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

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

Lifestyle Communities Ltd (ASX: LIC)

According to a note out of Goldman Sachs, its analysts have retained their conviction buy rating on this retirement property company’s shares with an improved price target of $27.15. Goldman highlights that Lifestyle Communities has a highly valuable business model. It also believes that recent share price weakness has created a compelling entry point for investors. The Lifestyle Communities share price is trading at $15.35 on Friday.

Temple & Webster Group Ltd (ASX: TPW)

A note out of Morgan Stanley reveals that its analysts have retained their overweight rating and $5.60 price target on this online furniture retailer’s shares. This follows news that the company is undertaking a $30 million on-market share buyback. Its analysts feel that this is a sign that its shares are undervalued at the current level. The Temple & Webster share price is fetching $3.30 this afternoon.

Xero Limited (ASX: XRO)

Analysts at Morgan Stanley have also retained their overweight rating on this cloud accounting platform provider’s shares with an improved price target of $100.00. The broker has been pleased with Xero’s plan to cut its workforce to improve profitability. In light of this and its belief that the market is undervaluing its growth potential, Morgan Stanley sees Xero as a top option in the tech sector right now. The Xero share price is trading at $88.93 today.

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

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More reading

• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Friday
• 3 ASX growth stocks down 40%-65% to buy now and hold
• Why Atlantic Lithium, Pushpay, St Barbara, and Temple & Webster shares are rising
• Temple & Webster share price higher on $30 million share buyback
• 7 ASX shares flying under the radar to buy now: Goldman Sachs

Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in Xero. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Temple & Webster Group and Xero. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Xero. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Temple & Webster 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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S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) gold shares were broadly enjoying a very strong run this week.

Until today.

Here’s how some of the biggest Aussie gold miners are tracking in early afternoon trade on Friday.

• Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST) shares are down 2.0%
• Newcrest Mining Ltd (ASX: NCM) shares are down 2.0%
• Evolution Mining Ltd (ASX: EVN) shares are down 4.8%
• Gold Road Resources Ltd (ASX: GOR) shares are down 4.2%
• Perseus Mining Ltd (ASX: PRU) shares are down 3.0%

And this comes as the ASX 200 itself has climbed back into the green, up 0.1%.

So, after most of these stocks were leaping higher earlier this week, what’s dragging them down today?

Bad news is good and good news is bad?

Gold’s classic haven status means ASX 200 gold shares often do well when financial news headlines are dominated by bad news. That tends to see a sharp increase in the demand for gold, driving up the price.

On the flip side, the gold miners tend to struggle when that news turns happier and gold prices slip.

As you’re likely aware there’s been plenty of alarming news out in recent days helping boost ASX 200 gold shares.

First, there was the Silicon Valley Bank collapse in the United States last Friday.

The day before that news broke gold was trading for US$1,831 per ounce. By Monday the yellow metal was fetching US$1,914 per ounce.

With the US banking crisis spreading to Europe, and the viability of Credit Suisse coming into doubt this week, gold had edged all the way to US$1,932 per ounce yesterday, up 5.5% in a week.

Today some of that fear has been lifted from global markets amid a huge influx of funds from the US Federal Reserve and the Swiss National Bank to backstop their nations’ banks.

That’s the good news.

After all, who doesn’t love a good taxpayer-funded bank bailout?

Well, not ASX 200 gold shares, apparently.

With investors more upbeat about the outlook for global banks, the gold price has dipped to US$1,923 today, down about 0.5%.

How have these ASX 200 gold shares performed longer-term?

As long-term investors, it pays to take a step back and judge a stock’s performance over at least a five-year period.

With that in mind, here’s how the ASX 200 gold shares listed above have performed over the past five years:

• Northern Star Resources shares have gained 61%
• Newcrest Mining shares are up 22%
• Evolution Mining shares have lost 15%
• Gold Road Resources shares have gained 88%
• Perseus Mining shares are up 363%

The post ASX 200 gold shares reverse the charge higher to tumble today. Here’s why appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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More reading

• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Friday
• Despite today’s ASX sell-off, All Ords gold shares are surging significantly higher
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Thursday
• Why 29Metals, Eagers Automotive, Northern Star, and Woodside shares are dropping today
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Wednesday

SVB Financial provides credit and banking services to The Motley Fool. 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 SVB Financial. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended SVB Financial. 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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When an ASX 300 share trades ex-dividend, it’s quite a notable event. For one, it means that any new shareholders won’t be eligible for the upcoming dividend that our share will be paying. This separates new shareholders, who won’t get the payout, from old ones, who will.

