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  • John Oliver was right — the Conservative Party just faced an epic wipeout at the polls

    "To put it mildly, the Tories are in trouble, which is a remarkable downfall for a party that's been in power for the last 14 straight years," comedian John Oliver (left) said of UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's (right) party last month.
    "To put it mildly, the Tories are in trouble, which is a remarkable downfall for a party that's been in power for the last 14 straight years," comedian John Oliver (left) said of UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's (right) party last month.

    Jamie McCarthy via Getty Images; Henry Nicholls/AFP via Getty Images

    • Turns out John Oliver was on the money when he predicted a bloodbath for the Conservative Party.
    • The comedian slammed the party in an episode of "Last Week Tonight" that aired in June.
    • "To put it mildly, the Tories are in trouble," Oliver said then.

    It's not quite the "extinction-level event for the Tories" that John Oliver predicted, but the Conservative Party did suffer a bitter defeat in Thursday's UK general election.

    In June, the comedian weighed in on the UK election in an episode of "Last Week Tonight." And now it seems Oliver was certainly on the money when he joined political watchers in forecasting a Tory defeat.

    "To put it mildly, the Tories are in trouble, which is a remarkable downfall for a party that's been in power for the last 14 straight years," Oliver said.

    In his segment, Oliver listed a litany of problems that he thought the Conservatives could be blamed for, ranging from the economic fallout wrought by Brexit to the harsh austerity measures the party imposed on the UK.

    Oliver also pointed out that the Conservatives have seen five prime ministers take office since 2010: David Cameron, Theresa May, Boris Johnson, Liz Truss, and Rishi Sunak.

    "Look, it's objectively fun to look back at what a collection of weirdos ran Britain for years," Oliver said. "But it gets considerably less fun when you look at what they did to the country."

    Oliver also took the opportunity to hold an early celebration of the Conservative Party's defeat on his show, holding out his arms as rain poured down on the "Last Week Tonight" stage.

    [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tkAqwHiAR-g?si=50Jf0gTeAZe8J6t2&w=560&h=315]

    "On July 4, Britain has a chance to wash itself clean of 14 miserable years of Conservative rule, and it is a chance it simply must take," Oliver said.

    "If we do this, the Fourth of July will no longer be known as just an American holiday but also as the day when Britain looked at the Conservatives who've driven the entire country into a ditch, and said in one voice, loud and clear, 'Fuck off into the sun, you cunts, fuckpigs, and weirdos,'" Oliver added.

    And it seems many UK voters agreed with Oliver's assessment that the Conservative leadership should be booted out.

    At the July 4 polls, the Conservative Party suffered a massive defeat at the hands of its rivals, Labour. As of press time, the party had lost at least 240 seats.

    UK Prime Minister and Conservative Party leader Sunak conceded defeat to Labour leader Kier Starmer early Friday morning.

    "The British people have delivered a sobering verdict tonight," Sunak told reporters. "There is much to learn and reflect on, and I take responsibility for the loss."

    Representatives for Oliver did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Business Insider sent outside regular business hours.

    Read the original article on Business Insider

  • Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today

    A diverse group of people form a circle at a park and raise their arms together.

    The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) had a lacklustre end to the trading week this Friday, concluding the week’s trading with a loss.

    By the time trading wrapped up today, the ASX 200 had been walked back by 0.12%. That leaves the index at 7,822.3 points as we head into the weekend.

    This slightly miserable Friday for the Australian share market follows a mixed night over on Wall Street last night.

    The Dow Jones Industrial Average Index (DJX: DJI) had a disappointing session, retreating by 0.061%.

    The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC) managed to put on a better show, rising a confident 0.88%.

    But let’s get back to the local markets now with a look at how the different ASX sectors fared this Friday.

    Winners and losers

    Despite the drop in the broader markets, we still have a fairly even split between winners and losers amongst the various ASX sectors today.

    Leading the losers were mining stocks. The S&P/ASX 200 Materials Index (ASX: XMJ) had a miserable time of it, tanking by 0.5%.

    Financial shares were also on the nose, with the S&P/ASX 200 Financials Index (ASX: XFJ) losing 0.45% of its value.

