Australia’s top brokers have been busy adjusting their estimates and recommendations again, leading to the release of a large number of broker notes this week.

Three broker buy ratings that have caught my eye are summarised below. Here’s why brokers think these ASX shares are in the buy zone:

CSL Limited (ASX: CSL)

According to a note out of Citi, its analysts have retained their buy rating and $334.00 price target on this biotherapeutics company’s shares. The broker has concerns over lower plasma collections because of the pandemic. However, it appears optimistic that this could be partly offset by increasing demand for flu vaccines during the next northern hemisphere flu season. I agree with Citi on CSL and think its recent share price weakness is a buying opportunity.

Westpac Banking Corp (ASX: WBC)

A note out of UBS reveals that its analysts have upgraded this banking giant’s shares to a buy rating with a $20.50 price target. Although it acknowledges that trading conditions remain tough, the broker believes Westpac’s outlook isn’t as bleak as it looked just a few weeks ago. In addition to this, it believes a further deterioration in asset quality has reduced materially. I agree with UBS on Westpac and believe it and the rest of the big four are good options for investors right now.

Zip Co Ltd (ASX: Z1P)

Analysts at Morgans have retained their add rating and lifted the price target on this payments company’s shares to $7.00. According to the note, the broker is pleased with its decision to acquire New York-based QuadPay. It sees it as a lower risk way to enter the lucrative U.S. retail market. And while it expects the U.S. business to be loss-making over the short term, it appears to believe it is worth overlooking this to focus on its significant long term potential in the key market. While it is a high risk option due to its lofty valuation, due to its recent pullback from its high, I think it could be worth a small investment with a long term view.

More reading

• 2 ASX growth shares I’d buy before Afterpay shares
• ASX 200 down 0.35%: UBS upgrades NAB and Westpac, Qantas soars again
• Why Appen, CSL, Openpay, & Zip Co shares are tumbling lower
• Is the Westpac share price too high?
• Why today might be a good day to buy NAB and Westpac shares

James Mickleboro owns shares of Westpac Banking. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. owns shares of CSL Ltd. and ZIPCOLTD FPO. 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 Brokers name 3 ASX shares to buy today appeared first on Motley Fool Australia.

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So you’re ready to invest your first $2,000 in ASX shares. Above all else, congratulations! In my opinion, far fewer Australians invest than they should. And in this low interest rate world we all live in, I think it’s more important than ever to do so.

But investing isn’t easy – it can even be likened to walking through a minefield. There are tricks and traps everywhere. That’s why most successful investors today got to where they are by learning how to avoid these mines. And perhaps by getting blown up once or twice along the way!

So with that sobering thought in mind, here are 3 things I think all investors should do before investing their first $2,000 into ASX shares.

1) Find a broker

Before you buy ASX shares, you’ll need a broker. In the past, brokers used to be someone you would call up and pay a commission to for buying shares on your behalf. Today, most brokers are more akin to the ‘eBay’ of stocks. That is, they represent an online marketplace where you can buy and sell shares.

Of course, they all still charge for the privilege, so finding one that suits your needs is important. The brokerages offered by the Big Four banks are always a good place to start. This includes something like Commonwealth Bank of Australia’s (ASX: CBA) CommSec or National Australia Bank Ltd.’s (ASX: NAB) nabtrade.

2) Work out a strategy

Investing can be a tight line to walk. You need to find enough money to invest without worrying about whether or not you’ll unexpectedly need the money within at least the next 5 years. It’s pretty awful if you’re forced to sell your shares in the middle of a market crash because your income changes or you prang your car.

So, before you start investing your first $2,000, you’ll need to work out how much you can afford to invest. This includes making sure you still have enough cash around to meet any future needs – whether they be expected or unexpected.

3) Find the right ASX shares to invest in

Many first-time investors start off by trying their hand at highly speculative shares. These might include biotech companies or small-cap miners. Not only will these investments probably not turn out well for a beginner, but they may also result in the unfortunate side-effect of putting a new investor off shares altogether. That’s why I think most new investors should start simply with something like a market-tracking index fund or a managed trust.

The Vanguard Australian Shares Index ETF (ASX: VAS) is always a solid choice. Or you could go for more internationally-focused funds like the iShares Global 100 ETF (ASX: IOO) or Magellan Global Trust (ASX: MGG).

These kinds of investments won’t make you rich overnight – but then again, most solid investments don’t aim to.

More reading

• 2 ASX growth shares I’d buy before Afterpay shares
• ASX 200 down 0.35%: UBS upgrades NAB and Westpac, Qantas soars again
• Why Kogan, NAB, Qantas, & Sydney Airport shares are racing higher
• Is today’s BHP, NAB or Afterpay share price a good investment?
• Why today might be a good day to buy NAB and Westpac shares

The post Ready to invest your first $2,000 in ASX shares? Do these 3 things first appeared first on Motley Fool Australia.

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