• ‘Significant potential’: One unexpected ASX 200 AI share to buy now

    A father helps his son look through binoculars during a family holiday or day out in the city.

    Looking for an overlooked S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) AI share to capture the mammoth growth potential on offer from the fast-developing technology?

    You’re not alone!

    While not an ASX share, no company better demonstrates the potential returns on offer from the rapid rise and largely untapped opportunities presented by artificial intelligence than Nvidia Corporation (NASDAQ: NVDA).

    With global companies lining up for the United States-based generative AI stock’s chips, the Nvidia share price is up 184% in 12 months. That’s seen Nvidia’s market cap reach US$2.8 trillion (AU$4.2 trillion) — more than Australia’s annual GDP!

    With that growth in mind, we turn to an ASX 200 AI share that could reap major benefits from the global rollout of artificial intelligence.

    Namely, Life360 Inc (ASX: 360).

    An unexpected ASX 200 AI share

    Like Nvidia, Life360 is also based out of the US.

    The ASX 200 AI share develops software predominantly used for location sharing. The company’s smartphone app is favoured by families looking to track their children’s locations or to help keep elderly people and folks with special needs safe.

    And like Nvidia, the Life360 share price has been on fire of late, up 124% over 12 months. That gives the company a current market cap of $3.1 billion, with some significant growth potential still ahead.

    A new Morgan Stanley report, spearheaded by equity analyst James Bales, names Life360 as one of several ASX 200 shares that could catch sustained tailwinds from the AI revolution.

    According to the report (courtesy of The Australian Financial Review):

    We see the most scope for meaningful upside surprise in the industries with lower expectations where innovation, data advantages and labour automation can provide earnings upside not yet envisioned by consensus…

    Demand drivers behind the AI theme are robust, setting the stage for a multiyear structural growth cycle.

    Morgan Stanley is bullish on Life360 in part due to all of the data it collects from its users. Data that AI-enabled systems could monetise down the road.

    According to Morgan Stanley:

    We see Life360 as having access to huge volumes of user data, from personal details to daily habits, driving patterns and behaviours. Life360 understands who you are with, and where your belongings are and how you spend time on the weekend.

    Longer-term, we see significant potential in terms of both monetisation and user experience of consumers being served compelling offers.

    The ASX 200 AI share really began to lift off on 1 March this year after reporting its full 2023 calendar year results.

    Though still operating at a net loss of US$28 million, losses were trimmed back from the more than US$91 million reported in 2022. That was driven by a 33% year-on-year revenue boost to US$305 million.

    The post ‘Significant potential’: One unexpected ASX 200 AI share to buy now appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you buy Life360 shares, consider this:

    Motley Fool investing expert Scott Phillips just revealed what he believes are the 5 best stocks for investors to buy right now… and Life360 wasn’t one of them.

    The online investing service he’s run for over a decade, Motley Fool Share Advisor, has provided thousands of paying members with stock picks that have doubled, tripled or even more.*

    And right now, Scott thinks there are 5 stocks that may be better buys…

    See The 5 Stocks
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    Motley Fool contributor Bernd Struben has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Life360 and Nvidia. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Nvidia. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

  • Putin promises ‘serious consequences’ to ‘small, densely populated’ European countries calling for Ukrainian strikes on Russia

    Russian leader Vladimir Putin.
    Russian leader Vladimir Putin.

    • Europe may want to reconsider their calls for Ukrainian strikes on Russia, says Vladimir Putin.
    • Putin hinted that Russia could retaliate against their "small and densely populated countries."
    • "This unending escalation can lead to serious consequences," the Russian leader warned.

    Russian leader Vladimir Putin says European countries should rethink their calls to let Ukraine use Western arms to strike his country.

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

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

    Putin's warnings come after several European leaders said that Ukraine should be allowed to attack Russian military targets. While Ukraine has been a large beneficiary of Western military support, US restrictions mean that the country isn't allowed to mount attacks on Russian soil.

    NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg told The Economist, in an interview published Friday, that the prohibitions should be eased so that Ukraine can better defend itself.

