Author: therawinformant

  • 3 ASX 200 shares to protect your portfolio from recession

    man holding umbrella looking at storm over city, recession, asx 200 shares

    Although you may not have guessed it judging by the recent performance of the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO), the economy is about to enter a significant recession. Which means that – in a rational world – another ASX 200 correction could be on the horizon. And whether or not you think we live in a rational world, the jury seems to still be out on that one. However, surely we can all agree that it wouldn’t hurt to start protecting your portfolio against short-term volatility in the share market.

    So, with that in mind, here are 3 ASX 200 financial services companies with diverse income streams. These have the possibility of providing your portfolio with downside risk protection coupled with strong, long-term growth potential.

    Bravura Solutions Ltd (ASX: BVS)

    Bravura Solutions is a software company specialising in wealth management, financial services and funds administration. Its flagship product is Sonata, a scalable software solution for the wealth management industry. The company has grown rapidly over the last few years and now also has a full suite of products supporting the insurance and superannuation industries as well as other areas of the financial sector.

    In the last year alone, Bravura has acquired financial planning software company Midwinter, as well as wealth management company FinoComp. The company’s first half FY20 net profit after tax (NPAT) surged 21% higher against 1H19 to $19.8 million. Furthermore, 78% of its total revenues were from recurring sources. Bravura expects its full year NPAT growth rate to be in the mid-teens.

    Despite sliding 5.6% lower last week to $4.58, Bravura shares have risen to $4.71 in morning trade today. The Bravura share price has also held up surprisingly well during the coronavirus pandemic. After dropping to an intraday low of $2.92 on 23 March, Bravura shares have since recovered a significant portion of those losses. However, they are still trading well short of the $5.98, 52-week high they reached back in February.

    Challenger Ltd (ASX: CGF)

    ASX 200 investment management company Challenger is Australia’s largest provider of annuities. Challenger supports individuals throughout retirement by providing products that deliver stable income streams. Volatility in the financial markets caused by the coronavirus pandemic could potentially increase demand for the stability of fixed annuity products. However this also has the potential to hurt Challenger’s funds management business.

    This was reflected in Challenger’s performance for the March quarter, which was a bit of a mixed bag. Sales were buoyed by an uptick in the Japanese and Institutional markets. But total assets fell 8% to $79 billion due to the broad market selloff that occurred back in March. Despite this, Challenger still reaffirmed its full year guidance for normalised net profit after tax of between $500 million and $550 million. This would represent year-on-year growth of between 26% and 39%.

    Given the fact that Challenger shares are still currently trading at nearly 50% off their pre-coronavirus highs, they could offer a great – if speculative – ASX 200 investment opportunity for new shareholders.

    ASX Ltd (ASX:ASX)

    Despite a topsy-turvy year for the ASX 200, the share price of the market operator has climbed to new highs. After sliding to a low of $63.02 in mid-March, ASX shares have rebounded strongly. Last week, they even briefly touched a new 52-week high of $89.92.

    Although new IPOs have dropped significantly over the last few months, secondary capital raisings have skyrocketed as companies seek to strengthen their balance sheets. For May, secondary capital raisings were up 151% versus May 2019 to a little over $7.5 billion. Trading activity has also been increasing, with the average daily value traded on the market for May up 33% versus the prior comparative period.

    The fact that the total number of listed entities on the ASX is declining (down to 2,195 from 2,266 as at May 2019) is a concern for the operator. But it benefits from the income generated by facilitating higher trading volumes and capital raisings.

    With the potential for more market volatility around the corner as Australia enters its first recession in 29 years, another correction in the ASX share price could be looming. However, it has proved itself to be a surprisingly defensive stock to have in your portfolio throughout the coronavirus crisis.

    For more long-term buys, check out the following report.

    3 “Double Down” Stocks To Ride The Bull Market

    Motley Fool resident tech stock expert Dr. Anirban Mahanti has stumbled upon three under-the-radar stock picks he believes could be some of the greatest discoveries of his investing career.

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    Rhys Brock owns shares of Bravura Solutions Ltd. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. owns shares of Bravura Solutions Ltd. The Motley Fool Australia owns shares of and has recommended Challenger Limited. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Bravura Solutions Ltd. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

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  • Hedge Funds Cashing Out Of VMware, Inc. (VMW)

    Hedge Funds Cashing Out Of VMware, Inc. (VMW)In this article we will check out the progression of hedge fund sentiment towards VMware, Inc. (NYSE:VMW) and determine whether it is a good investment right now. We at Insider Monkey like to examine what billionaires and hedge funds think of a company before spending days of research on it. Given their 2 and 20 […]

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  • Leading brokers name 3 ASX 200 shares to buy today

    Buy Shares

    With so many shares to choose from on the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO), it can be hard to decide which ones to buy.