    Industrial stocks had a hard time too. The S&P/ASX 200 Industrials Index (ASX: XNJ) shed 0.2% of its value today.

    ASX real estate investment trusts (REITs) were right behind that, with the S&P/ASX 200 A-REIT Index (ASX: XPJ) sliding down 0.14%.

    Our final losers were energy shares. The S&P/ASX 200 Energy Index (ASX: XEJ) slipped by 0.06% by the closing bell.

    Turning now to the winners, it was (aptly) healthcare stocks that were most alive this Friday. The S&P/ASX 200 Healthcare Index (ASX: XHJ) shot up 0.74% this session.

    Communications shares were on fire too. The S&P/ASX 200 Communication Services Index (ASX: XTJ) soared 0.5%.

    Gold stocks had a great day as well, with the All Ordinaries Gold Index (ASX: XGD) surging 0.48%.

    Utilities shares were close behind, as you can see from the S&P/ASX 200 Utilities Index (ASX: XUJ)’s 0.44% increase.

    Tech stocks woke up on the right side of the bed too. The S&P/ASX 200 Information Technology Index (ASX: XIJ) saw its value rise 0.42%.

    Consumer discretionary shares also had another happy day today, illustrated by the S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Discretionary Index (ASX: XDJ)’s 0.37% lift.

    Its consumer staples counterpart performed similarly. The S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Staples Index (ASX: XSJ) bounced 0.24% higher.

    Top 10 ASX 200 shares countdown

    Topping the index today was gold stock West African Resources Ltd (ASX: WAF). West African shares swelled by a confident 5.09% today to $1.445 a share.

    There wasn’t any fresh price-sensitive news out of West African today, so perhaps the shares are just recovering a little after yesterday’s 13.2% loss.

    Here’s how the rest of today’s best performers landed the plane:

    ASX-listed company Share price Price change
    West African Resources Ltd (ASX: WAF) $1.445 5.09%
    Magellan Financial Group Ltd (ASX: MFG) $9.50 4.74%
    Judo Capital Holdings Ltd (ASX: JDO) $1.295 3.60%
    Healius Ltd (ASX: HLS) $1.465 3.17%
    Flight Centre Travel Group Ltd (ASX: FLT) $21.50 2.38%
    Corporate Travel Management Ltd (ASX: CTD) $13.76 2.38%
    Star Entertainment Group Ltd (ASX: SGR) $0.48 2.13%
    SiteMinder Ltd (ASX: SDR) $5.30 1.92%
    Stanmore Resources Ltd (ASX: SMR) $3.97 1.79%
    BlueScope Steel Ltd (ASX: BSL) $20.51 1.74%

    Our top 10 shares countdown is a recurring end-of-day summary to let you know which companies were making big moves on the day. Check in at Fool.com.au after the weekday market closes to see which stocks make the countdown.

    The post Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you buy Bluescope Steel 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 Bluescope Steel 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 24 June 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 positions in and has recommended Corporate Travel Management and SiteMinder. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Corporate Travel Management and SiteMinder. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Flight Centre Travel Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

  • Will NIB shares bleed to keep St Vincent’s onside?

    Shot of a mature scientists working on a laptop in a lab.

    Shares of NIB Holdings Ltd (ASX: NHF) finished trade on Friday at $6.98, down 1.97%.

    Whilst there’s been nothing market sensitive released by the company today, the moves come amidst a public standoff with St Vincent’s Health Australia regarding healthcare costs.

    Some have raised concerns about the future of the insurer’s partnership with the hospital as a result. Here’s what you need to know.

    St Vincent’s threatens to end negotiations

    NIB shares were in focus on Thursday after non-profit hospital group St Vincent’s Health Australia put the health fund on notice, saying it could “walk away from their contract within the next 65 business days unless a new fairer funding agreement is reached”.

    The contracts are to do with the funding agreement St Vincent’s has with NIB.

    The group says it has asked NIB to provide a “fair funding agreement” that reflects increased healthcare costs of private hospitals.

    St Vincent’s is Australia’s largest operator of non-profit private hospitals. It runs 10 private hospitals throughout NSW, QLD and Victoria and says NIB has “not put a fair offer on the table” whilst shutting the door on any future negotiations.

