With June almost upon us (insert obligatory comment about how fast the year is flying by), it’s a great opportunity to examine our ASX share portfolios, and particularly our dividend shares.

2020 has been a topsy-turvy year so far for many reasons, with the shifting paradigm for ASX dividend shares part of the story.

Former ASX dividend share stalwarts like the banks are now dividend cutters. ‘Safe’ ASX shares like Transurban Group (ASX: TCL) are leaving income investors hanging.

So if I wanted to top up my portfolio’s income potential this June, here are 3 ASX shares I would use to do so:

Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Co. Ltd (ASX: SOL)

‘Soul Patts’ is one of the best dividend shares on the ASX (in my opinion) and also one of the only shares I trust to keep its dividend flowing this year. In fact, I believe it to be ASX dividend royalty. Soul Patts has paid out a dividend every year of its existence (which goes back to 1903). Not only that, but this company has also increased its dividend payments every year for the last 20 years.

Soul Patts’ large stakes in ASX shares like TPG Telecom Ltd (ASX: TPM) and Brickworks Limited (ASX: BKW) pour cash into the company’s coffers, whilst also giving it broad exposure to the Australian economy. Thus, if I had to choose a dividend share to buy this June, Soul Patts would be at the top of my list.

WAM Research Limited (ASX: WAX)

WAM Research isn’t too far behind though. This is a Listed Investment Company (LIC) that invests in small and mid-cap ASX shares like Tassal Group Limited (ASX: TGR) and City Chic Collective Ltd (ASX: CCX).

This company has proven its know-how, in my view, having delivered an average annual return of 13.4% over the past 10 years. On current prices, WAM Research shares are offering a trailing yield of 6.99%. Although WAX shares usually trade at a premium to their underlying Net Asset Value, I believe this hefty yield more than makes up for this fact.

SPDR S&P Global Dividend Fund (ASX: WDIV)

My last ASX dividend share for June is actually an exchange-traded fund (ETF). WDIV invests in dividend-paying companies from beyond our shores, specifically those which have held or increased their dividends for 10 years or longer. Its holdings are balanced fairly evenly between American, Canadian and Japanese companies, with the United Kingdom, France, Hong Kong and Australia also represented.

Thus, I think this ETF can provide some great global exposure and diversification to an ASX dividend portfolio. Some of its top holdings include Freenet AG, Enagas, Japan Tobacco and our own AGL Energy Limited (ASX: AGL). WDIV offers a trailing yield of 6.01%.

More reading

• What would $50,000 invested in the ASX 200 a decade ago be worth today?
• Have $4,000? Invest in these 4 ASX shares right now
• Should you ever buy into an ASX IPO?
• 3 ASX dividend shares to diversify your income
• 2 ASX shares that are absurdly cheap right now

Motley Fool contributor Sebastian Bowen owns shares of SPDR S&P Global Dividend Fund, WAM Research Limited, and Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Company Limited. The Motley Fool Australia owns shares of and has recommended Brickworks and Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Company Limited. 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.

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The Cassini Resources Ltd (ASX: CZI) share price has had an impressive run on the market today, up by as much as 13.04% in early morning trade to a new 52-week high of 13 cents.

The small-cap ASX miner provided an encouraging exploration update for its Yarawindah Project this morning, which has gotten investors enthused.

About Cassini Resources

Cassini Resources is a base and precious metals developer and explorer based in Perth. Its flagship site is the West Musgrave Project, the largest undeveloped nickel-copper project in Australia.

It also has a joint venture agreement with S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) mining share OZ Minerals Limited (ASX: OZL), along with its Mt Squires Gold Project and the subject of today’s announcement, the Yarawindah Project.

Why has the Cassini Resources share price bounced?

This morning, Cassini Resources provided an exploration update for its Yarawindah Project. The project is located 100km northeast of Perth and is prospective for nickel, copper, cobalt and platinum group elements (PGE). It’s part of an emerging new nickel-copper-cobalt-PGE province that has been validated by a recent high-grade discovery by Chalice Gold Mines Limited (ASX: CHN).

