Stock Pick

Author: openjargon

  • Why these 2 ASX 200 shares just scored broker upgrades

    Happy man working on his laptop.

    Two well-known S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) shares were just upgraded by leading brokers.

    Both stand to potentially benefit from the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence (AI). And both have already handed their shareholders some sizeable one-year gains.

    Which ASX 200 shares are we talking about?

    Read on!

    (Broker data courtesy of The Australian.)

    Two ASX 200 shares earning broker upgrades

    The first ASX 200 share earning a broker upgrade is WiseTech Global Ltd (ASX: WTC).

    Shares in the logistics software provider are up 2.3% at the time of writing, trading for $99.12 apiece. That sees shares in the tech stock up more than 24% in a year.

    WiseTech shares also trade on a slender, fully franked dividend yield of 0.2%.

    And Bell Potter foresees some modest further gains ahead.

    The broker raised its price target for WiseTech by 8% to $100.00 a share.

    WiseTech shares could get a boost during the final week of the month. On 24 June the company joins the acclaimed S&P/ASX 50 Index. That’s part of  the S&P Dow Jones Indices June quarterly rebalance.

    Which brings us to the second ASX 200 share getting a broker upgrade today, Seek Ltd (ASX: SEK), which owns and operates Australia’s biggest online jobs classified website.

    The Seek share price is up 3.0% at the time of writing, with shares trading for $23.51 apiece. That puts the Seek share price up 8% in a year.

    Seek shares also trade on a fully franked trailing dividend yield of 1.8%.

    And JP Morgan expects some sizeable potential gains over the year ahead.

    The broker raised Seek to an overweight rating with a $26.50 share price target. That’s almost 13% above current levels.

    Last week, 5 June, the ASX 200 share grabbed investors’ attention when management announced the company had entered into a binding agreement to sell 98.2% of its stake in OCC Mexico and all of its stake in Catho Online to Red Arbor Holding.

    Seek will receive US$85 million (AU$128 million) for these assets. The company expects the transaction to be complete by the end of the month and intends to use the funds to pay down some debt.

    The Seek share price closed up 4.9% on the day, despite the company forecasting a $15 million to $35 million net loss on sale after tax from the divestment.

    That’s likely because the ASX 200 share reported it does not expect the sale of OCC Mexico and Catho Online will result in any material changes to its FY 2024 earnings guidance.

    The post Why these 2 ASX 200 shares just scored broker upgrades appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you buy Seek Limited shares, consider this:

    Motley Fool investing expert Scott Phillips just revealed what he believes are the 5 best stocks for investors to buy right now… and Seek 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 may be better buys…

    See The 5 Stocks
    *Returns as of 5 May 2024

    More reading

    JPMorgan Chase is an advertising partner of The Ascent, a Motley Fool company. 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 JPMorgan Chase and WiseTech Global. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended WiseTech Global. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Seek. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

  • China became the world’s factory by selling cheap goods. This strategy won’t work for EVs.

    A large number of Chinese-made cars and construction machinery are gathering at the port of Yantai, waiting to be loaded for export, in Yantai, China, on April 1, 2024.
    A large number of Chinese-made cars and construction machinery are gathering at the port of Yantai, waiting to be loaded for export.

    Costfoto/NurPhoto/Getty Images

    • China, the world's factory, is known for producing affordable goods quickly.
    • But China EV makers shouldn't leverage on their price advantage in the long run as it's not sustainable, said a Bain consultant.
    • The EU will impose up to 48.1% tariffs on Chinese EV imports next month to protect European economies.

    China has been the world's factory floor for the last 40 years, propelling it into the position of the world's second-largest economy.

    This ability to make affordable products quickly is one of China's key advantages in many product categories.

    However, this isn't what Chinese electric makers should be leveraging in the long run, a management consultant said on Wednesday.

    "The pricing advantage will eventually run out of steam. It is product quality, technology, and brand awareness that holds the key to Chinese carmakers' success," Helen Liu, a partner at consultancy firm Bain told reporters, per the South China Morning Post.

    Liu's assessment came as the European Commission announced it will impose tariffs of up to 38.1% on Chinese EV imports from next month — on top of the existing 10%.

    The move follows a monthslong probe into Chinese subsidies for Chinese EV makers.