But these events are conspicuous because, when a share goes ex-dividend, it tends to lose a large chunk of its share price. When a dividend is paid out, its value is transferred from the company to its shareholders. As such, the company becomes slightly less valuable as a result, leading to a commensurate fall in its share price.

So investors tend to take notice when these events occur.

It just so happens that Monday will see not one, but two ASX 300 shares trade ex-dividend. That means that today’s session is investors’ last chance to own these companies’ shares and be eligible for their latest dividends. Let’s check them out.

A pair of ASX 300 shares going ex-dividend on Monday

NRW Holdings Ltd (ASX: NWH)

ASX 300 mining contractor (and soon-to-be ASX 200 newcomer) NRW Holdings is the first share worth checking out. Last month, NRW announced that its next interim dividend (and first for 2023) will be coming in at an unfranked 8.5 cents per share.

Although it is unusual for NRW to pay an unfranked dividend, it does represent a meaningful 54.55% increase over the interim dividend of 5.5 cents that investors received last year.

This latest dividend payment from NRW will be arriving in investors’ bank accounts on 6 April next month. But would-be shareholders have until the end of this trading session to buy NRW shares if they wish to receive it. At present, NRW shares have a dividend yield of 7.05%.

Adairs Ltd (ASX: ADH)

Next up we have ASX 300 homewares retailer Adairs. Adairs was another ASX site that reported its earnings last month. Back then, the company declared that its interim dividend for 2023 would come in at a fully franked 8 cents per share. That’s flat on last year’s corresponding payout.

This latest payment from Adairs is also scheduled to go out on 6 April. And, also like NRW, its eligibility will be closed off next Monday. So anyone desperate to receive this dividend will also need to own Adairs shares by the end of today’s session.

This company’s last final dividend came in at 10 cents per share. This means that Adairs shares have a dividend yield of 8.13% as it currently stands.

The post 2 ASX 300 shares trading ex-dividend on Monday appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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More reading

• 2 compelling All Ords ASX shares to buy in March 2023: expert
• Buy 8,333 shares in this ASX growth stock for $1,500 in annual dividends
• Investing as little as $25 a week could help me retire with $104,000 a year in passive income!
• The highest-paying term deposit right now offers 4.5% interest. Here are 3 ASX dividend shares paying way more
• Golden buying opportunity for 2 ASX shares slashed last month: Celeste

Motley Fool contributor Sebastian Bowen has positions in Adairs. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Adairs. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Adairs. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

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The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) is on course to end the week with a small gain. In afternoon trade, the benchmark index is up 0.2% to 6,978.3 points.

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

Corporate Travel Management Ltd (ASX: CTD)

The Corporate Travel Management share price is up almost 4% to $17.37. This may have been driven by a broker note out of Morgan Stanley. It has retained its overweight rating and $28.00 price target. The broker feels the market is being too negative and believes the company can achieve its guidance in FY 2023.

Kingsgate Consolidated Limited (ASX: KCN)

The Kingsgate share price has jumped 17% to $1.77. Investors have been buying this gold miner’s shares after it announced the official reopening of its Chatree mine in Thailand. This follows the granting of approval from the Department of Primary Industries and Mines. Management described it as “a truly remarkable moment.”

Liontown Resources Ltd (ASX: LTR)

The Liontown share price is up 4% to $1.59. This is despite there being no news out of the lithium developer. However, it is worth noting that a number of lithium shares are climbing today. Some investors may believe a buying opportunity has opened up following heavy declines in recent sessions.

Neuren Pharmaceuticals Ltd (ASX: NEU)

The Neuren Pharmaceuticals share price is up a further 8% to $13.40. This biotech company’s shares have been on fire this week thanks to news that its treatment for Rett’s Syndrome has been granted US FDA approval. This is the first and only approved treatment for the rare genetic neurological and developmental disorder that affects the way the brain develops. It is expected to be available by the end of April 2023.

The post Why Corporate Travel Management, Kingsgate, Liontown, and Neuren shares are racing higher appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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More reading

• 2 ASX 300 shares cracking record highs on Friday
• Why Atlantic Lithium, Life360, Neuren, and Whitehaven Coal shares are charging higher
• This ASX 300 healthcare stock is up 48% in 3 days. Broker says buy
• Why Kingsgate, Neuren, Newcrest, and Pushpay shares are rising today
• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Tuesday

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 Corporate Travel Management. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

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The Lynas Rare Earths Ltd (ASX: LYC) share price has reset its 52-week low five times this month.

