Day: March 15, 2023

3 ASX All Ords tech shares rebounding strongly from the SVB fallout (and 2 still tumbling)

three people wearing athletic numbers and outfits jump over hurdles on a running track.three people wearing athletic numbers and outfits jump over hurdles on a running track.

The S&P/ASX All Ordinaries Index (ASX: XAO) is in the green today, up 0.77% to 7,256.6 points at the time of writing.

Among the market’s blazers are three ASX All Ords tech shares bouncing back from the fall-out of Silicon Valley Bank’s (SVB) collapse.

On the flip side, two ASX All Ords tech shares are tumbling, despite only small exposures to SVB.

Let’s take a look.

ASX All Ords tech shares bouncing back today

To re-cap, SVB was a commercial lender specialising in technology companies.

It was shut down by regulators in the US last Friday.

It’s the biggest bank failure in the US since the global financial crisis (GFC).

Following the news, we’ve seen a roll-out of statements from ASX All Ords tech shares disclosing their exposure to SVB.

Of these, Life360 Inc (ASX: 360) shares are screaming 7.2% higher today to trade at $5.21 at the time of writing.

As my Fool colleague James reported last week, Life360 estimates its exposure is US$5.6 million in deposits. It also has US$75.4 million in shares of money market mutual funds invested in short-term, AAA-rated US Government treasury securities that are in SVB custodian accounts.

Life360 has updated shareholders today to confirm it “has regained access to its funds in SVB
accounts, and is transacting normally”.

Sezzle Inc (ASX: SZL) shares are also up today. The Sezzle share price is currently 53.5 cents, up 0.94%.

The buy now, pay later (BNPL) company has US$1.2 million in deposits with SVB.

Sezzle shares may have extra momentum today due to the company’s plans to list on the NASDAQ.

Finally, Xero Limited (ASX: XRO) shares are up 4% to $88.52 currently.

The accounting software company’s exposure to SVB is approximately US$5 million.

The Xero share price has steadily risen since the company revealed plans to reduce costs and drive growth. Xero shares are up 12.6% since the announcement last week.

ASX All Ords tech shares that are struggling

Meantime, Siteminder Ltd (ASX: SDR) shares are down 2.42% today to $3.425 at the time of writing.

The accommodation e-commerce platform provider updated the market on its exposure to SVB today.

After transferring some of its cash holdings to other lenders upon hearing of SVB’s collapse, SiteMinder was left with a cash exposure of A$10 million.

It also has a US$20 million revolving credit facility with SVB for contingency purposes that has not been drawn on since its initial public offering (IPO).

Today, the company said:

Following actions taken by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation and the Bank of England to fully protect SVB and SVBUK depositors, SiteMinder no longer expects any impact to its cash holdings.

SiteMinder has received confirmation from SVB that it will honour the Group’s US$20m revolving credit facility.

SiteMinder is working with other banks to further broaden its banking arrangements.

Redbubble Ltd (ASX: RBL) shares are also in the red today, down 4.34 to 50.7 cents at the moment.

The arts online marketplace provider has an A$1.3 million exposure to SVB.

The Redbubble share price is down 66% over the past 12 months.

The post 3 ASX All Ords tech shares rebounding strongly from the SVB fallout (and 2 still tumbling) appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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Motley Fool contributor Bronwyn Allen has positions in Xero. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Life360, Redbubble, SiteMinder, and Xero. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Xero. 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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Investing in ASX 200 shares? Here’s what to expect from the US Fed next week

a picture of the US federal reserve podium for making media announcements complete with US flag and federal reserve flag in the background and a large array of microphones set up.

a picture of the US federal reserve podium for making media announcements complete with US flag and federal reserve flag in the background and a large array of microphones set up.S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) shares are enjoying a solid rebound today following yesterday’s sell-off.

In afternoon trade the ASX 200 is up 0.6%.

Tech shares are broadly outperforming, as witnessed by the 1.5% gains posted by the S&P/ASX All Technology Index (ASX: XTX), which contains some smaller companies outside of the ASX 200.