    The European Commission said in its announcement that the EV value chain in China benefits from unfair subsidization that causes a "threat of economic injury" to the EU's EV makers.

    The latest blow to Chinese EV makers came after President Joe Biden announced a sweeping set of tariffs in May on $18 billion worth of Chinese imports — including a 100% tax on Chinese vehicles.

    Chinese EVs have nearly no presence in the US, but account for 8% of the EV market share in auto powerhouse Europe, making the industry a geopolitical hot potato.

    The West hits out over China's overcapacity

    In recent months, Western countries have been lining up to criticize China for its barrage of cheap exports flooding the world's markets. They say China's dumping and unfair trade practices has hurt their economies.

    However, Beijing has consistently pushed back on the West's criticism that it is dumping cheap goods on the world market. Chinese authorities say the West's accusations are protectionist and aimed at containing China's economic growth.

    One contentious sector of dispute between the two sides is the hot new energy sector.

    China is producing a lot of new energy products as the country navigates a painful economic transition, from one reliant on real estate and low-cost manufacturing to the hot "new three" sectors of electric vehicles, lithium batteries, and solar panels.

    However, the West is also eyeing these fast-rising industries.

    Philip Nothard, insight and strategy director at automotive services company Cox Automotive told Business Insider's Tom Carter on Wednesday that the EU's tariff hike will not be enough to keep Chinese EV companies away from Europe.

    This is because big Chinese EV players like BYD have "highly efficient" manufacturing supply chains and are very quick to adjust their strategies.

    "Chinese companies have the potential to redefine electric cars so that they can convince global customers of their products' competitiveness in performance and technology," said Bain's Liu, per SCMP.

    Read the original article on Business Insider

  • Céline Dion says she always brings special photos when she goes to the doctor for treatments

    Singer Celine Dion performs onstage during the 2017 Billboard Music Awards at T-Mobile Arena on May 21, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada
    Céline Dion carries photos of her late husband when she goes to the doctor for treatment for stiff-person syndrome.

    Ethan Miller/Getty Image

    • Céline Dion carries photos of her late husband to the doctor's whenever she goes for medical treatment.
    • "I'm still married to René. He's still my husband," Dion told People.
    • René Angélil, Dion's husband and longtime manager, died in 2016 after a battle with throat cancer.

    Céline Dion still keeps her late husband and longtime manager, René Angélil, close to her heart — she even carries his photo around to feel supported at the doctor's.

    "I'm still married to René. He's still my husband. When we have to travel to my treatments to see my doctors, I always bring pictures," Dion told People in an interview published on Wednesday. "And we have pictures, of course, all over the place in the house."

    Dion and Angélil tied the knot in December 1994 and share three kids: René-Charles, 23, and twins Nelson and Eddy, 13. Angélil died in 2016 at 73 after a battle with throat cancer.

    The singer also shared that her children will always remind her to bring photos of Angélil along whenever she packs for a trip.

    "My kids are always asking, 'Did you bring Papa's pictures?' And I'm like, 'Yes, I have Papa's pictures!'" Dion said. "He's their dad, and he's my husband, and he will always be."

    Dion first announced that she had been diagnosed with stiff-person syndrome in December 2022.

    Stiff-person syndrome is a rare, progressive neurological disorder that can cause symptoms such as muscle stiffness and spasms.

    There is no cure for the condition, although it can be managed through medication, immune therapies, as well as physical therapy.

    In April, Dion told Vogue France that she goes to therapy five days a week and trains "like an athlete" as part of her treatment plan.

    Although stiff-person syndrome is very rare — affecting one in a million, according to one estimate — there are an estimated 129 million people in the US who have at least one major chronic illness, per the CDC.

    While stress is a part of everyday life, those who are dealing with chronic illnesses may experience even more stress due to pain and the unpredictability of their symptoms.

    According to the Cleveland Clinic, one way to manage the stress of having a chronic condition is to find support through family and friends. It can also be helpful to let go of unnecessary obligations and spend time more meaningfully, such as engaging in hobbies or other activities that spark joy.

    Eating healthy, sleeping regularly, as well as reducing caffeine intake are also ways to manage anxiety and stress.