    The good news is that brokers across the country are doing a lot of the hard work for you.

    Three top shares that leading brokers have named as buys this week are listed below. Here’s why they are bullish on them:

    BlueScope Steel Limited (ASX: BSL)

    According to a note out of Goldman Sachs, its analysts have upgraded this steel producer’s shares to a buy rating with an increased price target of $14.95. The broker made the move after steel spreads improved in Asia and North America. Goldman expects these improvements to continue over the coming months as supply and demand begins to rebalance again. Especially given increasing demand in Australia following additional government stimulus in the construction sector. While it isn’t a company that I’m a big fan of, I think the broker makes some great points.

    BWP Trust (ASX: BWP)

    Analysts at Ord Minnett have upgraded this property company’s shares to a buy rating and lifted the price target on them to $4.40. The broker notes that funds are flowing back into the property sector and is recommending investors look at companies with long leases. It believes these are undervalued in comparison to others in the sector. BWP ticks a lot of boxes for the broker, hence its upgrade to buy this morning. I agree with Ord Minnett and would be a buyer of BWP’s shares.

    Healius Ltd (ASX: HLS)

    A note out of the Macquarie equities desk reveals that its analysts have upgraded this healthcare company’s shares to an outperform rating with an improved price target of $3.00. Macquarie believes that Healius won’t be impacted by the pandemic as much as previously expected. It also feels the company is well-placed to benefit from an increase in activity in the near term. In addition to this, it appears to see the potential divestment of its medical centres as a positive. While not my favourite option in the healthcare sector, I think Healius is still worth a closer look.

    And listed below are more top shares which analysts have just given buy ratings to..

    5 stocks under $5

    We hear it over and over from investors, “I wish I had bought Altium or Afterpay when they were first recommended by The Motley Fool. I’d be sitting on a gold mine!” And it’s true.

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    *  Extreme Opportunities returns as of June 5th 2020

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

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  • Why the LBT Innovations share price is charging higher today

    shares higher, growth shares

    The LBT Innovations Limited (ASX: LBT) share price is storming higher today after the company announced the achievement of a milestone in the United States.

    At the time of writing, LBT Innovations shares last changed hands at 15.5 cents, representing a gain of 10.71%. This takes the company’s current market capitalisation to around $36 million – so we’re very much at the smaller end of the ASX here.

    About LBT Innovations

    LBT Innovations is a designer of advanced technology solutions for the medical industry. Its core capabilities include artificial intelligence (AI), image analysis, and software engineering solutions that improve medical diagnostic workflows.

    The company’s first product, MicroStreak, was a world-first in the automation of the culture plate streaking process. Its second product, the Automated Plate Assessment System (APAS), is currently being commercialised through a 50%-owned joint venture company.

    According to LBT, the APAS instrument is the only US FDA-cleared AI technology for automated imaging, analysis and interpretation of culture plates following incubation.

    Why the LBT Innovations share price is spiking

    This morning, LBT announced the first sale of an APAS Independence instrument in the US to Hennepin County Medical Centre (HCMC).

    The sale of the APAS Independence has been completed following the installation of the middleware driver for APAS, which connects the instrument to HCMC’s information management system. This, in turn, enables the automated reporting capability of the APAS technology. 

    The APAS driver was developed by Data Innovations and has been successfully interfaced by HCMC. It is now in a testing and validation phase prior to the expected routine clinical use of the urine analysis module.

    HCMC is a medium-sized clinical laboratory that provides a full range of diagnostic testing and reporting services. It processes approximately 500 specimens a day, including 300 urine plate analysis.

    According to the announcement, the centre has purchased the APAS Independence to support its daily culture plate workflow. With this, HCMC has entered into an annual software license for the FDA-cleared urine analysis model and a 5-year service agreement.

    Commenting on the collaboration, HCMC’s director of microbiology, Dr Glen Hansen, said:

    “The ability for us to automate the reading of our culture plates with the APAS Independence has increased the work efficiency through the laboratory and has motivated staff who now have more time for other activities.”