Today’s strong performance follows a positive day of trading in US markets yesterday (overnight Aussie time). The day saw the S&P 500 Index (SP: .INX) closing up 1.7% and the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC) gaining 2.1%.

And those gains, in turn, were fuelled by investors increasingly betting that the US Federal Reserve will ease off its hawkish tightening pace sooner than feared.

Why might the Fed ease its tightening policies?

A growing number of analysts believe the Fed, the world’s most watched central bank, may take a step back from its rapid rate hike path following last week’s collapse of SVB Financial Group (NASDAQ: SIVB).

The logic here is that after ramping up interest rates at a record pace from previously record lows, SVB’s collapse is indicative of wider stress amongst financial institutions. And if the Fed wants to avoid pushing other banks over the edge, it may need to hold fire on further rate increases.

As you can with the ASX 200 movements today, any potential easing by the Fed would offer up some healthy tailwinds for further gains.

On the other side of that coin, however, the latest inflation figures out of the US showed an increase in monthly consumer prices.

Data released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics showed February’s consumer price index (CPI) increased 0.4% in February and was up 6% over the past full year. That could force the Fed’s hand in delivering another big rate hike on 22 March.

So, where does that leave us?

What can ASX 200 investors expect from the Fed next week?

For some greater insight into what ASX 200 investors can expect next Thursday on the heels of the Fed’s announcement, we turn to the experts (courtesy of Bloomberg).

Tom Essaye, a former Merrill Lynch trader, said a 0.25% hike still looks to be on the cards while earlier expectations of a 0.50% rate hike are unlikely:

Given the bank troubles, this [inflation] report isn’t bad enough to put 50 bps back on the table, but if the Fed wants to maintain credibility on inflation, then this report says they have to hike again next week and not signal they are done.

Wolf von Rotberg, equity strategist at Bank J Safra Sarasin also expects the Fed will have to scale back to a 0.25% increase.

According to von Roberg:

The CPI number is no game changer. After the events last week, a 50bps appeared unlikely going into the data print today and the slightly stronger than expected core inflation print puts speculation of a Fed pause to a rest.

The Fed is on track for another 25bps hike next week. Equities should rebound somewhat as the Fed becomes more predictable for now. But the impact from higher rates on the economy is just starting to be felt and will likely become more and more visible as the year moves on.

Ian Lyngen, rates strategist at BMO Capital Markets is on the fence about whether we’ll see a pause or a 0.25% increase.

“Overall, this is an inflation update that, taken as a sole input, would suggest that a 25 bp hike next week is a foregone conclusion,” Lyngen said. “Alas, the regional banking stress leaves next week’s decision as a wild card until there is greater clarity on the success of limiting the contagion to the rest of the banking sector from SVB/Signature.”

Meanwhile, Susannah Streeter, head of money and markets at Hargreaves Lansdown, thinks the SVB collapse could see the Fed take a breather. That would likely see another positive day of trading on the ASX 200.

“Policymakers may still feel forced to press pause on rates, despite evidence the hot inflation is still a risk, unwilling to be blamed for making a bad situation worse,” Streeter said.

“While smaller banks remain under pressure, there are concerns that bigger banks could become more risk averse in lending, which could dip the economy into a sharper downturn.”

There you have it.

Most likely next Thursday morning ASX 200 investors will find the Fed has raised rates by 0.25%. Very few experts are now forecasting a 0.50% increase, with some expecting the central bank to pause its tightening policies to assess the fallout from SVB.

The post Investing in ASX 200 shares? Here’s what to expect from the US Fed next week appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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SVB Financial provides credit and banking services to The Motley Fool. Motley Fool contributor Bernd Struben 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 SVB Financial. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended SVB Financial. 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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Guess which ASX lithium share just rebounded 15%

A young woman wearing a blue blouse with white polkadots holds her phone up with an intrigued and happy look on her face as she reads some news.A young woman wearing a blue blouse with white polkadots holds her phone up with an intrigued and happy look on her face as she reads some news.

The S&P/ASX 200 Materials Index (ASX: XMJ) is up 0.85% in late afternoon trading, but this ASX lithium share is outperforming the index.