    "The time has come for allies to consider whether they should lift some of the restrictions they have put on the use of weapons they have donated to Ukraine," Stoltenberg said.

    "Especially now when a lot of the fighting is going on in Kharkiv, close to the border, to deny Ukraine the possibility of using these weapons against legitimate military targets on Russian territory makes it very hard for them to defend themselves," he continued, referencing a recent attack on Ukraine's northeastern city of Kharkiv.

    But such a move, Putin warned on Tuesday, could have "serious consequences" for Europe.

    "This unending escalation can lead to serious consequences," Putin said. "If Europe were to face those serious consequences, what will the United States do, considering our strategic arms parity?"

    Representatives for NATO didn't immediately respond to a request for comment from BI sent outside regular business hours.

    Stoltenberg isn't the only European leader who believes that Ukraine should begin taking the fight to Russia.

    "According with the law of war, it is perfectly possible, and there is no contradiction," EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said on Tuesday. "You have to balance the risk of escalation and the need for Ukrainians to defend."

    Borrell's comments echo that of French President Emmanuel Macron, who also called for restrictions to be lifted on Tuesday, per the Financial Times.

    "How can we explain to Ukraine that they need to protect their cities but that they don't have the right to attack where the missiles are coming from?" Macron told reporters. "It's as if we were telling them we're giving you arms, but you cannot use them to defend yourself."

    "We must allow them to neutralize the military sites from which the missiles are being fired. But we cannot allow other targets in Russia to be hit, obviously civilian or military targets," he added.

    Read the original article on Business Insider
  • Why Cettire, Neuren, Peter Warren, and Qantas shares are falling today

    A young male investor wearing a white business shirt screams in frustration with his hands grasping his hair after ASX 200 shares fell rapidly today and appear to be heading into a stock market crash

    The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is having a very tough session on Wednesday. In response to the release of a hotter than expected inflation reading, the benchmark index is down 1.35% to 7,661.5 points.

    Four ASX shares that are falling more than most today are listed below. Here’s why they are dropping:

    Cettire Ltd (ASX: CTT)

    The Cettire share price is down 5% to $2.31. Short sellers have been targeting this online luxury products retailer amid concerns over the authenticity of products on its website. However, Cettire has refuted these allegations and stated: “Since commercial launch in 2017, Cettire has handled more than 2 million individual orders. There is not a single confirmed case of a non-genuine item being sold on Cettire’s platform.”

    Neuren Pharmaceuticals Ltd (ASX: NEU)

    The Neuren Pharmaceuticals share price is down 10% to $20.73. This may have been driven by profit taking from some investors after a very strong gain. For example, prior to today’s decline, the pharmaceutical company’s shares were up 20% since the start of the month. Investors have been buying Neuren’s shares following the release of top-line results from its phase 2 clinical trial of NNZ-2591 in children with Pitt Hopkins syndrome (PTHS). That study delivered a “statistically significant improvement” across all four efficacy measures.

    Peter Warren Automotive Holdings Ltd (ASX: PWR)

    The Peter Warren Automotive Holdings share price is down a further 3.5% to $1.80. Investors have been selling the automotive retailer’s shares this week after it released disappointing earnings guidance. Peter Warren advised that while revenue has continued to grow, it now expects its underlying profit before tax for FY 2024 to be in the range of $52 million to $57 million. Management notes that this is lower than market expectations and has been driven by a significant increase in vehicle supply, which has led to greater competition between dealerships and lower gross profit margins on new vehicles. In response, Citi downgraded its shares to a sell rating with a reduced price target of $1.70.

    Qantas Airways Limited (ASX: QAN)

    The Qantas share price is down 3% to $5.88. This may have been driven by concerns that higher than expected inflation will either lead to further rate increases or interest rates staying higher for longer. Both could have meaningful implications for consumer spending on travel. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, the headline CPI indicator rose 3.6% in the 12 months to April. This was notably higher than the market was expecting.

