Category: Stock Market

  • Why should I buy Bitcoin ETF shares instead of just buying Bitcoin?

    A boy stands in front of two similar but slightly different doors, scratching his head as to which one to choose.A boy stands in front of two similar but slightly different doors, scratching his head as to which one to choose.

    History will be made on Thursday as the first-ever exchange-traded fund (ETF) representing direct ownership of Bitcoin (CRYPTO: BTC) starts trading in Australia.

    ETFS 21Shares Bitcoin ETF (EBTC) — along with its Ethereum (CRYPTO: ETH) counterpart ETFS 21Shares Ethereum ETF (EETH) — are local products that directly own cryptocurrencies.

    While there are already ETFs that track the ups and downs of the crypto industry, those funds never actually buy Bitcoin itself.

    Vendor ETF Securities emphasised that the new funds “do not use derivatives of any kind”.

    “They are not built as feeder funds into offshore ETFs. Nor do they engage in any lending or staking of the bitcoins and ether.”

    So that’s all good and well, but why would an investor bother buying into these ETFs instead of purchasing Bitcoin or Ether themselves?

    The case for owning Bitcoin in your own wallet

    Purchasing Bitcoin and Ether yourself can be cheaper, as you’re not paying a commission or a management fee to an ETF provider.

    Having Bitcoin in your own wallet also means they can be easily exchanged for other crypto, like Solana (CRYPTO: SOL) or Terra (CRYPTO: LUNA).

    If your Bitcoin ownership was tied up in an ETF, that’s impossible to do without cashing out to a fiat currency.

    Holding Bitcoin via an ETF could be more secure

    ETF Securities stated in a blog post this week that the main advantages of crypto ETFs are security and tax considerations.

    The vendor noted that Bitcoin funds have existed for years in Europe, yet none of them have been victims of hacks or theft.

    “The history of cryptocurrency is littered with instances of hack attacks and thefts. All of which have occurred in unregulated environments and all of which have occurred on low quality exchanges, like Binance.”

    One of the reasons ETF providers charge fees is to provide “institutional-grade security arrangements”.

    “This top-flight security involves storing all bitcoins offline in ‘cold storage’,” the blog said.

    “By keeping bitcoins disconnected from the internet, they are out of reach from hackers. By contrast, many bitcoin exchanges use ‘hot storage’ meaning they remain connected to the internet.”

    ETF Securities is also keeping its cold storage devices in a Faraday cage to protect them from power surges.

    “Bitcoin ETFs use additional security measures like sharding, which is where private keys are split up across different custodian vaults around the world,” said the blog post.

    “Moving bitcoins in and out of a bitcoin ETF always requires approval from two people or more. And the two people must work for different organisations.”

    Tax advantages for owning Bitcoin through an ETF

    Ease of tax reporting is a major convenience of owning crypto through an ETF, according to ETF Securities.

    This is especially the case if the Bitcoin is part of your self-managed superannuation portfolio.

    “As bitcoin ETFs can be bought and sold within your existing brokerage account – such as CommSec, NABtrade, Interactive Brokers – they can more easily be placed into your existing SMSF infrastructure,” the blog read.

    “This means less work for you, your accountant, and potentially lower capital gain taxes.”

    While some crypto exchanges allow accounts to be opened in the name of an SMSF, most do not.

    “This can mean that accountants either cannot add them to your SMSF, or that it will require more work for them. And this in turn can cause greater charges from your accountant.”

    The post Why should I buy Bitcoin ETF shares instead of just buying Bitcoin? 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. These stocks are trading at near dirt-cheap prices and Scott thinks they could be great buys right now.

    *Returns as of January 12th 2022

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    Motley Fool contributor Tony Yoo has positions in Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Solana. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Solana. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Solana. 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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  • 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Thursday

    Broker looking at the share price.

    Broker looking at the share price.

    On Wednesday, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) fought hard to end its losing streak and record a small gain. The benchmark index rose 0.2% to 7,064.7 points.

    Will the market be able to build on this on Thursday? Here are five things to watch:

    ASX 200 expected to sink

    The Australian share market looks set to resume its decline on Thursday after higher than expected inflation in the United States spooked Wall Street. According to the latest SPI futures, the ASX 200 is expected to open the day 54 points or 0.8% lower this morning. On Wall Street, the Dow Jones fell 1%, the S&P 500 dropped 1.65%, and the Nasdaq sank 3.2%.

