Category: Stock Market

  • Here’s why the Boral (ASX:BLD) share price is storming 5% higher

    Happy investor punches air in front of laptop

    The Boral Limited (ASX: BLD) share price is on the move on Thursday morning.

    At the time of writing, the building products company’s shares are up 5.5% to $5.79.

    This latest gain means the Boral share price is now up 16% since the start of the year.

    Why is the Boral share price pushing higher?

    Investors have been buying Boral shares this morning after it announced the completion of the sale of its 50% share in the USG Boral joint venture to Gebr Knauf KG for US$1.015 billion (A$1.33 billion).

    According to the release, subject to finalisation of standard completion adjustments, Boral expects to report a profit on sale after tax of approximately A$450 million.

    The company advised that in line with its financial framework, the final sale proceeds of A$1.33 billion will be used to reduce its net debt position from ~A$1.9 billion to its targeted net debt of $1.5 billion.

    This will leave Boral with a surplus of approximately $1 billion, which it intends to reinvest in the business and return to shareholders.

    On-market buy-back

    After taking into account Boral’s future expected operating and cash flow requirements, management has decided to undertake an on-market share buy-back.

    The release explains that, subject to prevailing share price and market conditions, Boral intends to buy back up to 10% of shares on issue, or approximately 122 million shares, over the next 12 months. This will be fully funded from the aforementioned sale proceeds.

    Boral’s CEO and Managing Director, Zlatko Todorcevski, commented: “The sale of our 50% interest in USG Boral to Knauf for an attractive premium creates substantial value for Boral’s shareholders. The sale enables Boral to reduce net debt to our current target of A$1.5 billion, and create surplus capital available for return to shareholders, which is consistent with Boral’s financial framework. We believe that an on-market buy-back is the most effective method of returning this surplus capital to our shareholders.”

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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. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Bruce Jackson.

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  • Why the Codan (ASX:CDA) share price will be on focus today

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    The Codan Limited (ASX: CDA) share price will be on focus this morning following the company’s acquisition announcement. At yesterday’s market wrap, the technology company’s shares finished the day at $15.44.

    Can the Codan share price go higher?

    It will be interesting to see if investors drive the company’s shares higher following its latest announcement to the ASX.

    According to this morning’s release, Codan advised it has entered into an agreement to acquire Zetron, Inc. (Zetron) from JVCKenwood Corporation.

    Founded in 1980, Zetron is an American company that manufactures mission-critical communication technologies. Products include voice dispatch, emergency call-taking including next-generation 911 (NG911), mapping, computer-aided dispatch, and fire station alerting. The business operates in an array of industries such as public safety, transportation, utilities, natural resources, healthcare, and academic institutions. Zetron has offices in the United States, Australia, and the United Kingdom.

    The acquisition will see Codan make an upfront cash payment of US$45 million for 100% of Zetron’s issued share capital. Codan will use existing cash reserves as well as tap into its recently approved debt facility to fund the takeover.

    It’s expected that the sale will be completed before the end of this month, subject to usual customary conditions.

    Once under Codan ownership, Zetron is anticipated to contribute roughly $67 million in sales for the next financial year. In addition, earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) is forecasted to be at $8 million for FY22. This in turn will make Zetron an earnings-per-share accretive business.

    Management commentary

    Codan managing director and CEO Donald McGurk commented:

    The acquisition of Zetron is in line with Codan’s well-publicised strategy to transform our Communications businesses from products to solutions. This acquisition allows us to capitalise on Zetron’s extensive distribution network, brand strength and customer loyalty.

    Codan president for critical communications Scott French added:

    …By combining Codan’s Land Mobile Radio products and solutions with Zetron’s Command & Control capability, we will be in a position to better serve the growing NG911 market, whilst maximising value and choice for our customers.

    The Codan share price has jumped to almost 180% since this time last year, reflecting positive investor sentiment.

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    Motley Fool contributor Aaron Teboneras 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 Bruce Jackson.

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  • Here’s why the 4DMedical (ASX:4DX) share price will be on watch today

    ASX share price on watch represented by man looking through magnifying glass

    The 4DMedical Ltd (ASX:4DX) share price will be on watch this morning. This comes after the company made a late market announcement yesterday regarding a completed share purchase plan (SSP).

    Successful completion of SSP

    The 4DMedical share price could be on the move today as investors took the time to digest its latest news.

    According to yesterday’s release, 4DMedical advised that it has successfully completed its SSP underpinned by strong support.

    The company raised $6 million, doubling the original offer of $3 million due to receiving a number of overwhelming applications. In total 1,873 applications were received by existing eligible shareholders, amounting to $32 million of demand.