    The post Why Cettire, Neuren, Peter Warren, and Qantas shares are falling today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you buy Cettire Limited shares, consider this:

    Motley Fool investing expert Scott Phillips just revealed what he believes are the 5 best stocks for investors to buy right now… and Cettire Limited wasn’t one of them.

    The online investing service he’s run for over a decade, Motley Fool Share Advisor, has provided thousands of paying members with stock picks that have doubled, tripled or even more.*

    And right now, Scott thinks there are 5 stocks that may be better buys…

    See The 5 Stocks
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    Citigroup is an advertising partner of The Ascent, a Motley Fool company. 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 recommended Cettire. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

  • ASX micro-cap stock rockets 50% on ovarian cancer blood test news

    A woman jumps for joy with a rocket drawn on the wall behind her.

    Cleo Diagnostics Ltd (ASX: COV) shares are catching the eye of investors on Wednesday.

    The Australian share market may be a sea of red following a hotter than expected inflation reading, but that has not stopped this ASX micro-cap stock from rocketing.

    At the time of writing, the ovarian cancer diagnostics company’s shares are up an impressive 50% to 25.5 cents.

    Why is this ASX micro-cap stock rocketing?

    Investors have been fighting to get hold of Cleo Diagnostics’ shares today after it announced the publication of a milestone article on its blood test for the accurate and early detection of ovarian cancer.

    According to the release, the article was published in peer reviewed medical journal, Cancers.

    The benchmarking study compared the ASX micro-cap stock’s ovarian cancer blood test against the current standard clinical workflows that use CA125 and ultrasound to predict malignancy.

    The great news for the company was that outcomes of the study clearly demonstrate that its ovarian cancer blood test is far superior to all routine clinical tools used by doctors to predict the diagnosis of an adnexal mass prior to surgery.

    Importantly, Cleo Diagnostics’ test correctly detected 90% of early-stage cancers compared to only 50% using current standard of care workflows of CA125 and ultrasound.

    Management believes that this clinical evidence supports its commercial pathway. It notes that it is now focusing on a number of initiatives in parallel that will deliver appropriate routes to adoption of its tests following regulatory approval and market launch.

    If everything goes to plan, this ovarian cancer blood test could be a real cash cow for the ASX micro-cap stock. It highlights that despite its poor performance, CA125 is exclusively recommended in medical guidelines, and represents a $1 billion+ market with an estimated compound annual growth rate of ~4%.

    Commenting on the study, Cleo Diagnostics Chief Executive, Richard Allman, said:

    Our peer-reviewed publication strategy is delivering gold-standard clinical evidence which is vitally important as we begin to engage with potential early adopters of our technology. Having demonstrated now that the CLEO ovarian cancer blood test is far superior to CA125 and ultrasound in our initial pre-surgical triage market, we open up new dialogue with physicians to consider the potential material benefits that CLEO brings for their patients. More broadly, these encouraging results on early-stage cancer detection provide impetus for us to progress the development of CLEO’s screening test for ovarian cancer.

    The post ASX micro-cap stock rockets 50% on ovarian cancer blood test news appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Wondering where you should invest $1,000 right now?

    When investing expert Scott Phillips has a stock tip, it can pay to listen. After all, the flagship Motley Fool Share Advisor newsletter he has run for over ten years has provided thousands of paying members with stock picks that have doubled, tripled or even more.*

    Scott just revealed what he believes could be the ‘five best ASX stocks’ for investors to buy right now. We believe these stocks are trading at attractive prices and Scott thinks they could be great buys right now…

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    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.

  • Up 20% in 2024, why this ASX 200 healthcare stock just hit a new 52-week high

    A goldfish jumps out of a crowded fishbowl into another empty bowl, indicating an ASX market leader with a strong share price

    It’s been a horrid day for the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) and most ASX shares so far this Wednesday. At the time of writing, the ASX 200 has shed a hefty 1.25%, pulling it back under 7,700 points. But let’s talk about one ASX 200 healthcare stock that is defying the markets today to decisively push higher.