Talk about being dragged along the bottom, right?

The Lynas share price has been on a downward spiral since the first week of February.

It’s been a rough time for shareholders — but also a buy-the-dip opportunity for true believers.

The ASX rare earths stock tumbled to $6.25 per share yesterday. Lynas is currently trading for $6.53 per share, up 1.48% on Friday so far.

Since the close on 1 February, the Lynas share price has fallen by 33%.

Let’s take a look at what’s going on.

What’s putting a dampener on the Lynas share price?

Well, the hits have just kept on coming for this ASX rare earths stock.

In early February, the company’s Malaysian licence was renewed but not with the conditions it wanted. So, Lynas has begun an appeal process which is still ongoing today.

Then on 27 February, the company reported its 1H FY23 results, revealing a 32% cost increase.

A few days later, electric vehicle (EV) giant Telsa Inc (NASDAQ: TSLA) announced its next-generation EVs will use a permanent magnet motor without rare earths components.

Typically, EVs use a magnet with a rare earths alloy mix of neodymium, iron, and boron (NdFeB).

This prompted a sell-off on ASX rare earths stocks. The Lynas share price dropped by 6.8% on the news.

Many experts said this was an overreaction.

Among them were specialist critical minerals research and advisory firm Adamas Intelligence.

Adamas said its research showed Tesla only accounts for 2% to 3% of global NdFeB demand.

Broker tips 25% upside from here

According to reporting in The Australian, Citi has commenced coverage on Lynas with a buy rating.

The broker has a 12-month share price target of $8.20 on Lynas.

This implies a 25.5% potential upside for investors who buy Lynas shares today.

The post The Lynas share price has clocked five 52-week lows this month. Broker tips 25% upside appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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More reading

• ‘Top quality’: Expert picks 2 ASX 200 shares to buy at a nice discount
• Lynas share price resets 52-week low twice in one week
• Tesla-induced sell-off of ASX rare earths shares like Lynas overblown: experts
• Lynas share price rebounds on $200m Japanese Government investment
• Lynas Rare Earths has plunged 20% in a month: Is it a buy?

Motley Fool contributor Bronwyn Allen 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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The Appen Ltd (ASX: APX) share price is having a relatively positive finish to the week.

In early afternoon trade, the struggling ASX 300 tech share is up 0.6% to $2.62.

This means the Appen share price is now up a sizeable 16% since the start of the month.

What’s driving this beaten down ASX 300 tech share higher?

Investors appear to have been buying this ASX 300 tech share this month thanks to the release of an announcement at the end of February.

Appen revealed the launch of three new products that it is hoping will help it benefit from the rise of ChatGPT. It is the artificial intelligence (AI) powered natural language processing tool taking the world by storm.

The first product is called Reinforcement Learning with Human Feedback. It tackles the risks of bias and hallucinations in large language models. A hallucination is a confident response by an AI that shouldn’t be justified by its training data.

The second is Document Intelligence, which enables clients to extract key insights from their unstructured documents.

And the third and final new product is Automated LP Labelling. It leverages generative Al capabilities and zero/few shots learning techniques to speed up data annotation.

Should you invest?

As promising as these products may be, the team at Bell Potter believes investors should sit this one out for the time being.

This week, the broker has downgraded the ASX 300 tech share to a sell rating with a price target of $2.25. This implies potential downside of 14% for the Appen share price over the next 12 months.

Bell Potter’s main concern is the lack of visibility on Appen’s future earnings. It commented:

The SELL is based on valuation but the other key issue we have is the lack of visibility due to the relatively low level of recurring revenue and uncertainty over customer spend. The risk to our downgrade is the company comes out with positive news or developments when the results of a strategic review are released in May.

But in our view there is no quick fix to the lack of visibility and/or relatively low level of recurring revenue due to the purchase order nature of the business so any change will take time and this is what we have already allowed for in our forecasts.

The post Guess which beaten-up ASX 300 tech share is up 16% this month appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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More reading

• ‘Still waiting for it to ‘appen’: Broker gives its verdict on the Appen share price
• Why Appen, Downer, Fortescue, and Invocare shares are crashing today
• Appen share price crashes on US$239m FY22 loss

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 Appen. 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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The Woodside Energy Group Ltd (ASX: WDS) share price was a big beneficiary of rocketing oil prices into the first half of 2022.

On 8 June last year, Brent crude oil topped US$123 per barrel.

By 10 June, the Woodside share price was up 59% for the year.

As you’d expect, shares in the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) oil and gas company have since come under some pressure as the oil price retraced, particularly over the past weeks.