    Read the original article on Business Insider

  • Is this ASX small-cap stock an overlooked beneficiary of the AI boom?

    woman consoles robot

    Artificial intelligence (AI) is no longer just for tech behemoths — it’s sprinkling its magic dust across a myriad of industries, creating unexpected winners in the stock market.

    Just as we need to eat to survive and function, advanced AI systems require substantial electricity to operate. From this background, the reliability of the electricity supply is increasingly highlighted as a critical vulnerability within the AI ecosystem.

    One ASX-listed company that could benefit from this trend is IPD Group Ltd (ASX: IPG), a distributor of electronic and automation systems and solutions across Australia.

    Could this under-the-radar ASX small-cap stock be the surprise superstar of the AI revolution? Let’s dive into the potential of IPD Group.

    Power shortages

    We often hear about semiconductor chip shortages driven by the AI boom and how it is benefitting the likes of Nvidia Corp, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co Ltd, and equipment maker ASML Holding NV.

    However, Tesla Inc (NASDAQ: TSLA) boss Elon Musk believes power shortages are likely to be the next wave ahead of us. In an interview in March 2024, as part of the Bosch Connected World conference, he said:

    The constraints on AI compute are very predictable… A year ago, the shortage was chips, neural net chips. Then, it was very easy to predict that the next shortage will be voltage step-down transformers.

    Then, the next shortage will be electricity. They won’t be able to find enough electricity to run all the chips. I think next year, you’ll see they just can’t find enough electricity to run all the chips.

    To make things worse, the developed world is already suffering from an inadequate supply of electricity due to ever-increasing energy demand and a slow transition to environmentally friendly energy sources.

    The Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) warned of the potential risk of blackouts in NSW and Victoria in its May 2024 report, as highlighted by The Australian.

    How is IPD Group’s business going?

    IPD Group — founded more than 70 years ago — specialises in distributing electrical and automation solutions in Australia. It leverages renowned global brands like ABB Ltd and General Electric Co.

    Its services encompass power distribution, industrial control, renewable energy solutions, and testing. More recently, the company expanded into solar energy, aiming to become a one-stop shop for all photovoltaic (PV) system needs ranging from PV equipment and services through the acquisition of Addelec.

    In May, IPD Group provided a bright outlook for FY24, as summarised by my colleague James.

    The company expects to report earnings before interest, tax, depreciation, and amortisation (EBITDA) between $39 million and $39.5 million, implying a 42% growth from a year ago at the midpoint. These projections exclude costs from the acquisitions of EX engineering and CMI Operations.

    IPD Group CEO Michael Sainsbury believes FY24 has been a transformative year for the company, including major acquisitions. He said:

    It has been a transformative year for IPD with the completion of two strategic acquisitions, EX Engineering and CMI Operations.

    Merging our Addelec and Gemtek businesses has significantly enhanced our EV infrastructure team and we are capitalising on the growth in the market by securing a number of major projects during the year, including the electrification of Australia’s largest bus depot.

    How cheap is this ASX small-cap stock today?

    The IPD Group share price dropped by approximately 20% from the 52-week high of $5.42 in February this year. As the chart below shows, the IPG Group share price has been hovering between $4 and $5 for the last 12 months after more than quadrupling since its initial public offering in December 2021.

    IPD Group shares are trading at a price-to-earnings ratio of 21x based on its reported earnings for the last 12 months to December 2023.

    I think IPD Group has the potential to benefit from anticipated power shortages caused by the ongoing AI revolution, as well as electric vehicles and green energy initiatives.

    The post Is this ASX small-cap stock an overlooked beneficiary of the AI boom? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in Ipd Group Limited right now?

    Before you buy Ipd Group Limited shares, consider this:

    Motley Fool investing expert Scott Phillips just revealed what he believes are the 5 best stocks for investors to buy right now… and Ipd Group 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 may be better buys…

    See The 5 Stocks
    *Returns as of 5 May 2024

    More reading

    Motley Fool contributor Kate Lee has positions in ASML and Nvidia. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended ASML, Ipd Group, Nvidia, and Tesla. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Ipd Group. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended ASML and Nvidia. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

  • Should you pay down your mortgage or add to superannuation?

    A young couple sits at their kitchen table looking at documents with a laptop open in front of them while they consider the state of their investments.