    That ASX 200 healthcare stock is none other than Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Corporation Ltd (ASX: FPH). Fisher & Paykel shares closed at $25.45 each yesterday evening. But this morning, those same shares opened at $26.55 and are currently sitting at $26.58, up a rosy 4.44% for the day thus far.

    It was even better for Fisher & Paykel earlier this morning too. Just before midday, this ASX 200 healthcare stock hit a new 52-week high of $27.50 a share.

    Today’s gains (and new 52-week high) are just the latest push higher from Fisher & Paykel though. At current pricing, this healthcare stock is now up a happy 20.5% over 2024 to date, as well as up 16.7% over the past 12 months.

    So what on earth is behind this run, and new 52-week high, for Fisher & Paykel Healthcare today?

    Why has this ASX 200 healthcare stock just hit a new 52-week high?

    Well, the latter first. Today’s fresh 52-week high appears to be a direct result of the earnings report that Fisher & Paykel posted this morning before market open.

    This report revealed that Fisher & Paykel enjoyed revenues of NZ$1.74 billion over the full year ending 31 March 2024, a 10% rise over the previous financial year.

    That helped the ASX 200 healthcare stock deliver an underlying net profit after tax (NPAT) of NZ$264.4 million, up 6% over last year. This rise was assisted by a boost in Fisher & Paykel’s gross margins, which rose 2.16% up to 61.1%.

    These results allowed Fisher & Paykel to reveal a 10 July dividend worth 23.5 cents per share. This brings the ASX 200 healthcare stock’s full-year dividend to 41.5 cents per share, a 2% rise over FY2023.

    Here’s some of what Fisher & Paykel CEO Lewis Gradon had to say about these results:

    After several years of changing demand patterns, we are pleased to have returned to a trajectory of growth. All the right foundations are in place for future success – we have an impressive portfolio of products, strong relationships with our customers and the right infrastructure to meet our future needs…

    With a fifty-year track record, we are building on strong foundations. Looking ahead, we are
    determined to keep bringing to market new solutions that deliver better outcomes for patients and
    sustainable, profitable growth for our shareholders.

    Fisher & Paykel also discussed the company’s guidance for the 2025 financial year. The healthcare company expects to bring in between NZ$1.9 billion and NZ$2 billion in revenues, with a net profit after tax in the range of NZ$310 million and NZ$360 million.

    So Fisher & Paykel’s strong 2024 runup is continuing today in light of these results. But investors have been bidding up this ASX 200 healthcare stock for a while now. The company took off after a guidance update for today’s results back in March.

    As we covered at the time, this guidance told investors to expect revenues for the 12 months to 31 March of approximately NZ$1.7 billion, and a net profit after tax of between NZ$250 million and NZ$260 million. So Fisher & Paykel has obviously delivered on this guidance today.

    It’s clear investors are appreciating these numbers, judging from the reaction of the Fisher & Paykel stock price. Let’s see if today’s new 52-week high is the last one for this ASX 200 healthcare stock in 2024.

    The post Up 20% in 2024, why this ASX 200 healthcare stock just hit a new 52-week high appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Corporation Limited right now?

    Before you buy Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Corporation Limited shares, consider this:

    Motley Fool investing expert Scott Phillips just revealed what he believes are the 5 best stocks for investors to buy right now… and Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Corporation Limited wasn’t one of them.

    The online investing service he’s run for over a decade, Motley Fool Share Advisor, has provided thousands of paying members with stock picks that have doubled, tripled or even more.*

    And right now, Scott thinks there are 5 stocks that may be better buys…

    See The 5 Stocks
    *Returns as of 5 May 2024

    More reading

    Motley Fool contributor Sebastian Bowen has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has 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.

  • Marco Rubio is quiet-auditioning for the role of Trump’s vice president

    Donald Trump and Marco Rubio in suits
    • Sen. Marco Rubio is a leading contender for Donald Trump's vice president pick in 2024, per a new report.
    • The New York Times reports that Rubio has taken a low-key approach in his bid to run alongside Trump.
    • However, Rubio's approach has left Trump a bit perplexed, the Times reports. 