    Now the group has threatened to walk away from talks with NIB after being left with “no choice”.

    Unless a new funding agreement is reached within the notice period, St Vincent’s will end its contract with nib in early October (final day of notice period – Thursday, 3 October). 

    This means that, after this date – unless an agreement is reached in the meantime – patients who use nib for their private health insurance may be required to contribute more to the cost of their care when using a St Vincent’s private hospital.

    St Vincent’s CEO, Chris Blake, said that over 70 private hospitals have closed in the past 5 years here in Australia. In fact, the Federal Government is reviewing the issue right now in a national review.

    Blake also described St Vincent’s frustrations:

    In the last 12 months, St Vincent’s has negotiated major new agreements with Medibank Private Ltd (ASX: MPL), HCF, and the Alliance group of health funds. While the negotiations were robust, both sides gave ground to achieve a fair result. 

    This is not a decision we take lightly. This is the first time in our 167-year history that St Vincent’s has given notice to a private health fund that we intend to end our agreement. It’s an indication of how seriously we treat this matter.

    But nib has given us no choice but to make this call. 

    NIB shares continue downtrend

    Whilst the news isn’t market-sensitive, NIB shares drifted 5% lower this week. This continues a longer-term downtrend that’s been in place for the past three months.

    In that time, NIB is down from highs of $7.82 per share on 9 April.

    The firm reassured its members of continued coverage while it hopes to resume negotiations with St Vincent’s Health Australia.

    In a statement on Friday, NIB’s CEO, Mark Fitzgibbon, assured members booked for treatment at St Vincent’s hospitals that they will remain covered until at least October 3, according to The Australian.

    Fitzgibbon expressed disappointment at St Vincent’s decision to go public with the dispute but insisted that NIB has made a fair offer.

    If negotiations fail, NIB members can still receive treatment initiated before October 3 until discharge.

    What this means for investors

    Despite the dispute, brokers are positive. Goldman Sachs recently rated NIB as a buy with a price target of $8.10, citing favourable operating trends and strong policyholder growth. NIB’s approved rate increases of 4.1% this year are expected to support its financial stability despite the current challenges.

    Still, the ongoing negotiations between NIB and St Vincent’s are critical for maintaining coverage and customer satisfaction.

    Investors should keep a close eye on the developments, as the outcome could significantly impact NIB’s share price and market position.

    NIB shares are down over 19% in the last 12 months.

    The post Will NIB shares bleed to keep St Vincent’s onside? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in Nib Holdings right now?

    Before you buy Nib Holdings 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 Nib Holdings 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 24 June 2024

    More reading

    Motley Fool contributor Zach Bristow 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 Goldman Sachs Group. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended NIB Holdings. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

  • A top Russian banker says Russia’s payment methods should be a ‘state secret’ because the West keeps shutting them down so fast

    Russian President Vladimir Putin.
    Russian President Vladimir Putin.

    Getty Images

    • Russia faces intense pressure from sanctions targeting payment systems.
    • A top Russian banker says the country should stop talking about payment mechanisms due to sensitivity.
    • Russia is seeking alternatives to Western payment systems, acknowledging the challenge and time required.

    Russia's top financial officials admitted the country is under huge pressure from sanctions as their methods for making trade payments keep getting shut down.

    On Wednesday, a top Russian banker said the methods should be made a "state secret" due to their sensitivity, Reuters reported.

    "I can see very well that right now somewhere at the US embassy, a second secretary is sitting and writing down every public statement of ours. Maybe he is even sitting here," said Andrei Kostin, the CEO of VTB Bank, Russia's second-largest lender.

    "Whatever steps we take, we can see that the reaction is very quick," he said.

    Kostin made the comment at a financial conference where he was on a panel with Russian central bank governor Elvira Nabiullina.

    Nabiullina agreed with Kostin that it's better to avoid specifics about payment mechanisms.

    She also admitted that Russia's business partners overseas were under "tremendous pressure" from Western sanctions. But she also expressed hope that an alternative global payments system not involving Western institutions will emerge.