    Meanwhile, LBT CEO and managing director Brent Barnes said:

    “We are thrilled for HCMC to be the site of our first APAS sale in the United States given their status and reputation which will no doubt help provide further commercial validation. Dr Hansen has been a great advocate for the technology and the purchase reflects the positive impact the technology has had within their lab. We continue to work hard with other laboratories in the region as we look to target further U.S. commercial sales.”

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

    The post Why the LBT Innovations share price is charging higher today appeared first on Motley Fool Australia.

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  • Flight Centre share price and other ASX 200 travel shares look set to continue rising

    plane flying across share markey graph, asx 200 travel shares, qantas share price

    The Flight Centre Travel Group Ltd (ASX: FLT) and other travel-related shares have soared in recent weeks. Many investors may think these shares have raced past fair value given current travel restrictions and recession woes. I believe the forward-looking nature of the markets, combined with the unprecedented stimulus, could see the Flight Centre share price and other S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) and All Ordinaries (ASX: XAO) travel shares push higher. 

    Lean and cashed-up businesses 

    The likes of Flight Centre, Webjet Limited (ASX: WEB) and Corporate Travel Management Ltd (ASX: CTD) reacted quickly to COVID-19. The companies promptly scaled-back capital expenditure, reduced headcount and raised capital to keep business alive. 

    Corporate Travel Management has a very capital-light model. Over 70% of its costs are people-related and 50% of the remaining costs are variable. It has a small physical footprint and has the flexibility to hibernate its business. Its pre-COVID-19 business conditions also saw domestic travel account for approximately 60% of group revenues. This may allow the business to benefit from reopening domestic borders. 

    Webjet has implemented a broad range of interim business initiatives. These have included the deferral of its $12.2 million dividend payment for 1H20, over 440 redundancies and 4-day working weeks for the majority of its remaining staff. It recently raised a total of $275 million from an institutional placement and entitlement offer. This lifts the company’s cash and cash equivalents position from $58 million to $333 million. 

    Likewise, Flight Centre opted to raise $700 million, a significant amount relative to its ~$1.5 billion market capitalisation back in April. But instead of the share price continuing to slump post-capital raise, Flight Centre is not far off doubling from its March lows and it’s up more than 28% in June alone. 

    A slow recovery on the cards 

    Webjet commented on China’s early signs of normalisation with hotel bookings leading into March surging 40% from the previous week. Peak daily bookings for domestic flights also soared 230% from the lowest level recorded in February. 

    The Sydney Morning Herald reported that Qantas Airways Limited (ASX: QAN) “is preparing to scale up its domestic flying from its current 5 per cent of pre-pandemic levels to 40 per cent by the end of July, pending the reopening of state borders.”

    Qantas CEO, Alan Joyce has also suggested there is pent-up demand for travel and the airline had already experienced a surge in intrastate bookings. 

    This all spells good news for the Flight Centre share price and travel-related cohorts. I believe the market has largely priced-in the negative economic impact of the coronavirus. The travel industry recovery is imminent and consumers are eager for more than just crowded shopping centres and long queues. 

    Investors would be in an excellent position had they bought the lows of the travel industry. Rather than sitting on ‘should of’ and ‘could of’, check out our free report for likely double-down opportunities.

    3 “Double Down” Stocks To Ride The Bull Market

    Motley Fool resident tech stock expert Dr. Anirban Mahanti has stumbled upon three under-the-radar stock picks he believes could be some of the greatest discoveries of his investing career.

    He’s so confident in their future prospects that he has issued “double down” buy alerts on each of these three stocks to members of his Motley Fool Extreme Opportunities stock picking service.

    *Extreme Opportunities returns as of June 5th 2020

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

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  • PG&E to Sell San Francisco Headquarters, Move to Oakland