    Sen. Marco Rubio is apparently playing hard to get when it comes to beating out the competition and making it as Donald Trump's VP pick, The New York Times reports.

    Through his support behind the scenes, Rubio has become a "leading contender" as the vice president pick, The New York Times reported, citing advisors to Trump.

    According to the Times, Rubio hasn't been keen on joining the president at rallies or hanging out at his Mar-a-Lago home. Rather, he became an "occasional policy advisor" to Trump.

    But Rubio's approach to supporting Trump has apparently confused the former president, who "privately wondered how much the senator wants the job," the Times writes, citing two people close to Trump.

    Rubio is one of over a dozen GOP personalities vying to be Trump's running mate for 2024, but the former president and the Florida senator have not always been friendly.

    The senator ran against Trump during the 2016 GOP primary election, where both candidates tossed insults at each other. Trump called Rubio "Little Marco Rubio," and Rubio returned fire by saying Trump has small hands. Rubio later came to regret the insult.

    The pair moved past the schoolyard insults and have supported each other politically. In 2022, Trump stumped for Rubio's senate campaign. On Thursday, Trump named Rubio as one of the people who could join his ticket during a local cable news interview at his New York Rally.

    Marco Rubio sits at the number three spot in Business Insider's power ranking of Trump's potential vice presidents — though Rubio faces the challenge of deciding whether he would leave Florida. The 12th Amendment dictates that a presidential and vice presidential candidate "shall not be an inhabitant of the same state."

    The Times reported that Trump is not budging, but Rubio is willing to part ways with his home state to run alongside Trump.

    Representatives for Rubio and Trump did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Business Insider.

    Read the original article on Business Insider
  • Record highs! Is it too late to buy the Nasdaq 100 (NDQ) ETF on the ASX?

    The silhouettes of ten people holding hands with their arms raised against the sky, as the sun rises or sets in the background.

    While we were asleep last night, a momentous milestone occurred at the other end of the planet.

    Wall Street’s tech cathedral, the Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC), firmly planted its flag beyond the 17,000-point barrier. The record is nudging locally traded Betashares Nasdaq 100 ETF (ASX: NDQ) higher today.

    Following the overnight rally, the Nasdaq is up 15.3% year-to-date in a year dominated by artificial intelligence (AI). The rapid return from the more tech-focused corner of the stock market is a world away from the measly 1.1% increase cobbled together by the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO).

    Still, no one wants to succumb to FOMO (fear of missing out). So, does it make sense to buy the NDQ exchange-traded fund on the ASX when the Nasdaq is at its highest point in history?

    Record-breaking heights on the Nasdaq

    Firstly, it’s important to understand what is fuelling the historic high.

    The Nasdaq Composite is a market capitalisation-weighted index. The bigger the company, the more influential it is on the entire index. Roughly half of the Nasdaq is weighted towards the 10 largest companies in its arsenal.

    As the table below shows, these 10 technology heavyweights — bar Apple and Tesla — have had a tremendous run this year.

    Company Year-to-date return
    Microsoft Corp (NASDAQ: MSFT) 16.0%
    Apple Inc (NASDAQ: AAPL) 2.3%
    Nvidia Corp (NASDAQ: NVDA) 136.8%
    Amazon.com Inc (ASX: AMZN) 21.5%
    Broadcom Inc (NASDAQ: AVGO) 30.1%
    Meta Platforms Inc (NASDAQ: META) 38.6%
    Alphabet Inc (NASDAQ: GOOG) 27.6%
    Costco Wholesale Corporation (NASDAQ: COST) 25.0%
    Tesla Inc (NASDAQ: TSLA) -28.9%
    Netflix Inc (NASDAQ: NFLX) 38.5%
    Data as of 11.35am AEST

    However, it would be a glaring omission to not acknowledge the extent of Nvidia’s hand in the Nasdaq record-breaking. No other company in the top 10 has slam-dunked as hard as this computer chip in the past month.

    Shares in Nvidia are up 30% in the last 30 days alone. Last night, the AI-powering powerhouse ratcheted its share price up 7.1% to a record US$1,140.59 at the close — playing a pivotal role in the Nasdaq achieving its own record.