    Xero full-year results

    The Xero Limited (ASX: XRO) share price will be one to watch on Thursday. This morning the cloud accounting platform provider is scheduled to release its full-year results. According to a note out of Goldman Sachs, it is expecting Xero to report revenue of NZ$1,108 million. This comprises ANZ revenue of NZ$650 million and international revenue of NZ$458 million. The broker has also pencilled in an EBITDA margin of 19.6% and EBITDA of NZ$218 million.

    Oil prices surge

    It could be a very good day for energy shares including Santos Ltd (ASX: STO) and Woodside Petroleum Limited (ASX: WPL) after oil prices rebounded. According to Bloomberg, the WTI crude oil price is up 5.4% to US$105.14 a barrel and the Brent crude oil price is up 4.5% to US$107.07 a barrel. Oil prices rose after Russian gas flows to Europe declined.

    IDP CEO resigns

    The IDP Education Ltd (ASX: IEL) share price could come under pressure today amid the surprise resignation of the language testing company’s CEO, Andrew Barkla. Mr Barkla is stepping down from the role in September after more than seven years leading IDP. A global search for a new CEO will now commence.

    Gold price rises

    Gold miners Evolution Mining Ltd (ASX: EVN) and Regis Resources Limited (ASX: RRL) could have a good day after the gold price pushed higher overnight. According to CNBC, the spot gold price is up 0.65% to US$1,852.90 an ounce. Inflation concerns and a softer US dollar gave the precious metal a boost.

    The post 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Thursday 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. These stocks are trading at near dirt-cheap prices and Scott thinks they could be great buys right now.

    *Returns as of January 12th 2022

    More reading

    Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro 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 Idp Education Pty Ltd and Xero. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Xero. 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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  • 3 critical minerals you might not have heard of (and the ASX shares that have surged because of them)

    rare earths, precious metal mining, miningrare earths, precious metal mining, mining

    The S&P/ASX 300 Metals and Mining Index (ASX: XMM) has dropped 8% in a year, but some ASX shares exploring critical minerals are bucking the trend.

    According to Geoscience Australia, critical minerals are crucial elements for modern technologies, economies and national security.

    There are several ASX-listed companies involved in the exploration, mining or production of three critical minerals: vanadium, tungsten, and cobalt.

    Let’s take a look at what these minerals are used for and which ASX shares are involved.

    Vanadium

    Vanadium is a silver-grey element used in steel alloys, nuclear reactors and space vehicles. Further, it is seen as a metal that could be used in the cathodes of batteries in electric vehicles (EV).

    One vanadium share on the ASX is Australian Vanadium Ltd (ASX: AVL). The AVL share price has surged 181% over the past 12 months, and it’s soaring 103% year to date. The company is exploring the Australian Vanadium Project in Western Australia.

    Another vanadium explorer is Neometals Ltd (ASX: NMT), an ASX share working on vanadium recovery in Scandinavian countries. The Neometals share price has surged 154% in the past year but is down 10% since the start of 2022.

    Tungsten

    The critical mineral tungsten is another rare metal that can be used in the production of lithium-ion batteries. Group 6 Metals Ltd (ASX: G6M) is redeveloping a mine to explore tungsten in King Island, Tasmania. The company’s share price has surged 40% year to date, although it has fallen 12% over the past 12 months.

    ABC TV Four Corners viewers who tuned in to the documentary program this week would have seen Group 6 featured on the show. Chairman Johann Jacobs revealed the company was attracting interest from United States officials. He said he had held three meetings with the US embassy in 12 months, adding:

    At this stage, they don’t have any financial interest, but they certainly are very keen to see us progress and develop the mine because it’s another supply chain… from a friendly nation.

    Cobalt

    Cobalt Blue Holdings Ltd (ASX: COB) is one ASX share exploring cobalt. The company has seen its shares surge 171% over the past 12 months and 86% year to date. In today’s trade, the company’s share price jumped nearly 14%.

    In April, the company received a $15 million Federal Government grant for the Broken Hill Cobalt Project.

    Cobalt is used in alloys, magnets and as a catalyst for the petroleum and chemical industries. The metal is also used in lithium-ion batteries in electric vehicles. Cobalt helps stop cathodes in the batteries from overheating.

