at. This bottle shop and pubs company also had a corker. It closed at $8.11 this afternoon. But rose as high as $8.12 during intra-day trading, the company’s new all-time high.

    Of course, Endeavour has only been on the ASX under its own steam for just over a year. It was formerly part of Woolworths Group Ltd (ASX: WOW) before being spun out back in June 2021.

    We didn’t hear anything out of this company today either. Saying that, Endeavour has been blessed with some love from ASX experts recently. So that could have played a role in this new high today.

    Orica Ltd (ASX: ORI)

    ASX 200 explosives manufacturer Orica is our third ASX share lucky enough to hit a new 52-week high today.

    In this company’s case, Orica shares closed at $17.20 each today after rising as high as $17.22, the new high watermark. That’s not a record high for Orica, but is still the highest the share has traded at since at least mid-2020. 

    Again, there wasn’t any specific news that triggered this new high today. However, the Orica share price has been steadily climbing for months now. It is currently up a healthy 25.6% year to date in 2022  as well as up almost 9% over the past month alone.

    The post 3 ASX 200 shares rocking new, multi-year highs on Tuesday appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Wondering where you should invest $1,000 right now?

    When investing expert Scott Phillips has a stock tip, it can pay to listen. After all, the flagship Motley Fool Share Advisor newsletter he has run for over ten years has provided thousands of paying members with stock picks that have doubled, tripled or even more.* Scott just revealed what he believes could be the “five best ASX stocks” for investors to buy right now. These stocks are trading at near dirt-cheap prices and Scott thinks they could be great buys right now

    See The 5 Stocks
    *Returns as of July 7 2022

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    Motley Fool contributor Sebastian Bowen has positions in Wesfarmers. 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 positions in and has recommended COLESGROUP DEF SET and Wesfarmers Limited. 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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  • Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today

    A woman sits in a cafe wearing a polka dotted shirt and holding a latte in one hand while reading a broker note about ASX shares on her laptop that is sitting on the table in front of herA woman sits in a cafe wearing a polka dotted shirt and holding a latte in one hand while reading a broker note about ASX shares on her laptop that is sitting on the table in front of her

    The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) defied its earlier downturn to close higher after the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) lifted interest rates for a fourth consecutive month. The index was 0.07% higher at 6,998.10 points at Tuesday’s close.

    The RBA hiked rates by a further 50 basis points today, bringing Australia’s official cash rate to 1.85% in another bid to dampen inflation, which reached 6.1% over the year to 30 June.

    The benchmark index lifted out of its earlier slump immediately after the RBA released the outcome of its August meeting. It was driven higher by S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Discretionary (ASX: XDJ) shares and S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Staples (ASX: XCJ) shares. The sectors gained 1.5% and 1.2% respectively today.

    Meanwhile, the S&P/ASX 200 Real Estate Index (ASX: XRE) suffered a 1.6% slump and the S&P/ASX 200 Materials Index (ASX: XMJ) fell 1.1%.

    All in all, eight of the ASX 200’s 11 sectors ended today’s trade in the green. But which ASX shares outperformed all others on Tuesday? Keep reading to find out.

    Top 10 ASX 200 shares countdown

    After a brief hiatus from the top spot, Zip Co Ltd (ASX: ZIP) has retaken the crown. The buy now, pay later (BPNL) stock lifted 15% on Tuesday to close at $1.22. Find out what Zip has been up to here.

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

    ASX-listed company Share price Price change
    Zip Co Ltd (ASX: ZIP) $1.22 15.09%
    A2 Milk Company Ltd (ASX: A2M) $4.90 7.93%
    St Barbara Ltd (ASX: SBM) $1.22 5.17%
    Ramelius Resources Limited (ASX: RMS) $1.03 4.57%
    De Grey Mining Limited (ASX: DEG) $0.94 3.87%
    West African Resources Ltd (ASX: WAF) $1.37 3.79%
    Telix Pharmaceuticals Ltd (ASX: TLX) $7.34 3.38%
    Breville Group Ltd (ASX: BRG) $21.62 3.25%
    JB Hi-Fi Limited (ASX: JBH) $43.61 3.1%
    Eagers Automotive Ltd (ASX: APE) $12.69 3%

    Our top 10 ASX 200 shares 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 200 shares today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Wondering where you should invest $1,000 right now?

