At lunch on Thursday the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is on course to record another impressive gain. The benchmark index is currently up 2.4% to 5,912.3 points.

Here’s what has been happening on the market today:

Blackmores shares climb higher.

The Blackmores Limited (ASX: BKL) share price is climbing higher today after completing the institutional component of its capital raising. Blackmores raised $92 million through institutional investors at $72.50. This was an 8% discount to its last close price. These funds will be used to strengthen its balance sheet and liquidity position, support its activities in the Asia market, and invest in its efficiency program. Blackmores also revealed that it is on track to achieve its guidance in FY 2020.

WiseTech Global earnout update.

The WiseTech Global Ltd (ASX: WTC) share price is trading lower on Thursday after providing an update on its acquisition earnouts. The logistics solutions company has renegotiated the earnout arrangements for a number of acquisitions in order to remove significant contingent cash obligations and drive the growth of its CargoWise platform. Part of the renegotiations has seen the company replace significant cash payments with shares. These shares were issued today and could have been sold by some recipients, weighing on its share price.

Bank shares charge higher again.

It has been another fantastic day of trade for the big four banks. Investors have continued to pile into the banking sector on Thursday and are driving their shares notably higher. The Australia and New Zealand Banking Grp Ltd (ASX: ANZ) share price is the best performer with a gain of over 6.5%. The worst performer in the big four is the Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA) share price with a 4% gain.

Best and worst ASX 200 performers.

The best performer on the ASX 200 on Thursday has been the Nearmap Ltd (ASX: NEA) share price with an 18% gain. This follows the release of a positive update from the aerial imagery technology and location data company this morning. The worst performer has been the Beach Energy Ltd (ASX: BPT) share price with a 4% decline. This morning analysts at Macquarie and Morgans both downgraded the energy producer’s shares to neutral/hold ratings.

More reading

• The next looming test for the ASX 200 bull market is just round the corner
• Why Beach, Jumbo, ResMed, & WiseTech Global shares are dropping lower
• Why you shouldn’t fear an ASX share market crash
• Where will the Telstra share price be next year?
• Why the Blackmores share price is charging higher today

Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia owns shares of and has recommended Blackmores Limited and Nearmap Ltd. The Motley Fool Australia owns shares of WiseTech Global. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

The post ASX 200 up 2.4%: Blackmores raises $92m, big four banks jump, Nearmap rockets appeared first on Motley Fool Australia.

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ASX investors may be close to scaling the COVID-19 wall of worry, but they won’t have to wait long to hit the next obstacle.

The S&P/ASX 200 Index (Index:^AXJO) jumped 2% in morning trade as the ASX bank stocks led the charge yet again.

This takes the gain by the top 200 benchmark to around 30% since it hit its bear market trough two months ago.

This rally’s no bull

There’s a growing sense among professional investors that the rally isn’t a dead cat bounce. While it isn’t uncommon to see 20% odd jumps before a collapse during a bear market, it’s unusual for the rebound to push into 30% plus territory. It would take one springy cat to pull that off.

I believe consensus is catching up to my view that I expressed on March 30 that the worst is likely over for the ASX 200 thanks to the government’s JobKeeper program.

The last major bear stronghold (aka the big four ASX banks) is crumbling and this only adds to my conviction that financial markets have passed “peak-pain” – barring a second wave of infections.

Looming risks to the new bull market

But don’t pop the champagne just yet. I don’t think we have a clear run back to the pre-coronavirus top as there are other headwinds building on the immediate horizon.

One potential big obstacle is Hong Kong. The violent protests gripping the territory is shaping up to be a new battle front between US allies and China.

Investors aren’t paying much attention to this looming threat as they are too caught up in the coronavirus afterparty, but this would be a mistake.

Why you should watch Hong Kong

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo declared yesterday that the Asian financial hub no longer enjoys a high degree of autonomy from China.

This paves the way for the US government to remove Hong Kong’s special trading status and to impose sanctions against key Chinese officials and freeze Chinese assets in the US.

Such a move would mark the biggest escalation in Sino-US relations since US President Donald Trump waged a trade war against the Asian giant.