    Our final ASX share is cobalt explorer Jervois Global Ltd (ASX: JRV), which is exploring the critical mineral in Idaho, United States. Jervois shares have surged 87% in the past year and 27% year to date.

    The post 3 critical minerals you might not have heard of (and the ASX shares that have surged because of them) appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in right now?

    Before you consider , you’ll want to hear this.

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

    *Returns as of January 13th 2022

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    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.

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  • Why did the Kogan share price jump 6% today?

    A man sees some good news on his phone and gives a little cheer.

    A man sees some good news on his phone and gives a little cheer.

    The Kogan.com Ltd (ASX: KGN) share price was going in the right direction at last on Wednesday.

    The struggling ecommerce company’s shares rose a sizeable 6% to end the day at $3.72.

    Why did the Kogan share price race higher?

    The Kogan share price was on the move today amid a rebound in the retail sector after some sizeable declines in recent weeks.

    Several beaten down retail shares rose along with Kogan. This includes the following:

    • The Accent Group Ltd (ASX: AX1) share price rose 6%
    • The Baby Bunting Group Ltd (ASX: BBN) share price climbed 2.5%
    • The City Chic Collective Ltd (ASX: CCX) share price jumped almost 7%
    • The Temple & Webster Group Ltd (ASX: TPW) share price rose 2.5%

    These gains appear to have been driven by bargain hunters picking up shares rather than anything sector specific.

    After all, even after today’s strong gain, the Kogan share price is down 57% since the start of the year.

    It is a similar story for the others listed above, with Accent down 44% in 2022, Baby Bunting down 25%, City Chic down 54%, and Temple & Webster down 57%.

    Shareholders will no doubt be hoping that today’s gains represent an inflection point for their shares and it is onwards and upwards from here.

    The post Why did the Kogan share price jump 6% today? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you consider Kogan, you’ll want to hear this.

    Motley Fool Investing expert Scott Phillips just revealed what he believes are the 5 best stocks for investors to buy right now… and Kogan 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 are better buys.

    *Returns as of January 13th 2022

    More reading

    Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro 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 Kogan.com ltd and Temple & Webster Group Ltd. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Kogan.com ltd. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Accent Group, Baby Bunting, and Temple & Webster Group Ltd. 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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  • Broker names 3 emerging ASX shares to buy now

    a happy investor with a wide smile points to a graph that shows an upward trending share price

    a happy investor with a wide smile points to a graph that shows an upward trending share price

    Goldman Sachs has just held its annual Emerging Leaders Conference, which saw a number of promising companies making presentations.

    Among those attending were the three ASX shares listed below that Goldman believes would be great investment options right now.

    Here’s what it is saying about these shares:

    Hipages Group Holdings Ltd (ASX: HPG)

    Goldman Sachs is a big fan of this tradie platform provider. It is very positive on the ecosystem that the company is building and is tipping Hipages to win a significant market share in the future.

    It said:

    HPG is the leading trade services marketplace in Australia, connecting tradies with consumers for a range of home improvement jobs. The business is building out an ecosystem of adjacent services which will allow it to capture a greater share of tradie wallet, improve tradie retention and attract new tradies to the platform.

    The broker currently has a buy rating and $2.50 price target on Hipages shares.

    Lifestyle Communities Limited (ASX: LIC)

    Another ASX share that Goldman is very positive on is Lifestyle Communities. The broker believes the retirement communities company is well-placed for growth thanks to a combination of Australia’s ageing population and structural growth in the land lease model.

    It explained:

    The long-term outlook for Lifestyle Communities is very positive, in our view, with outperformance of the stock to be driven by: (1) a step up in the pace of land acquisitions, with industry build rates below demand from an ageing population; (2) structural growth in demand for land lease as the sector increases its penetration among retirees; (3) fundamental valuation support for cap rates.

    Goldman Sachs has a conviction buy rating and $24.50 price target on the company’s shares.

    Readytech Holdings Ltd (ASX: RDY)

    A final emerging ASX share that the broker thinks is a buy is Readytech. It is a growing provider of enterprise software to a number of markets.

    The broker said:

    RDY owns a portfolio of enterprise software businesses across several defensive market verticals including higher education, HR/payroll, work pathways and local government. RDY’s competitive position is underpinned by its focus on market niches that are under-served by both large and small enterprise software competitors.

    Goldman has a buy rating and $5.00 price target on Readytech’s shares.