    When investing expert Scott Phillips has a stock tip, it can pay to listen. After all, the flagship Motley Fool Share Advisor newsletter he has run for over ten years has provided thousands of paying members with stock picks that have doubled, tripled or even more.* Scott just revealed what he believes could be the “five best ASX stocks” for investors to buy right now. These stocks are trading at near dirt-cheap prices and Scott thinks they could be great buys right now

    See The 5 Stocks
    *Returns as of July 7 2022

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    Motley Fool contributor Brooke Cooper 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 ZIPCOLTD FPO. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended A2 Milk. 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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  • Is the iron ore price entering a bear market?

    A male geologist wearing a white hardhat and orange high vis vest talks on a walkie-talkie while staring at a rock showing mineral depositsA male geologist wearing a white hardhat and orange high vis vest talks on a walkie-talkie while staring at a rock showing mineral deposits

    With all the economic dramas going on in China these days, it’s reasonable to wonder whether iron ore’s multi-year bull run is over.

    It’s important for us to know, given Australia’s gross domestic product (GDP) relies heavily on our resources trade, particularly sales of iron ore, and China is our biggest customer.

    In fact, China buys more iron ore than any other country, accounting for 70% of global imports.

    So, for better or worse, right now the global iron ore price is inextricably linked to the Chinese economy. And here’s what’s been happening lately: COVID-19 lockdowns, falling property sales, government-backed bailouts of unfinished housing projects, debt defaults, and a “sharp contraction” in the steel industry due to “collapsing domestic demand”.

    That’s according to a note from Liberum Capital reported in the Australian Financial Review (AFR) today.

    So, what does all this mean for the iron ore price? Is it heading into a bear market?

    The rollercoaster of the iron ore price

    Before we answer that, let’s review the recent history of the iron ore price.

    Back in January 2016, the iron ore price hit an all-time low of US$42 per tonne. Since that time, it has climbed in a sharp jagged line to reach a peak of US$215 per tonne in June 2021.

    Then it took a dive. All the way back to US$100 per tonne by November 2021. Then, we saw a recovery to US$158 per tonne by March this year. Then it fell again, back to $US100 per tonne on 21 July. (Anyone feel like we’re on a rollercoaster, here?)

    Now what’s happening? Well, in overnight trading, the iron ore price went up 1.28% to US$119 per tonne.

    So, it appears to be on the rebound. Or is it just a blip? Simply part of that historically sharp jagged line, whether it’s upwards or downwards?

    Is iron ore going bearish?

    In an article by Hans Lee on Livewire, commodities analysts from Citi basically say ‘no’ to this question.

    They reckon more stimulus as a result of easing monetary policies in China could lift the iron ore price.

    They also say the recent dip in the iron ore price has led to less seaborne supply from smaller producers. Plus, recent lockdowns have resulted in less domestic production, so this could lead to higher demand for imports in the second half of 2022. Hence, “the iron ore price could perform strongly through the end of the year”, according to the article.

    The Citi team says the demand/supply ‘delta’, which means the rate of change, is turning positive.

    According to the article:

    Indeed, new home starts and completions are outpacing the rate of ongoing projects. This differential is traditionally a leading indicator for iron ore price movements — one way or the other.

    Citi backs BHP and Rio Tinto

    Citi notes the price drops of the three major ASX mining shares — BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP), Rio Tinto Limited (ASX: RIO), and Fortescue Metals Group Limited (ASX: FMG) — during the recent market sell-off.

    Based on current valuation and potential dividend yields, Citi recommends BHP and Rio Tinto as buys. It rates Fortescue a hold.

    The analysts say more stimulus in China and a weaker Australian dollar are great news for the miners. When the dollar is weak, the cost to export iron ore goes down.

    The post Is the iron ore price entering a bear market? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Wondering where you should invest $1,000 right now?

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    *Returns as of July 7 2022

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    Citigroup is an advertising partner of The Ascent, a Motley Fool company. Motley Fool contributor Bronwyn Allen has positions in BHP Billiton Limited and Fortescue Metals Group Limited. 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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  • Up 33% in July, why did the Sayona share price have such a stellar month?