    "Different alternatives are being discussed. Businesses have become very flexible, very enterprising. They find ways to solve this and often don't even share them with us," said Nabiullina, per Reuters.

    Western-led sanctions against Russia are intensifying

    Despite sweeping Western sanctions over its invasion of Ukraine, Russia's economy has managed to keep humming thanks to wartime activities.

    Russia's war-driven economy is so hot that the World Bank recently upgraded it to a "high-income country."

    The West blocked some Russian banks from the widely used SWIFT messaging system for payments early in the war, but Russia and its trade partners have been able to skirt sanctions by using smaller banks or other payment modes.

    However, the US and its allies have been intensifying restrictions, particularly with the use of secondary sanctions against institutions in third-party countries.

    Just last month, the US Treasury rolled out a new package of expansive US sanctions package against Russia, forcing the Moscow Exchange — Russia's key bourse — to halt dollar and euro trade.

    Russia has said it's working with a group of countries to build a platform that doesn't need the dollar.

    Nabiullina said discussions about the platform were ongoing but that they were difficult and would take time.

    Read the original article on Business Insider

  • Russian spies only need $3 a month to dupe someone online: report

    A computer on a Russian flag.
    A computer on a Russian flag.

    Bill Oxford/Getty Images

    • Russia has ramped up its information warfare, a new report reveals.
    • The Insider and German newspaper Der Spiegel found documents detailing an operation called Project Kylo.
    • The document estimated that it would cost Russian operatives $3 to manipulate one Western audience member.

    Russia's foreign intelligence agency SVR hatched plans that involved staging fake, anti-state protests, filming them, and then disseminating them — a sprawling operation aimed at discrediting Ukraine.

    This is according to a new report by The Insider and the German newspaper Der Spiegel. The organizations' joint investigation revealed the contents of a document obtained in a leak of SVR communications — detailing the ins and outs of Project Kylo, a 2022 strategic plan to spread misinformation about Ukraine in the West.

    According to the report, one of the operations in Project Kylo would have cost the Russian spies around $3 a month to manipulate one Western internet user.

    A main pillar of this campaign involved faking protests, with no more than 100 people being paid around $108 each. The false protests were filmed for "subsequent media dissemination," per the report.

    The other part of the SVR's intelligence operations involved generating fake German news sites that branded themselves as independent investigations agencies. The sites churned out articles harping on economic issues in Germany, like homelessness, while disseminating content under incendiary headlines like "How Ukrainians are robbing Germany of economic prosperity."

    "Waging network wars in EU cyberspace based on the increasing demands of Ukrainian migrants and the new waves of irritation of the local population provoked by this, according to preliminary estimates, will have a very high efficiency both now and in the foreseeable future," the SVR strategy document read, per translations from The Insider and Der Spiegel.

    The leaked document further outlined how the "cognitive campaign" the Russians intended to run was centered on instilling in Western users "the strongest emotion in the human psyche — fear."

    "It is precisely the fear for the future, uncertainty about tomorrow, the inability to make long-term plans, the unclear fate of children and future generations," the document read. "The cultivation of these triggers floods an individual's subconscious with panic and terror."

    This leak of SVR documents is not the first time Russian operations in the West have been uncovered.

    There have been multiple reports of Russian spies infiltrating the West, such as "Victor Muller," a Russian military operative masquerading as a Brazilian student who sought an internship at the International Criminal Court in The Hague to steal intelligence.

    And the number of Russian spies in the West is now estimated to be at the highest it has been in decades.

    Russian spy activities "are as high or even higher than during the Cold War," a Western intelligence officer told The Financial Times in March.

    German newspaper Welt am Sonntag reported in April 2023 that Russian spies have used Tinder to target German politicians and soldiers in a bid to obtain intelligence related to the Ukraine war.

    Read the original article on Business Insider

  • Guess which 2 ASX All Ordinaries shares were the best and worst performers of FY24?

    best and worse asx shares represented by green best button and red worst button

    The S&P/ASX All Ordinaries Index (ASX: XAO) is slightly in the red on Friday, down 0.11%.

    There are 500 companies within the ASX All Ords index.