    The post Broker names 3 emerging ASX shares to buy now 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. These stocks are trading at near dirt-cheap prices and Scott thinks they could be great buys right now.

    *Returns as of January 12th 2022

    More reading

    Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro 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 Hipages Group Holdings Ltd. and Readytech Holdings Ltd. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Hipages Group Holdings Ltd. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Readytech Holdings Ltd. 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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  • Here are the top 10 ASX shares today

    top 10 asx shares todaytop 10 asx shares today

    Today, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) snapped out of its three-day losing streak by finding momentum throughout the afternoon. At the end of the session, the benchmark index finished 0.19% higher at 7,065.7 points.

    On a bumpy day of trading, investors fought back against fierce selling pressure in the early hours of the session. In the end, the bulls beat out the bears on Wednesday with most sectors finishing in better shape than they were yesterday.

    Zooming in, it was the healthcare sector that led the pack. Meanwhile, banks and tech shares were lumped into the losers of the day.

    However, the question is: which shares delivered the biggest returns to investors on the ASX today? Here are the top ten stocks that came through for investors:

    Top 10 ASX shares countdown today

    Looking at the top 200 listed companies, Summerset Group Holdings Ltd (ASX: SNZ) was the biggest gainer today. Shares in the New Zealand retirement village operator gained 5.86% despite there being no news or announcements. Find out more about Summerset Group Holdings here.

    The next best performing ASX share across the market today was John Lyng Group Ltd (ASX: JLG). The integrated building services company enjoyed a 5.34% rally in its share price. Investors were buying up shares in the company in absence of any material information. Uncover the latest John Lyng Group details here.

    Today’s top 10 biggest gains were made in these ASX shares:

    ASX-listed company Share price Price change
    Summerset Group Holdings Ltd (ASX: SNZ) $10.12 5.86%
    Johns Lyng Group Ltd (ASX: JLG) $7.30 5.34%
    The a2 Milk Company Ltd (ASX: A2M) $4.16 4.52%
    NextDC Ltd (ASX: NXT) $10.20 3.98%
    Lynas Rare Earths Ltd (ASX: LYC) $8.70 3.94%
    Pilbara Minerals Ltd (ASX: PLS) $2.62 3.56%
    GQG Partners Inc (ASX: GQG) $1.47 3.52%
    Zimplats Holdings Ltd (ASX: ZIM) $29.98 3.42%
    Nine Entertainment Co Holdings Ltd (ASX: NEC) $2.46 3.36%
    TPG Telecom Ltd (ASX: TPG) $5.97 3.29%
    Data as at 4:00 AEST

    Our top 10 ASX shares today countdown is a recurring end-of-day summary to ensure you know which companies were making big moves on the day. Check-in at Fool.com.au after the market has closed during weekdays to see which stocks make the countdown.

    The post Here are the top 10 ASX shares today 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. These stocks are trading at near dirt-cheap prices and Scott thinks they could be great buys right now.

    *Returns as of January 12th 2022

    More reading

    Motley Fool contributor Mitchell Lawler has positions in Lynas Corporation Limited. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Johns Lyng Group Limited. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended A2 Milk, Johns Lyng Group Limited, and TPG Telecom Limited. 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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  • Broker says South32 share price is great value and one of the ‘best’ options for investors

    Miner on his tablet next to a mine site.

    Miner on his tablet next to a mine site.

    The South32 Ltd (ASX: S32) share price continued its slide on Wednesday.

    The mining giant’s shares ended the day over 1% lower at $4.41.

    This means the South32 share price is now down 19% from the record-high of $5.44 it reached in March.

    Is the South32 share price good value now?

    While the recent pullback in the South32 share price is disappointing for shareholders, it could be a buying opportunity for non-shareholders.

    In fact, the team at Morgans recently rated the company as one of its “best ideas” on the Australian share market.

    According to the note, the broker has an add rating and $6.10 price target on the company’s shares.

    Based on the current South32 share price, this implies potential upside of 38% for investors over the next 12 months.

    In addition, the broker expects big dividends from the mining giant. It has forecast fully franked dividends per share of 25.8 cents in FY 2022 and 35.3 cents in FY 2023. This represents yields of 5.8% and 8%, respectively, over the next couple of years.

    What did the broker say?

    Morgans is a fan of the company due to its diverse production and exposure to ESG-friendly commodities.