    PG&E to Sell San Francisco Headquarters, Move to Oakland(Bloomberg) — PG&E Corp. said it plans to sell its iconic downtown San Francisco headquarters and relocate to Oakland, a move aimed at lowering costs after the California power giant exits bankruptcy.PG&E, which has called San Francisco its home since the utility’s founding in 1905, will move in phases starting in 2022, the company said in a statement Monday. It plans to lease its new building at 300 Lakeside in Oakland, with the option to purchase the property from developer TMG Partners.With the move, PG&E becomes one of the most high-profile companies to leave San Francisco for Oakland, a cheaper city located just across San Francisco Bay. The sale of its headquarters also allows the utility to profit off of investor interest in its longtime hometown, one of the tightest and most expensive U.S. office markets.PG&E said any net gains realized from a sale would be passed on to customers, and a transaction wouldn’t occur until it exits bankruptcy. The company, which filed for Chapter 11 more than a year ago after its equipment was tied to deadly wildfires, is seeking to win court approval of a $59 billion restructuring plan by the end of this month.“Our new Oakland headquarters will be significantly more cost-effective, is better suited to the needs of our business, and is a critical part of fulfilling our commitment to operate in a fiscally responsible way that will enable us to achieve our operational and safety goals,” Bill Smith, PG&E’s interim chief executive officer, said in the statement.PG&E said TMG will upgrade its Oakland property at its own cost according to the company’s specifications, which will allow for a flexible office layout and new safety measures in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. The location will also make commuting easier for the majority of its employees who already live in the East Bay, PG&E said. It plans to consolidate its two other East Bay offices into the new Oakland headquarters.The utility’s 1.7 million-square-foot (158,000-square-meter) San Francisco complex was constructed between 1923 and 1925, according to its registration form for the National Register for Historic Places. It’s located in the South of Market neighborhood, an area that’s popular with technology companies.One broker estimate last year implied the property could fetch more than $1 billion. Still, it’s unclear how the market has changed since then given the Covid-19 outbreak.Demand in San Francisco by fast-growing tech firms, and local restrictions on building, have long pushed rental rates higher and buoyed the value of buildings. But the pandemic has made many companies reassess their needs with most of their employees working from home. Facebook Inc. and Twitter Inc. have said that many of their staff may permanently work remotely.“Even if most workers continue to work full-time in the office, plausible projections for increased remote work should put a sizable dent in long-term demand” for office space, analysts from real estate research firm Green Street Advisors wrote in a report last month. “That is highly unwelcome for a sector that was already facing challenging fundamentals and lofty valuations.”(Updates with details of the move starting in the second paragraph)For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.comSubscribe now to stay ahead with the most trusted business news source.©2020 Bloomberg L.P.

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  • CSL share price drops lower despite announcing a new acquisition

    M&A Letters

    The CSL Limited (ASX: CSL) share price has continued its poor form and has been unable to climb higher with the market on Tuesday.

    This is even after the release of a promising announcement this morning.

    At the time of writing the biotherapeutics company’s shares are down 2.5% to $277.99.

    What did CSL announce?

    This morning CSL announced that it has agreed to exercise its right to acquire clinical-stage biotechnology company Vitaeris.

    Vitaeris is currently focused on the phase 3 development of a treatment for rejection in solid organ kidney transplant patients.

    Both companies entered into a strategic partnership in 2017 to speed up the development of this program. This partnership included the option for CSL to acquire Vitaeris in full at a later date.

    It has now exercised this option, which means Vitaeris’ research assets will now join CSL842 and CSL964 as part of CSL’s portfolio of products in late-stage development to address significant unmet needs in the transplant community.

    What is Vitaeris’ treatment?

    According to the release, Vitaeris’ lead phase 3 program is investigating the role that a monoclonal antibody called clazakizumab has in treating a naturally occurring inflammatory gene (interleukin6 or IL-6).

    This inflammatory gene is the leading cause of long-term rejection in kidney transplant recipients.

    CSL’s Executive Vice President and Head of Research and Development, Bill Mezzanotte, spoke positively about the acquisition.

    He said: “Clazakizumab has been a promising monoclonal antibody in the Transplant therapeutic area since we started working with Vitaeris several years ago.”

    “Acquiring Vitaeris and their associate expertise helps us to continue to grow our strategic scientific platform of recombinant proteins and antibodies. We look forward to continuing to advance this treatment candidate as a potential option for people experiencing rejection, an area where current treatment options for transplant recipients are limited, at best,” he added.

    What now?

    CSL notes that the cost of acquisition is modest and does not materially change its profit expectation for FY 2020.

    The terms of agreement include sales-based milestones and the company will incur additional research and development expenses. These are associated with the completion of the phase 3 clinical trial.

    In FY 2021, these additional expenses are estimated to be between US$30 million to US$50 million. While this might seem like a large expense, it isn’t in comparison to its overall research and development spend.

    CSL traditionally spends in the region of 11% to 12% of sales on research and development activities. This led to the company pumping US$832 million into these activities in FY 2019.

    Looking for more exciting shares to invest in like CSL? Then check out the recommendation below which look like future market beaters…

    5 ASX stocks under $5

    One trick to potentially generating life-changing wealth from the stock market is to buy early-stage growth companies when their share prices still look dirt cheap.

    Motley Fool’s resident tech stock expert Dr. Anirban Mahanti has identified 5 stocks he thinks are screaming buys. And you can buy them now for less than $5 a share!