    This is a common question among homeowners, and according to Damien Klassen from Nucleus Wealth, the answer depends on your income level, age, and mortgage interest rates at the time of your decision.

    In a blog, Klassen offers advice for people considering what’s best to do with a spare $10,000 in income.

    Let’s look into his findings.

    Superannuation or the home loan?

    Let’s look at some obvious factors first.

    The biggest benefit of using a spare $10,000 in income to pay down your home loan is the guaranteed annual interest savings. The downside is you’ll have to pay full tax on that income if you use it in this way.

    The biggest benefit of contributing a spare $10,000 in income into superannuation is the substantial tax saving on the way in (as long as you’re under the concessional contributions cap) and the ongoing earnings on your investments (bearing in mind that investments sometimes result in losses, too).

    Just to remind you, concessional superannuation contributions are taxed at 15%, which is lower than most individual income tax rates.

    A case study…

    Klassen has run the numbers using a fictitious case study of an Australian earning $100,000 per year.

    They have a mortgage with an annual home loan interest rate of 6%. They also have a superannuation fund returning an average of 6% per year.

    He looks at the different outcomes over a 10-year period of using that spare $10,000 to either pay down the home loan or bump up superannuation this year.

    Here’s what he finds:

    At $100k, your marginal tax rate (in 2025) is 30% + Medicare levy = 32%.

    So, your $10k becomes $6,800 off your mortgage after tax or $8,500 invested in super. i.e., you are $1,700 better off on day 1 in super.

    If you save 6% on your $6,800 mortgage reduction over 10 years = $5,378 in interest avoided, tax-free.

    If you made 6% in your $8,500 in superannuation and then paid tax on it = $5,155 after tax = $223 worse off in superannuation.

    Net effect = $1,477 better off in super.

    Klassen emphasises that the outcomes can be different depending on income levels and interest rates.

    He says higher interest rates make using the money to pay off your home loan more attractive. Conversely, lower interest rates may make investing the money into superannuation a better option.

    Klassen says people on higher incomes will “almost always” come out in front by contributing to superannuation.

    Those earning less than $50,000 would likely be worse off if they put their spare $10,000 into superannuation vs. paying down their property loan, he says.

    A few caveats…

    While putting money into superannuation makes sense for a lot of people, they generally can’t access the funds until they reach preservation age.

    Klassen says having inaccessible savings helps some Australians keep their spending in check.

    However, there is some risk involved because once your superannuation money is invested, there is no guarantee of positive returns every year.

    Klassen comments:

    Investment returns within super can fluctuate with market conditions.

    While younger individuals have time to recover from downturns, older individuals, such as those around 65, face more immediate risks.

    The post Should you pay down your mortgage or add to superannuation? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Urgent Message from Motley Fool General Manager, Adam Surplice

    If you’ve ever felt “boxed in” by traditional super funds, or thought SMSFs were beyond reach, this Investment Mastery video series will open your eyes.…

    As you’ll see, I’ve discovered a unique strategy that’s completely changed my approach to superannuation… in fact, I’m personally investing $200,000 of my own retirement savings into it.

    Unlock FREE Investment Mastery video series
    *Returns 28 May 2024

    More reading

    Motley Fool contributor Bronwyn Allen 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.

  • Prediction: This will be Nvidia’s next big move

    A woman holds a soldering tool as she sits in front of a computer screen while working on the manufacturing of technology equipment in a laboratory environment.

    This article was originally published on Fool.com. All figures quoted in US dollars unless otherwise stated.

    Nvidia‘s (NASDAQ: NVDA) performance has been nothing short of remarkable of late. I’m talking about Nvidia the stock and Nvidia the company. The stock’s performance speaks for itself. Shares have exploded higher by about 725% since January 2023. 

    But that surge in price wasn’t just driven by overexuberant investors. Nvidia’s business itself has exploded — and its data center business, in particular. Revenue from that segment has more than quintupled in the past year, helping to drive Nvidia’s net income up by more than 600%. Growth from sales of the company’s artificial intelligence (AI) chips to data centers hasn’t yet peaked, but there are already indications of what could drive Nvidia stock’s next big move higher.