    It explained:

    S32 has transformed its portfolio divesting South African thermal coal and acquiring an interest in Chile copper, substantially boosting group earnings quality, as well as S32’s risk and ESG profile.

    Unlike its peers amongst ASX-listed large-cap miners, S32 is not exposed to iron ore. Instead offering a highly diversified portfolio of base metals and metallurgical coal (with most of these metals enjoying solid price strength).

    We see attractive long-term value potential in S32 from de-risking of its growth portfolio, the potential for further portfolio changes, and an earnings-linked dividend policy.

    The post Broker says South32 share price is great value and one of the ‘best’ options for investors appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in South32 right now?

    Before you consider South32, you’ll want to hear this.

    Motley Fool Investing expert Scott Phillips just revealed what he believes are the 5 best stocks for investors to buy right now… and South32 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 are better buys.

    *Returns as of January 13th 2022

    More reading

    Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro 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.

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  • VAS: Were you better off buying the Nasdaq ETF?

    a man clasps his hands together while he looks upwards and sideways with his eyes as though he is contemplating a question amid a background of mathematical calculations on a blackboard and books.

    a man clasps his hands together while he looks upwards and sideways with his eyes as though he is contemplating a question amid a background of mathematical calculations on a blackboard and books.

    The Vanguard Australian Shares Index ETF (ASX: VAS) is ASX investors’ most popular choice when it comes to an index exchange-traded fund (ETF). And by a mile too. VAS tracks the S&P/ASX 300 Index (ASX: XKO) which means that it holds a portfolio of around 300 of the ASX’s largest companies.

    Thus, investors get a comprehensive exposure to the Australian share market, with the most exposure to blue-chip shares like Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA), CSL Limited (ASX: CSL), and Telstra Corporation Ltd (ASX: TLS).

    But, in recent years, VAS’s slow-but-steady performance has been outstripped by the US-based NASDAQ-100 (INDEXNASDAQ: NDX). The Nasdaq is the US exchange that typically houses US tech companies. Think names like Apple Inc (NASDAQ: AAPL), Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ: MSFT) and Tesla Inc (NASDAQ: TSLA).

    The breakneck rises of these companies over the past few years have led to some fairly epic returns from the Nasdaq 100 Index, and ETFs that track it. On the ASX, that would be the BetaShares Nasdaq 100 ETF (ASX: NDQ).

    But the past few months have given investors a bit of a shakeup. Many US tech shares have suffered some serious falls in value. Some, such as Tesla, have seen falls of more than 30% (or even greater) over 2022 thus far.

    So, as it stands today, would VAS have been a better investment than a Nasdaq ETF like NDQ?

    Well, let’s check out the data.

    VAS vs. NDQ: Which ASX ETF comes out on top?

    So, as of the end of April, the Vanguard Australian Shares ETF had returned 10.23% over the preceding 12 months, including dividend returns. That looks pretty good against the BetaShares Nasdaq 100 ETF and its return of just 0.91% over the same period.

    However, the Nasdaq’s recent falls haven’t been enough to dent its longer-term returns just yet. NDQ units have still returned an average of 18.14% over the past three years. Over the past five, the returns have averaged 19.76%.

    That contrasts with VAS and its average returns of 9.5% per annum over the past three years, and 8.96% over the past five.

    So ASX shares (and VAS by extension) have had a relatively strong year compared to Nasdaq shares. But even so, this hasn’t been enough to make it the preferred ETF to have owned in hindsight. So yes, longer-term investors would have definitely been better off owning NDQ instead of VAS. But, as we always say, past performance is no guarantee of future returns. So who knows what the next one, three and five years will bring for these two ASX ETFs.

    The post VAS: Were you better off buying the Nasdaq ETF? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you consider NDQ, you’ll want to hear this.

    Motley Fool Investing expert Scott Phillips just revealed what he believes are the 5 best stocks for investors to buy right now… and NDQ 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 are better buys.

    *Returns as of January 13th 2022

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    Motley Fool contributor Sebastian Bowen has positions in Apple, Microsoft, Telstra Corporation Limited, and Tesla. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Apple, BETANASDAQ ETF UNITS, CSL Ltd., Microsoft, and Tesla. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has recommended the following options: long March 2023 $120 calls on Apple and short March 2023 $130 calls on Apple. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended BETANASDAQ ETF UNITS and Telstra Corporation Limited. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Apple. 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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  • These 2 ASX tech shares have escaped obliteration so far this year

    Happy man and woman looking at the share price on a tablet.Happy man and woman looking at the share price on a tablet.