Atlantic Lithium Ltd (ASX: A11) shares soared 14.6% in earlier trade today from 41 to 47 cents apiece. However, the company’s share price has since given back some of its gains and is now up 8.5% to 44.5 cents. For perspective, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is currently 0.68% higher.

So why is this ASX lithium share having such a top run today?

What’s going on?

Atlantic Lithium is developing the Ewoyaa lithium project in Ghana, West Africa. This project is funded via an agreement with Piedmont Lithium Inc (ASX: PLL).

Despite today’s gains, Atlantic Lithium’s share price has shed a mammoth 34% in the past month. It seems the company has recently been exposed to a short attack from Blue Orca.

However, as my Foolish colleague James reported today, it may be that short sellers are now closing their positions or investors believe Atlantic Lithium shares were sold off unfairly amid the attack.

Last week, Blue Orca alleged in a short-seller report that Atlantic Lithium derived key Ghana mining licenses by “making secret payments” and “promises of payment” to the immediate family of a high-level Ghana politician.

This led to both Atlantic Lithium and its partner Piedmont Lithium entering a trading halt last week.

However, on Friday, Atlantic Lithium denied the claims and described Blur Orca’s report as “false and misleading”.

Atlantic Lithium said:

The company holds valid prospecting licences with operating permits for all of its current activities, in accordance with the Ghanaian government and the Minerals Commission’s requirements, and outrightly refutes the allegations of impropriety made by the report.

Atlantic Lithium cautions investors not to make decisions based on the report, which it considers factually untrue.

Share price snapshot

The Atlantic Lithium share price has lost 23% in the last year.

For perspective, the ASX 200 has slipped 0.56% in the past 12 months.

This ASX lithium share has a market capitalisation of nearly $269 billion based on the current share price.

The post Guess which ASX lithium share just rebounded 15% appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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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 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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Should I load up on Telstra shares at $4 each?

A man casually dressed looks to the side in a pensive, thoughtful manner with one hand under his chin, holding a mobile phone in his hand while thinking about something.

A man casually dressed looks to the side in a pensive, thoughtful manner with one hand under his chin, holding a mobile phone in his hand while thinking about something.

After peaking at a 52-week high last month, Telstra Group Ltd (ASX: TLS) shares have pulled back and currently sit a touch over the $4.00 mark.

Investors may now be wondering if this has opened up a buying opportunity or if they should keep their powder dry for the time being.

Are Telstra shares a buy at current levels?

If the broker community is to be believed, now would be a great time to pick up Telstra shares.

A good number of brokers have the equivalent of buy ratings on the telco giant’s shares with price targets offering meaningful upside.

For example, Credit Suisse, Goldman Sachs, Jefferies, Macquarie, Morgan Stanley, and Morgans are all bullish and expect double-digit gains from its shares over the next 12 months.

What are brokers saying?

Over at Goldman Sachs, its analysts have a buy rating and $4.60 price target on the company’s shares. This suggests potential upside of over 13% from current levels.

The broker also expects a 17 cents per share fully franked dividend, which represents a 4.2% yield. Goldman commented:

We believe the low risk earnings (and dividend) growth that Telstra is delivering across FY22-25, underpinned through its mobile business, is attractive. We also believe that Telstra has a meaningful opportunity to crystalise value through commencing the process to monetize its InfraCo Fixed assets – which we estimate could be worth between A$22-33bn.

Whereas over at Morgans, its analysts have an add rating and $4.70 price target. This suggests upside of 16% for Telstra’s shares. And with the broker also expecting a 17 cents per share dividend in FY 2023, the total return stretches beyond 20%.

Morgans agrees that asset divestments could unlock value for shareholders. It said:

After a major turnaround, TLS has emerged in good shape with strong earnings momentum and a strong balance sheet. In late CY22 shareholders vote on Telstra’s legal restructure, which opens the door for value to be released. TLS currently trades on ~7x EV/EBITDA. However some of TLS’s high quality long life assets like InfraCo are worth substantially more, in our view. We don’t think this is in the price so see it as value generating for TLS shareholders.

The post Should I load up on Telstra shares at $4 each? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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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 Telstra Group. 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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