    Explosive growth in data center sales

    Nvidia’s recent good fortune didn’t come by chance. Many years of research and development allowed it to create the most technologically advanced graphics processing units (GPUs) in the industry, and have them available for customers just when the need for that type of computing power skyrocketed. Now, even as it works to accelerate its manufacturing to catch up with current demand, Nvidia already has its next-generation Blackwell chip series in production.

    Beyond that, CEO Jensen Huang has also unveiled a new AI chip that it intends to bring to market in 2026. The Rubin platform will succeed the Blackwell, and will include GPUs as well as a new central processing unit (CPU). That will offer customers a more complete data center server system. The already-massive volume of data center spending is reflected in Nvidia’s quarterly segment revenue.

    line graph of Nvidia quarterly revenue by segment from fiscal Q121 through Q125.

    Data source: Nvidia.

    But while data center revenue has gone parabolic, another Nvidia business segment is operating under investors’ radar right now. After all, it wasn’t just Nvidia’s R&D advancements that led to the growing uses of generative AI and other artificial intelligence applications.

    There are now multiple companies that are working to put self-driving cars on the road or use computing power to improve existing vehicles’ performance. And there are signs that Nvidia’s automotive business could be its next big revenue driver.

    Nvidia’s next major catalyst

    While its auto segment numbers pale in comparison to data center sales right now, there’s a trending increase in revenue there as well. Sales growth is already coming as automakers work to improve their vehicles’ performance. Electric vehicle (EV) maker Rivian Automotive just announced it would be using Nvidia chips to enhance computing power and improve the range and performance of its R1 platform vehicles.

    Line graph of Nvidia's auto segment revenue since fiscal Q121.

    Data source: Nvidia.

    Rivian says it will have 10 times more computing power using Nvidia’s DRIVE Orin processors. Nvidia calls its Orin system on a chip the central computer for intelligent vehicles. Other automotive companies partnering with Nvidia include Chinese EV makers BYD, Nio, and XPeng. In addition, Volvo, its subsidiary Polestar, and Mercedes-Benz are among the global automakers that use Nvidia’s autonomous driving system.

    Nvidia’s DRIVE Orin system on a chip is being used by more and more automakers.

    Self-driving cars could be Nvidia’s next bonanza

    That helps explain the recent sales growth for Nvidia’s automotive segment. However, consider what might come next as more and more self-driving vehicles are being launched. Much attention is given to Tesla and its plans for robotaxi fleets. It has said it will update investors in August on the progress of its self-driving vehicle efforts. But other companies are a step ahead of the EV leader in autonomous driving, and already have vehicles on the road.

    Alphabet‘s Waymo is expanding its operations as it trains its systems. In May, the company said it was performing 50,000 rides per week in San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Phoenix. Amazon owns self-driving car company Zoox, and it has plans to test vehicles in Austin and Miami.

    To be sure, regulatory hurdles remain, and data will be needed to prove that the technology is safe and advantageous for consumers. But investors who can be patient for that data collection and process to play out could do well by being in Nvidia stock before that sector takes off. 

    This article was originally published on Fool.com. All figures quoted in US dollars unless otherwise stated.

    The post Prediction: This will be Nvidia’s next big move appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in Nvidia right now?

    Before you buy Nvidia shares, consider this:

    Motley Fool investing expert Scott Phillips just revealed what he believes are the 5 best stocks for investors to buy right now… and Nvidia 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 may be better buys…

    See The 5 Stocks
    *Returns as of 5 May 2024

    More reading

    Suzanne Frey, an executive at Alphabet, is a member of The Motley Fool’s board of directors. John Mackey, former CEO of Whole Foods Market, an Amazon subsidiary, is a member of The Motley Fool’s board of directors. Howard Smith has positions in Alphabet, Amazon, BYD Company, Nio, Nvidia, Rivian Automotive, Tesla, and XPeng. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Alphabet, Amazon, BYD Company, Nio, Nvidia, and Tesla. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Alphabet, Amazon, and Nvidia. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

  • Gen Zers are obsessed with Aritzia’s $148 Effortless Pant. Uniqlo’s ‘work uniforms’ are Asia’s budget answer to it — at a fraction of the price.

    People stand outside a UNIQLO shop in Beijing, August 24, 2013. REUTERS/Petar Kujundzic
    People stand outside a UNIQLO shop in Beijing.