    Too late to buy NDQ on the ASX?

    The Nasdaq 100 ETF on the ASX provides a simple option for local investors to tap into the tech titans abroad.

    At midday, the ETF trades at $42.93 per unit, less than 1% from its all-time high.

    Let’s get the obvious out of the way. The ‘record high’ shouldn’t be too important in deciding whether to invest in a company, index, or ETF. A company isn’t conscious of its price. What is much more vital is the future earnings potential.

    No one can predict the future. We can merely make informed best guesses at what’s to come. Then, it becomes a question of… do you think the companies inside the ASX-listed NDQ ETF will continue to deliver market-beating earnings growth over the years ahead?

    If yes — then it’s not too late, despite the Nasdaq’s record high.

    The post Record highs! Is it too late to buy the Nasdaq 100 (NDQ) ETF on the ASX? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in Betashares Nasdaq 100 Etf right now?

    Before you buy Betashares Nasdaq 100 Etf shares, consider this:

    Motley Fool investing expert Scott Phillips just revealed what he believes are the 5 best stocks for investors to buy right now… and Betashares Nasdaq 100 Etf wasn’t one of them.

    The online investing service he’s run for over a decade, Motley Fool Share Advisor, has provided thousands of paying members with stock picks that have doubled, tripled or even more.*

    And right now, Scott thinks there are 5 stocks that may be better buys…

    See The 5 Stocks
    *Returns as of 5 May 2024

    More reading

    Suzanne Frey, an executive at Alphabet, is a member of The Motley Fool’s board of directors. Randi Zuckerberg, a former director of market development and spokeswoman for Facebook and sister to Meta Platforms CEO Mark Zuckerberg, is a member of The Motley Fool’s board of directors. Motley Fool contributor Mitchell Lawler has positions in Apple, Meta Platforms, and Tesla and has the following options: long June 2025 $510 calls on Tesla. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Alphabet, Apple, BetaShares Nasdaq 100 ETF, Costco Wholesale, Meta Platforms, Microsoft, Netflix, Nvidia, and Tesla. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has recommended Broadcom and has recommended the following options: long January 2026 $395 calls on Microsoft and short January 2026 $405 calls on Microsoft. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended BetaShares Nasdaq 100 ETF. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Alphabet, Apple, Meta Platforms, Microsoft, Netflix, and Nvidia. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

  • Why did the ASX 200 just plunge on the latest Aussie inflation print?

    The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) was already struggling today before the latest Australian inflation data hit the wires.

    At 11.30am AEST, the benchmark index was down just over 0.6%.

    Then the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) released the April consumer price index (CPI) data.

    And the ASX 200 promptly dropped another 0.3% to be 0.94% lower at the time of writing.

    Here’s why investors are favouring their sell buttons on the heels of the latest Australian inflation figures.

    ASX 200 investors eyeing higher interest rates for longer

    Most analysts, including the economics team at National Australia Bank Ltd (ASX: NAB), had forecast that April’s monthly CPI indicator would decline to 3.4% year on year from the 3.5% annual figure reported last month.

    This would have indicated that the Reserve Bank of Australia’s series of interest rate hikes commenced in May 2022 was continuing to cool down fast-rising prices.

    And it would have signalled that ASX 200 investors might yet expect several interest rate cuts from the RBA this year. The current cash rate stands at 4.35%. That’s the highest level since December 2011, and it’s up from the historic low of 0.10% in early May 2022.

    But in its latest CPI report, which should have been titled ‘Don’t shoot the messenger’, the ABS threw cold water on hopes for multiple RBA interest rate cuts in 2024.

    That’s because the headline CPI indicator rose 3.6% in the 12 months to April 2024, well above consensus estimates.

    Commenting on the uptick that’s pressuring the ASX 200 today, Michelle Marquardt, ABS head of prices statistics, said:

    Annual inflation increased to 3.6% this month, up from 3.5% in March. Inflation has been relatively stable over the past five months, although this is the second month in a row where annual inflation has had a small increase.