    A man and woman sit next to each other looking at each other and feeling excited and surprised after reading good news about their shares on a laptop in front of themA man and woman sit next to each other looking at each other and feeling excited and surprised after reading good news about their shares on a laptop in front of them

    The Sayona Mining Ltd (ASX: SYA) share price was well into the green in July, finishing 33.33% higher over the month.

    Meanwhile, the S&P/ASX 300 Metals and Mining Index (ASX: XMM) finished flat as global commodities continued to realise a deep pullback.

    Strong July for Sayona

    Sayona shares gained 35% in the second last week of July on no news.

    Investors rallied Sayona alongside other ASX lithium shares whilst the price of lithium carbonate remained buoyant.

    In fact, while there’s been a sharp downturn in the price of most commodities since March, lithium has held form and now trades at $100,331 per tonne, in line with its 2022 average.

    This was a bullish factor for the Sayona share price according to a recent analysis.

    Sayona share price vs the benchmark

    The mining benchmark has reversed course and pared 2022’s gains. It approached 52-week lows in July but managed to claw back some on the roll into August.

    Sayona and the mining index have tracked each other closely since May. The difference is that Sayona bounced from its low earlier, and with more force, than the benchmark over June and July, as seen below.

    TradingView Chart

    On 29 July, Sayona released its quarterly activities and cash flow report.

    The lithium miner reported “significant advances towards the recommencement of spodumene (lithium) production at the Company’s North American Lithium (NAL) operation in Québec, Canada”.

    In the past 12 months, the Sayona share price has held a 125% gain.

    At the market close on Tuesday, Sayona shares were 18 cents, 28.5% higher this year to date.

    The post Up 33% in July, why did the Sayona share price have such a stellar month? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Wondering where you should invest $1,000 right now?

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    *Returns as of July 7 2022

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    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 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 Openpay share price has cratered 40% in 3 days. What’s going on?

    A woman sits at her computer with her hands clutched her the bottom of her face as though she may be biting her fingermails with a worried expression in her eyes and frown lines visible.

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    After spending most of the trading day deep in red territory, the All Ordinaries Index (ASX: XAO) closed 0.05% higher on Tuesday. However, it was not such a happy ending for the Openpay Group Ltd (ASX: OPY) share price.

    Openpay shares also spent much of the day in the red, finishing 3.13% lower at 31 cents a share. The ASX buy now, pay later (BNPL) share dropped as low as 28 cents a share earlier in the day. All up, it means Openpay shares have now lost a painful 40% since hitting 52 cents a share last Friday.

    But rather perplexingly, the Openpay share price still remains up by close to 24% over the past five trading days. That’s even after the big falls we have seen since Friday.

    This is largely thanks to the massive near-50% move we saw last Thursday. Indeed, between Monday and Thursday last week, the Openpay share price more than doubled from 24 cents to 50 cents.

    The jaw-dropping share price move we saw on Thursday seemed to have been sparked by the release of Openpay’s quarterly update. This covered the three months to 30 June 2022.

    As we covered at the time, the BNPL company reported a pleasing 50% increase in the number of active plans to 1.8 million for the quarter over the prior corresponding period. Active customers also rose by 21% to 321,000.

    Total value transaction was also up significantly, rising by 54% to $97.6 million. Revenues also came in strong, with Openpay recording a record $8.5 million, up 80% over the prior period.

    Why has the Openpay share price tanked 40% in three days?

    So obviously investors were driven into a frenzy with these numbers. But it seems that many have since had a rethink. Openpay has not given any additional news or updates to investors since this report. So ‘cold feet’ is the most likely explanation for Openpay’s more recent share price woes.

    Despite the massive share price movements we saw last week, Openpay shares remain down by almost 60% in 2022 thus far. At its current share price, this ASX BNPL share has a market capitalisation of just over $48 million.

    The post The Openpay share price has cratered 40% in 3 days. What’s going on? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Wondering where you should invest $1,000 right now?

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    *Returns as of July 7 2022

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    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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