    Thomson Reuters

    • Aritzia's Effortless Pant, at $148 apiece, has attained cult status for working women. 
    • But Southeast Asian workers have a much more affordable local answer to it: Uniqlo. 
    • Uniqlo basics have become the unofficial "work uniform" in parts of Asia.

    Aritzia's Effortless Pant has made its rounds on social media as the work staple that stylish corporate girlies need to have in their wardrobe.

    The pleated, wide-leg pant costs $148 a pop and is offered in a variety of colors, lengths, and materials. It has been touted on TikTok, with some users on the platform calling it "unmatched," and describing it as having a "choke-hold" on them.

    So the Effortless Pant may have become 2024's work uniform for young working women in North America. But over in Asia, office-goers have found a regional answer to the Aritzia corporate uniform at Japanese fast-fashion retailer Uniqlo.

    Take, for example, Uniqlo's $36 pleated pants and $30 linen button-downs. That means that for the price of one Aritzia Effortless Pant, a Uniqlo shopper over in Asia can purchase an entire work outfit.

    In Singapore, particularly, the Uniqlo fit has been dubbed as the country's unofficial uniform or the "SG uniform."

    The retailer has leaned into the Uniqlo-mania, turning it into a brand strategy.

    "One AIRism Cotton Oversized T-shirt is sold almost every minute in Singapore," one of the company's advertisements on its Instagram proclaims.

    It even used the term "SG uniform" on its Instagram, in a video that is captioned: "Styling the SG Uniform: Our AIRism Cotton Oversized Crew Neck tee is the essential T-shirt redefined."

    Other popular pieces from the brand also include its various "Bra Tops," which essentially are tanks and tube tops with padded underwear built into them.

    Uniqlo's other offerings — like its "Round Mini" crossbody bag — are also popular.

    The bag went viral on TikTok in 2022, and was named the hottest product of the year by the fashion search platform Lyst in April 2023 — partly because of how much one can fit in it.

    Lyst named it the cheapest item to ever be featured on The Lyst Index. The other items on the index include the $625 Rick Owens Kriester sunglasses and the $1,290 Alaïa Le Coeur Bag. For comparison the "Round Mini" now goes for around $15 on Uniqlo's Singapore site, and comes in 15 colors.

    Young corporate women are seeking out work uniforms, and brands are answering the call

    There is a reason why women are adopting work uniforms, experts say.

    Richard Thompson Ford, a Stanford professor and author of "Dress Codes: How the Laws of Fashion Made History," told the Wall Street Journal that the Effortless Pant is like a female equivalent of the "'Midtown uniform' for men, consisting of slacks, button-downs and fleece vests."

    Forbes listed the Aritzia Effortless Pant as one of its five best wide-leg pants of 2024, and the best in the market for office wear.

    Additionally, the comfort that the wide-leg pant offers is what makes it appealing as workwear. After years of remote work in activewear and pajamas, the idea of constricting oneself in tight skinny jeans or tailored trousers isn't all that appealing to the Gen Z office worker.

    But there is one common denominator in Uniqlo and the Effortless Pant's success — that they create a timeless, classic silhouette, and lean into the simplicity the quiet luxury trend has made popular.

    Of course, not all Asian Gen Zers have embraced quiet luxury and minimalism.

    Young office workers in China, for instance, are ditching the work uniform entirely to rebel against low pay and grueling working hours. The trend — which surfaced on Chinese social media under the hashtag "gross outfits at work" — involved young Chinese workers recording their fits for the day, which ranged from shabby loungewear to oversized puffer jackets and fluffy slippers.

    Representatives for Uniqlo and Aritzia didn't immediately respond to a request for comment from Business Insider.

    Read the original article on Business Insider

  • Ukraine is finally getting to hit Russia hard with its ‘wonder-weapons,’ and that’s turning the tide of the war: military expert

    Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy standing in front of a Patriot anti-aircraft missile system during his visit to a military training area in Germany on June 11, 2024.
    Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy standing in front of a Patriot anti-aircraft missile system during his visit to a military training area in Germany on June 11, 2024.

    Jens Büttner/Pool via Getty Images

    • Things are starting to look up for Ukraine, a retired UK colonel said on Wednesday.
    • Ukraine has notched a couple of wins after it was allowed to hit Russian military targets directly.
    • Vladimir Putin, for his part, has also threatened to retaliate against Ukraine's Western allies. 