On 6 March 2023, Brent was fetching US$86.18 per barrel.

Yesterday that same barrel was trading for US$72.78, down 15.5%.

With energy prices tanking, the Woodside share price dropped 17.4% from 7 March through to yesterday’s close.

What’s next for the Woodside share price?

There are a range of factors that will impact the performance and returns Woodside offers to investors.

But clearly, the price of oil has a big influence. You need look no further than today’s market action to see what I mean.

At the time of writing, Brent crude is trading for US$74.73, according to Bloomberg data. That’s up 2.7% overnight.

As for the Woodside share price? It’s up 1.42% in late morning trade to $31.53 per share.

So what can ASX 200 energy investors expect next?

Digging into oil price forecasts, here’s what I wrote yesterday:

For investors with a medium-term horizon of at least a year or so, I believe both the Santos and Woodside share prices will trade significantly higher inside the next 12 months than where they’re at today.

Well, we didn’t have to wait nearly that long!

Buy the dip and bargain hunters snapping up shares this morning have been rewarded for wading in.

And I believe there could be significantly more gains ahead for the Woodside share price before the end of the year.

What do the experts say?

A number of prominent analysts have forecast a sharp increase in oil prices over the latter half of 2023.

Citing a dearth of new investments in exploration and production, analysts at Goldman Sachs forecast crude oil will be trading back at US$100 per barrel.

 â€œThe commodity super cycle is a sequence of price spikes with each high higher, and each low higher,” Goldman Sachs analyst Jeff Currie said in February.

The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and the International Energy Agency (IEA) also believe oil prices will move higher in H2, fuelled by increasing demand from China as the nation continues to reopen.

CBA mining and energy analyst Vivek Dhar isn’t quite as bullish as Goldman’s analysts but still expects the Brent oil price will increase to US$88 per barrel in the latter half of 2023.

“We see deficit risks rising in H2 2023, as global oil supply growth, driven mainly by US, Norway and Brazil, fails to keep up with global oil demand growth,” he said.

How has the ASX 200 oil stock been performing?

As you can see in the graph below, the Woodside share price has struggled so far in 2023, down 11%. Over the past 12 months, the ASX 200 energy stock has gained 4%.

The post With oil below $75 per barrel, what’s next for the Woodside share price? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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More reading

• 5 things to watch on the ASX 200 on Friday
• ASX 200 oil stocks are tanking. Is now the time to buy?
• Why Bendigo and Adelaide Bank, BHP, IPH, and Woodside shares are dropping
• Why is the Woodside share price sinking today?
• Why 29Metals, Eagers Automotive, Northern Star, and Woodside shares are dropping today

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.

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It has been bedlam across bank shares following the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank. However, pressure on the AMP Ltd (ASX: AMP) share price has caused headaches for shareholders even prior to the current calamity.

In the early moments of Friday trade, shares in the banking and wealth management company are inching ahead. The banking sector is breathing a collective sigh of relief today as financials bounce back amid ongoing support from central banks.

The AMP share price is joining in on the fun, lifting 0.26% to 98.25 cents apiece on Friday. Yet, the beaten-up bank is still trading 24% below where it was at the end of last year.

Does AMP have what it takes to claw its way back?

Looking on the bright side

Making investment decisions on the share price alone is hardly ever a wise move. It usually pays to take a much deeper look at the business itself to gain an understanding of which direction the ship is facing before ramping up your engines up to 100%.

At first glance, AMP’s revenue and earnings over the past five years mightn’t look pretty. However, it is important to keep in mind the company is in the middle of simplifying the business and getting back to its roots — banking and wealth management. This means selling off operations and reducing revenue in the process.

In its FY22 full-year result, the company reported an 18.8% improvement in total variable costs. This could be considered a solid step in the right direction. Yet, the market crushed the AMP share price in response to it missing the consensus forecast for earnings.

Furthermore, income-orientated shareholders would be chuffed to see AMP dividends resuming after three years on ice. A payment of 2.5 cents per share, franked at 20%, was announced alongside its recent results.

Pains for the AMP share price

While the management team is making inroads in leaning out the business, there is still more to be done. For instance, the sale of AMP Capital to Dexus is lingering without finalisation as outflows from the shopping fund tally up.

According to reports, a total of $600 million in outflows have now been incurred by the fund. As per the update on 1 March, the capital business is being sold for $225 million. When AMP can wipe its hands clean from this operation is still a little unclear.

Additionally, AMP will still face considerable challenges once it has finished refining the company. The banking environment is currently on shaky ground, and fears around the impact of increased competition for mortgages on the bottom line are circulating.