    The biggest contributors to price increases in April were housing (up 4.9%), food and non-alcoholic beverages (up 3.8%), alcohol and tobacco (up 6.5%), and transport (up 4.2%).

    Electricity prices would have topped this list if not for the introduction of the Energy Bill Relief Fund rebates in July 2023, which could artificially dampen the real level of inflation.

    Electricity prices rose 4.2% in the 12 months to April. “Excluding the rebates, electricity prices would have risen 13.9% in the 12 months to April 2024,” Marquardt said.

    Underlying inflation, which takes out volatile items like fuel, holiday travel, and fruit and veggies, remained steady on an annual basis.

    “When excluding these volatile items from the monthly CPI indicator, the annual rise to April was steady at 4.1%,” Marquardt said.

    She added that “Annual inflation excluding volatile items remains higher than for the monthly CPI indicator.”

    At 4.1%, that’s more than twice the lower level of the RBA’s 2% to 3% inflation target range.

    With inflation again proving sticky, it’s looking more likely that ASX 200 investors will have to wait until 2025 to see the first interest rate relief.

    The post Why did the ASX 200 just plunge on the latest Aussie inflation print? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Wondering where you should invest $1,000 right now?

    When investing expert Scott Phillips has a stock tip, it can pay to listen. After all, the flagship Motley Fool Share Advisor newsletter he has run for over ten years has provided thousands of paying members with stock picks that have doubled, tripled or even more.*

    Scott just revealed what he believes could be the ‘five best ASX stocks’ for investors to buy right now. We believe these stocks are trading at attractive prices and Scott thinks they could be great buys right now…

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    Motley Fool contributor Bernd Struben has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

  • Why the CBA share price is predicted to ‘fall substantially’: broker

    A man sits in deep thought with a pen held to his lips as he ponders his computer screen with a laptop open next to him on his desk in a home office environment.

    After two consecutive days of gains, the Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA) share price is falling today.

    Shares in the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) bank stock closed up 0.2% yesterday trading for $120.31. In late morning trade on Wednesday, shares are changing hands for $118.80 apiece, down 1.3%.

    For some context the ASX 200 is down 0.9% at this same time.

    Still, as you can see on the chart above, the CBA share price has been a very strong performer over the past 12 months, hitting a new all-time closing high of $122.26 earlier this month, on 16 May.

    Despite slipping from that high, the ASX 200 bank stock remains up 19.3% since this time last year, far outpacing the 6.6% gains posted by the benchmark index over this same period.

    And that doesn’t include the two fully franked dividends CBA delivered over the year, totalling $4.55 a share. If we add those back in, then the accumulated value of CommBank shares is up 23.9% in 12 months, with potential tax benefits from those franking credits.

    But with Australia’s biggest bank now trading at a price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 20.9 times, well ahead of its peers, a growing number of analysts are saying the CBA share price may have flown too close to the sun.

    And a substantial correction could be looming.

    Is the CBA share price primed for a fall?

    Novus Capital’s John Edwards predicts that after the big run higher for the CBA share price, ASX 200 investors would do well to consider taking some profits.

    According to Edwards (courtesy of The Bull):

    Operating income fell 1% in the third quarter of fiscal year 2024. Net interest income was 1% lower and net interest margins slightly fell. We expect margin pressure on earnings to impact the full year results. CBA shares have risen from $111.86 on April 19 to trade at $120.815 on May 23.

    We expect the share price to fall substantially following full year results expected in August. In the meantime, investors may want to cash in some gains.

    The CBA share price closed down 2.2% on 9 May, the day the bank released its third-quarter results.

    But don’t rush to sell your CommBank stock just yet.

    Despite the big run higher for the CBA share price, Tony Paterno, senior investment adviser at Ord Minnett, has a different prediction and ‘hold’ rating on the stock.

    “The bank reported an unaudited 2024 third quarter cash net profit after tax of $2.4 billion, down 3% on the quarterly average in the first half. The decline is tracking marginally better than we expected,” Paterno said (courtesy of The Bull).