    Letting Ukraine attack Russian military targets directly with its "wonder-weapons" is beginning to turn the tide of the war in Kyiv's favor, says a retired UK colonel.

    "For too long, Ukraine has had to fight the invading Russians with one hand tied behind its back," Hamish de Bretton-Gordon wrote in a commentary for The Telegraph that was published on Wednesday.

    The former soldier held multiple appointments in his 23-year military career with the British Army. Besides serving as the UK's Joint Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear Regiment's commanding officer from 2004 to 2006, de Bretton-Gordon also led NATO's Rapid Reaction CBRN Battalion from 2005 to 2007.

    "At last, however, that is beginning to change. From now, with permissions granted from various Western countries — but most crucially the United States — Ukraine can strike targets far deeper into Russia," de Bretton-Gordon said.

    Last month, Politico reported that the Biden administration had given Ukraine its permission to use US-provided weapons on Russian targets in Kharkiv. Russian forces launched an assault on the region in May as part of a summer offensive on Ukraine's second largest city.

    "Whilst it is still obliged to prioritize the Kharkiv front by the nature of the permissions granted (Washington is still too afraid to give Kyiv carte blanche to fire anywhere), there is evidence that it has freed up the Ukrainian armed forces to use the other weapons it had in reserve to strike elsewhere," de Bretton-Gordon noted in his commentary.

    The former colonel listed several Ukraine's recent military accomplishments, which included drone assaults on Russian naval vessels at Taganrog Bay and the Akhtubinsk airfield in southern Russia. The latter attack resulted in the destruction of Russia's latest stealth aircraft, the Su-57 fighter bomber.

    "For too long Kyiv was fighting an uneven battle, putting it in the impossible position of seeing Russia massing troops across its own border, unable to hit them," de Bretton-Gordon said. "Now that has changed, I think the Kharkiv front will begin to turn back in Kyiv's favor."

    The recent turn of events, de Bretton-Gordon said, wasn't something that Russia could simply withstand by relying on attritional warfare.

    "Russia cannot sustain the industrial level of casualties it is currently facing — over 500,000 so far. I don't care how good Russia's industrial complex is. In the modern era that figure is simply not sustainable," he said.

    But Ukraine's accomplishments in the battlefield could risk further Russian escalation.

    Last month, Russian leader Vladimir Putin hinted that European countries who'd encouraged Ukraine to attack Russia directly could face reprisals.

    "So, these officials from NATO countries, especially the ones based in Europe, particularly in small European countries, should be fully aware of what is at stake," Putin told reporters on May 28.

    "They should keep in mind that theirs are small and densely populated countries, which is a factor to reckon with before they start talking about striking deep into the Russian territory," he added.

    Representatives for Ukraine's and Russia's defense ministries didn't immediately respond to requests for comment from BI sent outside regular business hours.

    Read the original article on Business Insider

  • ASX 200 gives back some heady intraday gains amid Aussie jobs data

    a line of job applicants sit on stools against a brick wall in an office environment, various holding laptops , devices and paper, as though waiting to be interviewed for a position.

    The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is up 0.5% at the time of writing, down from early morning gains of more than 0.7%.

    The benchmark Aussie index is enjoying a strong run on the back of the latest US inflation figures and Federal Reserve meeting.

    ASX investors also initially reacted positively to the latest unemployment data released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) at 11.30am AEST.

    But the ASX 200 has since slipped more than 0.1% since that announcement.

    Here’s what we know.

    ASX 200 dips on strong labour figures

    In a classic case of good news for the economy equating to potentially bad news for stocks, the ASX 200 has retraced since the ABS reported that Australia’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate decreased by 0.1% to 4.0% in May.

    Investors may be feeling jittery as the strong labour market could usher in further pay rises, adding to inflationary pressures. This, in turn, could pressure the Reserve Bank of Australia to keep interest rates on hold for longer.

    Commenting on the latest figures, Bjorn Jarvis, ABS head of labour statistics, said, “With employment rising by around 40,000 people and the number of unemployed falling by 9,000 people, the unemployment rate fell to 4.0%”

    That’s an impressive feat, considering the rapid rate of immigration Australia is currently witnessing.