    *  Extreme Opportunities returns as of June 5th 2020

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

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  • Are the Rio Tinto, Fortescue and BHP share prices a buy right now?

    dice labelled buy and sell rolling on a sharemarket chart

    The iron ore spot price continues to go from strength to strength, topping US$100 per tonne for the first time this year. China’s iron ore futures market opened more than 6% higher on Monday after top miner Vale SA was ordered to shut operations at a site that accounts for approximately 10% of its output.

    Could supply woes make the Rio Tinto Limited (ASX: RIO), Fortescue Metals Group Limited (ASX: FMG) and BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP) share prices a buy?

    Vale SA to close multiple sites 

    The Australian Financial Review (AFR) reports that a Brazilian labor court judge ordered Vale SA to close multiple sites after a COVID-19 outbreak among workers.

    Investors may remember Vale’s tailings dam collapse in late January 2019. This tragic incident killed 237, left 33 missing and nearly 1,000 displaced. The closure of this mine site resulted in significant supply woes for the global iron ore market. This supply imbalance caused the iron ore spot price to soar from ~US$70 to more than US$120 per tonne in July 2019. This also saw the Rio Tinto, Fortescue and BHP share prices hit record highs or price levels not seen since the GFC.  

    Australia is the largest iron ore producing country in the world and is also fortunate enough to have largely tackled the spread of the coronavirus. However, other producers that play a vital role in the iron ore supply chain such as Brazil, Russia and India are still at various stages of the curve and ranked 2nd, 4th and 5th, respectively, for active cases globally. This is likely to see an impact on various parts of their economies, including mining. 

    Aussie miners to benefit 

    The Rio Tinto, Fortescue and BHP share prices are likely to continue to push higher following strong spot prices. Elevated iron ore prices will continue to support the market-leading dividends paid by Aussie miners. At the time of writing, Rio Tinto currently pays a dividend yield of 5.77%, BHP pays 5.87% and Fortescue pays 6.88%.

    From a risk/reward perspective, it may be challenging for investors to buy Fortescue at its current record all-time high prices. Alternatively, I believe it is feasible for the Rio Tinto and BHP share prices to revisit their previous highs. This can be further supported by the swift recovery of other commodities such as copper, coal and oil that make up a small proportion of the ASX 200 miners’ materials portfolios.

    Iron ore miners are one of few businesses that have been able to maintain their dividends amidst the coronavirus pandemic. For another top dividend share, don’t miss the free report below.

    NEW: Expert names top dividend stock for 2020 (free report)

    When our resident dividend expert Edward Vesely has a stock tip, it can pay to listen. After all, he’s the investing genius that runs Motley Fool Dividend Investor, the newsletter service that has picked huge winners like Dicker Data (+92%), SDI Limited (+53%) and National Storage (+35%).*

    Edward has just named what he believes is the number one ASX dividend stock to buy for 2020.

    This fully franked “under the radar” company is currently trading more than 24% below its all-time high and paying a 6.7% grossed-up dividend.

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    See the top dividend stock for 2020

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

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  • Brainchip share price rockets 42% after signing agreement with tier 1 automotive supplier

    Graphic image of a circuit board with an AI technology symbol

    The Brainchip Holdings Ltd (ASX: BRN) share price is charging higher today after the small-cap ASX tech share announced a joint development agreement with a tier 1 automotive supplier.

    About Brainchip

    Brainchip produces a neuromorphic processor that brings artificial intelligence to the edge in a way it believes is beyond the capabilities of other products. 

    By mimicking brain processing, BrainChip has been able to pioneer a spiking neural network called Akida, which is both scalable and flexible to address the requirements in edge devices. Simply put, an edge device is any piece of hardware that controls data flow at the boundary between two networks, such as a router or a smartphone. 

    Akida has been designed to provide a complete ultra-low power and fast AI Edge Network for vision, audio, olfactory and smart transducer applications. The reduction in system latency provides faster response and a more power-efficient system that can reduce the large carbon footprint of data centres.

    Why is the Brainchip share price spiking?

    This morning, the company announced it has signed a joint development agreement with Valeo Corporation that utilises Brainchip’s Akida neuromorphic System-on-Chip (SoC).

    Valeo Corporation is a tier 1 European automotive supplier of sensors and systems for autonomous vehicles (AV) and advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS).

    The agreement will see the two companies collaborate on the development of neural network processing solutions for AV and ADAS.