Analysts at UBS remain unconvinced the AMP share price currently represents value. Holding a sell rating, the team believes the cost base is above where it needs to be.

The post AMP shares: Keep calm and carry on or cash out? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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More reading

• Here are the 3 most heavily traded ASX 200 shares on Thursday
• 6 ASX 200 directors buying up their company shares in the past week
• AMP shares drop then pop amid ex-dividend and delay of $225 million sale
• Why is the AMP share price sinking today?
• These ASX 200 shares were crushed in February

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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The S&P/ASX 300 index may be trading notably lower than its recent highs, but that hasn’t stopped a couple of shares on the index from climbing to record highs today.

The two ASX 300 shares that have reached these milestones are listed below. Here’s what you need to know:

Dalrymple Bay Infrastructure Ltd (ASX: DBI)

The Dalrymple Bay Infrastructure share price climbed to a record high of $2.65 this morning.

As you can see below, this meant that the ASX 300 Australian infrastructure company’s shares had risen over 30% since this time last year.

Investors have been scrambling to buy shares thanks to its ownership of the Dalrymple Bay Coal Terminal (DBCT), which provides terminal infrastructure and services for producers and consumers of Australian coal. Robust demand for Australian coal has underpinned strong earnings and big dividends.

Neuren Pharmaceuticals Ltd (ASX: NEU)

The Neuren Pharmaceuticals share price has continued its impressive run and hit a record high of $13.33 on Friday.

This means the ASX 300 biotech company’s shares are up almost 200% since this time last year, as you can see on the chart below.

The catalyst for this has been news this week that the company’s treatment for Rett’s Syndrome has been granted US FDA approval. This is the first and only approved treatment for the rare genetic neurological and developmental disorder that affects the way the brain develops.

With its commercial launch coming soon, it may not be long until the company starts generating meaningful revenue. This is thanks to its deal with partner Acadia Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: ACAD), which includes royalties of up to 15% of net sales above US$750 million and sales milestone payments of up to US$350 million on total sales above US$1 billion in a calendar year.

The post 2 ASX 300 shares cracking record highs on Friday appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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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.

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The Medibank Private Ltd (ASX: MPL) share price has dipped into the red in early morning trade, down 0.3%.

Shares in the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) financial services stock, Australia’s biggest health insurer, closed yesterday trading for $3.26. Shares are currently swapping hands for $3.25.

This comes after more than $5.3 million worth of shares have already changed hands this morning following news of a $31 million joint venture.

What’s happening with the joint venture?

The Medibank share price is edging lower amid news that the company has entered into a 50/50 joint venture with Aurora Healthcare, known as iMH, that will establish three mental-health hospitals.

iMH will initially invest $31 million into the three hospitals delivering 153 new mental health beds along with out-of-hospital support services like telehealth in home and community settings.

Aurora Healthcare is providing two hospitals in New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory, Deakin Private Hospital and Hirondelle Private hospital. iMH will invest in a new 56-bed mental health facility. That will be developed in Alexandria, New South Wales.

The joint venture’s acquisition of Deakin Private Hospital and Hirondelle Private hospital has been completed. The investment for the new facility in Alexandria is in the pipeline.

Executive commentary

Commenting on the development, Aurora Healthcare Australia CEO Julia Strickland-Bellamy, said:

The model will address the clear unmet demand in the community. In our network alone, the wait list for outpatient psychiatry has been at around six months over the past two years.

Providing people with treatment options beyond what has historically been solely hospital-centric care will help to support greater access, choice and flexibility.

Addressing the issue that the health insurer might influence a patient’s decisions, Strickland-Bellamy said, “It’s ultimately about the most appropriate treatment pathway for each individual patient, regardless of their private health insurer. All decisions about their suitability for the model will be made by the patient alongside their doctor and the hospital’s clinical team.”

Medibank group executive and CEO of Amplar Health Andrew Wilson said, “Integrating inpatient and out-of-hospital care helps patients access support when and where they need it.”

Wilson added:

It shouldn’t have to be one or the other. Many patients would benefit from the iMH model, which is designed around their individual needs and circumstances under the direction of their treating psychiatrist.

Deakin Private Hospital will open in the coming months, while Hirondelle Private Hospital is expected to open later this year.

Medibank share price snapshot

As you can see in the chart below, the Medibank share price has had a good run in 2023, up 10% since the closing bell on 30 December.

The post Medibank share price edges lower amid $31 million joint venture news appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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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.

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