    The offer price of $1.55 per share represents a 10% discount to the last closing 4DMedical share price of $1.72. 4DMecial stated it will scale back applications, taking into consideration the number of shares applied for, and their current holdings.

    Over 3.87 million new shares are scheduled to be issued, reflecting 1.33% of the company’s entire ordinary shares on issue. The newly created shares will be allotted on Wednesday 7 April and be available to commence trading the following day.

    This follows the recently successful $40 million institutional placement completed on 4 March 2021.

    Comments from the CEO

    4DMedical founder and CEO, Andreas Fouras, touched on the company’s plan on how to spend the acquired funds. He said:

    The proceeds from the placement and SPP, together with the $28.9 million of funding from the MRFF Frontiers initiative, provide 4DMedical with a significantly enhanced capability to execute the long-term commercialisation strategy for XVD Scanners, which will open up an additional revenue stream for the business and drive the adoption of XV LVAS at medical institutions.

    The Company now also has balance sheet flexibility to pursue future growth opportunities.

    4DMedical share price summary

    Over the past 12 months, the 4DMedical share price has increased close to 10% but is down around 30% year-to-date. The company’s shares reached an all-time high of $2.98 late last year.

    On valuation grounds, 4DMedical presides a market capitalisation of about $349.6 million, with 203.3 million shares outstanding.

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    Motley Fool contributor Aaron Teboneras 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 Bruce Jackson.

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  • These were the best performing ASX 200 shares in March

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    The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) was on form again in March and recorded a solid 1.8% gain to finish at 6,790.7 points.

    While a good number of shares pushed higher with the market, some climbed more than most. Here’s why these were the best ASX 200 performers in March:

    GrainCorp Ltd (ASX: GNC)

    The GrainCorp share price was the best performer on the ASX 200 in March with a 24.5% gain. This strong gain was driven by the grain exporter announcing new operating initiatives. The include expanding its bulk materials for export, increasing utilisation at the Numurkah and West Footscray processing facilities, and shifting its foods product mix to higher-value products. Management expects the initiatives to boost its operating earnings by $25 million by 2023-24.

    Premier Investments Limited (ASX: PMV) 

    The Premier Investments share price wasn’t far behind with a 23.3% gain in March. The catalyst for this was the release of a very strong half year result. For the first half of FY 2021, the retail conglomerate reported a 7.2% increase in global sales to $784.6 million and an 88.9% jump in net profit to $188.2 million. A key driver of its growth was the Peter Alexander business, which reported record sales of $207.7 million. This was supported by a jump in online sales and rental and wage subsidies, underpinning a material expansion in its margins.

    Crown Resorts Ltd (ASX: CWN)

    The Crown share price was on form last month and jumped 18.2%. Investors were scrambling to buy the casino and resorts operator’s shares after it received a takeover approach from Blackstone. The US investment company made an unsolicited, non-binding, and indicative proposal to acquire all of the shares in Crown at $11.85 cash per share. This was a 20.1% premium to its last close price at the time. The Crown board is still assessing the proposal, which was received on 22 March.

    Polynovo Ltd (ASX: PNV)

    The Polynovo share price was back on form and raced 12.5% higher in March. There appear to have been a few catalysts for this strong gain. One was bargain hunters swooping in after a sizeable year to date decline. In fact, despite this gain, the PolyNovo share price is still down 30% in 2021. In addition to this, a positive broker note out of Ord Minnett and an agreement with major US group purchasing organisation, Premier Inc, supported its shares. 

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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 POLYNOVO FPO. The Motley Fool Australia owns shares of and has recommended Premier Investments Limited. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Crown Resorts Limited. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Bruce Jackson.

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  • AMP (ASX:AMP) share price on watch after announcing CEO change

    asx share price rising on deal represented by hand shake

    The AMP Ltd (ASX: AMP) share price will be one to watch closely on Thursday.

    This follows the announcement of a change of leadership after weeks of speculation.

    What did AMP announce?

    This morning AMP announced that Francesco De Ferrari will retire from the role of Chief Executive Officer (CEO).

    Replacing Mr De Ferrari will be Alexis George from Australia and New Zealand Banking GrpLtd (ASX: ANZ).

    Ms George is the Deputy CEO at ANZ and was previously the Group Executive Wealth Australia, overseeing the sale of the business in 2018.

    The next steps

    According to the release, Alexis George will join AMP in the third quarter of the current calendar year, subject to required regulatory approvals.