    We thought it might be interesting to see which ASX All Ords share delivered the best capital growth in FY24 and which one languished at the bottom of the pile.

    The results are in.

    Best ASX All Ords share of FY24 for growth

    Clarity Pharmaceuticals Ltd (ASX: CU6)

    ASX All Ords healthcare share Clarity Pharmaceuticals shot the lights out in FY24. The Clarity Pharmaceuticals share price soared by 674.29% over the 12 months.

    Clarity is a clinical-stage radiopharmaceutical company. It’s developing next-generation therapy and imaging products used for the diagnosis and treatment of cancer and other serious diseases.

    The majority of the stock’s impressive price ascension in FY24 began in April.

    That’s when the company announced that the first patient ever to be dosed with two cycles of 67Cu-SAR-bisPSMA at 8GBq had a complete response to treatment based on RECIST criteria.

    That meant the patient had maintained undetectable levels of prostate cancer for almost six months.

    In March, Clarity successfully completed an institutional capital raising of $110 million. It then ran a fully underwritten retail entitlement offer at $2.55 per share, which raised a further $10.8 million.

    The funds will be used to continue radiopharmaceutical product development.

    Last month, Clarity announced it had received a near-$10 million research and development tax incentive refund as part of the Australian Federal Government’s R&D Tax Incentive program.

    The Clarity Pharmaceuticals share price closed FY24 at $5.42.

    Worst ASX All Ords share of FY24

    Core Lithium Ltd (ASX: CXO)

    The share price of ASX All Ords lithium share Core Lithium tanked by 90% in FY24.

    Just a year ago on 30 June 2023, Core Lithium shares were worth 90 cents a piece. That was already a devastating 52% fall from their all-time record high of $1.875 on 13 November 2022.

    On the final trading day of FY24, the Core Lithium share price closed at 9.35 cents. So, it’s not surprising that the stock was at the bottom of the ASX All Ords index for FY24.

    The biggest news out of the company in FY24 was the suspension of mining at its flagship Finniss Project in the Northern Territory in January.

    The company did this to conserve capital while lithium prices continued to fall. Since then, Core Lithium has continued analysing exploration results and processing stockpiled ore.

    In the latest quarterly update, Core Lithium told investors its cash balance had reduced from $124.8 million at the end of December to $80.4 million at the end of March.

    However, the company said it intended to sell an inventory of lithium concentrate and fines in 4Q FY24. At the time of the announcement, it valued the inventory at $25 million.

    The post Guess which 2 ASX All Ordinaries shares were the best and worst performers of FY24? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in Clarity Pharmaceuticals right now?

    Before you buy Clarity Pharmaceuticals 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 Clarity Pharmaceuticals 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 24 June 2024

    More reading

    Motley Fool contributor Bronwyn Allen has positions in Core Lithium. 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.

  • What will it take for DroneShield shares to enter the ASX 200?

    DroneShield Ltd (ASX: DRO) shares have enjoyed one of the most euphoric share price runs of any stock in the All Ordinaries Index (ASX: XAO) over the past 12 months.

    A year ago, Droneshield shares were going for just 24 cents apiece. But fast forward to today, and those same shares are worth an extraordinary $1.94. That translates into a 12-month share price gain of 710%.

    The gains are even larger for longer-term investors of this ASX defence share.

    If one had owned Droneshield stock since April of 2020, when this company was priced at just 10 cents a share, they would be looking at a four-and-a-bit-year gain of 1,840%.

    This stunning run leaves Droneshield with a respectable market capitalisation of $1.53 billion today.

    With this kind of market cap under Droneshield’s belt, many investors might be wondering why Droneshield shares aren’t in the exclusive S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) club. After all, the ASX 200 is supposed to represent the largest 200 companies listed on the Australian share market.

    And with a market cap of $1.53 billion, Droneshield is now well within that range.

    On the surface, it does look like Droneshield’s ASX 200 inclusion is well overdue.

    This company is now double the size of some of the ASX 200’s smallest constituents. Take Strike Energy Ltd (ASX: STX). Strike shares only joined the ASX 200 in February of this year, replacing the now-taken-over Costa Group Holdings Ltd.  But today, Strike has a market capitalisation of just $643.7 million – less than half of Droneshield.