    Paterno added:

    Operating expenses were well contained, up by 2%. In the next five years, we assume pricing on loans and customer deposits will enable a modest margin improvement and a return to loan growth in line with the market.

    Long-term investors, take note.

    The post Why the CBA share price is predicted to ‘fall substantially’: broker appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in Commonwealth Bank Of Australia right now?

    Before you buy Commonwealth Bank Of Australia shares, consider this:

    Motley Fool investing expert Scott Phillips just revealed what he believes are the 5 best stocks for investors to buy right now… and Commonwealth Bank Of Australia wasn’t one of them.

    The online investing service he’s run for over a decade, Motley Fool Share Advisor, has provided thousands of paying members with stock picks that have doubled, tripled or even more.*

    And right now, Scott thinks there are 5 stocks that may be better buys…

    See The 5 Stocks
    *Returns as of 5 May 2024

    More reading

    Motley Fool contributor Bernd Struben has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

  • Buy ‘one of the highest quality’ growth shares on the ASX 200

    rising leisure asx share price represented by three happy faces on slot machine

    The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) growth share Aristocrat Leisure Limited (ASX: ALL) has achieved enormous success in the past decade. One expert believes the company can continue its winning streak.

    This business is best known for designing, manufacturing, and selling poker machines used in casinos, pubs, and other venues in Australia, the US, and various other countries. Aristocrat Leisure also has a growing digital gaming presence.

    Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance, but over the last 10 years, the Aristocrat Leisure share price has risen around 750%, as shown in the chart below.

    Christopher Watt from Bell Potter Securities thinks the ASX 200 growth share is still a buy.

    Market-beating performance

    Writing on The Bull, Watt noted the company’s recent FY24 first-half result delivered “strong earnings that exceeded consensus estimates”.

    That result showed revenue rose by 6.1% to $3.27 billion and reported net profit after tax (NPAT) grew by 8.9% to $711.3 million.

    Normalised earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) grew by 17.6% to $1.2 billion, and normalised earnings per share (EPS) increased by 19.5% to $1.12. The profit growth enabled the board of directors to increase the interim dividend per share by 20% to 36 cents.

    The ASX 200 growth share explained revenue increased due to strong performance in its North American gaming operations, reflecting the expansion of its installed base and “leading game portfolio performance”. Aristocrat Leisure also attributed the revenue growth to “strong” sales in most of its ‘rest of the world’ markets and encouraging growth for its digital operations.

    Bell Potter’s Watt attributed the strong profit performance to corporate costs being lower than expected.

    Watt called Aristocrat Leisure a buy. He said:

    The stock remains one of the highest quality growth names on the ASX.

    Outlook for the ASX 200 growth share

    The poker machine business expects to deliver underlying net profit (NPATA) growth in the full-year result. Three factors contribute to that expectation.

    First, it’s expecting to achieve “continued strong market share, revenue and profit growth” from its electronic gaming machines division.

    Second, it’s working with “disciplined execution” within the Pixel United segment “with a focus on market share and investment efficiency to maintain momentum”.

    Finally, it’s working on accelerating the performance of the Aristocrat Interactive division, with “further scaling of content to support broader market access in North America and Europe.”

    Aristocrat Leisure share price snapshot

    Since the start of 2024, it has risen around 8%, compared to less than 1% for the ASX 200.

    The post Buy ‘one of the highest quality’ growth shares on the ASX 200 appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you buy Aristocrat Leisure Limited shares, consider this:

    Motley Fool investing expert Scott Phillips just revealed what he believes are the 5 best stocks for investors to buy right now… and Aristocrat Leisure Limited wasn’t one of them.

    The online investing service he’s run for over a decade, Motley Fool Share Advisor, has provided thousands of paying members with stock picks that have doubled, tripled or even more.*

    And right now, Scott thinks there are 5 stocks that may be better buys…

    See The 5 Stocks
    *Returns as of 5 May 2024

    More reading

    Motley Fool contributor Tristan Harrison 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.