Second trade war will be worse

The trade war put a big dent in our market before the COVID-19 pandemic dominated headlines. A second trade war that puts Hong-Kong in the middle of the battlefield will be far worse than the first, in my view.

This is because the first trade war was about economics and US politics. A potential second one will involve Chinese pride and I don’t see the communist politburo compromising on this issue – not when Hong Kong symbolises China’s humiliation at the hands of the West following the Opium Wars.

It’s also alarming to see China flex its muscles on the world stage in other areas outside of Hong Kong. It’s starting to act like a superpower and this leaves it little room to back down from challenges without looking weak.

You can bet that Australia will be caught in any crossfire as we are forced to pick a side.

But Trump may only be using Hong Kong as a leverage in the next round of trade tariff negotiations, so it’s a little too early to assume the worse.

Debt time bomb

Trade wars aside, another wall of worry that the ASX 200 will need to scale is the expiration of goodwill and government stimulus in September.

This is when the JobKeeper and JobSeeker programs end. Landlords and lenders that have shown (or were forced to) restrain during the crisis might be more aggressively chasing debtors.

Even APRA is warning the banks that the worst lies ahead and not to take make a “dangerously naive” assumption of a “V” sharped economic recovery, according to the Australian Financial Review.

By all means, celebrate the flattening of the COVID-19 curve. Just remember to keep exuberance in-check.

More reading

• ASX 200 up 2.4%: Blackmores raises $92m, big four banks jump, Nearmap rockets
• Why you shouldn’t fear an ASX share market crash
• Where will the Telstra share price be next year?
• 3 ASX shares Warren Buffett couldn’t ignore today
• What would $50,000 invested in the ASX 200 a decade ago be worth today?

Motley Fool contributor Brendon Lau has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. Connect with me on Twitter @brenlau.

The Motley Fool Australia has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

The post The next looming test for the ASX 200 bull market is just round the corner appeared first on Motley Fool Australia.

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As I mentioned here previously, the Westpac Banking Corp (ASX: WBC) economic team expects the cash rate to remain on hold at a record low of 0.25% until the end of 2023.

Barring a surprise flare up of inflation between now and then, I suspect that this forecast will provide accurate.

In light of this, if I had $10,000 sitting in savings accounts, I would look to put it to work in the share market where the potential returns are vastly superior.

If you have $10,000 to invest, I would suggest you consider these ASX 200 shares:

Bubs Australia Ltd (ASX: BUB)

The first option to consider buying is this infant formula and baby food company. It has been growing its sales at a very strong rate in recent years thanks to the widening of its distribution network and increasing demand in China. Until recently the company’s sales were being made at a loss, but it finally appears to have reached a scale which will make them increasingly profitable now. In light of this, I’m optimistic the capital raisings are over and it is onwards and upwards for the company from here.

Cochlear Limited (ASX: COH)

Another option to consider investing $10,000 into is Cochlear. It is one of the world’s leading hearing solutions companies and has sold more than 550,000 implantable devices globally. I don’t expect its sales to stop there and believe demand will continue to grow in the coming decades thanks to technological advances and the ageing populations tailwind. In light of this, I think it could be a great share to buy for the long term.

Kogan.com Ltd (ASX: KGN)

A final option to consider is this ecommerce company. I believe Kogan has the potential to grow very strongly in the coming years. This is due to the popularity of its offering and the ongoing shift to online shopping. In respect to the latter, online shopping was already growing very quickly, but the pandemic appears to have accelerated this structural shift. Combined with its other verticals and the rapidly growing Kogan Marketplace, the future looks bright for Kogan.

More reading

• 1 key trait to look for with most top ASX growth shares
• Should you ever buy ASX shares at an all-time high?
• Have $4,000? Invest in these 4 ASX shares right now
• ASX 200 edges down, bank share prices fly
• Is now the right time to be buying ASX bank stocks?

James Mickleboro owns shares of Westpac Banking. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. owns shares of BUBS AUST FPO and Cochlear Ltd. The Motley Fool Australia owns shares of and has recommended Kogan.com ltd. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended BUBS AUST FPO and Cochlear Ltd. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

The post Where to invest $10,000 into ASX shares immediately appeared first on Motley Fool Australia.

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