    Mr De Ferrari will continue to lead AMP during the interim period and ensure a smooth handover to Ms George when she joins.

    He will also continue to work in partnership with the Board and lead AMP’s key strategic initiatives. This includes discussions on the proposed transaction for AMP Capital’s private markets business with Ares Management Corporation.

    AMP’s Chair, Debra Hazelton, commented: “On behalf of the Board, I would like to thank Francesco for his significant service to AMP and recognise his commitment to a smooth leadership transition. We wish him every success for the future and know he will continue to be the exemplary leader he has been at AMP. As we noted last week, with our portfolio review reaching completion, the Board and Francesco agreed that it is an appropriate time to begin the transition to a new CEO to take AMP forward.”

    “A greater leader”

    Hazelton spoke very positively about the appointment of Ms George and believes she is the right person to lead the company.

    “In Alexis George, we have a great leader and strong fit for the future of our company. On any measure, she has outstanding industry experience in wealth management and banking, and is committed to continue the transformation of AMP’s business, and importantly, our organisation’s culture. Alexis will work with our executive team to complete and build on the strategic initiatives started under Francesco’s leadership and take AMP forward to its next phase of growth.”

    ANZ also spoke positively about Ms George and her appointment as AMP’s new CEO.

    ANZ’s CEO, Shayne Elliott, commented: “We will all miss her experience, wise counsel and down-to-earth leadership style. However, as one of the most experienced wealth executives in the country, she is ideally placed to lead AMP through its next phase and we all wish her well on the challenge.”

    “It is also a good thing our most senior women are being selected for these high-profile and challenging roles. It shows we are providing our people with the opportunities they deserve and Alexis’s appointment as CEO of AMP is ultimately in the best interest of the Australian business community,” he added.

    Where to invest $1,000 right now

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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. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Bruce Jackson.

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  • These were the worst performing ASX 200 shares in March

    An ASX investor looks devastated as he watches his computer screen, indicating bad news

    The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) was a positive performer in March. The benchmark index recorded a 1.8% gain to end the period at 6,790.7 points.

    Unfortunately, not all shares on the index were able to climb higher with the index. Here’s why these were the worst ASX 200 performers in March:

    Resolute Mining Limited (ASX: RSG)

    The Resolute Mining share price was the worst performer on the ASX 200 in March with a 32% decline. Investors were selling the gold miner’s shares after the Ghanaian government terminated its Bibiani Gold Mine licence. As a result, Resolute has been advised to cease all activities and operations at the site. This is particularly bad timing as the company was in the process of selling the asset to Chifeng Jilong Gold Mining for US$105 million. Investors may be concerned that a capital raising will be required if the sale doesn’t go through.

    Zip Co Ltd (ASX: Z1P)

    The Zip share price wasn’t far behind with a decline of 29% last month. This decline appears to have been driven by weakness in the tech sector due to concerns over rising bond yields. In addition to this, a broker note out of UBS weighed on the buy now pay later provider’s shares. UBS downgraded Zip’s shares to a sell rating with a $6.40 price target.

    Kogan.com Ltd (ASX: KGN)

    The Kogan share price was out of form and tumbled 14.2% last month. This was despite there being no news out of the ecommerce company. However, as mentioned above, rising bond yields put a lot of pressure on the tech sector last month. This appears to have weighed on the Kogan share price and sent many investors to the exits.

    A2 Milk Company Ltd (ASX: A2M)

    The a2 Milk share price was out of form again last month and dropped 12.9% lower. Investors have been selling the infant formula company’s shares in recent months due to a series of guidance downgrades and its weak outlook. This is being caused largely by weakness in the daigou channel. In addition to this, last month Citi put out a bearish broker note, which had a sell rating and $7.15 price target on its shares.

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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 Kogan.com ltd and ZIPCOLTD FPO. The Motley Fool Australia owns shares of and has recommended A2 Milk. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Kogan.com ltd. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Bruce Jackson.

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  • LIVE COVERAGE: ASX to open higher; AMP announces new CEO

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    Suzanne Frey, an executive at Alphabet, is a member of The Motley Fool’s board of directors. Kate O’Brien owns shares of Apple and Rio Tinto Ltd. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. owns shares of and recommends Alphabet (A shares), Alphabet (C shares), and Apple. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Alphabet (A shares), Alphabet (C shares), and Apple. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Bruce Jackson.

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  • Top ASX shares to buy in April 2021

    ASX shares to buy at Easter represented by rabbit sitting on piles of cash

    As we marked a year since the introduction of COVID-19 lockdowns in Australia and with Easter upon us, we asked our Foolish contributors to compile a list of some of the ASX shares experts are saying to Buy in April.