In today’s release, Cassini Resources detailed encouraging sulphide intercepts at the Ovis Prospect. The first 2 drill holes of the diamond drilling program at the Ovis Prospect have been completed.

Cassini announced that “visually encouraging zones” of nickel and copper sulphides have been intersected over a 10-metre zone in YAD0020 at Ovis.

Meanwhile, a third hole is in progress to test a new electromagnetic (EM) anomaly 1km along strike to the north of Ovis.

In addition, the company has received 200m-spaced infill soil results and partly completed surface EM survey results along the Brassica NW trend.

According to the announcement, “the EM survey has defined a 90m x 65m, 1,500 siemens conductor at the XC06 anomaly”.

In light of these results, the XC06 anomaly is now considered a high-priority target for immediate drill testing. Cassini intends to move the rig to XC06 following completion of the third hole later this week.

The Cassini Resources share price is sitting 4.35% higher for the day at the time of writing, with shares last changing hands at 12 cents.

More reading

• 3 top ASX dividend shares to buy this June
• RBA governor says economy “doing better than was earlier feared”
• Why now could be a better time to buy the underperforming CSL share price
• Here’s why automotive shares could boom post-COVID-19
• These ASX tech shares could take your portfolio to the next level

Motley Fool contributor Cathryn Goh has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. 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.

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The Governor of the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA), Philip Lowe has delivered optimistic updates on the state of Australia’s economy today. Dr Lowe was quoted saying it’s “doing a bit better than was earlier feared.”

According to the Australian Financial Review (AFR) reporting, Dr Lowe made the remarks while speaking in a Senate enquiry into the economic impacts of the coronavirus pandemic.

While Dr Lowe describes the unemployment statistics released earlier this month as a “shocking set of numbers”, he is optimistic the worst is behind us.

“[The jobless numbers] weren’t quite as bad as we thought they would be and the data we have seen since suggests there is a bottoming out” the AFR quotes Dr Lowe as stating. Dr Lowe further stated there has been “some pick up in employment in those industries most affected by the virus.”

However, Lowe also referenced it remains important for the government to not withdraw coronavirus stimulus measures (such as the JobKeeper program) prematurely. He said,

“I think it’s very important that we don’t withdraw the fiscal stimulus too early. … Ending the fiscal support could be damaging, but if the economy bounces back [then] tailoring the fiscal support might be the right thing to do.”

One thing investors may find illuminating is the RBA governor’s continuing assurance that Australia won’t follow other countries in introducing negative interest rates.

He stated that “I don’t think negative interest rates work. The package we have so far is working. If we had to do more we could buy more government bonds.”

What do the RBA governor’s comments mean for the ASX?

I think, for ASX investors, there are good sentiments to take from Dr Lowe’s comments. The rally that the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is enjoying today can only continue if underpinned by a strong economic recovery. Dr Lowe’s comments suggest this is starting to take shape (although it’s still early days).

The lost prospect of negative interest rates may disappoint some ASX investors. Yet, it’s good news for retirees and any investors with significant cash savings (although it looks like as low-interest rates are still here to stay).

However, in my opinion, Dr Lowe’s comments also imply that we are not out of the woods yet, and the economic situation remains fluid. That’s why I think ASX investors should still be cautious and prudent. I’m not entirely convinced just yet that the current ASX rally is a new dawn (although I hope it is).

Even so, there’s no doubt that Dr Lowe’s comments today are good news for all ASX investors, and indeed all Australians.

More reading

• Why now could be a better time to buy the underperforming CSL share price
• ASX 200 bull market! Why this ASX fundie is getting nervous
• ASX 200 up 2.4%: Blackmores raises $92m, big four banks jump, Nearmap rockets
• The next looming test for the ASX 200 bull market is just round the corner
• Why you shouldn’t fear an ASX share market crash

Motley Fool contributor Sebastian Bowen has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. 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.

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