    Brainchip believes the validation of its Akida device by a tier 1 supplier of this nature is a significant development.

    In AV and ADAS applications, real-time processing of data is critical for the safety and reliability of autonomous systems. Suppliers and manufacturers in the automotive industry have reportedly recognised that the Akida SoC is ideally suited to process data at the “Edge” for their advanced system solutions.

    According to Brainchip, by combining the Akida neural network processor with sensors, the resulting system can achieve ultra-low power, minimum latency, maximum reliability, and incremental learning.

    “The Akida neural processor’s game-changing high performance and ultra-low power consumption, enables smart sensor integration by solving power and footprint challenges for a variety of sensor technologies,” the announcement read. 

    Brainchip was a little light on details but stated the agreement provides for specific performance milestones and payments that are expected to cover the company’s expenses. The term of the agreement is defined by the achievement of performance milestones and the availability of the Akida device.

    At the time of writing, the Brainchip share price has surged 42.04% higher to 12.5 cents per share. This takes the company’s current market capitalisation to around $183 million.

    NEW! 5 Cheap Stocks With Massive Upside Potential

    Our experts at The Motley Fool have just released a FREE report detailing 5 shares you can buy now to take advantage of the much cheaper share prices on offer.

    One is a diversified conglomerate trading over 30% off it’s all-time high, all while offering a fully franked dividend yield of over 3%…

    Another is a former stock market darling that is one of Australia’s most popular and iconic businesses. Trading at a significant discount to its 52-week high, not only does this stock offer massive upside potential, but it also trades on an attractive fully franked dividend yield of almost 4%.

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    But you will have to hurry because the cheap share prices on offer today might not last for long.

    As of 2/6/2020

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

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  • The ANZ share price has soared 37% in 2 weeks. Here’s why.

    city building with banking share prices, anz share price

    The Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Limited (ASX: ANZ) share price has risen over 37% in the period since close of trading on Friday 22 May. This is the largest rise of all the four major banks. The larger National Australia Bank Ltd. (ASX: NAB) follows closely behind with a rise of just over 33% for the same period. 

    Why are bank shares rising?

    Across the world, it’s starting to look like the economic fallout from COVID-19 could be less significant than originally anticipated. This is particularly the case in Australia. On 26 May, UBS analyst Jonathan Mott, a known market bear, raised his expectations of the banking sector. Jonathan pointed out the current underperformance of bank shares given the better than expected outlook. 

    Many economic factors point to a recovery in bank performance. Not least of which was the $60 billion saving in JobKeeper due largely to clerical errors. An additional $10.6 billion in household spending power after early superannuation withdrawals and improvements in card and retail data are also contributing to optimism surrounding the sector. 

    It remains to be seen what will happen in September when the government assistance comes to an end. Still, the share prices of all major banks have all been relatively slow to rise since the March low point. 

    On 27 May, National Australia Bank announced it was increasing its capital raising to $4.25 billion, including an additional $1.25 billion for retail investors. This announcement appeared to carry the NAB share price higher along with the other major banks. 

    Tier 1 capital fueling the ANZ share price rise

    On 2 June, ANZ announced it had sold its New Zealand business UDC Finance for 1.2x tangible asset value. This will provide an additional ~$439 million of Tier 1 capital, or available cash from retained earnings, in this case. This saw the ANZ share price rise even further. 

    In the ANZ chairman’s report on 28 May, we learned that statutory profit after tax was down 51% for the first half of 2020. Accordingly, the board agreed to defer the decision on dividend payments. While this does not close the door on a dividend payment, it definitely reduces the certainty around whether it will eventuate. The chairman, David Gonski, acknowledged the value shareholders place on the regular payment of bank dividends and promised further information in August. 

    Foolish takeaway

    It appears that the bank share prices are starting to level up to pre-pandemic levels. However, the ANZ share price is still down 14.9% year to date. Based on its current price of $20.97 at the time of writing, it would still require an increase of nearly 30% to reach the levels we saw in February prior to the crash. I’m not sure how long it will take, but I am confident the ANZ share price will return to these former levels. 

    Furthermore, ANZ’s twelve month trailing dividend yield is 8.09%. This is a very healthy dividend payout. Nevertheless, it remains to be seen when or even if the banks will recommence dividend payouts at or near pre-pandemic levels. Though, I believe this is likely. 

    In my view, it is the size and stability of the dividend payment that attracts fund managers and retail investors. 

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

    The post The ANZ share price has soared 37% in 2 weeks. Here’s why. appeared first on Motley Fool Australia.

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