    Here is what the team have come up with…

    Tristan Harrison: Brickworks Limited (ASX: BKW) 

    Brickworks has a number of positives going for it right now. The Australian construction market is going strong, whilst the US construction industry is finally seeing a recovery. 

    Its property trust joint venture is making good progress at building new large warehouses. Plus, there’s still plenty of land left for development.  

    Brickworks revealed in its FY21 half-year result that its inferred asset backing is over $27 per share, meaning that the current Brickworks share price is trading at a substantial discount to this. Within that value, some land is held at book value, but with a “significantly higher” market value.  

    Motley Fool contributor Tristan Harrison does not own shares of Brickworks Limited.

    Bernd Struben: Rural Funds Group (ASX: RFF)

    ASX investors looking for potential share price gains along with a historically reliable income stream may want to consider Rural Funds Group.

    Rural Funds leases agricultural equipment and property including cattle ranches, vineyards and cropping acreage. The company is in a good position with its leasing terms, with an average weighted lease expiry (WALE) of 11.1 years.

    Rural Funds has a market cap of $801 million and has a strong history of regular and growing dividends. It pays a current annual dividend yield of just over 4.6%, unfranked.

    At the time of writing, the Rural Funds share price is up by around 23% over the past 12 months.

    Motley Fool contributor Bernd Struben does not own shares of Rural Funds Group.

    Sebastian Bowen: Coles Group Ltd (ASX: COL) 

    The ASX’s second-largest grocery giant, Coles, has had a rough start to the year, evidenced by its year-to-date fall of close to 15%.

    However, that might make Coles a cheap option to consider, especially if you value dividend income.

    On recent pricing, the Coles share price is offering a yield that’s close to 4%, with a price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of under 21.

    The dividend also comes with full franking credits of course, which could come in handy in this era of near-zero interest rates. Both of those metrics outshine Coles’ arch-rival Woolworths Group Ltd (ASX: WOW).  

    Motley Fool contributor Sebastian Bowen does not own shares of Coles Group Ltd. 

    Mitchell Lawler: Elders Ltd (ASX: ELD)

    Heavy rainfall over the past couple of weeks has been devastating for some – but for farmers, the ground soaking was well needed.

    The rainfall strengthens what has already been a blockbuster 12 months for our primary producers. Cattle prices have surged to astronomical levels as herds are restocked. Crop yields are also at record highs. A telling sign of how insulated the agriculture sector is from COVID-19 impacts.

    If conditions continue to be favourable as they have been for farmers, Elders will continue to benefit. Elders’ cropping retail products, livestock agency services, and financial services are all closely tied to farming conditions.

    Analysts at Goldman Sachs also see a favourable future for the company. The firm holds Elders on its conviction list with a buy rating and a 12-month price target of $15 a share – representing an upside of 20.5%.

    Motley Fool contributor Mitchell Lawler owns shares of Elders Limited. 

    Brendon Lau: IGO Ltd (ASX: IGO)

    There’s a re-rating opportunity for the IGO share price, according to JPMorgan.

    The miner is close to selling its stake in its Tropicana gold project and buying a $1.4 billion stake in Tianqi. The transactions will transform IGO into a pure raw material producer for high nickel batteries at a time when demand for the batteries is set to soar.

    JPMorgan is recommending the stock as “overweight” with a price target of $7.80 a share.

    Motley Fool contributor Brendon Lau does not own shares of IGO Ltd.

    James Mickleboro: Adore Beauty Group Ltd (ASX: ABY)

    Adore Beauty is Australia’s leading pureplay online beauty retailer with almost 800,000 active customers. Thanks to the accelerating shift to online shopping, Adore Beauty has been in fine form in FY 2021. During the first half, the company reported an 85% increase in half-year revenue to $96.2 million and a 188% jump in operating earnings to $5.2 million.

    The good news is that this is still only a very small slice of its ~$11 billion addressable market. This gives Adore Beauty a long runway for growth over the next decade. Especially given the relatively low penetration of online beauty sales in Australia compared to other Western markets. An estimated 7.3% of beauty sales are made online here, whereas in the US it is over double this at 15.4%. UBS is a fan of the company and recently put a buy rating and $6.20 price target on its shares.

    Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro does not own shares of Adore Beauty.

    Where to 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 more than eight years has provided thousands of paying members with stock picks that have doubled, tripled or even more.*

    Scott just revealed what he believes are the five best ASX stocks for investors to buy right now. These stocks are trading at dirt-cheap prices and Scott thinks they are great buys right now.