    Despite the carnage that has befallen the tech sector this year, there are a few ASX tech shares that have managed to hold their own.

    In light of the implosion across much of the tech sector so far in 2022, it might be insightful to see which ASX tech shares have dodged the damage dealt by markets shifting away from ‘risk-on’ assets.

    Here are two tech companies with a positive share price performance since the start of this year.

    Tech heads staying above water

    The S&P/ASX All Technology Index (ASX: XTX) is down close to 32% since 1 January 2022. At present, this compares to a 7% fall across the much broader S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO). In even greater contrast, the utilities and energy sectors are up 20% and 25% respectively.

    But a few ASX tech shares have managed to buck the trend, heading north year-to-date (YTD).

    Computershare Limited (ASX: CPU)

    Rising from the ashes of a burnt-out sector, Computershare is the stock transfer company that has defied the odds this year. It appears investors are content with how the $14.5 billion company has proven to be profitable and pay a consistent dividend.

    At the end of December 2021, Computershare recorded US$208.5 million in earnings from US$2.35 billion in revenue. Currently, the company is offering a dividend yield of 2%, which is in line with the industry average.

    Since the start of the year, this ASX tech share has garnered enough optimism to push it 16.4% higher. Additionally, as my Foolish colleague Brendon Lau recently pointed out, Computershare has been noted as a potential winner in a rising rate environment.

    Brainchip Holdings Ltd (ASX: BRN)

    This next share is likely to not only leave tech investors envious, but ASX investors in general. With a 35% gain YTD, Brainchip takes the cake as an ASX tech share that has avoided the recent turmoil.

    The artificial intelligence company enjoyed an explosive rally in January during a flurry of announcements. At that time, the Brainchip share price surged as much as 170% in the space of three weeks. Since then, shares have retreated with a few volatile bumps and dips along the way.

    Unlike Computershare, this ASX tech share currently lacks any meaningful amount of revenue. Yet, it seems shareholders are adamant they don’t want to miss out on any potential future success, as they hold their shares tightly.

    The post These 2 ASX tech shares have escaped obliteration so far this year 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. These stocks are trading at near dirt-cheap prices and Scott thinks they could be great buys right now.

    *Returns as of January 12th 2022

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    Motley Fool contributor Mitchell Lawler 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.

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  • Something’s afoot! Why is the Accent share price leaping 6% today?

    A young woman dressed in street clothes leaps happily in the air with the focus on her bright red boots that are front and centre for the camera.A young woman dressed in street clothes leaps happily in the air with the focus on her bright red boots that are front and centre for the camera.

    The Accent Group Ltd (ASX: AX1) share price spent Wednesday well in the green amid news its director and major shareholder upped his holding in the company’s stock.

    A firm founded and controlled by Brett Blundy – Australia’s 29th richest person – purchased more than $6.3 million worth of Accent stock in on-market trades earlier this week, according to an ASX release published this morning.

    The Accent share price closed the day at $1.37, 6.2% higher than its previous close.

    For context, the All Ordinaries Index (ASX: XAO) shook off its earlier fall to finish the day 0.26% higher.

    Let’s take a closer look at Blundy’s newly boosted investment in the footwear retailer.

    Did this boost the Accent share price today?

    Accent’s gains came amid news Blundy’s investment firm BBRC World purchased 4.95 million Accent shares on the market over Monday and Tuesday, paying between $1.26 and $1.27 apiece.

    The purchase has increased the investment firm’s voting power to 19% and brought Blundy’s holding in Accent to more than 103.5 million shares.

    Blundy also sits on Accent’s board, having been reinstated last month after a near two-year hiatus.

    Today’s gains come at a good time for the stock after its disastrous start to the year.

    Wednesday’s gains included, the Accent share price is nearly 44% lower than it was at the start of 2022. It has also fallen 49% since this time last year.

    The post Something’s afoot! Why is the Accent share price leaping 6% today? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you consider Accent Group, you’ll want to hear this.

    Motley Fool Investing expert Scott Phillips just revealed what he believes are the 5 best stocks for investors to buy right now… and Accent Group 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 are better buys.

    *Returns as of January 13th 2022

    More reading

    Motley Fool contributor Brooke Cooper 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 Accent Group. 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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