    Jarvis noted that May’s decline wasn’t enough to offset the big unemployment spike in April.

    In April, more unemployed people than usual were waiting to start work. Some of the fall in unemployment and rise in employment in May reflect these people starting or returning to their jobs.

    While the total number of unemployed people fell by 9,000 in May, this followed a 33,000 increase in April. Unemployment was around 24,000 people more than in March, an average increase of around 12,000 people each month.

    But in a sign of just how strong the Aussie economy is, Jarvis pointed out that, “There are now almost 600,000 unemployed people, however, that is still nearly 110,000 fewer people than in March 2020, just before the pandemic.”

    The rather muted reaction to the strong labour data on the ASX 200 today comes as a number of analysts have been forecasting a dip in unemployment for May.

    Among them was the economics team at National Australia Bank Ltd (ASX: NAB) which had forecast the unemployment rate would fall to 4.0%.

    According to NAB (quoted by The Australian Financial Review):

    The driver is that the prior month had an unusual amount of people who were classified as unemployed, but were waiting to start a new job, which we assessed then was worth around a 10th on the unemployment rate.

    The post ASX 200 gives back some heady intraday gains amid Aussie jobs data 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. We believe these stocks are trading at attractive prices and Scott thinks they could be great buys right now…

    See The 5 Stocks
    *Returns as of 5 May 2024

    More reading

    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 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.

  • 2 ASX 200 shares with ex-dividend dates next week

    A retiree relaxing in the pool and giving a thumbs up.

    It’s always big news on the Australian share market when an ASX 200 dividend stock trades ex-dividend. For one, a stock going ‘ex-div’ means that any investors who buy shares on that day forward miss out on the upcoming dividend payment that a company has scheduled for investors.

    But whenever a company trades ex-dividend, we also tend to see a big share price drop for the company in question. This drop reflects the loss of that dividend‘s value for any ASX 200 investor who buys shares from that day onwards.

    So ex-dividend dates are clearly events of note on our share market. And next week, we’ll see not one, but two ASX 200 shares go through this process.

    2 ASX 200 shares scheduled to trade ex-dividend next week

    First up, we have ASX 200 building products company CSR Ltd (ASX: CSR). CSR has been making waves in 2024 after the company agreed to a $9 per share takeover offer from the French company Saint-Gobain earlier this year.

    Earlier this month, CSR confirmed that its shares would be removed from the ASX 200 Index (and the Australian share market) next Thursday, 20 June, as a result of this takeover. However, before the stage exit, CSR shares have one more trick up their sleeves.

    The company will be forking out a swansong dividend on 1 July next month. This passive income payment will be worth a fully franked 12 cents per share and will come out of that $9 per share takeover offer. So eligible shareholders will now receive $8.88 in cash for every CSR share owned. That’s in addition to this 12 cents per share dividend payment.

    However, if you want this cash in your bank account, you’ll have to own CSR shares before the company trades ex-dividend for this payment next Friday, 21 June.

    CSR shares are currently trading on a dividend yield of 3.9%.

    A retail share with a 4% dividend yield

    Next, let’s talk about ASX 200 retail share Premier Investments Limited (ASX: PMV). Premier is the company behind famous Australian retail brands like Smiggle, Dotti and Peter Alexander.

    Premier delivered its last earnings report back in March. As we covered at the time, this report was well-received, thanks in part to the ASX 200 share’s decision to pay an interim dividend of 63 cents per share, fully franked. That was a 16.7% increase over the ordinary interim dividend of 54 cents per share that investors enjoyed in 2023.

    However, this dividend was only set to be paid out on 27 July next month. If ASX 200 investors wish to see this dividend in their bank accounts, they will need to own Premier shares before the ex-dividend date. This has been set for next Tuesday, 18 June.

    Premier Investments stock is currently trading on a dividend yield of 4.24%.

    The post 2 ASX 200 shares with ex-dividend dates next week appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you buy Csr Limited shares, consider this:

    Motley Fool investing expert Scott Phillips just revealed what he believes are the 5 best stocks for investors to buy right now… and Csr 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 may be better buys…

    See The 5 Stocks
    *Returns as of 5 May 2024

    More reading

    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 recommended Premier Investments. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.