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    The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. recommends Adore Beauty Group Limited. The Motley Fool Australia owns shares of and has recommended Brickworks and RURALFUNDS STAPLED. The Motley Fool Australia owns shares of COLESGROUP DEF SET and Woolworths Limited. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Elders Limited. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Bruce Jackson.

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  • 2 top ASX dividend shares to buy this month

    piles of coins increasing in height with miniature piggy banks on top

    Are you wanting to bolster your income portfolio with some reliable ASX dividend shares in April?

    Then you might want to take a look at the dividend shares listed below. Here’s what you need to know about them:

    BWP Trust (ASX: BWP)

    BWP is the largest owner of Bunnings Warehouse properties in Australia with a total of 68 properties in its portfolio.

    While having such a reliance on a single tenant can carry risks, on this occasion it appears to be a strength. Bunnings is a fantastic business, which has proven to be able to grow whatever the economy throws at it.

    In addition to this, Bunnings’ owner, Wesfarmers Ltd (ASX: WES), is a major shareholder of BWP. As a result, Wesfarmers is unlikely to do anything that would hurt its investment, such as mass lease terminations.

    Pleasingly, BWP has been on form again this year. It recently released its first half results for FY 2021 and revealed profit growth of 6% over the prior corresponding period to $144 million.

    This positive form allowed the BWP board to reaffirm its plans to pay a full year distribution of ~18.3 cents per share. Based on the current BWP share price, this represents a generous 4.6% dividend yield.

    Rural Funds Group (ASX: RFF)

    Rural Funds is a leading owner of agricultural property. It currently owns a $1.1 billion portfolio of diversified agricultural assets, including almond and macadamia orchards, premium vineyards, water entitlements, cattle and cropping assets. These are all leased to high quality and experienced tenants. This includes wine giant Treasury Wine Estates Ltd (ASX: TWE).

    One of the main attractions to the company for investors is its long term leases. These provide the company with great visibility on its future earnings, allowing it to target consistent distribution growth each year. At the end of the first half, Rural Funds’ weighted average lease expiry (WALE) stood at a sizeable 11.1 years.

    In FY 2021 Rural Funds intends to pay a 11.28 cents per share distribution and then an 11.73 cents per share distribution next year. Based on the current Rural Funds share price, this equates to 4.85% and 5% yields.

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    Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia owns shares of and has recommended RURALFUNDS STAPLED. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Bruce Jackson.

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  • 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Thursday

    Investor sitting in front of multiple screens watching share prices

    On Wednesday the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) was on form and ended the month on a very positive note. The benchmark index rose 0.8% to 6,790.7 points.

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

    ASX 200 futures pointing higher

    The Australian share market looks set to start the month in a positive fashion following a solid night of trade on Wall Street. According to the latest SPI futures, the ASX 200 is poised to open the day 30 points or 0.45% higher. In late trade on Wall Street, the Dow Jones is up 0.1%, the S&P 500 has risen 0.8%, and the Nasdaq has jumped 2%.

    Tech shares on watch

    It could be a good day for ASX tech shares such as Xero Limited (ASX: XRO) and Zip Co Ltd (ASX: Z1P) on Thursday after US tech stocks surged higher during overnight trade. At the time of writing, the tech-focused Nasdaq index is up a sizeable 2%. Strong gains by a number of tech giants have helped drive the index higher.

    Oil prices weaken

    Energy producers Beach Energy Ltd (ASX: BPT) and Woodside Petroleum Limited (ASX: WPL) could trade lower today after oil prices weakened. According to Bloomberg, the WTI crude oil price is down 2.3% to US$59.16 a barrel and the Brent crude oil price has fallen 0.9% to US$63.57 a barrel. This follows news that OPEC has lowered its 2021 demand growth forecast due to a slower than expected recovery.

    Gold price rebounds

    Gold miners Newcrest Mining Ltd (ASX: NCM) and Resolute Mining Limited (ASX: RSG) could be on the rise today after the gold price rebounded. According to CNBC, the spot gold price is up 1.4% to US$1,709.30 an ounce. This was driven by a softening US dollar. Despite this solid gain, the precious metal is on course to have its worst quarter in over four years.

    Suncorp rated as a buy

    The Suncorp Group Ltd (ASX: SUN) share price could be in the buy zone according to analysts at Goldman Sachs. This morning the broker retained its buy rating but trimmed its price target slightly to $12.05. Goldman has reduced its earnings estimates by 5% for Suncorp in FY 2021 to reflect the flood claims. However, it still sees enough value in its shares at this level to retain its buy rating.

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