    Another stock currently in the bottom realms of the ASX is Nanosonics Ltd (ASX: NAN). Nanosonics currently commands a market cap of $884.75 million. Yet it too finds itself in the ASX 200, whereas Droneshield shares do not.

    So what’s going on here?

    Why aren’t Droneshield shares in the ASX 200?

    Well, the ASX 200 Index is a little more complicated than what investors might naturally assume. It is not simply a collection of the largest 200 shares on the Australian market. S&P Global, the company that manages most of the ASX’s indexes, lists several criteria for ASX 200 inclusion, of which market capitalisation is just one.

    And even though a company’s market cap is an important factor, S&P Global doesn’t just automatically include a share when it reaches a certain market cap milestone in its next quarterly rebalancing.

    Here’s what S&P Global says on that:

    …the market capitalization criterion for stock inclusion is based upon the daily average market capitalization of a security over the last six months.

    The ASX stock price history (last six months, adjusted for price- adjusting corporate actions), latest available shares on issue, and the Investable Weight Factor (IWF) are the relevant variables for the calculation.

    Today, Droneshield’s market cap is 440% higher than it was six months ago, which is one possible reason it hasn’t yet found itself in the ASX 200 Index.

    S&P Global also uses liquidity as a test for ASX 200 inclusion. And Droneshield is now a very liquid stock by ASX standards, with more than 10 million shares traded so far this Friday. So it’s likely that Droneshield’s liquidity isn’t a factor here.

    But S&P Global also uses another selection criterion for ASX 200 inclusion which might explain Droneshield’s absence in the index:

    In order to limit the level of index turnover, eligible non-constituent securities will generally only
    be considered for index inclusion once a current constituent stock is excluded due to a sufficiently low rank and/or liquidity, based on the float-adjusted market capitalization.

    Remember we discussed Strike Energy’s ASX 200 inclusion? Well, that only happened thanks to Costa Group leaving the index. It looks as though it’s not Droneshield’s attributes that are resulting in its index exclusion today, but the attributes of the other shares on the index.

    Next time a share is taken off the ASX boards or fails to meet the index’s market capitalisation and liquidity requirements, it might be Droneshield shares’ best shot at becoming an ASX 200 share. But until that happens, we might not see this company within the index. Watch this space.

    The post What will it take for DroneShield shares to enter the ASX 200? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you buy Droneshield 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 Droneshield 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 24 June 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 positions in and has recommended DroneShield, Nanosonics, and S&P Global. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Nanosonics. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

  • Brokers name 3 ASX shares to buy now

    It has been another busy week for many of Australia’s top brokers. This has led to the release of a number of broker notes.

    Three broker buy ratings that you might want to know more about are summarised below. Here’s why brokers think these ASX shares are in the buy zone right now:

    CSL Ltd (ASX: CSL)

    According to a note out of Macquarie, its analysts have retained their outperform rating and $330.00 price target on this biotherapeutics company’s shares. The broker has been looking at the US dollar and the impact it could have on CSL. And while it suspects that the greenback could act as an earnings headwind in the near term, it believes it will become a tailwind from FY 2026. Nevertheless, Macquarie doesn’t expect this to stop CSL from delivering double digits earnings growth over the next five years thanks to its plasma business. In light of this, the broker feels that the company’s shares are attractively price at current levels. The CSL share price is trading at $299.81 on Friday afternoon.

    Premier Investments Limited (ASX: PMV)

    A note out of Bell Potter reveals that its analysts have retained their buy rating and $35.00 price target on this retail conglomerate’s shares. The broker has been looking at the company’s proposed demerger of the Peter Alexander and Smiggle brands and the potential merger with Myer Holdings Ltd (ASX: MYR). It is very positive on both proposals. In respect to the former, the broker sees a lot of value emerging from the potential demerger of Premier Investments’ two key brands. Particularly given that it thinks they are global roll-out worthy. In light of this, Bell Potter notes that the company remains a key preference within the consumer discretionary sector. The Premier Investments share price is fetching $29.59 at the time of writing.

    Suncorp Group Ltd (ASX: SUN)

    Analysts at Morgan Stanley have retained their overweight rating on this insurance giant’s shares with an improved price target of $20.20. According to the note, the broker believes that Suncorp’s shares are being undervalued by the market. It highlights that they are trading at a material and unjustified discount to rival Insurance Australia Group Ltd (ASX: IAG). Especially given its higher quality earnings and strong car insurance businesses. As a result, the broker suspects that Suncorp’s shares could soon re-rate to higher multiples and close this gap. The Suncorp share price is trading at $16.86 this afternoon.

    The post Brokers name 3 ASX shares to buy now appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you buy CSL 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 CSL 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 24 June 2024

    More reading

    Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in CSL. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended CSL and Macquarie Group. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Macquarie Group. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended CSL and Premier Investments. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

  • The best ASX 200 share of each market sector in FY24

    Deterra share price royalties top asx shares represented by investor kissing piggy bank

    S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) shares rose by 7.83% in FY24 (total returns of 12.1% including dividends).

    The ASX 200 rose from a closing value of 7,203.3 points on the last trading day of FY23 to a closing value of 7,767.5 points on the last trading day of FY24.

    The index fell from July to October last year before an early Santa Rally in November began amid speculation that interest rates would be cut in 2024 due to falling inflation.

    There are 11 market sectors comprising the benchmark index.

    Let’s take a look at which ASX 200 share was the top performer in each sector in FY24.

    The best ASX 200 market sector shares in FY24

    Based on 12-month stock price growth (not including dividends), these were the best ASX shares of each market sector in the last financial year.

    Healthcare

    Pro Medicus Limited (ASX: PME) shares were not only the healthcare sector’s best performers for price growth but also the top stock of the entire ASX 200 in FY24. 

    The company delivered a 118.3% share price gain over the 12 months.

    The Pro Medicus share price is $130.13 on Friday, up 0.56%.

    Materials

    In the materials sector, ASX 200 gold mining stock Red 5 Limited (ASX: RED) delivered 89.5% capital growth in FY24. The company was boosted by a rising gold price.

    The ASX 200 gold miner is trading at 37 cents today, up 0.54%.

    Energy

    In the ASX 200 energy sector, uranium stock Deep Yellow Limited (ASX: DYL) soared by 77.5%.

    The ASX 200 energy stock is trading at $1.41 today, down 0.35%.

    Industrials

    Diversified industrial and investment company Seven Group Holdings Ltd (ASX: SVW) was the No. 1 stock in the ASX 200 industrials sector with 52.9% capital growth in FY24.

    The ASX 200 industrials share is trading at $36.05 today, down 4.07%.

    Communications

    Beep, beep! Car Group Limited (ASX: CAR) zoomed past its peers in the communications sector in FY24, racking up a 48% share price gain.

    The ASX 200 communications stock is trading at $33.67 today, down 0.75%.

    Technology

    Social networking app developer Life360 Inc (ASX: 360) was the No 1. stock in the technology sector in FY24 with an outstanding 115.4% gain.

    (Fun fact: The tech sector was the leader of the pack among the 11 sectors in FY24.)

    The ASX 200 tech stock is trading at $15.87 today, up 0.063%.

    Consumer discretionary

    Budget jewellery retailer Lovisa Holdings Ltd (ASX: LOV) led the consumer discretionary stocks in FY24 with a 70.3% share price gain.

    The ASX 200 retail stock is trading at $31.38 on Friday, up 1.26%.

    Real estate & REITs

    Goodman Group (ASX: GMG) soared in FY24 on the back of the artificial intelligence theme. With 73.1% share price growth, Goodman outperformed its real estate sector peers in FY24.

    The ASX 200 property share is $35.35 on Friday, down 0.099%.

    Consumer Staples

    Bega Cheese Ltd (ASX: BGA) was the No. 1 consumer staples stock of the year in FY24. The Bega share price lifted 49.1% over the 12 months.

    The ASX 200 consumer staples share is trading at $4.24 today, down 0.7%.

    Financials

    Diversified financial services company Hub24 Ltd (ASX: HUB) was the best ASX 200 financials stock of FY24, following an 82.9% surge in its share price.

    Hub24 shares are trading at $46.67 today, down 0.66%.

    Utilities

    In the utilities sector, Origin Energy Ltd (ASX: ORG) was the No. 1 stock in FY24, with share price growth of 29.1%.

    The ASX 200 utilities share is trading at $10.74 on Friday, up 0.47%.

    The post The best ASX 200 share of each market sector in FY24 appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in Life360 right now?

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    *Returns as of 24 June 2024

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    Motley Fool contributor ass=”yoast-text-mark”>ass=”yoast-text-mark”>ef=”https://www.fool.com.au/author/TMFBronwyn/”>Bronwyn Allen has positions in Goodman Group. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Goodman Group, Hub24, Life360, Lovisa, and Pro Medicus. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Car Group, Goodman Group, Hub24, Lovisa, and Pro Medicus. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

  • China-made military drones similar to the MQ-9 Reaper were disguised as wind turbines in shipments to Libya: Italian officials

    Italian officials uncover military drone parts disguised as wind turbine components.
    Italian officials uncover military drone parts disguised as wind turbine components.

    Guardia di Finanza

    • Two military drones were seized by Italian authorities on their way from China to Libya.
    • They were found in containers and disguised to look like wind turbine parts, Italian officials said.
    • The Times reported that these were Wing Loong UAVs, which are made in China and often compared to the Reaper.

    Italy has seized parts for two combat drones disguised as wind turbines in containers en route from China to Libya, customs and maritime authorities said on Tuesday.

    Officials at the port of Gioia Tauro intercepted six containers marked as parts for wind-powered generators, which were actually filled with the fuselages and wings for military drones, the Financial Police said in a statement. The agency patrols Italy's waters and is tasked with countering smuggling.

    Investigators said the drone parts were hidden among materials made to look like wind turbine fan blades "with the aim of concealing the checks carried out."

    According to the Financial Police, the drones have a tonnage of more than 3 tons, with a length of over 32 feet and a wingspan of over 65 feet.

    https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js

    The Times of London reported on Sunday that Italian authorities had acted on intelligence from the US.

    It wrote that three containers were impounded on June 18 from the ship MSC Arina and that officials were expecting another three to arrive over the weekend on the MSC Apolline.

    Per the outlet, the drones were Wing Loong UAVs bound for Benghazi so they could be delivered to Libyan General Khalifa Haftar. The shipments included two control stations for the drones, per The Times.

    The drone specifications listed by the Financial Guard, which did not name the drones in its statement, match those of the Wing Loong-2 listed by Chinese state media reports.

    Italian officials stand next to drone parts disguised as wind turbines.
    Italian officials stand next to drone parts disguised as wind turbines.

    Guardia di Finanza

    As a long-endurance and remotely controlled weapons platform, the Wing Loong-2 is often compared to the US-made MQ-9 Reaper, though its maximum speed and altitude are inferior to the latter.

    When it was introduced in 2017, China's state media lauded it as a sign that Beijing was the first to match the US in a "new generation of large-scale reconnaissance and strike integrated UAVs."

    Neither The Times nor the Financial Guard mentioned whether the Chinese government was involved.

    China's Foreign Ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment sent by Business Insider.

    Italian authorities also did not say if the shipment contained munitions for the drones. They added that the seized shipment likely violates a long-standing United Nations embargo on weapons to and from Libya.

    Haftar's faction, the Libyan National Army, is based in eastern Libya and attempted to overthrow the country's internationally recognized government in 2020.

    A former officer in Muammar Gaddafi's administration, he's forged close ties with Russia, and Moscow has promised to support his military as he extends control over much of Libya.

    The use of the Wing Loong-2 was reported in Libya before this seizure. The United Nations found that in 2019, the drone was likely used by Haftar's forces in an attack on the suburbs of Tripoli.

    The UN report and a BBC investigation found that Wing Loong-2 drones were likely supplied by the United Arab Emirates, which has long been accused of backing Haftar.

    In April, two Libyan men were charged in Canada with conspiring to sell Chinese-made drones to Libya in exchange for oil between 2018 and 2021.

    Read the original article on Business Insider